I'm sorry, but that is not what the Bible teaches. If you are keeping the commandments of God in order that God will save you, or you will become acceptable to him. That is not what the Bible teaches.
By the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
We are saved entirely by God's grace, alone, and not by our works in any way. If we are trusting any work that we do to contribute to our salvation, that is a gospel that cannot save.
When God saves an individual, they become born again. That means that God gives them a new resurrected soul in which they will never want to sin again. But that soul still resides in a body that has not been saved and still lusts after sin. So we will grow in grace, and want to, and will obey God's commandments to a much higher degree than when we were not saved. But that obedience does not save us in any way.
Our obedience to the commandments of God are the Evidence of our salvation. They are never the Cause.
Good morning and afternoon Bro Dan. Just now thinking, if we do His commandments then we are keeping His Will (as He Kept the Father's Will) precious and present, not put off or forgotten to another day. Here is His reign as He Himself reveals.
Please don't think that I spend 24/7 sinning :) I spend 24/7 trying not to ! and I shall never stop trying . However , I have not sold all my possessions and given all the money to the poor , have you ? Luke Ch 18 V 9-27 .
You state: "I think there is a difference between trying to obey the commandments and believing that we need to obey them in order to be acceptable to God." Jesus doesn't agree with you Jema, and He is telling you that we must do this to be acceptable - to Him. I previously gave you the verse below spoken by Jesus, He is telling us point blank:
Revelation 22:14"Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city."
Jesus leaves no wiggle room in the above verse. Hebrews 4:12 False teachers are very prevalent today, they are out amongst us, they believe and teach others that they can ignore tons of scripture like this regarding the commandments and sin. They live worldly lives almost indistinguishable from the secular/atheists. They try to convince themselves, and others that they can have this world and still receive salvation. Jude 1:10
Jema, I remember FrankieJ previously gave you some good spiritual advice, I will also. We must withdraw from the world. Put God first, including His Commands/Commandments.
Stop telling yourself and others that you can NEVER stop sinning. If you have God's Holy Spirit anything is possible! Have Faith! Believe!!!
Encourage yourself and others to stop sinning. Similar to alcohol and drugs, Sin is a Addiction. If you don't acknowledge it - it will control you and ultimately bring you to destruction.
3 John 1:11 "Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God."
And please remember if you want God to dwell in you: 1 John 3:24 "And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us."
Rev. 19:13. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.
Rev. 12:9. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and the angels were cast out with him.
1 Cor. 2:14,15. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.
Acts 26:17. To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.
the expression of the Scrip implies obedience,, for Matt 7:21 to enter His works that's been prepared for us from the foundation of the world. Ephesians 2:10 which is these works of righteousness of Titus 3:5 that comes to us by His mercy towards us.
What are His works, the first is 'repentance" God Spirit work upon one soul, convincing one of their sins, which springs from the spirit of unbelief, that comes from the devil, his influnece upon one's heart, & keeps one in his kingdom of disobedience & all who plead for sin & are convince we're not to be delivered from it in this life is of the devil, are deluded, deceived & believe a lie,
2 Thessalonians 2:11 their faith is a life & why? Because they did not choose to become lovers of the Truth. 2 Thessalonians 2:10,11
I could go on with this vein of Truth that's Scriptural sound, with sound reasoning. His Spirit Witness in your own hearts witnesses to the Truth that's being reveal. the question is will you receive Him?
Friends, for the love of your eternal souls, & for the love of Christ soften your heart by Jeremiah 4:3 thorns, the corruptible seed of the devil & Hosea 10:12 the free gift, the Word of Righteousness, the incorruptible Seed of Rom 5:17 & receive Him
There is no earn salvation, in being obedient to God commands.
Obedient does show our love for Him, according to Scrip
Believing, loving & obedience go hand in hand, it's the proof of having one of the other, aligns us with the whole of Scripture to all those who walk in the faith of Abraham James 2:18-24
Titus 3:5
States to those who believe, there are works of righteousness to be done, that all may see & glorify our Father who is in heaven. Matt 5:16
Yet, it's not by these works that we are being saved, but by His Mercy, Who causes us by His Spirit influence upon our hearts to will & do of His good pleasure & His good pleasure is to love Him, become obedient, which shows itself forth as these works of righteousness.
1Pet 1:22 Seeing ye have purify your souls in obeying the Truth, states obedient purifies us by 1Pet 1:23 by hearing & becoming obedient to the incorruptible Word of God that lives & abides forever is how we become born again.
This is the working out of our salvation with fear & trembling, the sanctification of the Spirit unto obedience, stating the progressional work of "washing of regeneration & renewing in the Holy Spirit" bringing us unto obedience. & sprinkling of the Blood/Life of Jesus in our hearts that cleanses & purges out not only the sin, but the evil one from our heart, who influence us to sin.
