-
Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.
If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!
To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.
V
Galatians 5:1; "Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made (KJV) (not the word "set" as other bibles say) us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage."
John 8:32; "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."
John 8:36; "If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed."
Jesus Christ is making us. It is a constant and life long process. The devil knows our nature and how to work to bring us down. Continue to "stand" in the Holy of Holys ...in prayer and in His Word. That is our greatest defence against the wiles of Satan. We wrestle not against flesh and blood but principles...why would he tell us to put on the WHOLE armour of God. TRUTH is Gods armour so you will be able to STAND and not be fooled in the last days. Ephesians 6:10-14.
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO PUT ON THE "WHOLE: ARMOUR?
You have to go back to Genesis 2:7; "And the Lord God formed man of the dust (body) of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life (spirit); and man became a living soul."
BODY + SPIRIT = SOUL
If body + spirit = soul, then the outcome of both is "soul." Soul then is the one in charge. Soul is the one that allows either the body (dust of the earth..earthly man) to be in charge or to allow the Holy Spirit to come in to take charge.
Remember Jesus told Nicodemus in John 3:5 that except a man be born of water (we are in the womb in water....... Jesus is the living water...so we know the Holy Spirit is there) that he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. We are born in sin and the soul is the one in charge here. We want to have the Holy Spirit in charge here...to bring him into your life and to work with us to make us in the image of Jesus Christ. It's a battle for Satan now has you as his target and no greater prize for him is to bring down a christian. STAND....
John 8:32; "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."
John 8:36; "If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed."
Jesus Christ is making us. It is a constant and life long process. The devil knows our nature and how to work to bring us down. Continue to "stand" in the Holy of Holys ...in prayer and in His Word. That is our greatest defence against the wiles of Satan. We wrestle not against flesh and blood but principles...why would he tell us to put on the WHOLE armour of God. TRUTH is Gods armour so you will be able to STAND and not be fooled in the last days. Ephesians 6:10-14.
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO PUT ON THE "WHOLE: ARMOUR?
You have to go back to Genesis 2:7; "And the Lord God formed man of the dust (body) of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life (spirit); and man became a living soul."
BODY + SPIRIT = SOUL
If body + spirit = soul, then the outcome of both is "soul." Soul then is the one in charge. Soul is the one that allows either the body (dust of the earth..earthly man) to be in charge or to allow the Holy Spirit to come in to take charge.
Remember Jesus told Nicodemus in John 3:5 that except a man be born of water (we are in the womb in water....... Jesus is the living water...so we know the Holy Spirit is there) that he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. We are born in sin and the soul is the one in charge here. We want to have the Holy Spirit in charge here...to bring him into your life and to work with us to make us in the image of Jesus Christ. It's a battle for Satan now has you as his target and no greater prize for him is to bring down a christian. STAND....
If believers carried that attitude with them they would always find a reason not to go and not to preach and not to share the gospel. Satan would always have an occasion to hinder them. They would make the excuse that I am not ready or I am disqualified because of some sin they thought was too grievous. That is not the spirit that we have been given nor does God look at us in that manner. We are to behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed upon us that we might be called the sons of God (1Jn 3:1).
That is what we are to behold, not the insecurities and inadequacies of who we are in Adam or the flesh through the old man. It does not matter what we have done in the past through the flesh, that is all dung including all the filthy rags of our own righteousness. That also includes what we might have done after we were saved. Paul counted all things but dung that he might win Christ (Phil 3:8) and he persecuted the church and had many of them killed and slaughtered (1Cor 15:9, Gal 1;13, Acts 9:1).
We are not to be ashamed of anything that we have done because it was all paid for and judged by Christ in His blood through death (Rom 5:5, Rom 6:20-23, Rom 9:33). Old things are passed away and all things have become new and that is with continuous action from a past completed act (2Cor 5:17). Many quote this verse but don't live it by faith because they believe a lie about their past ad present sins. I don't care if you got divorced and married an unsaved spouse, the mercy and goodness of God has not forsaken you, for these are the sure mercies of David (Acts 13:34). God will never allow a single sin to get Him to leave or forsake the believer and that believer has the perfect imputed righteousness of God forever (Heb 13:5, Rom 2:22-25).
Phil 1:6 And I am convinced (confident) and sure of this very thing, that He Who began a good work in you will continue until the day of Jesus Christ [right up to the time of His return], developing [that good work] and perfecting and bringing it to full completion in you.
That is what we are to behold, not the insecurities and inadequacies of who we are in Adam or the flesh through the old man. It does not matter what we have done in the past through the flesh, that is all dung including all the filthy rags of our own righteousness. That also includes what we might have done after we were saved. Paul counted all things but dung that he might win Christ (Phil 3:8) and he persecuted the church and had many of them killed and slaughtered (1Cor 15:9, Gal 1;13, Acts 9:1).
We are not to be ashamed of anything that we have done because it was all paid for and judged by Christ in His blood through death (Rom 5:5, Rom 6:20-23, Rom 9:33). Old things are passed away and all things have become new and that is with continuous action from a past completed act (2Cor 5:17). Many quote this verse but don't live it by faith because they believe a lie about their past ad present sins. I don't care if you got divorced and married an unsaved spouse, the mercy and goodness of God has not forsaken you, for these are the sure mercies of David (Acts 13:34). God will never allow a single sin to get Him to leave or forsake the believer and that believer has the perfect imputed righteousness of God forever (Heb 13:5, Rom 2:22-25).
