[PART FOUR] The Flurry of Wings: Deceived By Angels

As of this writing, Hollywood has produced more than three dozen films, made-for-TV movies, and series featuring “heavenly beings.” Roger Ebert, film critic not noted for his commitment to the Bible, wrote “These scenarios are all wrong, wrong, wrong from a theological point of view (which is the only one worth having about angels). All the authorities agree that God created angels before the beginning—before there was earth or sea or sky, or men and women.” Say it again, Roger!

We do not expect theological accuracy from Hollywood; indeed, sometimes even respect and decency are lacking. Thus in the movie Michael, John Travolta portrays the biblical archangel as a slob; a brawling, promiscuous, but supposedly lovable, slob. Covering his wings with an old trenchcoat, Michael joins three tabloid journalists on a journey to Chicago. Along the way he seduces women and he spends a night in jail.

Obviously, this scenario is much more akin to the fallen angel, Lucifer, than it is to Michael, the archangel, the “prince who protects” the children of Israel, and who fought with the devil over the body of Moses. Hollywood has it wrong, very wrong.

My concern is not with such gross distortions of angels, however. Something much more sinister is taking place with this new angel fad, something that ultimately is more damaging than trash television or blatant, liberal theology. I refer to this: that millions of evangelicals are accepting the “Touched by an Angel” TV series as good viewing for Christians everywhere. People who should know better are looking upon this show with approval.

If you are not acquainted with the TV program, “Touched By an Angel,” the basic formula as stated by the producers is this: “The angel meets her assigned human at a crossroads in his or her life. The angel (by the power of God) performs a miracle to bring that person to a point of decision or revelation. He or she, by their own free will, then takes life-changing action.” Note 1

Thus, in virtually every episode a troubled person is helped, perhaps there is a physical healing, or an emotional barrier overcome. Sometimes the needy person might be facing a personal crisis in his or her marriage or with the children. Whatever the situation, an angel is used by God to resolve the crisis, proving that there is a spiritual dimension to the world, and that God Himself stands at the ready to help us by sending angels to those who least deserve or expect it. Each show has a “feel good” ending, since a crisis has been resolved, and the troubled person has turned a corner, setting out in a new direction.

Why do I object to this harmless story line? The answer, briefly put, is that the show is loaded with theology, a cultural theology that reinforces the prevalent views about man and God. Through its pleasing portrayals of needy people, helped by heavenly messengers, it lobs a grenade at the heart of the Christian Gospel.

First, it assumes that people are basically good, rather than sinners who stand in desperate need of God’s saving grace. The show avoids concepts such as sin and the total depravity of the human race. Everyone has good within, waiting for it to be unleashed. Indeed, one of the show’s actors says that “there might be an angel in everyone of us, waiting to do a miracle.”

The show reinforces the prevailing cultural myth that sin is never the problem we face, rather it is always a feeling of disconnectedness, a need for knowledge about how God’s help can be enlisted. Thankfully, an angel comes to help in a crisis, and there is relief knowing that at last one has made contact with God.

The Bible teaches that an understanding of our sinfulness is central to our understanding of how we must approach God. If we don’t know how bad off we are in the presence of a holy God, we will try to access Him in ways that He despises. Thus, a wrong view of man always leads to a wrong view of God.

In the television series, the Almighty can be contacted by anyone who has the good fortune of connecting with an angel. Like Cain, who thought that God could be approached in any creative way, the show teaches that ordinary people, if they have enough ordinary good will, can have contact with God, without a mediator, without a sacrifice, without blood.

It follows that the show has no place for Christ, neither His cross nor His resurrection is necessary for us to make contact with the “powers that be.” Angels are waiting to help us get connected. They are more approachable than God; thus, it is possible to be in touch with the spiritual world without appeasing God.

“But” you protest, “it does not claim to be a Christian program, but is committed to presenting a generic faith, showing that there are people who believe in God; and that angels are real beings just as the Bible says.” But the point cannot be made too strongly: The view of human nature portrayed in the series is not biblical and therefore the God the show portrays is not biblical either. It reinforces a destructive cultural stereotype.

