By Jesus's sacrifice we are saved, by grace we are sanctified.
Jesus said God does not give as the world gives, so what is the difference?
The world demands that you pay a price to recieve what you need or want.
Cobus, we cannot be perfected by our own actions, for God perfect is so much higher and greater than us that we cannot even begin to conceive it.
For this very reason He sent Jesus who is without sinn, to be sin for us, for only in this could the price be payed.
You know this and see this.
To think we can ever become perfect on our own is to dismiss the gift we recieived in Jesus.
Are we to esteem to be Holy? Yes!
Are we called to avoid sin? Yes!
But not to earn anything, but so condemnation will not consume us, steal our hope and confidence.
Scripture says, blessed is the man that does not condemn himself in what he does.
Jesus said, I do not come to condemn the world but to save it!
It is not Jesus who condemns us, but we who condemn ourselves by doubt, fear , dispair, these are the fruits of sin and satans words.
Remeber when the woman was to be stoned to death, and Jesus said, let he who is without sin cast the first stone?
The only one there who could cast the first stone was Jesus, and He did not, instead He forgave her, and told her to sin no more.
Oh cobus, dont you see we are freed from condemnation through grace, but that God calls us to avoid sin so we will not cause ourselves to fall under condemnation.
For by faith on Jesus you have recieived salvation though grace, it is God's gift to you, so no man may take pride in it.
It is by this gift we know God's great love for us, and in this love that the desire to avoid sin is born in us because of our love for God.
I let some cause me to question wether I was worthy, because I thought I had to be perfect to receive God's love and salvation.
But then I was remined that to know Jesus, one must walk as He walked.
And as I persued Jesus in this, I came to know His love is given, not because we deserved or earned it, but because He loved us first, and forgives us.
This is the love we are called to, and in this we come to know the love in Jesus, that God has for us.
We are made saints by grace.
Because He who is perfect, has placed a part of His spirit in us, and we are born now in His spirit.
For He who has begun a good work in you, will bring it to compleation.
Faith, hope and love these are the things that last.
Jesus said, I am the way, the truth and the life!
We cannot enter any other way, only through Jesus!!!!
God bless
pickles
God said, in love,I sent my son Jesus in the flesh to pay the price for you, because I desire to give all to you.