Folks, the very essence of the Salvation is obedience, & one must learn obedience, eventually bringing us to become holy, blameless, unreproachable & acceptable in His Sight. Col 1:22
Hebrews 5:9 states there must be obedience to be born again, & Jesus becomes the Author of their eternal salvation
Again, it's only by His merciful loving kindness that we are empower to these works of righteousness, which conforms us into the Image of the Obedient One. Rom 8:29 Who always did those things that pleases the Father John 8:29John 14:31
He's our Example, lets pick up the cross & follow Jesus, His Spirit Rom 8:2
Hi Mykeshia , I would liken it to being in the middle of a hurricane , literally :). All around you ( in this world ) is chaos . Confusion , fear , uncertainty , danger etc . We , as Christians , do not suffer these things , we don't belong to this world and the things of it cannot touch us , we are safe from them . Imagine in Egypt , during the plagues that God sent upon the Egyptians , did any of those plagues touch His chosen people ( which means us if we believe in Him and His Son ) ? No they did not , imagine how distraught and terrified the Egyptians were , they represent the kingdoms of men , this world , living in fear and insecurities but not us Christians . All we need us to be close to our God and Saviour and we are fine . Think of those Israelites who fought for God in the days of David , all those terrifying battles , hand to hand combat , thousands of men full of fear and blood lust , God was with the Israelites and they rarely ever lost a man except if they had in some way disobeyed God's command . We are ' called out ' and we must feel that in our hearts , we must behave , think and feel differently to those who don't know the Truth . They live in the continuous storm of this crazy world , we stand on solid firm ground , the Truth , our Rock of Salvation . Our feet won't slip no matter how strong the storm gets . Wait for the LORD , He is coming .
Yes, CHRIS,"What happened when they(EVE and ADAM)were tempted to listen to the serpent(CAUSA MORTIS)& not to God's Words?(THE LIFE).They committed the first sin(causa mortis), a sin that wasn't the product of a sin nature(so a deep calleth unto deep-Ps.42:7-Highlights's mine),for they did not have one-they were created pure"
So,the disobedience caused a change of the nature. James 3:6-The tongue is a fire,a world of iniquity:so is the tongue among our members,that it defileth the whole body,and setteth on fire the COURSE of NATURE;and it is set on fire of HELL.Paul said:"by a man came death,for in Adam all die"-1Cor.15:21-22.Why?What does the Word of GOD say?1Cor.15:45-49-"The first man Adam was made a living soul;that which is natural;he is of the earth, earthy;and as is the earthy,such are they also that are earthy,and have borne the image of the earthy"
No,I was not "referring to anyone after Adam,including you&me" for as we all know from Adam until the current time,my Lord
JESUS is the only one who was not born from the Devil
JESUS said to the Devil:Man shall not live by bread alone,but by every Word that proceedeth out of the mouth of GOD
Genesis 3:2 to 5
The Devil said to the woman:"Yea,hath GOD said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?"
The woman answered to the Devil:We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden:But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden(in my view the fig tree),GOD hath said,Ye shall not eat of it...lest ye die
And the serpent said unto the woman,Ye shall not surely die:GOD knows that in the day ye eat thereof,then your eyes shall be opened,and ye shall be as gods,knowing good and evil
Luke 20:35-36
35But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world(next world-the millennium),and the resurrection from the dead,neither marry,nor are given in marriage:
36Neither can they die any more:for they are equal unto the angels;and are the children of GOD,being the children of the resurrection
Hi Bro Dan , thank you for all of your posts . I think there is a difference between trying to obey the commandments and believing that we need to obey them in order to be acceptable to God . Under the law of Moses there was no forgiveness , what this means in practical terms is this : imagine that you are married and your wife commits adultery , you still love her and she asks your forgiveness and the two of you agree to stay together . That wasn't permitted . You had to expose her ,or you would be stoned with her , and she and the man had to be stoned to death . No forgiveness , no reconciliation , just death . Christ is the epitome of forgiveness . What does he say on the cross ? Christ represents God's forgiveness of our sins . That doesn't give us a licence to wilfully commit sin but it does assure us that God loves us so much that He is willing to forgive us in the same way that a spouse might love their spouse so much that they are willing to forgive and reconcile rather than have two people put to death . God wants us to live , He wants us to live with Him so much that He provided the perfect sacrifice , His innocent Only Begotten Son . We are forgiven in Christ because God loves us and doesn't want us to die . I try every day not to sin , I've changed my behaviour since reading the Bible because I want to do my best to be acceptable to God but I'm not perfect , I still sin . If I was under the law of Moses I would be in a hopeless state , literally without hope . Because of what Christ accomplished I know that God forgives me . Without forgiveness , if we managed to hide our sin from our community , we would be living with massive soul destroying guilt because we would know that God sees our sin and doesn't forgive us so , this might actually lead a person to completely give up and sin even more ! Because we know we are forgiven , we pick ourselves up and try again , without forgiveness we would just give up on our selves and on God .
Brother SSpencer has given you a perfect explanation of God's salvation, I can't add anything.
About baptism:
Baptism is not being immersed in physical water.
You are baptised into the knowledge of the death and resurrection of Christ.
Christ died for YOU, you died on the cross with Christ, three days later a new CREATION AROSE, a husband, Christ and his wife, YOU. You were joined in a marriage, you took the name of your husband, you were baptised in the name of Jesus, Jesus is the life and you are his body.
Ephesians 4:4 ...ONE BODY ..... ONE SPIRIT ......
Ephesians 4:5 .... One Lord (truth, life, the way), one faith (the faith of Jesus, you life), one baptism (your married name, baptised in THE NAME of Jesus.
Revelation 3:12 ..... and I will writer upon him the NAME of my God .... and I will write upon him my NEW NAME .....
2 Corinthians 5:17 .... old things are passed away, behold, all things are BECOME NEW ....
Revelation 21:5 ..... Behold, I make all things NEW .....
Revelation 15:3 ..... Great and marvellous are THY WORKS, Lord God Almighty .....
There's maybe a handful such as Bro Dan that believes the commandments was given as a requirement to earn salvation. "When you are done, God owes you"
Look at it this way.
Ok, IF the commandments was given as a requirement to earn your salvation.