What do we make of the angel stories; the reports of angels intervening to help people? Before we answer that question, we have to cover an important bit of biblical data to put matters in perspective.

All angels, whether good or bad were created by God. They are independent creatures, not recycled dead people as Hollywood often portrays them to be. In many movies, angels are presented as deceased humans, who earn their wings by good behavior. That is a human idea found nowhere in the Bible.

We must affirm that there is a great deal of similarity between the evil angels and the “elect” angels, as Paul calls them. Thus, it is not possible for us to always distinguish the good angels from the bad ones. It is simply not wise to navigate the metaphysical landscape without a map, a guide that lets us call these angelic beings by their correct designation.

Satan is presented in the Bible as having a keen intellect, a full complement of emotions and a will by which he rebelled against God. Although at one time he stood in God’s presence, orchestrating the praise of all the angelic host, he chose his own path in the cosmos. As a result, he is on a forced march to destruction, enroute to his final destination of torment and humiliation in hell.

Unfortunately, he did not fall alone, but took a percentage of the angelic host with him (perhaps 1/3 according to Revelation 12). At any rate, he has a multitude of helpers that do his bidding, and that seek to extend his kingdom. These helpers are known in Scripture as demons.

When Jesus was on earth, Satan mustered all of his powers to try to divert the Son of God from His calling. He tried to kill the Christ Child when Herod slaughtered the children under two years of age in the environs of Bethlehem. Since the plan failed, he tried to get Christ to sin in the desert; later he continued his opposition, but Christ decisively defeated him on the cross.

Satan was unsuccessful, of course. Facing the cross, Christ said, “Now judgment is upon this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out” (John 12:31).

It is not always possible for us to tell the difference between good and bad angels. The evil angels are willing to make as many concessions as possible to deceive the unwary. The angels of darkness turn themselves into angels of light so that people will be confused about their real identity.

1. Evil angels are willing to mouth solid, evangelical doctrine. When Christ was in the synagogue in Capernaum He met a man with an unclean spirit, who, when confronted by Christ cried out, “What business do we have with each other, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are — the Holy One of God!” (Mark 1:24). This demon, in effect, could sign an evangelical statement of faith that affirmed that Christ was Jesus of Nazareth, “the Holy One of God.”

What is more, demons confessed that Christ was the Son of God. “What business do we have with each other, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I implore You by God, do not torment me!” (Mark 5:7). These are the words of a demon responding to Christ’s command to leave the demented man. These demons, could, in effect, sign an evangelical statement of faith that affirmed that Christ was “The Holy One Of God,” or “The Son of the Most High God.”

Of course demons do not make such admissions willingly, or gladly. But when in the presence of Christ, or when attempting to deceive others they will confess to the truths of sound doctrine. Yes, they are capable of appearing and quoting “Hear O Israel, the Lord our God is One Lord” if the words will deceive one of their victims.

2. Evil angels will duplicate the miracles of Christ. Paul warned that Satan would come with “all power and signs and false wonders” (2 Thessalonians 2:9). Not every miracle is from God; not every beneficial intervention comes from the good angels. Evil angels will do all the helpful miracles they can if it serves their long-term goals, namely diverting people from the purity of the Gospel of Christ.

A man who was healed from a serious disease in a so-called healing meeting, discovered that he inherited “demonic darkness”, that is, a persistent sense that he now had an evil presence near him. When he rebuked Satan, the emotional and spiritual cloud left him, but his disease returned. We should not be surprised that healings occur in all the religions of the world. Satan is willing to give something that appears good in exchange for blind allegiance.

3. Evil angels use “super apostles” who present themselves as experts in spirituality. They convincingly lead people to believe that all people have, within themselves, the power to find God; they can have direct contact with God by following the right techniques.

These apostles invite people to come to God “just as they are” not to be cleansed and forgiven, but to be accepted on the basis of their own merit as humans. They are to come to receive the help they deserve. God delights to make contact with His creatures, if only they will desire it. “Come one and all” and “come in your own way.” And so we come once again to the grand lie: anyone can make contact with God without a mediator, without a God-appointed sacrifice and without blood.

