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Amen...well said.
That is a very good observation and if we have a works-based mind this truth can become a stumbling block.
If we could stop sinning from a sheer act of our will there would be no need for Christ to come because all we would have to do is keep all the commandments that Moses put down for us by our own will-power.
In the natural the fruit of our own self-will and fleshly will-power and the fruit of our righteousness in Christ and His life in us effecting the change and good works look alike outwardly.
( the same as Abrahams self-effort in his flesh produced a son outwardly ) When Abraham gave up and just believed that God would fulfill His promise - then God gave him and Sarah the ability to have a son.
So, they just went about living naturally...had sex and God's promise came into being...a natural outflow of them just living....the son of promise came then. God's fruit in them being produced.
All Christians agree what the "fruit" of the life of God looks like. But does it come by us producing the fruit or by relying on the root, which for us Christians is Christ's life in us. ( the whole He is the Vine thing.....His life is the sap that flows out of us because we are the branches )
Sometimes we see what the fruit should look like and we say to people...."produce" this fruit..or else.
Self-control is a fruit of the Spirit which is not something we produce in our own flesh or will-power just by choosing to stop something. It can last for a bit but eventually we all give in because our flesh is weak.
I think choosing by an act of our will is involved in both circumstances. Choosing to change or do good works by our will power and fleshly self-effort and living from the life of Christ both involve the will.
Good works that are from Him will just flow naturally out of us as we behold the glory/goodness of the Lord as in a mirror. 2 Cor. 3:17-18.
Ultimately it is the Holy Spirit that will reveal whether it is us in our own power trying to do something or by relying on Christ in us.
That is a very good observation and if we have a works-based mind this truth can become a stumbling block.
If we could stop sinning from a sheer act of our will there would be no need for Christ to come because all we would have to do is keep all the commandments that Moses put down for us by our own will-power.
In the natural the fruit of our own self-will and fleshly will-power and the fruit of our righteousness in Christ and His life in us effecting the change and good works look alike outwardly.
( the same as Abrahams self-effort in his flesh produced a son outwardly ) When Abraham gave up and just believed that God would fulfill His promise - then God gave him and Sarah the ability to have a son.
So, they just went about living naturally...had sex and God's promise came into being...a natural outflow of them just living....the son of promise came then. God's fruit in them being produced.
All Christians agree what the "fruit" of the life of God looks like. But does it come by us producing the fruit or by relying on the root, which for us Christians is Christ's life in us. ( the whole He is the Vine thing.....His life is the sap that flows out of us because we are the branches )
Sometimes we see what the fruit should look like and we say to people...."produce" this fruit..or else.
Self-control is a fruit of the Spirit which is not something we produce in our own flesh or will-power just by choosing to stop something. It can last for a bit but eventually we all give in because our flesh is weak.
I think choosing by an act of our will is involved in both circumstances. Choosing to change or do good works by our will power and fleshly self-effort and living from the life of Christ both involve the will.
Good works that are from Him will just flow naturally out of us as we behold the glory/goodness of the Lord as in a mirror. 2 Cor. 3:17-18.
Ultimately it is the Holy Spirit that will reveal whether it is us in our own power trying to do something or by relying on Christ in us.
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That's right. “We are created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (Eph. 2:10). And it is God who, “equips us in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight through Jesus Christ” (Heb. 13:21). “Good works” are those that have their origin in Jesus Christ, with Him as the source. All other works are merely wood, hay and stubble. Good only as fuel for the fire.
“Now you see for yourself that all those who do not at at all times trust God and do not in all their works or sufferings, life and death, trust in His favor, grace and good-will, but seek His favor in other things or in themselves, do not keep this Commandment, and practise real idolatry, even if they were to do the works of all the other Commandments, and in addition had all the prayers, fasting, obedience, patience, chastity, and innocence of all the saints combined.”
― Martin Luther, A Treatise on Good Works
“Now you see for yourself that all those who do not at at all times trust God and do not in all their works or sufferings, life and death, trust in His favor, grace and good-will, but seek His favor in other things or in themselves, do not keep this Commandment, and practise real idolatry, even if they were to do the works of all the other Commandments, and in addition had all the prayers, fasting, obedience, patience, chastity, and innocence of all the saints combined.”