Here's questions we should ask ourselves
Does the scripture say; "do the best you can, OR KEEP THEM?, It says keep them!
Can the commandments cause one to be born Again as mentioned in John 3:1-21? Nicodemus a teacher of the Law could not comprehend this.
How many times can you get away with sin before you are doomed for hell? ( I would suggest that you are born a sinner, being that you have to be born Again to become saved.)
If God required a perfect Lamb to take your place and atone for your sins
it's because God required you to be perfect in keeping yourself apart from sin. ( ALL YOUR LIFE)
The thought of sinning is a sin!
No one was able to do this and no one e ever will!
WE ARE TO DO OUR BEST BUT THAT NOT GOOD ENOUGH!
WE NEEDED A SAVIOUR!
Please read Galatians 3:1-29 and
Romans 7:14-25.
Also let's take a look at what Dan shared.
1 John 3:24. "AND HE THAT KEEPETH HIS COMMANDMENTS DWELLETH IN HIM, AND HE IN HIM. AND HEREBY WE KNOW THAT HE ABIDETH IN US, BY THE SPIRIT WHICH HE HATH GIVEN US."
( This is done after salvation!! Hereby we know he is in us, when we keep his commandment.)
This is what I said in my first reply!
( Everything else is obedience to him after you are saved, because he wills you and Lords over your life with a regenerated heart )
Let's go to the previous verse to see what this commandment is to get more context.
1 John 3:23AND THIS IS HIS COMMANDMENT, THAT WE SHOULD BELIEVE ON THE NAME OF HIS SON JESUS CHRIST, AND LOVE ONE ANOTHER, as he gave us commandment.
Don't look back with regrets; what you call mistakes, God calls a learning experience to gain knowledge.
Josephs brothers thought that they made a mistake and had regrets, Joseph, in the wisdom of God SAID:
Genesis 50:20 But as for you, you thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to SAVE MUCH PEOPLE ALIVE.
2 Corinthians 5:18 ALL THINGS (even what we deem as mistakes) ARE OF GOD, who hath reconciled (a completed ACT) us unto himself by (the resurrection) of Jesus Christ, and hath given us the ministry (KNOWLEDGE) of reconciliation.
Romans 8:7 The carnal mind is ENMITY (in direct rebellion) against God (the WORD) .........
You are most welcome. How wonderful it is that the True God is so generous with us in life matters and in so many ways. We are very blessed. Cultivating an attitude of gratefulness to God and generosity towards others is something I am working on, too.
Even though I love to help others and serve where needed, I understand that there is so much more to being thankful and generous. We cannot "outdo" God in looking out for the needs of others and not just our own, but we can pray and hope to be continually better at this over time.
Again, I wish you blessings today. May you be touched by God in just the right way as He knows your needs and what is best for you.
There are many deceived people, and false teachers out there saying you don't have to follow God's Commandment's.
John 14:15 "If ye love me, keep my commandments."
Those that do not keep God's Commandments do not love Jesus/God.
1 John 3:24 "And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us."
Here the scripture tells us plainly the if someone say they know God but don't keep the commandments are a liar.
1 John 2:4 "He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
Lastly, Jesus tells us in the scripture below: those that do not keep the commandments - do not have right to the tree of life, and can not enter in though the gates of the city - Eternal Life!
Revelation 22:14"Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city."
There is much more scripture regarding keeping Gods Commandments throughout the bible. Do not take anyones word regarding your salvation. Please read the scriptures and pray to God for His truth. God reveals all truth in scriptures like above regarding following His commandments and all things related to receiving your salvation.
Thinking more about your response to me . I have been , foolishly looking back at my past and deeply regretting a few things , I was my own worst enemy as a young woman . You have reminded me that , all things work together for good to them that love God . Everything is as it should be and I am where God wants me to be and I am doing what God wants me to do . May we always surrender to His Will and learn not to struggle against Him . Thanks again :) .
David0921. I agree, "we must keep in mind God's statement regarding the condition of ALL of Mankind", for truly 'none are righteous, no not even one'.
And yes, those OT Sacrifices clearly pointed to Israel that "their sins brought them under condemnation and the Wrath of God", yet they still needed to faithfully perform them so as to stay the Wrath of God from them. For this reason, verses such as Numbers 15:25 & Leviticus 4:31 (after the priest offers the sacrifice, the burnt offering becomes a "sweet savour unto the LORD' and the priest shall make an atonement for him, and IT SHALL BE forgiven him") spoke very clearly to them concerning their state before God & their lives were under God's Judgement. If all that they sacrificed before God & receiving His forgiveness by it, only meant that they were performing an act which was useless, since Christ (as you believe), was already sacrificed for them from before the foundation of the world, then we do have a problem in understanding the nature of the OT sacrificial system.
If Christ already atoned for their sins, what was the need to introduce a system of works to please God & receive His Forgiveness? It's almost like saying, 'that we have been forgiven by Christ's Blood, but we still need to add our own works to make His Sacrifice complete'. Certainly, the OT Sacrifices contained no efficacy, for their blood shed had no lasting atoning value to the offeror ( Hebrews 10:11,12), but it still had to be done, so that God's Wrath could be stayed, their sins had to be covered, that they be not destroyed. And if that were not the case, then so help any who failed to perform what God had commanded - their fate was sealed.
The sacrificial system was absolutely important for Israel's physical preservation, but it did look forward to that One & only Sacrifice which would avail for them & for us. To understand the Bible in any other way concerning the sacrificial system, becomes meaningless.