Any television program that promotes such a view of man and God is an assault on Christ and His work on the cross. Any insistence that good angels are party to such a portrayal is deception. The good angels know the difference between true spirituality and the false. They know what it takes for man to worship God. They also know what happens to those who think they can do it all in their own way.

So the question is: how do we interpret the dramatic rescues, the healings and the help given to people who are in desperate straits? What do we say about the accounts of ‘divine interventions’ of heavenly beings that make everything turn out just right, regardless of what people believe about Christ? Think through the following:

1. God’s good angels are given assignments limited to the people of God. They are not sent indiscriminately to all men and women. “Are they not all ministering spirits, sent out to render service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation” (Hebrews 1:14). Thus, we have the function of angels defined for us in Scripture. If angels are ever sent to those who refuse to accept Christ and therefore “will not inherit salvation,” we have no account of it in Scripture.

Yes, angels are sometimes sent to the unconverted, but only to judge them. We think immediately of the angels that visited with Abraham had the responsibility of executing judgment on Sodom and Gomorrah. Angels did help Lot escape the city, but only because he was a believer in Jehovah and therefore a “righteous man” (2 Peter 2:7).

Repeatedly, in the book of Revelation, angels are directly involved in executing the judgment of those who have not come under the protection of Christ’s sacrifice. For example, in chapter 14 a succession of angels comes announcing judgment. One warns that if anyone worships the beast “he also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is mixed in full strength in the cup of His anger; and he will be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb” (Revelation 14:10). The angel that followed announced the impending judgment and the next angel executed it.

Read carefully, “Then another angel, the one who has power over fire, came out from the altar; and he called with a loud voice to him who had the sharp sickle, saying ‘Put in your sharp sickle, and gather the clusters from the vine of the earth, because her grapes are ripe’” (v.18) Then notice what this angel does.

“So the angel swung his sickle to the earth and gathered the clusters from the vine of the earth, and threw them into the great wine press of the wrath of God” (v.19). Later in the book, an angel invites the birds in midheaven to eat the flesh of kings, commanders, and mighty men (19:17,18) now that God has destroyed them in judgment.

Needless to say, the program “Touched By An Angel” does not feature angels coming to execute the wicked. These Hollywood angels are always doing good deeds, even for people who might not be particularly religious; even for people who do not believe in Christ as Savior and are not “heirs of salvation.” These popular representations of angels are not good angels, but angels of another sort.

3. Evil angels have all of the essential powers of good angels. Therefore evil angels perform many similar assignments as those of good angels for their evil master, Satan. Think of the awesome “victory” (albeit temporary) Satan wins when millions of people mistake his intervention into human lives as the intervention of God and His angels!

Remember, Satan’s goal is not to create as much misery as he can on planet earth; he is willing to do some good things while keeping his eventual goals in sight. His primary objective is to spread false doctrine, to reinforce the idea that God can be approached directly without a mediator, an acceptable sacrifice and blood. He does not mind if people believe in God, in supernatural occurrences and miracles. Indeed, these serve his purpose very well.

If you are a Catholic, Satan will appear as Mary; if you are a Protestant, he will appear as Christ and if you are a Hindu, he will appear as Krishna. Now that Princess Diana has become a international icon and a religious symbol, reportedly there are sightings of her, too. Satan will take whatever form expected to keep people shielded from the Gospel of Christ. It is naive to say, as some do, that these stories must be the work of good angels because the miracles are good and beneficial. We must boldly say that “good” miracles can be done by “bad” angels.

The famous spiritist, Emanuel Swedenborg recognized the difficulty of distinguishing good angels and bad. After years of spiritism, he wrote, “When spirits begin to speak with a man, he ought to beware that he believes nothing whatever from them; for they say almost anything...they would tell so many lies, and indeed with solemn affirmation, that a man would be astonished...if a man listens and believes, they press on and deceive, and seduce in [many] ways.” Note 2

Please do not forget the great sin of our time: the belief that God can be approached without a mediator, without an acceptable sacrifice and without blood.

