Not By Works
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[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Revelation 14:12-13, “Here is the endurance of the set-apart ones, here are those guarding the Commands of [/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]יהוה [/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]and the Belief of [/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]יהושע[/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]. And I heard a voice out of the heaven saying to me, Write, Blessed are the dead who die in the Master from now on. Yes, says the Spirit, in order that they rest from their labors, and their works follow with them.”
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[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Exodus 20:6, “But showing love to thousands who love Me by keeping My Laws.”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]John/Yahanan 14:15, “If you love Me, keep My commandments.”[/FONT]
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[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Exodus 20:6, “But showing love to thousands who love Me by keeping My Laws.”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]John/Yahanan 14:15, “If you love Me, keep My commandments.”[/FONT]
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[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Psalm 11:4, "יהוה [/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]is in His holy temple; [/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]יהוה [/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]throne is in heaven; His eyes behold, His eyelids test the sons of men.”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Psalms 62:9-12, “Sons of Aḏam are but a breath, Sons of men are a lie; If weighed in the scales, They are altogether lighter than breath. Do not trust in oppression. And do not become vain in robbery; If riches increase, Do not set your heart on them. The Mighty One has spoken once, Twice I have heard this: That strength belongs to Yah. And loving-commitment is Yours, O יהוה[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]; For You reward each one according to his work.”[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]John 5:28-30, “Do not marvel at this, because the hour is coming in which all those in the tombs shall hear His voice, and shall come forth – those who have done* righteousness, to the resurrection of life, and those who have practiced* evil matters, to a resurrection of judgment. Of Myself I am unable to do any matter. As I hear, I judge, and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own desire, but the desire of the Father who sent Me.”
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[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Psalm 9:7-8, “But יהוה [/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]abides forever, He is preparing His throne for judgment. And He judges the world in righteousness, He judges the peoples in straightness.”
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[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Isaiah 66:15-16, “For look, יהוה [/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]comes with fire and with His chariots, like a whirlwind, to render His displeasure with burning, and His rebuke with flames of fire. For by fire and by His sword [/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]יהוה [FONT=Times New Roman, serif]shall judge all flesh, and the slain of [/FONT][/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]יהוה shall be many.”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Hebrews 10:26-31, “For if we sin purposely after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice offering for sins, but some fearsome anticipation of judgment, and a fierce fire which is about to consume the opponents. Anyone who has disregarded the Torah of Mosheh dies without compassion on the witness of two or three witnesses. How much worse punishment do you think shall he deserve who has trampled the Son of YHWH underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was set apart as common, and insulted the Spirit of favor? For we know Him who has said, “Vengeance is Mine, I shall repay, says יהוה[/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif].” And again, “יהוה [FONT=Times New Roman, serif]shall judge His people. It is fearsome to fall into the hands of the living Father.”[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Colossians 3:24-25, “Knowing that from יהוה [FONT=Times New Roman, serif]you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve Yahshua the Messiah. But he who does wrong will receive the reward for the wrong he has done, and there is no respect of persons.” [/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]2 Corinthians 5:10, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Messiah, that each one may receive his reward according to what he has done in the body, whether righteous or evil.”[/FONT]
“[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]judgment seat” is word #G968 - béma: a step, raised place, by impl. A tribunal, Original Word: βῆμα, ατος, τό, Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter, Transliteration: béma, Phonetic Spelling: (bay'-ma), Short Definition: the space covered by a step of the foot, a tribunal, Definition: an elevated place ascended by steps, a throne, tribunal.[/FONT]
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[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Psalms 62:9-12, “Sons of Aḏam are but a breath, Sons of men are a lie; If weighed in the scales, They are altogether lighter than breath. Do not trust in oppression. And do not become vain in robbery; If riches increase, Do not set your heart on them. The Mighty One has spoken once, Twice I have heard this: That strength belongs to Yah. And loving-commitment is Yours, O יהוה[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]; For You reward each one according to his work.”[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]John 5:28-30, “Do not marvel at this, because the hour is coming in which all those in the tombs shall hear His voice, and shall come forth – those who have done* righteousness, to the resurrection of life, and those who have practiced* evil matters, to a resurrection of judgment. Of Myself I am unable to do any matter. As I hear, I judge, and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own desire, but the desire of the Father who sent Me.”