Oseas. If I have it correct, you state that 'the origin of death is disobedience'. That of course would apply to Adam & Eve who disobeyed God's direct Command to them. What happened when they were tempted to listen to the serpent & not to God's Words? They committed the first sin, a sin that wasn't the product of a sin nature, for they did not have one - they were created absolutely pure.
Then you state, "you die because you disobey Goddeadly effect on the body". I think you are referring to anyone after Adam, including you & me. What I believe here, is that I don't die (in the flesh) because of my disobeying God, but I die because Adam's sin nature was transmitted to me ( Romans 5:12). And how do I know that I have Adam's sin nature? The evidence is in physical death & of course, spiritual death as well, for which Christ's Blood avails. But that Blood does not avail for my death physically, except to know the promise of the resurrection.
So this 'disobedience' that you're focussing on, is not the primary sin of Adam, but a product of the existing sin nature in each one of us. And to 'disobedience', we can add lust, envy, pride, stubbornness, idolatry, etc., showing that even if 'disobedience' was Adam's downfall, our downfall is not 'disobedience', but is the transmitted fallen nature of Adam, to which Christ is the only Remedy. So, it's a case of 'is our disobedience the root of sin within us, or does the root of sin in us cause us to disobey?'
Hi, we might consider, in past times, much innocent blood of saints was spilt. At least some judgement was made as time has moved forward and the Full Gospel can still be preached. Perhaps now we live in another time of mammon and many possible masters.
According to GOD's Word,what needs to happen first?Exactly what is written in Rev.18:1-5, i.e.the Judgment of the Great Whore,as follows:
1And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven,having great power;and the earth was lightened with his glory.
2And he cried mightily with a strong voice,saying,Babylon the great is fallen,and is become the habitation of devils,and the hold of every foul spirit,and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.
3For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication,and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her,and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies.
4 And I heard another voice from heaven,saying,Come out of her, my people,that ye be not partakers of her sins,and that ye receive not of her plagues.
5 For her sins have reached unto heaven,and GOD hath remembered her iniquities.
Just after the fall of Babylon as above quoted,the marriage of the Lamb will be celebrated,yes,the marriage of the Lamb comes and His wife makes herself ready,yeah,the Bride makes herself ready for this wonderful event,Hallelujah!And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen,clean and white:for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.
AFTER THE JUDGMENT OF BABYLON
Rev.19:1-10
1AFTER these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven,saying,Alleluia;Salvation,and Glory,and Honour,and Power, unto the Lord our GOD:
2 For true and righteous are His Judgments:for He hath Judged the Great Whore,which did corrupt the earth with her fornication,and hath avenged the blood of His servants at her hand.
3 And again they said,Alleluia.And her smoke rose up for ever and ever
4 And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped GOD that sat on the throne,saying,Amen;Alleluia(Rev.11:15-18describe this celestial Event)
5 And a voice came out of the throne,saying,Praise our GOD,all ye His servants,and ye that fear Him,both small and great.
I work with the Word of GOD. The Word is GOD, self-executable. Daniel 12:10 says: Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.
JESUS said: For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. Matthew 25:29. (This will be LITERALLY fulfilled from now on)
1 Corinthains 13:9-10 & 8
9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
8 ... But whether there be prophecies, they shall fail (be annihilated); whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
The kingdoms OF THIS WORLD are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever- Revelation 11:15.
And the NATIONS were (will be) angry, and GOD's WRATH is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be Judged, and that GOD should give reward unto His servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear His name, small and great; and should destroy them which destroy the earth.
You said:"I confess to not following much of what you are saying."
You do well,I also don't follow you and others,except the written GOD's Word,I only exchange messages.What does the Law say? 1st commandment:"You shall have no other gods before me"
See,it is written in the Law,'I have said you are "gods",He called 'gods,' to whom the Word of GOD came-and Scripture cannot be set aside-BUT we cannot forget that THE LAW ALSO SAYS:"You shall have no other gods before me".It has nothing to do with idols.
So,what matters and prevails is the Word of GOD,the Word is GOD,self-executable,understand?When He was MADE FLESH around 2000 years ago and He preached the Gospel of GOD's Kingdom,even He said and we cannot deny, but to assert what He said:"All the prophets and the Law PROPHESIED until John",period. "He that hath ears to hear, let him hear",period."And from the days of John the Baptist until now the Kingdom of heaven suffereth violence", that is, the Kingdom of GOD is is violently attacked, "and the violent take it by force", yeah, violent people have been raiding it - Matt.11:12-15.
Matt.13:27-28:- 27-Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares?28 An enemy hath done this.
Paul said:Christ is become of no effect unto you who are trying to be justified by the law,you have been alienated from Christ and have fallen away from grace.The Scripture foreseeing that GOD would justify the heathen through faith,preached before the gospel unto Abraham,saying,In thee shall all nations be blessed.They which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.
As many as are of the works of the Law are under the CURSE,no man is justified by the Law in the sight of GOD for the just shall live by faith.The law is not of faith,Christ has redeemed us from the CURSE of the Law,being made a CURSE for us,that the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through JESUS Christ,that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
The Ten Commandments are ten laws in the Bible that God gave to the nation of Israel after the exodus from Egypt.
They are essentially a summary of the 613 commandments contained in the Old Testament Law.
The first four commandments deal with our relationship with God. The last six commandments deal with our relationships with one another.
Many people mistakenly look at the Ten Commandments as a set of rules that, if followed, will guarantee entrance into heaven after death.