Only the full biblical message can combat the rampant spirituality of our times; a spirituality that is a substitute for the Gospel of Christ. The fear that Paul had for the saints in Corinth should be ours today, “But I am afraid, lest as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds should be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ” (2 Corinthians 11:3).

Millions are deceived by angels whose presence preaches “another gospel.” As Paul warns, “But even though we, or an angel in heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to that which we have preached to you, let him be accursed” (Galatians 1:8).

Notes 1. Quoted in Citizen, Dec. 1997, p. 7. 2. Quoted in John Ankerberg and John Weldon, The Facts on Channeling, (Chattanooga: The John Ankerberg Evangelistic Association, 1988), p.8.

They did not declare in the personal pronoun like a believer can Say" That I believe Jesus Christ came in the Flesh" . They are recognizing Christ but not as a believer. They are already judged. For you to know a believer or an angel from God to say " I believe" .

"1 John 4 (New International Version)

1 John 4

On Denying the Incarnation

1 Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3 but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.

Notice the very words A Spirit(Singular Confession) verbatim cannot acknowledge =

This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3 but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God"

Otherwise what do you think that means? Acknowledge! I have personally encountered it myself.

I know. I have seen it. It's amazing!

If God knows ahead of time at some point who is going to ultimately accept Christ... then God can send angels to help those people while they are still unbelievers

I'll have to go back and read the series. Angels are an extremely interesting topic but one in which there isn't a whole lot of info on. All I can say is that I doubt if they like being pictured as fat little babies with wings. Never picture anyone in caricature who is carrying a flaming sword-that's my motto.

Angels generally are messengers to carry out God's will either through word or deed. I believe the gospel message is given to believers to share with unbelievers. We (believers) have been appointed to help others come to a saving knowledge, although we don't fully recognize or appreciate the power and authority of God's word which we have. The gospel, strangely enough, does not seem to be given to angels to share with unbelievers (e.g. Cornelius). God seem to have set tasks and appointments for each of His creatures.

Were not the angles sent to judge Sodom and Gomorrah ? and angles sent to rescue Lot out of Sodom and Gomorrah ?

That's a good question. As far as judging Sodom and Gomorrah I would say no. As far as rescuing Lot out of Sodom, I would have to say that wasn't their primary mission although they did not destroy the place until after they got Lot out of there. Please note what the scriptures tell us:

and behold, three men were standing in front of him.

Gen 18:17 The LORD said, "Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do,

...

Gen 19:1 The two angels came to Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom. When Lot saw them, he rose to meet them and bowed himself with his face to the earth

There were three "persons" who visited Abraham. Of those three, one says ""Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do,". God judged Sodom and Gomorrah. The two angels who traveled on to Sodom were only the deliverers of that judgment. The angels' mission was to destroy the place according to God's will.

and the LORD has sent us to destroy it."

It was Lot who went out to talk his sons-in-law into leaving the place, although they refused (Gen 19:14).

So Lot went out and said

It should be noted that Lot tarry and it was only because of the Lord's mercy that the angels forced Lot and his family out.

So the men seized him and his wife and his two daughters by the hand, the LORD being merciful to him

It was because of the Lord's mercy that Lot was spared. I don't wish to make the angels sound cold but it probably wouldn't matter to the angels one way or another if Lot was consumed.

1 Timothy 4 (King James Version)

1 Timothy 4
1. Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;

2. Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;

3. Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.

4. For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:

5. For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.

From the:
God's Word Translation:

1 Timothy 4

A Prophecy About the Last Times

1. The Spirit says clearly that in later times some believers will desert the Christian faith. They will follow spirits that deceive, and they will believe the teachings of demons.
2. These people will speak lies disguised as truth. Their consciences have been scarred as if branded by a red-hot iron.
3. They will try to stop others from getting married and from eating certain foods. God created food to be received with prayers of thanks by those who believe and know the truth.
4. Everything God created is good. Nothing should be rejected if it is received with prayers of thanks.
5. The word of God and prayer set it apart as holy.