[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Psalm 9:7-8, “But יהוה [/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]abides forever, He is preparing His throne for judgment. And He judges the world in righteousness, He judges the peoples in straightness.”
[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Isaiah 66:15-16, “For look, יהוה [/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]comes with fire and with His chariots, like a whirlwind, to render His displeasure with burning, and His rebuke with flames of fire. For by fire and by His sword [/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]יהוה [FONT=Times New Roman, serif]shall judge all flesh, and the slain of [/FONT][/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]יהוה shall be many.”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Hebrews 10:26-31, “For if we sin purposely after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice offering for sins, but some fearsome anticipation of judgment, and a fierce fire which is about to consume the opponents. Anyone who has disregarded the Torah of Mosheh dies without compassion on the witness of two or three witnesses. How much worse punishment do you think shall he deserve who has trampled the Son of YHWH underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was set apart as common, and insulted the Spirit of favor? For we know Him who has said, “Vengeance is Mine, I shall repay, says יהוה[/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif].” And again, “יהוה [FONT=Times New Roman, serif]shall judge His people. It is fearsome to fall into the hands of the living Father.”[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Colossians 3:24-25, “Knowing that from יהוה [FONT=Times New Roman, serif]you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve Yahshua the Messiah. But he who does wrong will receive the reward for the wrong he has done, and there is no respect of persons.” [/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]2 Corinthians 5:10, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Messiah, that each one may receive his reward according to what he has done in the body, whether righteous or evil.”[/FONT]
“[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]judgment seat” is word #G968 - béma: a step, raised place, by impl. A tribunal, Original Word: βῆμα, ατος, τό, Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter, Transliteration: béma, Phonetic Spelling: (bay'-ma), Short Definition: the space covered by a step of the foot, a tribunal, Definition: an elevated place ascended by steps, a throne, tribunal.[/FONT]
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We agree that we are not saved by our understanding of the Word.
This would imply that with or without correct understanding we can be saved.
"Lean not on your understanding but trust in the Lord."
"For we are saved if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end."
"I don't consider myself to have attained but one thing I do: forgetting what is behind I press on."
Going on to perfection is about attaining to the Resurrection; doesn't mean that those who don't are not saved but that they lose their reward: have no part in the first resurrection.
We are saved by loosing our life in Christ: only by the end of Paul's life he said, "I have fought a good fight I have finished my course, I have kept the faith, henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, and not for me only but for all those who Love His appearing."
These rule with Christ for a thousand years, "The rest of the dead are not raised until the thousand years are fulfilled."
Few enter in at the straight Gate in the narrow Way: in fellowship of the sufferings of Christ, to lose affections after the flesh.
"Some were tortured not accepting deliverance that they may obtain a better Resurrection."
Both the salvation of the person who builds with wood: affection in this life like first love for His wife rather than for the Lord, and the person who builds with Gold: to have part in the first resurrection, are by the Grace of God.
Going on to perfection is not by works: only understood this in my interaction here recently in the last few month.
For the longest time I though that going on to perfection was works.
What changed is realising I'm powerless: Even Jesus said, "I can do nothing of myself, except what I see the Father doing."
"You shall have power after the Holy Spirit is come on you and you shall be My witnesses: Implies we see Him work in us and through us."
This would imply that with or without correct understanding we can be saved.
"Lean not on your understanding but trust in the Lord."
"For we are saved if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end."
"I don't consider myself to have attained but one thing I do: forgetting what is behind I press on."
Going on to perfection is about attaining to the Resurrection; doesn't mean that those who don't are not saved but that they lose their reward: have no part in the first resurrection.
We are saved by loosing our life in Christ: only by the end of Paul's life he said, "I have fought a good fight I have finished my course, I have kept the faith, henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, and not for me only but for all those who Love His appearing."
These rule with Christ for a thousand years, "The rest of the dead are not raised until the thousand years are fulfilled."
Few enter in at the straight Gate in the narrow Way: in fellowship of the sufferings of Christ, to lose affections after the flesh.
"Some were tortured not accepting deliverance that they may obtain a better Resurrection."