In contrast, the purpose of the Ten Commandments is to force people to realize that they cannot perfectly obey the Law ( Romans 7:7-11), and are therefore in need of God's mercy and grace.
No one can perfectly obey the Ten Commandments ( Ecclesiastes 7:20.
The Ten Commandments demonstrate that we have all sinned ( Romans 3:23) and are therefore in need of God's mercy and grace, available only through faith in Jesus Christ.
Tdianne, All of God Commandments are holy and any STRENGTH you have to keep them comes after you have been saved.
If you have ever ONCE broken any one of these commandments you've already fallen short of God's requirements and in need of God's mercy through trusting in the one whom God has sent to take away the sins of the whole world. Jesus!
So, should you be baptized? Yes, if you ARE saved but not to get saved.
You are saved by trusting and believing in Christ and his finish work on the cross.
Everything else is obedience to him after you are saved, because he wills you and Lords over your life with a regenerated heart of flesh which causes you to love God's statutes and yet convicts you of sin so we will fully appreciate the grace of Christ.
Still pondering Babylon while working today. Perhaps the revelation being revealed in Revelation Chapter 17 is a Spiritual Babylon and in Chapter 18 more of a natural Babylon. Both being revealed as warnings of falseness?
Genesis 13:14-17 And the LORD said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward: For all the LAND which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed FOR EVER. And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered. Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee.
Hebrews 11:8-10 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an INHERITANCE, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. By faith he sojourned in the LAND OF PROMISE, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the HEIRS with him of the SAME PROMISE: For he looked for a CITY WHICH HATH FOUNDATIONS, whose BUILDER AND MAKER IS GOD.
Hebrews 11:13-18 These all died in faith, not having received the PROMISES, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were STRANGERS and PILGRIMS on the earth. For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. But now they desire a BETTER COUNTRY , that is, an HEAVENLY: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God:
Hebrews 11:39,40 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.
The Promise of the Land, the Inheritance, the City, is the Kingdom of God, New Heavens and New Earth which are, ETERNAL, FOR EVER. It is not a piece of property on this sin-cursed earth which will be destroyed.
I'm sorry, but that is not what the Bible teaches. If you are keeping the commandments of God in order that God will save you, or you will become acceptable to him. That is not what the Bible teaches.
By the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
We are saved entirely by God's grace, alone, and not by our works in any way. If we are trusting any work that we do to contribute to our salvation, that is a gospel that cannot save.
When God saves an individual, they become born again. That means that God gives them a new resurrected soul in which they will never want to sin again. But that soul still resides in a body that has not been saved and still lusts after sin. So we will grow in grace, and want to, and will obey God's commandments to a much higher degree than when we were not saved. But that obedience does not save us in any way.
Our obedience to the commandments of God are the Evidence of our salvation. They are never the Cause.
You state: "I think there is a difference between trying to obey the commandments and believing that we need to obey them in order to be acceptable to God." Jesus doesn't agree with you Jema, and He is telling you that we must do this to be acceptable - to Him. I previously gave you the verse below spoken by Jesus, He is telling us point blank:
Revelation 22:14"Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city."
Jesus leaves no wiggle room in the above verse. Hebrews 4:12 False teachers are very prevalent today, they are out amongst us, they believe and teach others that they can ignore tons of scripture like this regarding the commandments and sin. They live worldly lives almost indistinguishable from the secular/atheists. They try to convince themselves, and others that they can have this world and still receive salvation. Jude 1:10
Jema, I remember FrankieJ previously gave you some good spiritual advice, I will also. We must withdraw from the world. Put God first, including His Commands/Commandments.
Stop telling yourself and others that you can NEVER stop sinning. If you have God's Holy Spirit anything is possible! Have Faith! Believe!!!
Encourage yourself and others to stop sinning. Similar to alcohol and drugs, Sin is a Addiction. If you don't acknowledge it - it will control you and ultimately bring you to destruction.
3 John 1:11 "Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God."
And please remember if you want God to dwell in you: 1 John 3:24 "And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us."
GBU
Rev. 12:9. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and the angels were cast out with him.
1 Cor. 2:14,15. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.
Acts 26:17. To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.
Matthew 7:7. Seek, and ye shall find.
Jesue said Matt 5:20
the expression of the Scrip implies obedience,, for Matt 7:21 to enter His works that's been prepared for us from the foundation of the world. Ephesians 2:10 which is these works of righteousness of Titus 3:5 that comes to us by His mercy towards us.
What are His works, the first is 'repentance" God Spirit work upon one soul, convincing one of their sins, which springs from the spirit of unbelief, that comes from the devil, his influnece upon one's heart, & keeps one in his kingdom of disobedience & all who plead for sin & are convince we're not to be delivered from it in this life is of the devil, are deluded, deceived & believe a lie,
2 Thessalonians 2:11 their faith is a life & why? Because they did not choose to become lovers of the Truth. 2 Thessalonians 2:10,11
I could go on with this vein of Truth that's Scriptural sound, with sound reasoning. His Spirit Witness in your own hearts witnesses to the Truth that's being reveal. the question is will you receive Him?
Friends, for the love of your eternal souls, & for the love of Christ soften your heart by Jeremiah 4:3 thorns, the corruptible seed of the devil & Hosea 10:12 the free gift, the Word of Righteousness, the incorruptible Seed of Rom 5:17 & receive Him
in love & truth
There is no earn salvation, in being obedient to God commands.