The writer makes a point that the HOLY SPIRIT expressly says that in the latter days that there will be those who will depart from the Christian faith, that their consciences will be seared with a hot iron.
There will be those who will teach lies, doctrines that there are many ways to GOD APART FROM having a Mediator, and APART FROM JESUS CHRIST's GRACE.
There will be those who teach that the law brings justification alone without Jesus Christ fulfilling the law.
They will teach that it's by your own merits, works, that man can bring themselves to GOD.

What is the message of the Gospel ?
What is the Christian faith ?
What is , the , TRUTH ?

Grace and Truth came by Jesus Christ.
Jesus Christ IS the TRUTH.

What was it ? what the writer of Hebrews meant in Hebrews chapter 10 verse ( 26 For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins ) .... a interesting portion of the bible indeed.
Sin willfully, not obeying the truth.
The truth is the Gospel message that Jesus Christ came to save sinners, and not themselves.
That's the truth and the Gospel message.
Sinning as in, not obeying the truth, Sinning as ? rejecting the Gospel message of the KNOWLEDGE OF THE TRUTH.
Sinning ? as in ? Rejecting that there is only salvation of our LORD JESUS CHRIST ALONE BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST.
Have to read this book in context.
The writer was writing to the Hebrew Christians who have Judisers come in who claimed they were Christians ( that's who Paul talked about in Galatians about " those who sneaked in " .
They were teaching that those Christians still had to observe the law to be saved, APART FROM JESUS CHRIST.... Saint John called them ANTI-CHRIST.
Saint John said that even though they went out among us, they were not apart of us.
For GOD so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that who so every believes in him, should not parish, but have every lasting life.
A HOLY GOD sent Jesus Christ as our supstitude sacrificial sacrificed to take our place in the seat of GOD's judgment so we won't have to.
God sent Jesus Christ, GOD in the flesh to atone for our sins so we can stand before GOD spotless and clean.
Jesus Christ saves us by grace through faith in HIM .
That is the Christian faith, that is our mediator's message and finished work.
Those who teach a works based salvation have departed from the faith, for if salvation was by works, then, it's not salvation by faith.
They have seared their consciences by the need to atone for their sins by works.
There minds are always consumed by sin, because they remind everyone and themselves of sin, and not grace.
The more they are consumed in their mind of sin, and the thoughts of sin, they act on their sin, and because their works of sacrifices of bulls and goats can not atone for their sins, no wonder they are a miserable lot.
They also trample the blood of Jesus Christ underfoot because they don't see that his blood as HOLY and Eternal, they consider it as common as the blood of bulls and goats.

Typo Corrections:

Sorry folks, it's late and my eyes are not great..

( *** Sinning ? as in ? Rejecting that there is only salvation in our LORD JESUS CHRIST ALONE BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST. *** ) ....

( *** For GOD so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that who so ever believes in him, should not parish, but have ever lasting life. *** ) ......

A seducing spirit will try to cause you to divert from Jesus Christ and from the way of salvation GOD has made ONLY in OUR LORD Jesus Christ...
Deceivers will try to take away from the finished work of the cross of Jesus Christ and his victory in his Resurrection.
A seducing spirit and deceivers will take attention away from GOD, take away from the GLORY of GOD and put it on themselves, put the attention of their own works, merits, self righteousness ( not Christ's righteousness ) to gain their salvation..
Seducers and Deceivers will come and flatter you with their own vain glory, their own wisdom, their own philosophy.
Works based salvation put's the glory on man, and a Grace based salvation through faith in Jesus Christ puts the GLORY ALONE IN GOD.
Those who trust in their works and merits trust in their own sacrifices of bulls and goats.
They have departed from the Christian faith ( or never was a part of the Christian faith at all ) for if ?? it was a salvation based on man's works, merits, man's self righteousness only ?? then, it can't be said that it is a salvation based alone by grace through faith ALONE in Jesus Christ's work on the cross.

The truth and the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is that a HOLY , JUST, RIGHTEOUS GOD came in the flesh , JESUS CHRIST to save sinners, and not themselves , for sinners can not or nor can they never be able to save themselves..

The works based salvation people are the " Faith Departers " ..
Departers from the faith that Jesus Christ saves ALONE by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.... they have departed the faith....
How can it be ? if it is salvation by works, then it can't be salvation by faith, and we know, that the Bible tells us that it's a salvation BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH IN OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST ALONE !!!