Both the salvation of the person who builds with wood: affection in this life like first love for His wife rather than for the Lord, and the person who builds with Gold: to have part in the first resurrection, are by the Grace of God.
Going on to perfection is not by works: only understood this in my interaction here recently in the last few month.
For the longest time I though that going on to perfection was works.
What changed is realising I'm powerless: Even Jesus said, "I can do nothing of myself, except what I see the Father doing."
"You shall have power after the Holy Spirit is come on you and you shall be My witnesses: Implies we see Him work in us and through us."
My question is how many personalities are in there Ralph? Will Allen pop out too?
Dcon is correct. Only the blood sacrifice can anyone stand on. Salvation is in the work of Jesus alone!
And stillness is right too in what he said. We will do by His empowering. Plus a tree has all kinds of levels of growth until the fruit appears. Same as in us.
back to sleep. I just checked during a wake up. No intention of writing.
Dcon is correct. Only the blood sacrifice can anyone stand on. Salvation is in the work of Jesus alone!
And stillness is right too in what he said. We will do by His empowering. Plus a tree has all kinds of levels of growth until the fruit appears. Same as in us.
back to sleep. I just checked during a wake up. No intention of writing.
Hi Dcon...I am amazed at how many times the children of Israel turned away from God and served other gods, and yet God still kept an outstretched arm to them time and time again 
...The OT is teaching me how much God truly loves us, never giving up on us, being offered so many chances to return to Him...Reading the OT has brought me to tears many times, reminding myself how easy it can be to forget God when times are good...The OT is a great reminder that God should come first in everything, He is love, without Him we are nothing...xox...
...The OT is teaching me how much God truly loves us, never giving up on us, being offered so many chances to return to Him...Reading the OT has brought me to tears many times, reminding myself how easy it can be to forget God when times are good...The OT is a great reminder that God should come first in everything, He is love, without Him we are nothing...xox...Hi Ralph...I know you are Ralph and not Fran ...I remember how Fran wrote, and you both write different when you type...Say hello to her from me please and I hope she is well...
I see alot of truth in what you have wrote, some things I do not understand as I am still learning, and thank you for responding to me...xox...
...I remember how Fran wrote, and you both write different when you type...Say hello to her from me please and I hope she is well...I see alot of truth in what you have wrote, some things I do not understand as I am still learning, and thank you for responding to me...xox...
I write to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for His name's sake.
I write to you, fathers, because you have known Him from the beginning.
I write to you, young men, because you have overcome the wicked one.
I write to you, little children, because you have known the Father.
I have written to you, fathers, because you have known Him from the beginning.
I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God remains in you, and you have overcome the wicked one.
Love not the world, neither the things in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
Are there three levels of salvations? or four: Babes are not mentioned here.
Regardless of your answer it's correct. One common salvation with no end in sight as the full maturity of Christ.
Here described in 3 different groups, the first time little children are mention they are forgiven, the second time they have known the Father. "To know Him is Life eternal."
The warning about "Love not the world, about: entering in the sufferings of Christ to put off the works of darkness.
7 years ago the Lord told me: It would be better for you not to have been born than to return to your vomit.
I think referring to rejecting the Holy Ghost.
6 years ago: You disqualify yourself from being a priest. This warning seemed to be less serious than the previous.
Accepting that we don't know as we should helps: nothing written here supports or denies eternal security.
We are secure in Christ and agree that nothing shall separate us from the Love of Christ.
As for: To return to your vomit, not referring to stumbling along in following Jesus in His sufferings,
but loving this present world: Jesus said there is no cause of divorce, referring to believers, except for fornication:
Not the same as adultery and repenting; fornication is having another God: not going on to know the Lord but going backwards, if you say he was not saved in the first place, we can agree on that. The seeds sown on the rocky ground represents having an idol in the heart. Those among thorns as divided between love of money and Love of God:
12 years ago the Lord told me, enter in as a little child and put away your divided spirit.
Shortly after He said: Come to My house, I'M coming to My house.
A year later, falling into addiction sin and repenting, woke up hearing: This kind does not come out but by prayer and fasting.
This kind, referring to putting away my divided spirit.
