GRACE IS SERIOUS BUSINESS!! I call myself a Christian since I believe that Jesus Christ gave Himself for the sins of the world…including mine? But Lucifer ‘believes’ and trembles before
Matt 7:14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
God and Christ. Yet he remains eternally damned. He is damned for blasphemy (knowing God/choosing to reject God’s sovereignty). Does believing in the existence of God cover me with Christ’s cloak of righteousness and forever hide my continuing sinfulness from the face of God? Or is Grace a foundation on which to set my ’lively stone’ amidst the others who make up the Temple of God…..The Body of Christ…The Church??? 1 Cor 3:11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. I believe all scripture supports the fact that Grace does not sit alone. Also, I believe that Grace and Christ cannot be separated. To receive the gift of Grace…one must first receive the person of Christ….in forgiveness, in fellowship, in obedience, in righteous deeds (works)……and in being transformed from death unto Life. Grace is SERIOUS business!Churchianity is filled with countless doctrines and traditions concerning Christ’s redemptive act called ‘Grace.’ Many say Grace is a gift….a covering for the continuing carnality of the flesh. Many say ‘we’re just human and cannot keep from sin’. But scripture says, ” Matt 5:48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. Whoa! Kind of scary to talk about ‘perfection’ for the Christian. After all, ‘there is none good but God.’ And we prefer that scripture over the ‘be ye therefore perfect’ one. And we totally…totally…ignore the following scriptures:
Matt 16:27 For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.
John 14:12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.
Eph 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them
2 Ti 3:17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
Seemingly, in Christian societies of today, we have concluded….by our actions… that sin is no longer wrong, and… that the gift of Grace is a perpetual covering for man’s carnality. But what if we are WRONG???? And I strongly believe God’s standards for ‘righteousnes’ are far above those standards that we, the Church, has set for ourselves.
Tit 2:7 In all things showing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine showing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, 8 Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you 9Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again; 10 Not purloining, but showing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things. 11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world 13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ 14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
Hi and thanks for the above post.
The “Abuse of Grace” is a wonderful description and the continuity of Jesus Christ the Prince of Peace and what his Grace means for us.
I have much to read and I look forward to your writing.
Thanks again,
Phil Edwards
Thank you, Phillip. I am the worst ‘abuser.’ My heart is broken just now over opportunity lost. A friend and neighbor was taken off life support yesterday afternoon. I had many, many opportunities to help make his struggles easier. I shared with him on some occasions concerning the importance of making pease with his estranged sons from a previous marrige. I encouraged him and enjoyed the friendship my husband and I shared with him. I’ve prayed sincerely for he and his wife’s needs to be met according to ‘thy will be done.’ But I am grieving deeply now. May God forgive me and may I never, never have a need to feel this way again. God in his mercy knows all. I am not the judge.
Again, thanks for the visit. We ‘need’ to encourage each other in these days of incredible spiritual warfare in ‘high palces.’
Hi,
I am sorry for the loss of your friend. I too have lost the opportunity to ease a friend’s heart during times of family difficulty and the sadness these problems caused him.
A definite yes to encouraging one another. I fear for our country and our people and our world. Changes are coming so quickly. Need is growing exponentially.
Again, I am sorry for both your husband and your loss.
Friendship is so sacred.
I look forward to reading more of your writing now posted and to come.
Take care,
Phil Edwards
Thanks, Phillip. I just came from their home. It’s a sad thing when brothers, sisters, sons, and fathers don’t fellowship due to unattended hurts….all of which were mendable. But now it’s too late. God in His wisdom tries to save us from living with regrets by His scripture….
Mattt 5:23 Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;
24 Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift
And I, too, will do as God has instructed: Php 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
hello elias! first, i want to thank you for visiting my site and leaving comments. as you know, i am not a christian and don’t believe in any of the gods. i am interested in what denomination of Christianity you follow or what denomination influenced you growing up in life. as i have stated on my blog, your interpretation on some of the scriptures doesn’t exactly follow the traditional (overwhelming) view of christians. i also refer to you as a Christian with a capital C (inspired from your most recent post, i believe) because you come closer to what i believe some scriptures actually teach (specifically the fall of man). from a quick scan i can say we don’t agree on all the translations but it isn’t important to me if we agree or not as you know I hope to understand beyond religious beliefs.
i like the scriptures you posted above:
Matt 16:27 For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.
John 14:12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.
Eph 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them
2 Ti 3:17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
most christian (lower case c) read scriptures like these or others and put their own meaning to them. of course we all have tendency to do the same with all things in life. however, christians often interpret in a way to support that which they already want to believe and thus, remove the true meaning because it makes them feel ‘righteous’ and safe from true judgement. an excuse. they basically lie to themselves to calm their fears and other reasons.
I think you have the capacity to be honest with yourself and think/reason these type of things out and not make excuses.
i left a couple of replies to your comment on my blog. you can ignore the first one as it is just rambling. but if you want to comment on it then i would like to hear whatever you have to say. the “typical” christian i like a song stuck on repeat and i don’t have much interest in their comments. you happen to have a little twist to it and a greater capacity to move outside traditional christian teachings. that is why i wonder what denomination you are, were raised in or maybe influenced you.
I was baptist, assembly of God and 4 square gospel in my life until i became agnostic. i was a republican too, until i became independent. i believe in some of the teachings of Christianity and I believe in some of the positions of republicans. I also have opposite views of republicans and Christianity.
anyway, i am going to read more of your blog…peace