Happy New Year !!

Oh, yeah, the " faith without works ( verb ) is dead " ....

Without action , acts ( verb ).. ( motion, action, labor ) , or action, faith just stands there, no life.
Like a pump that pumps water, or ? if someone, or GOD gives you something....

FREELY GOD GIVES !

FREELY WE MUST TAKE ( i.e. taking, a verb, action ) .

Suppose you have a gift you wanted to give to your loved one.
You want to give it freely, but ? it's NEVER a ( ** RECEIVED GIFT ** ) until a action ( working, motion, verb ) is taken by the other person to take it and receive it...

Yes, we will hear those who say " well we should preach about the law and sin " .... yes of course !!!

Look at them and say " well, well, let's talk about the sin in YOUR LIFE ! shall we ???? " .....

Jesus said " he that is without sin, cast the first stone " ..... that should sum it up rightly ... right ?

Yes, when we preach and teach about the law, and sin, we should preach and teach that the law or for the law came to show us how sinful and rebellious mankind really is .... OPPS ... someone's pride and arrogance won't let them admit this .....
All of us were born into sin, for we can not, and never can we escape this reality, but, ONLY IN AND THROUGH THE SAVING GRACE OF JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD WHO SAVES US !

The law is to show mankind how sinful and hopeless we really are without Jesus Christ.
The law points to the fact and need that we needed someone to save us.
The law points to Jesus Christ who FULFILLED every righteous demand GOD placed on us.
When reading the law, or the whole Bible, there is a blooded, sacrificed bloody body of Jesus Christ.
There is a scarlet red line that says SACRIFICE !
When we have the knowledge of the TRUTH of Jesus Christ,
Then we can look at the Old Testament and see the PASSOVER.
We can see the passover lamb who takes away the sin of the world...
Yes, let's talk about sin.
Let's talk about how wretched mankind really is.
How lost mankind really is.
How mankind's condition is totally hopeless.
How mankind was dead in our sins and trespasses in front of a HOLY GOD.

BUT !!!!!!

Jesus Christ came,
for Grace and Truth came by Jesus Christ...
WE PREACH ABOUT SIN AND THE LAW, but, then, we give people hope and the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ that Jesus Christ saves sinners who could not save themselves...
As the book of Ephesians says ( BUT GOD ! WHO IS RICH IN MERCY for his great love wherewith he loved us ).......

THERE IS HOPE FOLKS IN JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD !!!

Ephesians 2

1. And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;

2. Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

3. Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

4. But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,

5. Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

6. And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

7. That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

Romans 8 (King James Version)

Romans 8

1. There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

2. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

3. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:

4. That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

5. For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.

6. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

7. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

8. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

What are you walking after folks ?

After the law of the spirit of life in Jesus Christ through faith in him ?

Or the carnally minded way of the law in the flesh ?
For the law in the flesh was weak, but, the law was fulfilled in us through Jesus Christ who walk not after the flesh, but after the spirit in faith in Jesus Christ.
Those who walk in the flesh can not please GOD, for without faith, you can not please GOD, but, expect GOD's rightful judgment on you.
However, someone's pride and arrogance will cause them to be blinded to the truth of the Gospel message of our LORD Jesus Christ, because they reject the plan that it is only by GOD through his son Jesus Christ that saves sinners and not themselves....

What is your hope of your HOPE ?

HOPE IN JESUS CHRIST ALONE ?

Or by your own self efforts and works ?

BTW, your posts would be easier on my eyes with more white space.

Certainly the Biblical criteria for Salvation is FAITH IN CHRIST.

I don’t think it’s as easy for one to lose one’s Salvation as some Armenians sp? seem to think.

To some degree, all sin is willful.

As Scripture indicates, we all sin in this mortal life.

Ongoing confession, repentance etc. is to be our way of life.

. . . if we confess our sins, HE IS FAITHFUL TO FORGIVE US AND CLEANSE US FROM ALL UNRIGHTEOUSNESS.

PRAISE HIS NAME, THANK GOD FOR THE BLOOD OF JESUS.

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