The first time the Lord spoke to me was forty years ago, was I saved then or now or when I finish my course to be in the first Resurrection. We may be referring to 3 different groups "In My Father's house are many mansions."
About the first time the Lord spoke to me:
In the beginning of searching for spiritual reality, chose to repeat the name of Jesus and chose Him as Spiritual Master. Once when asked why I chose Him, replied "I know I can trust Him and that I can't trust anyone else with my life". When I said this the house I stayed in shook; left with the impression it was an evil spirit: "demons also believe, and tremble"; others in this commune house also felt the oppression of an evil spirit connected with the house. I was living with a woman without marriage commitment, once while in the house looking into each other's eyes, felt violence for no reason, we both felt it and agreed to get out of the house for a walk. This strengthened my resolve to be saying the Name of Jesus for protection. The first clear memory I have of the Lord communicating with me was not in a word but reproof of the pride of my heart, for thinking I knew a lot about the bible, and agreeing to humble myself. Then one evening sitting on the floor of the room, repeating the name of Jesus, the Lord answered me: saying "Behold if you call upon the name of the Lord He'll come." This was the first time the Lord spoke to me, and the only time He spoke in a loud voice that pierced my heart like a sword, giving me the impression of bursting like a balloon (likely my ego). I fell unconscious and thought I died, but was not worried at all, as I knew He did this, so I was in His care and it felt good to be there, feeling Loved and accepted. The woman who was with me in the room did not hear the voice and thought I fell asleep on the floor. I slept on the floor from around 11 at night till 7 in the morning. On waking my first thought was, something happened last night but what was it. I was as before and could not relate. 1Corintians 2:14 That’s why only someone who has God’s Spirit can understand spiritual blessings. Anyone who doesn’t have God’s Spirit thinks these blessings are foolish.
The second time the Lord spoke to me, He said, "Everywhere you look you'll see the cross", I understood I had to make my choice in life, whether I was going to live for myself or for Him. Now I understand It's a daily choice to follow Him in His suffering and death to end our life that is controlled by desire and pride of achievement: bound in our comfort zone. We all come short of His glory and rely on His grace as divine influence upon the heart to live in the relationship Jesus has in constant fellowship with the Father, that He left as our inheritance in His will: "Go in My Name", to enter into His Identity as a son in the resurrection. Those who overcome the world in His Name.
I write to you, fathers, because you have known Him from the beginning.
I write to you, young men, because you have overcome the wicked one.
I write to you, little children, because you have known the Father.
I have written to you, fathers, because you have known Him from the beginning.
I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God remains in you, and you have overcome the wicked one.
Love not the world, neither the things in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
Are there three levels of salvations? or four: Babes are not mentioned here.
Regardless of your answer it's correct. One common salvation with no end in sight as the full maturity of Christ.
Here described in 3 different groups, the first time little children are mention they are forgiven, the second time they have known the Father. "To know Him is Life eternal."
The warning about "Love not the world, about: entering in the sufferings of Christ to put off the works of darkness.
7 years ago the Lord told me: It would be better for you not to have been born than to return to your vomit.
I think referring to rejecting the Holy Ghost.
6 years ago: You disqualify yourself from being a priest. This warning seemed to be less serious than the previous.
Accepting that we don't know as we should helps: nothing written here supports or denies eternal security.
We are secure in Christ and agree that nothing shall separate us from the Love of Christ.
As for: To return to your vomit, not referring to stumbling along in following Jesus in His sufferings,
but loving this present world: Jesus said there is no cause of divorce, referring to believers, except for fornication:
Not the same as adultery and repenting; fornication is having another God: not going on to know the Lord but going backwards, if you say he was not saved in the first place, we can agree on that. The seeds sown on the rocky ground represents having an idol in the heart. Those among thorns as divided between love of money and Love of God:
12 years ago the Lord told me, enter in as a little child and put away your divided spirit.
Shortly after He said: Come to My house, I'M coming to My house.
A year later, falling into addiction sin and repenting, woke up hearing: This kind does not come out but by prayer and fasting.
This kind, referring to putting away my divided spirit.
The first time the Lord spoke to me was forty years ago, was I saved then or now or when I finish my course to be in the first Resurrection. We may be referring to 3 different groups "In My Father's house are many mansions."