― Martin Luther, A Treatise on Good Works
Great post and spot on! I like this other one you put up last year about the ways of the flesh.
Here is another one from Major Ian Thomas that drives the D.I.Y self-righteousness/holiness mindset crazy that can be in all of us.
Quote:
You may have harnessed the energy of the flesh in an otherwise quite genuine desire to honor the Lord Jesus in your life. The flesh, which has its origin in Satan, will go along with you; to survive, it is quite prepared to engage in every form of Christian activity, even though this may seem to honor Christ.
The flesh will sing in the choir, teach Sunday school, preside at a deacons’ meeting, preach from the pulpit, organize an evangelistic crusade, go to Bible college, volunteer for the mission field, and a thousand other things, all of which may in themselves be otherwise legitimate, if only it can keep its neck out of the noose.
The flesh will threaten, shout, strut, domineer, sulk, plot, creep, beg, plead, or sob, whatever the situation may demand in the interests of its own survival. By any and all means it will seek to cause every Christian to live by his own strength instead of by the power and grace of the Lord Jesus, and to conclude that doing so is actually a good thing!
The characteristic of the spiritually immature is that they are unable to discern between good and evil (Hebrews 5:13-14), and the baby Christian, like the foolish Galatians, “having begun in the Spirit” still tries to be “made perfect by the flesh” (Galatians 3:3).
We must be particularly patient with those whose lack of understanding allows a genuine love for the Lord Jesus to be satisfied with, and sometimes to be quite enthusiastic about, Christian activities involving means and methods which are heavily contaminated by the flesh. These are more deserving of instruction than rebuke, for they are still in their spiritual babyhood.
.....The flesh will seek to produce the most plausible arguments in justification of its own illegitimate activities, even though these activities are only what the Bible calls “dead works” (Hebrews 6:1; 9:14) and not the “good works” which are truly the work of God.
“Good works” are those that have their origin in Jesus Christ, as Christ’s activity is released through your body because you present it to Him as a living sacrifice. You do this only by faith that expresses total dependence, as opposed to Adamic independence."
Major Ian Thomas: The Way Of The Flesh; from The Indwelling Life of Christ
When a person becomes deceived by false doctrine, you'll find that doctrine is usually "me-focused" In other words, the doctrine is made "better for me", "easier for me", "simpler for me", usually requiring nothing out of "me".
In these last day, it is the norm for such "churches" to make it easy for sinners to join & be a part of without confronting their "sin condition". Nothing is put in a seemingly "negative" light, such as exposing their sins, forcing them to face themselves for who they really are, or showing them a need to repent of their sinful lifestyle.
This is why in the BDF, we hear so much about "grace"(their version)than we do faith, even though it was the Apostle Paul who stated "the just shall live by faith".
Living by faith means our whole lives, not some "one-time-act" as some falsely say.
That's why these radical gracers consistently speak & work against those who live by faith. Living by faith means WORK, such as going thru trials, facing spiritual dilemmas, even fighting the devil himself.
That's why it's called "spiritual warfare".
2Cor 10: 3For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, 4for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. 5We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, 6and we are ready to punish all disobedience, whenever your obedience is complete.
The way to eternal life requires a lot of believing, a lot of effort, so they make up their own doctrine to make it so easy they don't need to do anything, for grace does it all.
In these last day, it is the norm for such "churches" to make it easy for sinners to join & be a part of without confronting their "sin condition". Nothing is put in a seemingly "negative" light, such as exposing their sins, forcing them to face themselves for who they really are, or showing them a need to repent of their sinful lifestyle.
This is why in the BDF, we hear so much about "grace"(their version)than we do faith, even though it was the Apostle Paul who stated "the just shall live by faith".
Living by faith means our whole lives, not some "one-time-act" as some falsely say.
