Monday, July 23, 2018

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GRACE


There are 613 laws, in addition to the 10 commandments, issued by God, in the Bible. These laws, every one, apply to anyone trying to work their way into Heaven. If you have transgressed any of the 623 laws, you have failed the whole law. No deviation from perfection is permitted. If you have disobeyed any part of the law, you have failed to obey “The Law”[1]. Jesus said that He didn’t come to do away with the law, but to fulfill it.

Jesus came to earth, through a physical birth, so that you could get into Heaven through a spiritual birth. If you are a Born Again Christian, you are no longer under the law but under Grace. “I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ;”.[2] “Grace does not mean there are no rules. That would be turning Grace into license.”[3] Grace means you, being imperfect, are forgiven in advance, by the Lord who gives you that Grace. “Grace: (in Christian belief) the free and unmerited favor of God, as manifested in the salvation of sinners and the bestowal of blessings.”[4] If you fall from Grace, you fall back under condemnation and need that advance forgiveness. Being under Grace doesn’t mean you won’t fail, it means you will be forgiven for your transgression. Only Jesus was perfect. Being under Grace makes you want to do your best to be perfect before the Lord, but God knows you can’t be perfect - yet.

Obeying the law is not a bad thing, and it was actually given, by God, for mans benefit. 9 of the 10 commandments are repeated in the New Testament. Only the Sabbath day is not in the New Testament. Perhaps this is because, in the Old Testament, The Holy Spirit worked in the world when it was necessary to accomplish something. Since Jesus came to establish a personal relationship with us and giving the Holy Spirit to live within us, full time; we are now to celebrate the Lord 24 hours a day 7 days a week. We are to look to the Lord in all things, all the time.

People tend to question why God allows pain, disease and hurt in the world. “God gives enough blessings in our lives to make us happy and enough burdens to make us humble.”[5] Natural man tends to think more of himself than he should. Job said to his wife: “You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. What? Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.[6]

There are several types of “Christians”. There are those who are a little bit religious. There are those that are walking the middle of the road, with their moderate holiness. They are not very good or very bad, just medium. A ‘little bit’ and ‘medium’ will place you on a siding board going straight to Hell. Only the righteous can enter the Kingdom Of God. Jesus said; you have to be Born Again, to see the Kingdom Of God[7]. Now, please believe me, if you can’t see Heaven, you can’t get there.

There is another thing you don’t want to be – type 3, self righteous. Self righteousness is very close to witchcraft (trying to control others with your ‘power’). It is difficult to relate to someone who is Holier Than Thou, because they are so filled with their own Holiness that they can’t recognize yours. This was the problem with most of the Pharisees in Jesus day. They were the most learned people of the day, but they were unable to recognize God standing right in front of them. Because they were so full of their own righteousness, they couldn’t see the light because of their darkness.

Yeah, though I walk, daily, through the Valley of the Shadow if Death, I fear no evil, because my Fear of the Lord is greater (fear of the Lord here means respect and trust in). “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”[8] (Fear here means shacking in your boots scared). Now you understand the importance of knowing the original meanings in the Bible.

“Our prime purpose in life is to love the Lord Our God with all our heart, mind, soul and strength! Loving others then follows as a part of the good works He has prepared for us to do that we may glorify Him in thought, word, and deed. ‘Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added unto you.’  Putting man before God is living life as if this temporary world was our real home, instead of just a dress rehearsal for our eternal home with The Lord. Live life from an eternal point of view; let the Holy Spirit direct your path, that you may do that which is pleasing unto The Lord in thought, word, and deed. ‘And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.’ (Mark 12:30)”[9]

          I have wondered, for years, if there are different forms or lengths of punishment in Hell and the Lake of FireIs there a designation between the really-really evil, the not quite so evil, the not all that bad and those who simply fail to accept Jesus as their Savior? The Biblical answer would be - no! 

          The road to perdition is wide, but the path to Heaven is narrow. There is only One Way to Heaven and that path is through the Salvation that is only available through the Christ.
         
          There are two choices for your eternal abode, heaven or Hell, but the decision has to be made before you pass on. Keep in mind that it is the price that Jesus paid, that allows you to have this choice.


[1] James 2:10
[2] 1st. Corinthians 1:4
[3] Tony Evans
[4] https://www.quora.com
[5] Warren Weirsby
[6] Job 2:10

[7] John 3:3
[8] 2 Timothy 1:7
[9] Ginger Fason Rahn

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