Obedient does show our love for Him, according to Scrip
Believing, loving & obedience go hand in hand, it's the proof of having one of the other, aligns us with the whole of Scripture to all those who walk in the faith of Abraham James 2:18-24
Titus 3:5
States to those who believe, there are works of righteousness to be done, that all may see & glorify our Father who is in heaven. Matt 5:16
Yet, it's not by these works that we are being saved, but by His Mercy, Who causes us by His Spirit influence upon our hearts to will & do of His good pleasure & His good pleasure is to love Him, become obedient, which shows itself forth as these works of righteousness.
1Pet 1:22 Seeing ye have purify your souls in obeying the Truth, states obedient purifies us by 1Pet 1:23 by hearing & becoming obedient to the incorruptible Word of God that lives & abides forever is how we become born again.
This is the working out of our salvation with fear & trembling, the sanctification of the Spirit unto obedience, stating the progressional work of "washing of regeneration & renewing in the Holy Spirit" bringing us unto obedience. & sprinkling of the Blood/Life of Jesus in our hearts that cleanses & purges out not only the sin, but the evil one from our heart, who influence us to sin.
Folks, the very essence of the Salvation is obedience, & one must learn obedience, eventually bringing us to become holy, blameless, unreproachable & acceptable in His Sight. Col 1:22
Hebrews 5:9 states there must be obedience to be born again, & Jesus becomes the Author of their eternal salvation
Again, it's only by His merciful loving kindness that we are empower to these works of righteousness, which conforms us into the Image of the Obedient One. Rom 8:29 Who always did those things that pleases the Father John 8:29 John 14:31
He's our Example, lets pick up the cross & follow Jesus, His Spirit Rom 8:2
in love & truth
So,the disobedience caused a change of the nature. James 3:6-The tongue is a fire,a world of iniquity:so is the tongue among our members,that it defileth the whole body,and setteth on fire the COURSE of NATURE;and it is set on fire of HELL.Paul said:"by a man came death,for in Adam all die"-1Cor.15:21-22.Why?What does the Word of GOD say?1Cor.15:45-49-"The first man Adam was made a living soul;that which is natural;he is of the earth, earthy;and as is the earthy,such are they also that are earthy,and have borne the image of the earthy"
No,I was not "referring to anyone after Adam,including you&me" for as we all know from Adam until the current time,my Lord
JESUS is the only one who was not born from the Devil
JESUS said to the Devil:Man shall not live by bread alone,but by every Word that proceedeth out of the mouth of GOD
Genesis 3:2 to 5
The Devil said to the woman:"Yea,hath GOD said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?"
The woman answered to the Devil:We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden:But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden(in my view the fig tree),GOD hath said,Ye shall not eat of it...lest ye die
And the serpent said unto the woman,Ye shall not surely die:GOD knows that in the day ye eat thereof,then your eyes shall be opened,and ye shall be as gods,knowing good and evil
Luke 20:35-36
35But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world(next world-the millennium),and the resurrection from the dead,neither marry,nor are given in marriage:
36Neither can they die any more:for they are equal unto the angels;and are the children of GOD,being the children of the resurrection
Brother SSpencer has given you a perfect explanation of God's salvation, I can't add anything.
About baptism:
Baptism is not being immersed in physical water.
You are baptised into the knowledge of the death and resurrection of Christ.
Christ died for YOU, you died on the cross with Christ, three days later a new CREATION AROSE, a husband, Christ and his wife, YOU. You were joined in a marriage, you took the name of your husband, you were baptised in the name of Jesus, Jesus is the life and you are his body.
Ephesians 4:4 ...ONE BODY ..... ONE SPIRIT ......
Ephesians 4:5 .... One Lord (truth, life, the way), one faith (the faith of Jesus, you life), one baptism (your married name, baptised in THE NAME of Jesus.
Revelation 3:12 ..... and I will writer upon him the NAME of my God .... and I will write upon him my NEW NAME .....
2 Corinthians 5:17 .... old things are passed away, behold, all things are BECOME NEW ....
Revelation 21:5 ..... Behold, I make all things NEW .....
Revelation 15:3 ..... Great and marvellous are THY WORKS, Lord God Almighty .....
God bless you
This is a topic that comes up often on this site.
There's maybe a handful such as Bro Dan that believes the commandments was given as a requirement to earn salvation. "When you are done, God owes you"
Look at it this way.
Ok, IF the commandments was given as a requirement to earn your salvation.
Here's questions we should ask ourselves
Does the scripture say; "do the best you can, OR KEEP THEM?, It says keep them!
Can the commandments cause one to be born Again as mentioned in John 3:1-21? Nicodemus a teacher of the Law could not comprehend this.
How many times can you get away with sin before you are doomed for hell? ( I would suggest that you are born a sinner, being that you have to be born Again to become saved.)
If God required a perfect Lamb to take your place and atone for your sins
it's because God required you to be perfect in keeping yourself apart from sin. ( ALL YOUR LIFE)
The thought of sinning is a sin!
No one was able to do this and no one e ever will!
WE ARE TO DO OUR BEST BUT THAT NOT GOOD ENOUGH!
WE NEEDED A SAVIOUR!
Please read Galatians 3:1-29 and
Romans 7:14-25.
Also let's take a look at what Dan shared.
1 John 3:24. "AND HE THAT KEEPETH HIS COMMANDMENTS DWELLETH IN HIM, AND HE IN HIM. AND HEREBY WE KNOW THAT HE ABIDETH IN US, BY THE SPIRIT WHICH HE HATH GIVEN US."
( This is done after salvation!! Hereby we know he is in us, when we keep his commandment.)