About the first time the Lord spoke to me:
In the beginning of searching for spiritual reality, chose to repeat the name of Jesus and chose Him as Spiritual Master. Once when asked why I chose Him, replied "I know I can trust Him and that I can't trust anyone else with my life". When I said this the house I stayed in shook; left with the impression it was an evil spirit: "demons also believe, and tremble"; others in this commune house also felt the oppression of an evil spirit connected with the house. I was living with a woman without marriage commitment, once while in the house looking into each other's eyes, felt violence for no reason, we both felt it and agreed to get out of the house for a walk. This strengthened my resolve to be saying the Name of Jesus for protection. The first clear memory I have of the Lord communicating with me was not in a word but reproof of the pride of my heart, for thinking I knew a lot about the bible, and agreeing to humble myself. Then one evening sitting on the floor of the room, repeating the name of Jesus, the Lord answered me: saying "Behold if you call upon the name of the Lord He'll come." This was the first time the Lord spoke to me, and the only time He spoke in a loud voice that pierced my heart like a sword, giving me the impression of bursting like a balloon (likely my ego). I fell unconscious and thought I died, but was not worried at all, as I knew He did this, so I was in His care and it felt good to be there, feeling Loved and accepted. The woman who was with me in the room did not hear the voice and thought I fell asleep on the floor. I slept on the floor from around 11 at night till 7 in the morning. On waking my first thought was, something happened last night but what was it. I was as before and could not relate. 1Corintians 2:14 That’s why only someone who has God’s Spirit can understand spiritual blessings. Anyone who doesn’t have God’s Spirit thinks these blessings are foolish.
The second time the Lord spoke to me, He said, "Everywhere you look you'll see the cross", I understood I had to make my choice in life, whether I was going to live for myself or for Him. Now I understand It's a daily choice to follow Him in His suffering and death to end our life that is controlled by desire and pride of achievement: bound in our comfort zone. We all come short of His glory and rely on His grace as divine influence upon the heart to live in the relationship Jesus has in constant fellowship with the Father, that He left as our inheritance in His will: "Go in My Name", to enter into His Identity as a son in the resurrection. Those who overcome the world in His Name.
WE ARE KNOWN BY GOD IF WE HAVE THE HOLY SPIRIT WHO IS OUR HELPER IN DOING/OBEYING HIS COMMANDMENTS THROUGH FAITH THAT WORKS IN LOVE AND IT IS CLEAR THAT LOVE IS THE FULFILLMENT OF THE LAW.
1 Corinthians 8:1-3 Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that we all possess knowledge. KNOWLEDGE PUFFS UP, but LOVE BUILDS UP. The man who thinks He knows something does not yet know as he ought to know. BUT THE MAN WHO LOVES GOD IS KNOWN BY GOD.
1 John 5:3 THIS IS LOVE FOR GOD: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome,
2 John 1:6 AND THIS IS LOVE: that we WALK IN OBEDIENCE to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you WALK IN LOVE.
Acts 26:20 First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and to the Gentiles also, I preached that THEY SHOULD REPENT and turn to God and PROVE THEIR REPENTANCE BY THEIR DEEDS.
2 Timothy 2:15 Do your best TO PRESENT YOURSELF TO GOD AS ONE APPROVED, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.
1 John 3:10,21-24 This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother. Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive from him anything we ask, BECAUSE WE OBEY HIS COMMANDS AND DO WHAT PLEASES HIM. And this is his command: TO BELIEVE in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, AND TO LOVE one another as he commanded us. THOSE WHO OBEY HIS COMMANDS LIVE IN HIM, AND HE IN THEM. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the SPIRIT he gave us.
.
1 Corinthians 8:1-3 Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that we all possess knowledge. KNOWLEDGE PUFFS UP, but LOVE BUILDS UP. The man who thinks He knows something does not yet know as he ought to know. BUT THE MAN WHO LOVES GOD IS KNOWN BY GOD.
1 John 5:3 THIS IS LOVE FOR GOD: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome,
2 John 1:6 AND THIS IS LOVE: that we WALK IN OBEDIENCE to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you WALK IN LOVE.
