Do you have a right relationship with God?

The written Word of God ^ | 3/14/11 | David Hersey

[Christian-59]

Many have been the times I have heard people say that obedience to God is not as important as our relationship with Him. People believe that God knows their heart and that if they have love for God in their hearts then His grace will somehow make up the difference between obedience and disobedience. I have spoken with people who say they have their own relationship with God and that they do not have to attend the assemblies of the saints or seek God's will through His word and live in obedience to that will. The purpose of this lesson is to examine the various characteristics of our relationship with God and to determine what the word of God teaches about our relationship to God.

[Iscool]

EVERYTHING we do affects other people. And we will all know at the general judgment when the sheep and the goats are separated. (You will know, of course, at the moment of your death — your particular judgment.)

I and the other Christians won't be there...We've already been judged...

[Soothesayer]

I have absolutely no relationship with God. Until this world is destroyed, he is irrelevant. Everywhere I look there is nothing but horror and filth. There is no sign of divinity anywhere.

Just as Christians spend their time praying to God, I spend my time hating leftist filth and thinking of ways to kill them.

[Gamecock]

First off, please quite screaming.

Those passages have noting to do with works, but faith. We are called to do good, but that isn’t what saves us, or keeps us safe.

That idea is condemned over and over again. (Galatians, throughout Romans, the words of Jesus.

I suggest you read you Bible and realize that not only mys we leave out sin, but we need to repent of our good works as well.

[Iscool]

Here's the private message you sent me...

What makes you think you escape judgement at the moment of your death.

Read Dr. Jeffery Long’s book on Near Death Experiences — even Protestants meet something at the moment of their deaths.

Because Jesus says so...

Rom 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.

Joh 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

You can't use only the scriptures that fit your theology...You have to take all of the scriptures and sort them out...

And as you can see, those of us who are Christians have already been judged...And there is no condemnation...We will NOT come into condemnation, at any judgment...

And of course we meet something at death...We meet Jesus Christ, face to face...

[SoConPubbie]

The only people we can see in the bible that Jesus Christ ever rebuked in anger were the hypocrite self righteous religious Pharisees.

Whether in anger or not, Jesus spent a good part of his time in his ministry rebuking sin in one form or another.

[American Constitutionalist]

" If people have not accepted CHRIST as Saviour and Lord - they are lost!!! "

Yes, that is true, who do not believe will perish, but those who believe in and on Jesus Christ have ever lasting life.

Yes, Jesus Christ was all GOD, and all man, Jesus Christ was and is God in the flesh, Yeshua Messiah.

The preaching of the Cross of Jesus Christ is foolishness to those who are perishing.
However ? in some of your statements, you make it sound like that if someone comes to Christ, that they could, or can be lost if they have sin in their lives.

[American Constitutionalist]

" THE APOSTLE PAUL WAS AN OVERCOMER (READ ROMANS CHAPTER 8)!"

Yes, he was a over comer, but, it was Jesus Christ who delivered him, not himself...

Read and study both chapters, 7 and 8 of Romans.

After Paul cries out and realizes his indwelling sin in his life, he cries out to the LORD to deliver him.

Then he goes on and says in chapter 8 " therefore there is now condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus "

Who walk not after the confidence of the flesh, merits, the law, i.e. human efforts, but, in the spirit, in God's Grace.

[American Constitutionalist]

Be delivered TODAY !

Be set free from man's traditions, man's teachings, man's ways and thinking and received God's Grace !

Works, merit, efforts by human strength is of the flesh, and it stinks in God's nose !

Works, Merits, Efforts by man to get right with GOD gives man the glory, be that, it's VAIN PRIDEFUL GLORY !

Grace Gives GOD ALL THE GLORY ! not man.

GET AWAY FROM VAIN TRADITIONS OF MAN , THE VAIN DECEITS ! THE VAIN PHILOSOPHY OF MAN ! and receive God's Grace !


Colossians 2

1. For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh;

2. That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;

3. In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

4. And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words.

5. For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ.

6. As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:

7. Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.

8. Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

9. For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.

10. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:

11. In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:

12. Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.

13. And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;

14. Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;

15. And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.

16. Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:

17. Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.

18. Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,

19. And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.

20. Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,

21.(Touch not; taste not; handle not;

22. Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?

23. Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body: not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.

[American Constitutionalist]

What part of the word ( THEREFORE ) that you do not understand ?

Therefore is a adverb.

adverb

Origin: see there & fore: as a result of this or that; for this or that reason; consequently; hence: often used as a conjunctive adverb

there·fore (ÞârˈfôrËŒ, -fōrËŒ)
adverb
For that reason or cause; consequently or hence.


