Ten Ways to Fall for the "Saved by Grace, Perfected by the Flesh" Trap!

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Nov 22, 2015
20,436
1,430
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#1
I came across this teaching in my journal which I had written a few years ago. I can't remember where I got most of this from but the truth of it is so needful as we work out the life of Christ that is in us believers. I have added some remarks to it.

Paul said that by trying to perfect ourselves by our own human effort will nullify the grace of God from working in our lives and thus we will not be inheriting some of the things of the kingdom of God that are ours while we are in this earth. Gal. 3:3; Gal. 2:21

Ten Ways to Fall for the "Saved by Grace, Perfected by the Flesh" Trap!

1) Human effort - Gal. 3:3 ( think performance based Christianity )

2) Traditions - Col.2:8 ( our church upbringing teachings which may not be accurate )

3) Hollow and deceptive philosophy - Col. 2:8 ( think humanistic mindsets that are antagonistic against revelation knowledge of Christ and His work which is supernatural in it's origin. )

4) Angel worship - Col. 2:18 ( God told you the name of the angel watching over this church? Cool! Now, let's get back to Jesus )

5) Rules and regulations - Col. 2:21-23 ( smoking, foods we eat or don't eat, Sabbath keeping - laws of Moses rules..etc. )

6) Self-denial, abstinence - Col. 2:23 ( thinking that these add to anything that Christ has already done for us. This is a subtle little beast as it has the "appearance" of good but at it's extreme expression - you are crawling on your knees through broken glass to "identify" with Christ's sufferings. )

7) Endless genealogies - 1 Tim. 1:4 ( So, you think you broke your leg because your grandfather was a Mason? We are redeemed from the curse of the Law of Moses )

8) Myths - 1 Tim. 1:4 ( Did Adam have a second wife? What about the Nephilim?..etc. ..it serves no purpose but to distract us from learning about Christ Himself - He is our life )

9) Sin-consciousness - Hebrews 10:2,22 ( God's grace in Christ's work took care of all sin - once for all time )

10) The 10 commandments and the Law of Moses keeping - 2 Cor. 3:6-18 ( The more we trust in our own works such as "keeping the 10 commandments " - the less trust we will place on Christ and His life in us to manifest His finished work. We can trust the Holy spirit in us and the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus and the law of love. )

Galatians 5:6 (NASB)
[SUP]6 [/SUP] For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but faith working through love.

How to protect ourselves from being "lured" into being perfected by the flesh.
- guard our hearts - our mind with it's thoughts which create belief systems in our minds

- listen to teachings about the grace and love of Christ for us so that we can grow in Him.

- Connect with like-minded believers that point us to Christ and that encourage each other. Don't listen to those that are condemning you.

 

Chester

Senior Member
May 23, 2016
4,275
1,410
113
#2
I like your ten points here - very Biblical and straightforward. I was taught and grew up hearing statements such as "Works have nothing to do with getting us saved, but have a lot to do with keeping us saved".

If we start mixing up our works with our faith and think we are saved because we are doing good works - Whoa! What a mess!

How do we protect ourselves from being "lured" into being perfected by the flesh? s I like what you say: (1) Listen to teachings about Christ's love and grace (2) Connect with other believers

I would add a third idea: (3) Get busy in the kingdom of God letting the love of God flow through you to others around you. As you work in God's kingdom you will more and more realize it is HIM doing the work and not yourself. No one will be able to lure you into doing good works to "perfect yourself" because you will know that is a fruitless impossible task.
 
Oct 2, 2016
37
0
0
#3
You seem confused . You are not writing on the full truth of the matter.
Evidently,you havent grown in your wisdom from a few years ago but it appears that you have in fact perverted the truth!! Many people are "FANS OF JESUS" and not true "FOLLOWERS OF JESUS!" If there is NOT FRUIT evidence(identified by judging righteously) ,of OBEDIENCE then one must EXAMINE themselves to see that they are IN THE FAITH.We are instructed to DIE . That means we buffet all that is not resembling a Christ centered LIFE. We obey because we are CONTENDING FOR THE FAITH not because we are earning our salvation. Many many today have listened to the watered down grace message your put forth and they probably are NOT saved! FEW are saved;not many.

