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This is what Paul Washer said, 'To be like Christ'. I don't want to play with words but there is nothing in the scriptures that says to be like Christ. Maybe Paul Washer meant the following but you will have to decide. The Apostle Paul said, 'for me to live is Christ' (Phil 1:21) and to die is gain. We are in Christ stead (2Cor 5:20), not to be like Him to minister Christ. We are as He is in this present evil world (1Jn 4:17, 3:2). He is our example that we should follow in His steps (1Pt 2:21). That is dealing with suffering in the plan of God the Father and to do those things that please Him (John 8:29). Jesus was full of grace and truth (John 1:17). And of His fulness have we received, grace for grace (John 1:16). Jesus from a child had the grace of God upon Him (Lk 2:40). He came not to condemn but rather to seek and save that which is lost (Lk 19:10) and we are saved by grace through faith (Eph 2:8).
The ministry that almighty God has given us is a ministry and word of reconciliation (2Cor 5:18,19) and that means that God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself, NOT IMPUTING THEIR SINS AND TRESPASSES UNTO THEM. This is our first love and if you want to impute sins and trespasses unto people then you are not doing the will of God because God doesn't do it. He convicts and reproves of sin but will not impute sin to anyone. Does Paul Washer believe that? I don't know but he should because that is the truth. I hope he does because that is the will of God and what every believer should be doing in all the world. They should be teaching and preaching reconciliation, Jesus Christ and Him crucified. You know what will reconcile the departing believer, Christ and Him crucified. You know what heal the backslider, Christ and Him crucified. You know what will correct the believer from the error of his way, Christ and Him crucified. You know what will get people out of the flesh and into the Spirit, Christ and Him crucified. You know what will get you and me to go into all the world and preach the glorious gospel, Christ and Him crucified. You want a banner to hold up in your ministry, hold up the one that says, CHRIST AND HIM CRUCIFIED!
John 12:44-50 'Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me. And he that seeth me seeth him that sent me. I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness. And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak'.
The ministry that almighty God has given us is a ministry and word of reconciliation (2Cor 5:18,19) and that means that God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself, NOT IMPUTING THEIR SINS AND TRESPASSES UNTO THEM. This is our first love and if you want to impute sins and trespasses unto people then you are not doing the will of God because God doesn't do it. He convicts and reproves of sin but will not impute sin to anyone. Does Paul Washer believe that? I don't know but he should because that is the truth. I hope he does because that is the will of God and what every believer should be doing in all the world. They should be teaching and preaching reconciliation, Jesus Christ and Him crucified. You know what will reconcile the departing believer, Christ and Him crucified. You know what heal the backslider, Christ and Him crucified. You know what will correct the believer from the error of his way, Christ and Him crucified. You know what will get people out of the flesh and into the Spirit, Christ and Him crucified. You know what will get you and me to go into all the world and preach the glorious gospel, Christ and Him crucified. You want a banner to hold up in your ministry, hold up the one that says, CHRIST AND HIM CRUCIFIED!
John 12:44-50 'Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me. And he that seeth me seeth him that sent me. I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness. And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak'.
He's right that a lot of people do the "I prayed once so I'm saved for good" thing and really have little to no commitment. But this guy is also doing the typical 'turn or burn' message; listen to my preaching or go to hell. When are preachers going to learn that fear is not a good long-term motivator?
Live you faith like your running a race for your crown was the basic message of the chapters before that I think. I think he was warning them not to be lax but to be diligent and displine themselves. To cont. the santification process and not fall back into sin. I would recommend reading atleast the 2 chapters before it with that one.
Paul's goal was to give himself to God's will which was for him to preach and save as many as he could. That is what he did while enduring many hardships gladly. So bear your cross as Christ did.
I don't know if I explained it well, you should probably look for yourself.
Paul's goal was to give himself to God's will which was for him to preach and save as many as he could. That is what he did while enduring many hardships gladly. So bear your cross as Christ did.
I don't know if I explained it well, you should probably look for yourself.
1Co 9:24 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.
1Co 9:25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.
1Co 9:26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:
1Co 9:27 But I keepunder my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.
vs 24 and 25 encourages the Christians to run like those in the Grecian games. If those in the games run for a corruptible crown, how much more should those christians run and persevere for an incorruptable crown (eternal life)?
verse 27 is Paul's fear, that he should be rejected by God from entering heaven. In the same line of thinking as the Grecian games, he was afraid he should be disqualified in some way.
James also speaks of enduring, to receive a crown of life:
Jas 1:12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
1Co 9:25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.
1Co 9:26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:
1Co 9:27 But I keepunder my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.
vs 24 and 25 encourages the Christians to run like those in the Grecian games. If those in the games run for a corruptible crown, how much more should those christians run and persevere for an incorruptable crown (eternal life)?
verse 27 is Paul's fear, that he should be rejected by God from entering heaven. In the same line of thinking as the Grecian games, he was afraid he should be disqualified in some way.
James also speaks of enduring, to receive a crown of life:
Jas 1:12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
Rewards for being faithful after salvation:
(1Co 3:13) Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.
(1Co 3:14) If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
(1Co 3:15) If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
Both these people are saved! But one receives reward
Maybe James was I don't know-- referring to rewards in heaven rather than saying works establish entry to heaven?
Well I don't know maybe verses like these are about the place in heaven rather than the rewards in heaven:
Gal 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
(1Pe 1:3-5) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,
Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
Joh 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
(1Co 3:13) Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.
(1Co 3:14) If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
(1Co 3:15) If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
Both these people are saved! But one receives reward
Maybe James was I don't know-- referring to rewards in heaven rather than saying works establish entry to heaven?
Well I don't know maybe verses like these are about the place in heaven rather than the rewards in heaven:
Gal 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
(1Pe 1:3-5) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,
Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
Joh 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
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