Romans chapter 7 verses 34-25

24. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? 25 Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!

So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in my sinful nature[d] a slave to the law of sin.

Then Paul goes into chapter 8 in the same train of through, for chapter 8 is a continuing of chapter 7 as the same thought, same train of thought or focus.
Paul goes onto say, ( therefore :adverb ) : a reason, as a consequence , consequently, hence, cause, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, who walk not according to their human efforts, or by their own power in their flesh by keeping the law ( for the law was weak through the flesh ) but, those who walk accordingly by the spirit by trusting in what GOD has done alone ( HIS GRACE ALONE SAVES by the blood and flesh of Jesus Christ our Lord! ), by walking in the spirit.

[American Constitutionalist]

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+7&version=NIV

[Larry Lucido]

I don’t trust blog pimps. Even religious ones.

Even the Latvian Orthodox would have posted their texts in full.

[American Constitutionalist]

The letter kills ( the law ) but, the spirit ( God's Grace in the New Covenant ) gives LIFE !!!!
If you preach condemnation, then, your not preaching the true Gospel of Jesus Christ, for Jesus Christ came to save, not condemn.
John 3:17: For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.


2 Corinthians 3, 4-11.

4. And such confidence have we through Christ to God-ward:
5. not that we are sufficient of ourselves, to account anything as from ourselves; but our sufficiency is from God;
6. who also made us sufficient as ministers of a new covenant; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.
7. But if the ministration of death, written, and engraven on stones, came with glory, so that the children of Israel could not look stedfastly upon …

[cornfedcowboy]

You always do the right thing — drive the speed limit for example

---

Trust me on this...............God doesn’t care if you speed, only the police do. Speeding is a ticket, not a sin.

[smvoice]

AMEN!

"If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth, For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God." Col. 3:1-3.

Rom. 6:8-11 also tells us ..."likewise, reckon ye also yourselves dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord."

If we are saved, our lives are safely hidden with Christ in God. Who can approach God to take our life away from Him and cast us from His presence? No one. They would have to go through Jesus Christ and God the Father to take us.

Why does this seem so difficult for some to grasp? "I am crucified with Christ; nevertheless I live, YET NOT I, BUT CHRIST LIVETH IN ME; and the LIFE WHICH I NOW LIVE IN THE FLESH I LIVE BY THE FAITH OF THE SON OF GOD, who loved me, and gave Himself for me." Gal. 2:20.

[smvoice]

"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;

TO WIT, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, NOT IMPUTING THEIR TRESPASSES UNTO THEM; and hath committed unto us THE WORD OF RECONCILIATION." 2 Cor. 5:17-21.

The Gospel of the Grace of God RECONCILES us to Him, not condemns.

[American Constitutionalist]

Be delivered from condemnation TODAY !

The letter kills ( the law ) but, the spirit gives life, God's Grace in the New Covenant gives life.


Man's traditions want you to try to earn your salvation by human efforts ( walking according to your flesh, human effort )
It's the prideful, the proud who do not want to humble themselves and receive and accept God's Grace, for God resists the proud, but, gives Grace to the humble.

The poor in spirit will receive the kingdom of God.
The poor in spirit boast about the love the LORD has for them, but, the proud boast about how much they love the LORD ( like Peter ) and their good works, how they will go to the ends of the Earth for the LORD ( like Peter )
The poor in spirit are those who know they are sinners, who know their weaknesses, who know that they are in desperate need of a deliverer and Savior, but, the proud plow on in their stubborn pride thinking that they can earn God's favor by their works, merits, keeping the law.
The proud in spirit boast about their accomplishments, their works, their merits, their phony godliness = appearing in front of people to be godly, but, they are whitewashed tombs because of their pride is more than what they ascribed to what the LORD has done.