Phil 1:6 And I am convinced (confident) and sure of this very thing, that He Who began a good work in you will continue until the day of Jesus Christ [right up to the time of His return], developing [that good work] and perfecting and bringing it to full completion in you.
E
Hey brother.
None of us are qualified to teach the word. Paul did not think he was worthy. He continued thinking this and moving forward, afraid he would become disqualified to teach. But he never thought he could come to the point he was worthy.
I think it is more dangerous for a man to stand on the pulpit and teach thinking he is qualified because he is a "righteous person" than a man who stands on the pulpit with humility understand he is there but for the grace of God.
Please do not let this hold you back.
None of us are qualified to teach the word. Paul did not think he was worthy. He continued thinking this and moving forward, afraid he would become disqualified to teach. But he never thought he could come to the point he was worthy.
I think it is more dangerous for a man to stand on the pulpit and teach thinking he is qualified because he is a "righteous person" than a man who stands on the pulpit with humility understand he is there but for the grace of God.
Please do not let this hold you back.
E
Well we know some of the works he wants from us. Like being baptized and professing your faith to the world. Gathering together with our brothers and sisters in Christ. Learning to follow the spirit and not the flesh. Professing his word to the world. Loving others as Christ loved us. (these are universal works God has for the whole body of Christ).
Then of course there are specific things God wants us personally to do, through our spiritula gifts and other things.
I think the point James was making is these people did non of these works, or if they did some, it was not of the right attitude. but in order to get something back.
E
The point people miss when it comes to abraham is what Paul tried to show to the legalist, and James tried to show through the "free grace: or "cheap grace" crowd.
Paul was showing that it was not the works Abraham did which saved him. He was saved by grace through his faith. Not because of the works he did.
James was showing to the people who thought mere belief was enough. I can live anyway I want, I have free grace. That one can say we have faith, and think we are saved, But is our faith real.
Imagine if Abraham said, Oh God I trust you, when God said" leave your family and land and go to a place I have prepared for you." And then After Abraham said he trusted God, he never left his family or land and stayed put. Did he realy trust God?
Or another example. God said take your Son which I promised you and sacrifice him to me, Abraham said ok, I trust you (have faith) But he did not do what God asked him. Did he really trust him?
Abraham did exactly what James said, He proved his faith by his work, believing God would not be slack on his promise, and able to raise his son from the dead.
There is a difference between saying I believe God, (even demons believe) and actually trusting God (faith). A person who merely believes will not show any works, because his faith is not real. A person who has true faith trusts God and will show it by his works.
Paul was showing that it was not the works Abraham did which saved him. He was saved by grace through his faith. Not because of the works he did.
James was showing to the people who thought mere belief was enough. I can live anyway I want, I have free grace. That one can say we have faith, and think we are saved, But is our faith real.
Imagine if Abraham said, Oh God I trust you, when God said" leave your family and land and go to a place I have prepared for you." And then After Abraham said he trusted God, he never left his family or land and stayed put. Did he realy trust God?
Or another example. God said take your Son which I promised you and sacrifice him to me, Abraham said ok, I trust you (have faith) But he did not do what God asked him. Did he really trust him?
Abraham did exactly what James said, He proved his faith by his work, believing God would not be slack on his promise, and able to raise his son from the dead.
There is a difference between saying I believe God, (even demons believe) and actually trusting God (faith). A person who merely believes will not show any works, because his faith is not real. A person who has true faith trusts God and will show it by his works.
E
I assume you are talking about Jesus last paragraph and not the literal paragraph of chapter three (which is john the Baptist answering questions)
Jesus said, He who does truth comes to the light, That his deeds (works) may be clearly seen. that they have been done in God.
I agree. and some of the deeds which are clearly seen are the deeds I spoke of. and many more.
Jesus said, He who does truth comes to the light, That his deeds (works) may be clearly seen. that they have been done in God.
I agree. and some of the deeds which are clearly seen are the deeds I spoke of. and many more.
E
Well remember also Paul was speaking to gentiles. to warn them about legalistic jews trying to add works to faith.
Yes james was talking to Jews. But what was he speaking against? People who claimed they had faith. But were not doing the work that Paul said people who had faith would show. They were hearers, not doers. They showed partiality. They claimed God tempted them to sin. It was gods fault not theirs. They did not show the Light that jesus said in John 3 that people who were saved would show which proceded from their faith. All they showed is darkness.
Yes james was talking to Jews. But what was he speaking against? People who claimed they had faith. But were not doing the work that Paul said people who had faith would show. They were hearers, not doers. They showed partiality. They claimed God tempted them to sin. It was gods fault not theirs. They did not show the Light that jesus said in John 3 that people who were saved would show which proceded from their faith. All they showed is darkness.
I am of the firm belief, which I came to through a very difficult encounter with the Holy Spirit, that I have no righteous deeds at all, and that if I am to perform righteous deeds, they will be by and in and of the Holy Spirit. I actually believe that I am pretty much incapable of even knowing righteousness from unrighteousness without the Holy Spirit teaching me and training me.
What scares me is that God, who has invested us with the name of Jesus, will do as we say.
What scares me is that God, who has invested us with the name of Jesus, will do as we say.
Well, let's consider a passage from Paul about good works, Gal 5:22-25. I have always found it interesting that Paul used the singular word fruit is love. And then Paul closes this with If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. Could he mean that we live, actually have life, because of the Spirit? If so, then let us walk by the Spirit.
I hope that you understand that I am not arguing, but I am trying to press a point, one I believe is of utmost importance.
In Christ.
I hope that you understand that I am not arguing, but I am trying to press a point, one I believe is of utmost importance.
In Christ.