Are you a fan or follower?
[h=4]Take Up Your Cross[/h] Mark 8:34-35 (NIV) Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it."

Bible Knowledge Commentary: "When the Roman Empire crucified a criminal or captive, the victim was often forced to carry his cross part of the way to the crucifixion site, carrying his cross through the heart of the city."
Luke 9:23-24 Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it."
NIV Study Notes: "The picture is of a man, already condemned, required to carry the beam of his own cross to the place of execution. Disciples from Galilee knew what this meant, for hundreds of men had been executed by this means in their region."
Mat 10:38 ... anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of m
 
Sep 3, 2016
6,337
527
113
#4
I came across this teaching in my journal which I had written a few years ago. I can't remember where I got most of this from but the truth of it is so needful as we work out the life of Christ that is in us believers. I have added some remarks to it.

Paul said that by trying to perfect ourselves by our own human effort will nullify the grace of God from working in our lives and thus we will not be inheriting some of the things of the kingdom of God that are ours while we are in this earth. Gal. 3:3; Gal. 2:21

Ten Ways to Fall for the "Saved by Grace, Perfected by the Flesh" Trap!

1) Human effort - Gal. 3:3 ( think performance based Christianity )

2) Traditions - Col.2:8 ( our church upbringing teachings which may not be accurate )

3) Hollow and deceptive philosophy - Col. 2:8 ( think humanistic mindsets that are antagonistic against revelation knowledge of Christ and His work which is supernatural in it's origin. )

4) Angel worship - Col. 2:18 ( God told you the name of the angel watching over this church? Cool! Now, let's get back to Jesus )

5) Rules and regulations - Col. 2:21-23 ( smoking, foods we eat or don't eat, Sabbath keeping - laws of Moses rules..etc. )

6) Self-denial, abstinence - Col. 2:23 ( thinking that these add to anything that Christ has already done for us. This is a subtle little beast as it has the "appearance" of good but at it's extreme expression - you are crawling on your knees through broken glass to "identify" with Christ's sufferings. )

7) Endless genealogies - 1 Tim. 1:4 ( So, you think you broke your leg because your grandfather was a Mason? We are redeemed from the curse of the Law of Moses )

8) Myths - 1 Tim. 1:4 ( Did Adam have a second wife? What about the Nephilim?..etc. ..it serves no purpose but to distract us from learning about Christ Himself - He is our life )

9) Sin-consciousness - Hebrews 10:2,22 ( God's grace in Christ's work took care of all sin - once for all time )

10) The 10 commandments and the Law of Moses keeping - 2 Cor. 3:6-18 ( The more we trust in our own works such as "keeping the 10 commandments " - the less trust we will place on Christ and His life in us to manifest His finished work. We can trust the Holy spirit in us and the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus and the law of love. )

Galatians 5:6 (NASB)
[SUP]6 [/SUP] For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but faith working through love.

How to protect ourselves from being "lured" into being perfected by the flesh.
- guard our hearts - our mind with it's thoughts which create belief systems in our minds

- listen to teachings about the grace and love of Christ for us so that we can grow in Him.

- Connect with like-minded believers that point us to Christ and that encourage each other. Don't listen to those that are condemning you.

Is a Believer who states that they are in Christ still saved and sealed for the day of redemption who live their life this way. Is he or she committing acts of sin or practicing sinning? What does falling from grace mean to you?
 
Nov 22, 2015
20,436
1,430
0
#5
I like your ten points here - very Biblical and straightforward. I was taught and grew up hearing statements such as "Works have nothing to do with getting us saved, but have a lot to do with keeping us saved".

If we start mixing up our works with our faith and think we are saved because we are doing good works - Whoa! What a mess!

