there we see a weakness in the great Mac debate
he does not seem to understand that without the Holy Spirit, no matter the great works we do, we are exulting our flesh
we are not able to save ourselves and our works do not please God, in fact, they insult Him
we need to be aware of the difference between saying what someone wants to hear and actually allowing the Holy Spirit to work in our hearts and cleanse us as we walk though this life
salvation is instant, but the Holy Spirit conforms us to the image of Christ if we lay down our pride and self righteousness
you have to believe the gospel Jesus preached that’s what transforms .
“And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand:
repent ye, and believe the gospel.”
Mark 1:15 KJV
the issue for man is inside of us we have a corrupted knowledge , perception .
“For
from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:
All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.”
Mark 7:21-23 KJV
that is where satans foothold
In man is so that this is true
“In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will
give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;
And that they may
recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.”
2 Timothy 2:25-26
Satan has a foothold in mans heart our thoughts and ideas , desires . We were infiltrated when we partook of the corrupted knowledge of good and evil it created a conflict in us
“I find then
a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.
For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: But
I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.”
Romans 7:21-23 KJV
Our hearts are the issue and that’s where we need to believe the gospel of we do it will straighten out our views about everything such as sin , righteousness, what Gods will actually is ect.
if we reject the things Jesus taught we are rejecting the Holy Spirit and what he taught.
do you see where Paul told Timothy “ preach the word ....that God would grant repentance to the acknowledging of the truth so they can escape the snare of the devil who’s taken them captive ?”
“Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king.
To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.”
John 18:37
we have to accept the truth
“And we know that
the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.”
1 John 5:20 KJV
That’s what transforms us
“And have put on the new man, which is
renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:”
Colossians 3:10 KJV
we have the truth to believe and be saved To be reborn in our heart and mind
“Of his own will
begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.”
James 1:18 KJV
when Jesus was anointed with the Holy Ghost and began to preach the gospel , that is the doctrine of God and his salvation he promised to send . It’s still the same today
“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.”
Mark 16:15-16 KJV
repentance and belief go hand in hand as we acknowledge the truth we will be led into real repentance and the word of God will begin to manifest as he works in us to will and act according to his will through our faith alone we are changed.
it’s different to say I believe , and To accept and believe Something . We need to forget what we thought we knew about God and Go to him and learn and believe