This is what I said in my first reply!
( Everything else is obedience to him after you are saved, because he wills you and Lords over your life with a regenerated heart )
Let's go to the previous verse to see what this commandment is to get more context.
1 John 3:23AND THIS IS HIS COMMANDMENT, THAT WE SHOULD BELIEVE ON THE NAME OF HIS SON JESUS CHRIST, AND LOVE ONE ANOTHER, as he gave us commandment.
This is what the Holyspirit causes you to do!
John is telling you what you should expect.
I pray others can help also.
Back to work for me.
GB
Don't look back with regrets; what you call mistakes, God calls a learning experience to gain knowledge.
Josephs brothers thought that they made a mistake and had regrets, Joseph, in the wisdom of God SAID:
Genesis 50:20 But as for you, you thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to SAVE MUCH PEOPLE ALIVE.
2 Corinthians 5:18 ALL THINGS (even what we deem as mistakes) ARE OF GOD, who hath reconciled (a completed ACT) us unto himself by (the resurrection) of Jesus Christ, and hath given us the ministry (KNOWLEDGE) of reconciliation.
Romans 8:7 The carnal mind is ENMITY (in direct rebellion) against God (the WORD) .........
God Bless You
You are most welcome. How wonderful it is that the True God is so generous with us in life matters and in so many ways. We are very blessed. Cultivating an attitude of gratefulness to God and generosity towards others is something I am working on, too.
Even though I love to help others and serve where needed, I understand that there is so much more to being thankful and generous. We cannot "outdo" God in looking out for the needs of others and not just our own, but we can pray and hope to be continually better at this over time.
Again, I wish you blessings today. May you be touched by God in just the right way as He knows your needs and what is best for you.
There are many deceived people, and false teachers out there saying you don't have to follow God's Commandment's.
John 14:15 "If ye love me, keep my commandments."
Those that do not keep God's Commandments do not love Jesus/God.
1 John 3:24 "And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us."
Here the scripture tells us plainly the if someone say they know God but don't keep the commandments are a liar.
1 John 2:4 "He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
Lastly, Jesus tells us in the scripture below: those that do not keep the commandments - do not have right to the tree of life, and can not enter in though the gates of the city - Eternal Life!
Revelation 22:14"Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city."
There is much more scripture regarding keeping Gods Commandments throughout the bible. Do not take anyones word regarding your salvation. Please read the scriptures and pray to God for His truth. God reveals all truth in scriptures like above regarding following His commandments and all things related to receiving your salvation.
GBU
2 Peter 1:20. Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
And yes, those OT Sacrifices clearly pointed to Israel that "their sins brought them under condemnation and the Wrath of God", yet they still needed to faithfully perform them so as to stay the Wrath of God from them. For this reason, verses such as Numbers 15:25 & Leviticus 4:31 (after the priest offers the sacrifice, the burnt offering becomes a "sweet savour unto the LORD' and the priest shall make an atonement for him, and IT SHALL BE forgiven him") spoke very clearly to them concerning their state before God & their lives were under God's Judgement. If all that they sacrificed before God & receiving His forgiveness by it, only meant that they were performing an act which was useless, since Christ (as you believe), was already sacrificed for them from before the foundation of the world, then we do have a problem in understanding the nature of the OT sacrificial system.
If Christ already atoned for their sins, what was the need to introduce a system of works to please God & receive His Forgiveness? It's almost like saying, 'that we have been forgiven by Christ's Blood, but we still need to add our own works to make His Sacrifice complete'. Certainly, the OT Sacrifices contained no efficacy, for their blood shed had no lasting atoning value to the offeror ( Hebrews 10:11,12), but it still had to be done, so that God's Wrath could be stayed, their sins had to be covered, that they be not destroyed. And if that were not the case, then so help any who failed to perform what God had commanded - their fate was sealed.
The sacrificial system was absolutely important for Israel's physical preservation, but it did look forward to that One & only Sacrifice which would avail for them & for us. To understand the Bible in any other way concerning the sacrificial system, becomes meaningless.
Then you state, "you die because you disobey Goddeadly effect on the body". I think you are referring to anyone after Adam, including you & me. What I believe here, is that I don't die (in the flesh) because of my disobeying God, but I die because Adam's sin nature was transmitted to me ( Romans 5:12). And how do I know that I have Adam's sin nature? The evidence is in physical death & of course, spiritual death as well, for which Christ's Blood avails. But that Blood does not avail for my death physically, except to know the promise of the resurrection.
So this 'disobedience' that you're focussing on, is not the primary sin of Adam, but a product of the existing sin nature in each one of us. And to 'disobedience', we can add lust, envy, pride, stubbornness, idolatry, etc., showing that even if 'disobedience' was Adam's downfall, our downfall is not 'disobedience', but is the transmitted fallen nature of Adam, to which Christ is the only Remedy. So, it's a case of 'is our disobedience the root of sin within us, or does the root of sin in us cause us to disobey?'
According to GOD's Word,what needs to happen first?Exactly what is written in Rev.18:1-5, i.e.the Judgment of the Great Whore,as follows:
1And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven,having great power;and the earth was lightened with his glory.
2And he cried mightily with a strong voice,saying,Babylon the great is fallen,and is become the habitation of devils,and the hold of every foul spirit,and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.
3For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication,and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her,and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies.
4 And I heard another voice from heaven,saying,Come out of her, my people,that ye be not partakers of her sins,and that ye receive not of her plagues.