That's why these radical gracers consistently speak & work against those who live by faith. Living by faith means WORK, such as going thru trials, facing spiritual dilemmas, even fighting the devil himself.
That's why it's called "spiritual warfare".
2Cor 10: 3For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, 4for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. 5We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, 6and we are ready to punish all disobedience, whenever your obedience is complete.
The way to eternal life requires a lot of believing, a lot of effort, so they make up their own doctrine to make it so easy they don't need to do anything, for grace does it all.
Believing in what Christ has done which is by grace through faith brings with it the nutrients we need to grow up in Him.
Paul said that the word of His grace is what builds us up and is able to give us the inheritance that is ours in Christ.
Acts 20:32 (NASB)
[SUP]32 [/SUP] "And now I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.
Peter said to "fix our hope completely on the grace that is being brought to us at the revelation of Jesus Christ."
1 Peter 1:13
[SUP]13 [/SUP] Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace being brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Paul also said to "be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
2 Timothy 2:1 (NASB)
[SUP]1 [/SUP] You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
We access this grace through faith when we hear the word of Christ and what He has already done. Romans 5:2
This releases His life to flow out and through us to a hurt and dying world that needs to see the love and grace of our loving Father for who He truly is and that He loves them dearly.
Paul said that the word of His grace is what builds us up and is able to give us the inheritance that is ours in Christ.
Acts 20:32 (NASB)
[SUP]32 [/SUP] "And now I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.
Peter said to "fix our hope completely on the grace that is being brought to us at the revelation of Jesus Christ."
1 Peter 1:13
[SUP]13 [/SUP] Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace being brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Paul also said to "be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
2 Timothy 2:1 (NASB)
[SUP]1 [/SUP] You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
We access this grace through faith when we hear the word of Christ and what He has already done. Romans 5:2
This releases His life to flow out and through us to a hurt and dying world that needs to see the love and grace of our loving Father for who He truly is and that He loves them dearly.
Yes...this truth can cause a "gnashing of the teeth" against those that speak in this way to the religious mindset as can be seen in the response of the good moral law-keeping Jews when Stephen told them the truth. They stoned him in the name of "truth and God."
Acts 7:54 (KJV)
[SUP]54 [/SUP] When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth.
The self-righteous mind will "gnash their teeth" at those that believe and speak of the grace of God in Christ's work.
Acts 7:54 (KJV)
[SUP]54 [/SUP] When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth.
The self-righteous mind will "gnash their teeth" at those that believe and speak of the grace of God in Christ's work.
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We don't have to trust Paul Washer completely, but I think he is inviting us to reexamine the Scriptures. Many pastors preach salvation by grace only, but they themselves don't know what it means to have the grace of God.
People who have God's grace are all day long in God's presence; they are moved by God's love and they produce fruits naturally. We cannot be saved by works, but if we don't have any works we probably don't have the grace of God. The grace is the tractor and the works are the trailer. Good works are the real test of faith, so without them our faith is dead.
People who have God's grace are all day long in God's presence; they are moved by God's love and they produce fruits naturally. We cannot be saved by works, but if we don't have any works we probably don't have the grace of God. The grace is the tractor and the works are the trailer. Good works are the real test of faith, so without them our faith is dead.
Most of the theology of today is centered around benefits based salvation....and about 1/4" deep and miles wide....any mention of repentance, entire sanctification, works, abiding, fruit bearing, is immediately attacked as anti-grace....its getting so bad now, that a whole generation is being taught fruit...yeah you don't need fruit to follow him and be his disciple...you just need belief[mental assent].....but Jesus said in red in John 15.8.....
[SUP]8 [/SUP]My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples.
I told a young grace preacher this and he got so mad he almost attacked me.....
[SUP]8 [/SUP]My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples.
I told a young grace preacher this and he got so mad he almost attacked me.....
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I think we will find many people who have different views about certain doctrines will be in heaven, It is the gospel which matters, not the pet doctrines some people have..
WOF is not a gospel as some are trying to say, It is just a belief of what happens AFTER one is saved. I do not like many of the calvanistic points of view either, But I do not doubt they are my brother and sister.