2 Corinthians 3 (Amplified Bible)

2 Corinthians 3

1. ARE WE starting to commend ourselves again? Or we do not, like some [false teachers], need written credentials or letters of recommendation to you or from you, [do we]?
2. you yourselves are our letter of recommendation (our credentials), written in your hearts, to be known (perceived, recognized) and read by everybody.
3. You show and make obvious that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, not written with ink but with [the] Spirit of [the] living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.
4. Such is the reliance and confidence that we have through Christ toward and with reference to God.
5. Not that we are fit (qualified and sufficient in ability) of ourselves to form personal judgments or to claim or count anything as coming from us, but our power and ability and sufficiency are from God.
6. [It is He] Who has qualified us [making us to be fit and worthy and sufficient] as ministers and dispensers of a new covenant [of salvation through Christ], not [ministers] of the letter (of legally written code) but of the Spirit; for the code [of the Law] kills, but the [Holy] Spirit makes alive.
7. Now if the dispensation of death engraved in letters on stone [the ministration of the Law], was inaugurated with such glory and splendor that the Israelites were not able to look steadily at the face of Moses because of its brilliance, [a glory] that was to fade and pass away,
8. Why should not the dispensation of the Spirit [this spiritual [b]ministry whose task it is to cause men to obtain and be governed by the Holy Spirit] be attended with much greater and more splendid glory?
9. For if the service that condemns [the ministration of doom] had glory, how infinitely more abounding in splendor and glory must be the service that makes righteous [the ministry that produces and fosters righteous living and right standing with God]!
10. Indeed, in view of this fact, what once had splendor the glory of the Law in the face of Moses] has come to have no splendor at all, because of the overwhelming glory that exceeds and excels it the glory of the Gospel in the face of Jesus Christ].
11. For if that which was but passing and fading away came with splendor, how much more must that which remains and is permanent abide in glory and splendor!
12. Since we have such [glorious] hope (such joyful and confident expectation), we speak very freely and openly and fearlessly.
13. Nor [do we act] like Moses, who put a veil over his face so that the Israelites might not gaze upon the finish of the vanishing [splendor which had been upon it].
14. In fact, their minds were grown hard and calloused [they had become dull and had lost the power of understanding]; for until this present day, when the Old Testament (the old covenant) is being read, that same veil still lies [on their hearts], not being lifted [to reveal] that in Christ it is made void and done away.
15. Yes, down to this [very] day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies upon their minds and hearts.
16. But whenever a person turns [in repentance] to the Lord, the veil is stripped off and taken away.
17. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty (emancipation from bondage, freedom).
18. And all of us, as with unveiled face, [because we] continued to behold [in the Word of God] as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are constantly being transfigured into His very own image in ever increasing splendor and from one degree of glory to another; [for this comes] from the Lord [Who is] the Spirit.

[Gamecock]

***If you preach condemnation, then, you’re not preaching the true Gospel of Jesus Christ, for Jesus Christ came to save, not condemn.***

Amen.

A preacher can beat his flock over the head with what they should do under the law, and for a season many in that church will follow said law, but will drift away.

Tell me over and over and over what Jesus did in both his active and passive obedience, and I will be motivated to follow the law out of love. That is, BTW, the model we see through Paul’s epistles. He reminds the readers that they are Holy, set apart because of what Christ did. Then he teaches them how they should live. Many churches today go right to the rebuke. The only time Paul jumps right to the rebuke is in Galatians because they were legalists.

Years ago we joined a church that just oozed the Gospel. After a couple weeks Mrs. Gamecock, who was raised in the church, said to me “I really know all of this, can’t we move on?” Then one Sunday she said to me, ears wide open and a precious smile on her face, “OH! NOW I REALLY GET IT!” Having the Gospel permeate her to the core changed her entire life.

The law does nothing but draw us in on ourselves. We fear that nothing we do is good enough and we climb onto a hamster wheel of the law, thinking it saves us. Gospel freedom allows us to look out of ourselves and love others, love God and act like we are truly children of the King.

[American Constitutionalist]

"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;

TO WIT, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, NOT IMPUTING THEIR TRESPASSES UNTO THEM; and hath committed unto us THE WORD OF RECONCILIATION." 2 Cor. 5:17-21.

The Gospel of the Grace of God RECONCILES us to Him, not condemns.


AGREE ! amen, and AMEN ! ..

[Gamecock]

I would have to cut the Latvian Orthodox some slack. I think it must be the hats, they convey that solemn religious look you want in a faith. Very pious. Plus they have nice nuns.

BTW, from Wikipedia: The writer of the episode, Bruce Kirschbaum, revealed later that he was unaware that the Latvian Orthodox church actually existed while writing the episode. His original intention was to have a fictitious sect. Kirschbaum received many thank you letters from the church for bringing attention to the denomination.

[American Constitutionalist]

The Torn Veil



Those who deny Grace are those who deny that the veil was torn, the veil that separated man from GOD, the veil that was torn when Jesus Christ died on the cross.

They want to take people away from the cross, they want to take people away from the only way that any man can be saved, by Jesus Christ's vicarious sacrifice.


THEY WANT TO DENY PEOPLE THE CHRIST !
Jesus Christ ( Yeshua Messiah ) the Anointed one !