How do we protect ourselves from being "lured" into being perfected by the flesh? s I like what you say: (1) Listen to teachings about Christ's love and grace (2) Connect with other believers

I would add a third idea: (3) Get busy in the kingdom of God letting the love of God flow through you to others around you. As you work in God's kingdom you will more and more realize it is HIM doing the work and not yourself. No one will be able to lure you into doing good works to "perfect yourself" because you will know that is a fruitless impossible task.
Amen...the love of God within us will manifest in loving others. The kingdom of God within is - is for the giving to others to be a blessing to them in how ever the Lord desires to manifest His love for them through and in us.

"Unless the Lord build the house - they labor in vain that build it."
 
Nov 22, 2015
20,436
1,430
0
#6
Is a Believer who states that they are in Christ still saved and sealed for the day of redemption who live their life this way. Is he or she committing acts of sin or practicing sinning? What does falling from grace mean to you?
Falling from grace means to me to go back to the law for living. It means to depend on our own good efforts ( even good ones ) other than Christ's finished work.

This doesn't mean that they are not saved as in NOT going to be with the Lord when they die. It just means that they will not experience the salvation available to them in this world. We are sealed by the Holy Spirit until the day of redemption.

Galatians 5:4 (NASB)
[SUP]4 [/SUP] You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace.

The greek word "severed" means to "make idle or useless".

 
Oct 2, 2016
37
0
0
#7
Falling from grace means to me to go back to the law for living. It means to depend on our own good efforts ( even good ones ) other than Christ's finished work.

This doesn't mean that they are not saved as in NOT going to be with the Lord when they die. It just means that they will not experience the salvation available to them in this world. We are sealed by the Holy Spirit until the day of redemption.

Galatians 5:4 (NASB)
[SUP]4 [/SUP] You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace.

The greek word "severed" means to "make idle or useless".
The greek word "severed" means to "make idle or useless".

T0 DIE is FINAL. We cease to be as we once were. WE die because we are following Christ and not because we are vying to be saved. You fail to make that distinction. Many fans of Jesus think like you do. They are NOT saved
 
Sep 3, 2016
6,337
527
113
#8
Falling from grace means to me to go back to the law for living. It means to depend on our own good efforts ( even good ones ) other than Christ's finished work.

This doesn't mean that they are not saved as in NOT going to be with the Lord when they die. It just means that they will not experience the salvation available to them in this world. We are sealed by the Holy Spirit until the day of redemption.

Galatians 5:4 (NASB)
[SUP]4 [/SUP] You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace.

The greek word "severed" means to "make idle or useless".
So a Believer can live without Faith and go to heaven...got it!
 
Nov 22, 2015
20,436
1,430
0
#9
T0 DIE is FINAL. We cease to be as we once were. WE die because we are following Christ and not because we are vying to be saved. You fail to make that distinction. Many fans of Jesus think like you do. They are NOT saved
We are already dead because we died with Christ on the cross! Gal.2:20 and Rom. 6:6
 
Nov 22, 2015
20,436
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#10
So a Believer can live without Faith and go to heaven...got it!

That is your own twist on it. But here is what Paul says about what happens when someone hears the message of Christ and believes.

Ephesians 1:13 (NASB)
[SUP]13 [/SUP] In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise,


Do you have anything to add to the OP's purpose which is to talk about "Ten Ways to Fall for the "Saved by Grace, Perfected by the Flesh" Trap!
 
E

eternally-gratefull

Guest
#11
Is a Believer who states that they are in Christ still saved and sealed for the day of redemption who live their life this way. Is he or she committing acts of sin or practicing sinning? What does falling from grace mean to you?
What does the bible say

It says we at sealed why? Because we stopped sin? Because we did some religious works? Because we promised not to do something anymore?
No.

It says because we heard the word of truth, the gospel of our salvation. And placed our faith in that words.

Why do peole want to earn something they can never gain by their own works?
 
E

eternally-gratefull

Guest
#12
So a Believer can live without Faith and go to heaven...got it!
even when we are faithless. he is faithful, He can not deny himself.

What kind of question is that.. Is your trust in God, or in self?
 