Acts 26:20 First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and to the Gentiles also, I preached that THEY SHOULD REPENT and turn to God and PROVE THEIR REPENTANCE BY THEIR DEEDS.
2 Timothy 2:15 Do your best TO PRESENT YOURSELF TO GOD AS ONE APPROVED, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.
1 John 3:10,21-24 This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother. Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive from him anything we ask, BECAUSE WE OBEY HIS COMMANDS AND DO WHAT PLEASES HIM. And this is his command: TO BELIEVE in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, AND TO LOVE one another as he commanded us. THOSE WHO OBEY HIS COMMANDS LIVE IN HIM, AND HE IN THEM. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the SPIRIT he gave us.
.
R
Why does this matter? Even if I was Fran why can't she come back here under a new name?
Everybody knows it's only through Christ that we are forgiven, and only through Christ that we produce the fruit that comes from having your sins forgiven. I've never once heard someone say you do it in your own strength. Not once. Nobody believes that.
Not having any fruit and having thorns and thistles are two different things.
-Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they?-Matthew 7:16
We can't excuse ourselves as being a grape vine in the name of grace if we are a thorn bush. Fruitless thorn bushes are not saved but just fruitless, immature plantings. No more than tares are saved but just fruitless until they grow up. They can't bear fruit because they are not fruit bearing plants, like unbelievers can't bear fruit because they are not fruit bearing plants. Thorns and thistles are the sign of the unbeliever not the believer.
Everybody knows it's only through Christ that we are forgiven, and only through Christ that we produce the fruit that comes from having your sins forgiven. I've never once heard someone say you do it in your own strength. Not once. Nobody believes that.
Not having any fruit and having thorns and thistles are two different things.
-Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they?-Matthew 7:16
We can't excuse ourselves as being a grape vine in the name of grace if we are a thorn bush. Fruitless thorn bushes are not saved but just fruitless, immature plantings. No more than tares are saved but just fruitless until they grow up. They can't bear fruit because they are not fruit bearing plants, like unbelievers can't bear fruit because they are not fruit bearing plants. Thorns and thistles are the sign of the unbeliever not the believer.
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R
Morning Bill...I just re-read it after reading your post and see how God thought of the least, the poor, the people who could not afford the best, that is where I see God's grace, thinking of everyone ...xox...
...xox...
R
So this begs the question, "I don't have any fruit. How can I know I'm really a grape vine and not a thorn bush?"
The Bible answer is, move on to maturity, be diligent to bear the fruit of a grape vine, then you won't have to wonder if you are one or not. You will be doing what we are told to do which is 'make your calling and election sure'-2 Peter 1:10. The Bible does not say, just take it on faith and continue to live in your old ways because it doesn't matter. I'm sure that's exactly how you make sure you are not a grape vine at all.
The Bible answer is, move on to maturity, be diligent to bear the fruit of a grape vine, then you won't have to wonder if you are one or not. You will be doing what we are told to do which is 'make your calling and election sure'-2 Peter 1:10. The Bible does not say, just take it on faith and continue to live in your old ways because it doesn't matter. I'm sure that's exactly how you make sure you are not a grape vine at all.
R
Christ is coming back to harvest the wheat and to bring it into his barn and to bundle the tares up and burn them.
Make sure you're a planting of wheat and not a tare. Do what the Bible says. Grow up to maturity and bear the fruit of a wheat plant so you'll know for sure what you are and whether you'll be saved when He comes back or destroyed.
It doesn't matter if you can lose your salvation or not. What matters is that you are a planting of God when Jesus comes back.
Make sure you're a planting of wheat and not a tare. Do what the Bible says. Grow up to maturity and bear the fruit of a wheat plant so you'll know for sure what you are and whether you'll be saved when He comes back or destroyed.
It doesn't matter if you can lose your salvation or not. What matters is that you are a planting of God when Jesus comes back.
E
Sadly many people will think they have mercy and the washing, and we will think many have the spirit and the washing, who have never known God. All because they do what we think are good works.
Instead of focusing on works, focus on true faith. God does not need proof. HE KNOWS. Lets give God the glory, and stop giving people the glory because they do some good works.
Instead of focusing on works, focus on true faith. God does not need proof. HE KNOWS. Lets give God the glory, and stop giving people the glory because they do some good works.