5 For her sins have reached unto heaven,and GOD hath remembered her iniquities.
Just after the fall of Babylon as above quoted,the marriage of the Lamb will be celebrated,yes,the marriage of the Lamb comes and His wife makes herself ready,yeah,the Bride makes herself ready for this wonderful event,Hallelujah!And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen,clean and white:for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.
AFTER THE JUDGMENT OF BABYLON
Rev.19:1-10
1AFTER these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven,saying,Alleluia;Salvation,and Glory,and Honour,and Power, unto the Lord our GOD:
2 For true and righteous are His Judgments:for He hath Judged the Great Whore,which did corrupt the earth with her fornication,and hath avenged the blood of His servants at her hand.
3 And again they said,Alleluia.And her smoke rose up for ever and ever
4 And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped GOD that sat on the throne,saying,Amen;Alleluia(Rev.11:15-18describe this celestial Event)
5 And a voice came out of the throne,saying,Praise our GOD,all ye His servants,and ye that fear Him,both small and great.
I work with the Word of GOD. The Word is GOD, self-executable. Daniel 12:10 says: Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.
JESUS said: For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. Matthew 25:29. (This will be LITERALLY fulfilled from now on)
1 Corinthains 13:9-10 & 8
9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
8 ... But whether there be prophecies, they shall fail (be annihilated); whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
The kingdoms OF THIS WORLD are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever- Revelation 11:15.
And the NATIONS were (will be) angry, and GOD's WRATH is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be Judged, and that GOD should give reward unto His servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear His name, small and great; and should destroy them which destroy the earth.
Get ready
You said:"I confess to not following much of what you are saying."
You do well,I also don't follow you and others,except the written GOD's Word,I only exchange messages.What does the Law say? 1st commandment:"You shall have no other gods before me"
See,it is written in the Law,'I have said you are "gods",He called 'gods,' to whom the Word of GOD came-and Scripture cannot be set aside-BUT we cannot forget that THE LAW ALSO SAYS:"You shall have no other gods before me".It has nothing to do with idols.
So,what matters and prevails is the Word of GOD,the Word is GOD,self-executable,understand?When He was MADE FLESH around 2000 years ago and He preached the Gospel of GOD's Kingdom,even He said and we cannot deny, but to assert what He said:"All the prophets and the Law PROPHESIED until John",period. "He that hath ears to hear, let him hear",period."And from the days of John the Baptist until now the Kingdom of heaven suffereth violence", that is, the Kingdom of GOD is is violently attacked, "and the violent take it by force", yeah, violent people have been raiding it - Matt.11:12-15.
Matt.13:27-28:- 27-Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares?28 An enemy hath done this.
Paul said:Christ is become of no effect unto you who are trying to be justified by the law,you have been alienated from Christ and have fallen away from grace.The Scripture foreseeing that GOD would justify the heathen through faith,preached before the gospel unto Abraham,saying,In thee shall all nations be blessed.They which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.
As many as are of the works of the Law are under the CURSE,no man is justified by the Law in the sight of GOD for the just shall live by faith.The law is not of faith,Christ has redeemed us from the CURSE of the Law,being made a CURSE for us,that the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through JESUS Christ,that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
The Ten Commandments are ten laws in the Bible that God gave to the nation of Israel after the exodus from Egypt.
They are essentially a summary of the 613 commandments contained in the Old Testament Law.
The first four commandments deal with our relationship with God. The last six commandments deal with our relationships with one another.
Many people mistakenly look at the Ten Commandments as a set of rules that, if followed, will guarantee entrance into heaven after death.
In contrast, the purpose of the Ten Commandments is to force people to realize that they cannot perfectly obey the Law ( Romans 7:7-11), and are therefore in need of God's mercy and grace.
No one can perfectly obey the Ten Commandments ( Ecclesiastes 7:20.
The Ten Commandments demonstrate that we have all sinned ( Romans 3:23) and are therefore in need of God's mercy and grace, available only through faith in Jesus Christ.
Tdianne, All of God Commandments are holy and any STRENGTH you have to keep them comes after you have been saved.
If you have ever ONCE broken any one of these commandments you've already fallen short of God's requirements and in need of God's mercy through trusting in the one whom God has sent to take away the sins of the whole world. Jesus!
So, should you be baptized? Yes, if you ARE saved but not to get saved.
You are saved by trusting and believing in Christ and his finish work on the cross.
Everything else is obedience to him after you are saved, because he wills you and Lords over your life with a regenerated heart of flesh which causes you to love God's statutes and yet convicts you of sin so we will fully appreciate the grace of Christ.
I hope this helps.
God bless.
and removing the stoney heart
Genesis 13:14-17 And the LORD said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward: For all the LAND which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed FOR EVER. And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered. Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee.
Hebrews 11:8-10 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an INHERITANCE, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. By faith he sojourned in the LAND OF PROMISE, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the HEIRS with him of the SAME PROMISE: For he looked for a CITY WHICH HATH FOUNDATIONS, whose BUILDER AND MAKER IS GOD.
Hebrews 11:13-18 These all died in faith, not having received the PROMISES, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were STRANGERS and PILGRIMS on the earth. For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. But now they desire a BETTER COUNTRY , that is, an HEAVENLY: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God:
Hebrews 11:39,40 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.
The Promise of the Land, the Inheritance, the City, is the Kingdom of God, New Heavens and New Earth which are, ETERNAL, FOR EVER. It is not a piece of property on this sin-cursed earth which will be destroyed.
Christ "spoke in parables" Mark 4:33,34.