E

eph610

Guest
#13
You seem confused . You are not writing on the full truth of the matter.
Evidently,you havent grown in your wisdom from a few years ago but it appears that you have in fact perverted the truth!! Many people are "FANS OF JESUS" and not true "FOLLOWERS OF JESUS!" If there is NOT FRUIT evidence(identified by judging righteously) ,of OBEDIENCE then one must EXAMINE themselves to see that they are IN THE FAITH.We are instructed to DIE . That means we buffet all that is not resembling a Christ centered LIFE. We obey because we are CONTENDING FOR THE FAITH not because we are earning our salvation. Many many today have listened to the watered down grace message your put forth and they probably are NOT saved! FEW are saved;not many.

Are you a fan or follower?
Take Up Your Cross

Mark 8:34-35 (NIV) Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it."
Bible Knowledge Commentary: "When the Roman Empire crucified a criminal or captive, the victim was often forced to carry his cross part of the way to the crucifixion site, carrying his cross through the heart of the city."
Luke 9:23-24 Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it."
NIV Study Notes: "The picture is of a man, already condemned, required to carry the beam of his own cross to the place of execution. Disciples from Galilee knew what this meant, for hundreds of men had been executed by this means in their region."
Mat 10:38 ... anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of m
Taking up your cross is not the daily killing of the flesh, it is about killing your flesh once and for all and then answering the call of your divine destiny and finishing the race as Jesus did!

That is being a true follower...not coming down off your own cross....
 
Oct 2, 2016
37
0
0
#14
Taking up your cross is not the daily killing of the flesh, it is about killing your flesh once and for all and then answering the call of your divine destiny and finishing the race as Jesus did!

That is being a true follower...not coming down off your own cross....
We DIE to ourselves DAILY. It is very elementary.
 
E

eph610

Guest
#15
T0 DIE is FINAL. We cease to be as we once were. WE die because we are following Christ and not because we are vying to be saved. You fail to make that distinction. Many fans of Jesus think like you do. They are NOT saved
You have this way messed up....I died with Christ and was raised into newness of life with Christ....I do not follow Christ, I am in Christ....
 
E

eph610

Guest
#16
We DIE to ourselves DAILY. It is very elementary.
No we don't.... we die once in Christ and are raised into newness of Life with Christ....Romans 6 teaches you this...

Dying daily means you are crucify Jesus every day to....is that what you believe?
 
E

eph610

Guest
#18
religion says I do because If I don't there will be consequences.....relationship says I do for others based on what he did for me....
 

wattie

Senior Member
Feb 24, 2009
3,040
1,027
113
New Zealand
#19
Again the big accusation and misunderstanding:

That because we espouse eternal security and eternal salvation that cannot be undone..

Therefore we can do what ever we like.

It's always the same accusation.

Why would someone.. after being delivered from their sins.. given eternal life from the great love God gives us.. then just straight ways turn around and be unthankful?

There will always be some kind of fruit from being saved. That is the result of the Holy Spirit indwelling a believers soul.

Also.. Jesus does DISCIPLINE a believer. Look at Matthew 18.. look at verses about being refined in the fire.

There is consequence for sin for a believer..

* poor testimony to others.. making christianity something it shouldn't be seen as
* ill health-- affects of sinful behaviour affect people physically, mentally as well as spiritually (think about addictions)
* possibly being kicked out of a church (Matthew 18) because of sin.
* Lack of trust from others and in God
* Possibly being removed from the earth by God to prevent future destructive behaviour. This happened thru the bible to different people.. I have never seen it .. but you don't know for sure sometimes when this is happening.

and more consequences..

Loss of eternal salvation is hardly a great consequence for sin. There is no learning... there is no grace... there is no acknowledgment of Jesus payment for an individual for their sin. 'Justified'.. just as if id never sinned.

Your own parents are committed to you beyond your negative behaviours and rebellious ways.. this is Agage love.. reflecting what Christ does in committing to a believer.

Do you rebel against them.. because they love you?
 
Aug 15, 2009
9,745
179
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#20
I came across this teaching in my journal which I had written a few years ago. I can't remember where I got most of this from but the truth of it is so needful as we work out the life of Christ that is in us believers. I have added some remarks to it.
This is the guy you got it from:

It's true!:p:rolleyes: