God calls us to "Stand." Is standing earning or is it simply doing? Yet, isn't it still doing? Similar to the one who falsely tries to earn?
Those similarities can sometimes get confused.
God has not called us to see grace as an "end-game." If we are free we are free to do as we ought, God gives us a heart that wants to please Him for He is so wonderfully merciful to us. and as that becomes our station of operation of thought we run to please God thru our obedience to Him. Obedience for what? Anything He wants! What does He want? The bible is full of His desires.
We must remember the hundred or so lifespan years we live on earth, becomes the reel -to -reel playback in heaven of what we did with the Grace He gave us will be our account of how we decided to trust God. God has won the battle of Satans rebellion, yet, we have a Spiritual battle that is in real time and is still responsible for our outcome. I am not second guessing God's promises here, simply saying we yet have to live out those promises, unto death. Our real end-game is in "Standing" in things, now, already accomplished in Christ. This standing is an act on our part; yet, not for the sake to earn anything, but to take hold of the victory God has given us. Not an aggressive stand but a "I will not move " stand.
Why do we need to take hold if God's grace is never altered? Because the battle yet wages for the soul of man, regardless of the absolute victory found in standing in Christ. Until we have gone thru a life of "Standing." We are not free from Satan's influences, his suggestions, his attempts to divert us from our stand.
Well even if we lose our stand He will save us! No, He doesn't promise that. He promises that even if we lose our stand He will forgive us. He promises that He will leave the flock to get, even, the one that leaves to call him back. But He cannot over rule our choice to leave. For, He cannot by the very nature of Himself in His righteousness be in view of sin. Thus, Christ must cover him, thru the blood of the cross.
But, if we stay the problem is solved completely. He has given us a way, and not only provided a way but He has procured success in that way, This all started form the payment of sins debt owed on the Cross, and led to our victory thru His resurrection., we must now simply "STAND!" But that is still an act, an act which has nothing to do with earning. Grace saved us and Jesus also said faith saves us. Faithfulness is another way of saying "Standing."
You see God has a plan for us. It is not just getting us to Him, it is having Him be seen thru us. It is His Glory that He wants seen as well> Holiness for us is His end game, which leads to His glory. And what is His glory is ours for we are family thru Sonship with Jesus who is also God thru the triune. Grace does two things, it gives us God's mercy amply applied, to a point of forgivness of sins if we but confess ,.... and second, it empowers us to show Gods glory in our lives as God gives us Jesus' history and resources to stay from sin, if we but "Stand." Not earn! Why is the sinless thing important? Because it is saying Christ's victory has no loop-holes in it--Or, as He said it best, "It is finished!" It's not important to call ourselves sinless, it is important to know the authority of God over Satan. And that this authority rests in each and everyone of His saints. Will our tally sheet be perfect, no. But could our tally sheet be perfect AFTER our regeneration? -Yes, because it has nothing to do with me now, and I don't second guess the completeness of God's victory over Satan.
These chapters of earth are our plight in life. And there is a warfare over our souls going on. Not just in the beginning of our regeneration, where Christ had to come to get us from sins grip, but after, as well. Satan wants you back and he is furious and knows he has a limited time to get you back. He knows he is powerless to get you back, [theres Christ"s guarantee that Satan understands better than most of us], but he also knows he has some time to be that stumbling block to your success found in Him. And he knows if he can get you out of the circle, he can destroy you one-on-one again.
Do you Remember being a sinner and not feeling Satans attacks? That's because He had ya, but after you surrendered to God what happened? All of Hell breaks loose literally! He doesn't have you, and he is powerless to get you back...UNLESS, you come away from your victory which is Christ Jesus. This option is what fuels him and the demons that work for him.
Think of yourself standing in a circle, this circle is Christ in you. As long as you stay in the circle you win life, but if you allow whatever winds that blow to take you off that circle boundaries you are out of the power source of victory, and are headed to death. Now here's the cool part. The God who drew the circle also put anything you need to not let any outside winds or force knock you out of the circle-gauranteed. He made the circle portable, so as to allow you to even go to the gates of Hell losing no power from the circle. He even made it possible to enter into His face with this circle. And this is from the one who is ruler of everything so you know it will happen.
He even says when the winds come He will provide a way around the winds and influences, He Himself will fight your fights for you to simply stay in that life-bearing circle. Of coarse you must recognize the power of your "Will" that it can change those guarantees by stepping out by choice of that circle.
Both staying in the circle and leaving it has your will in control. But staying victorious in it is Gods job. But He has empowered you to not only stay but flourish in it.
The "Parables of the seeds" gives us insight into Satan's abilities:
As We see Jesus talking we see Him talking to the saints, when he describes Satans ammo and abilities: It says Satan and his demons can steal the truth away, sin opens that door. Satan can make us easily offended, causing us to sin. But if we allow God to battle for us we win here- guaranteed! Satan can divert our minds, something he has no power to do if we but stand, but if we do not it is a sin. But there is a group of people He describes that bore fruit beyond their ability to bare, this is the group who stood. Not in themselves but in Christ Jesus; the circle.. These people show the glory of God. God's holiness is seen and in us. It is worthy to note that thru all of this warfare if we "Stand" in the circle God will not let any one of us slip out of His grip.
None of this is earning, or us availing success. But it is recognizing our will as a player here. We must simply stand, a burden God describes as light, and easy. But yet, one we must procure.
"Nevertheless, when we are judged in this way by the Lord, [speaking to brethren here,] we are being disciplined so that we will not be finally condemned with the world." 1 Cor. 11:32.
Scripture does not say, "Faith without works is not as good as trying,but it's not a deal breaker., because all have sinned and fall from God's glory" It says, 'Faith without works is dead." That's a call to arms in the area of "Standing." Now it's hard to hear those words and not associate it with the Salvation thru works camps, but that is my point here. We can't earn anything we do, however, need to "Stand." Which is the work of obedience He is commanding us to be, not just do.For if we are Christ-like we are Christ empowered.
