Posted on 01/04/2013 7:15:20 AM PST by xzins
I agree. In these “tests” MacArthur is pushing us to do some soul-searching.
It is hard to examine our own life and ask if our salvation was authentic. It’s too easy to dismiss the biblical reminders of what authentic faith looks like.
And it’s very hard to admit we don’t like what we see when we do examine ourselves.
Paul says, “Should we go on sinning so that grace may abound? May it never be!”
In other words, believers are repulsed by the very notion of abusing grace.
Someone above mentioned "easy-believism" and that's part of it. Since others have departed the faith and were not really part of us, then it behooves us: 2 Peter 1:10Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, 11and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
It certainly cannot be denied that even the most spiritual of believers today fall short of God's standards, nor is there a true lack of spirituality among today's Christians. BUt the question is: How do we measure our spirituality? And how can we know that we are doing what God wants us to do and are approved workman for Him? How do others (believers and non-believers) perceive us? Look at the Corinthians for example.
Paul called them UNspiritual babes (1 Cor. 3:1) and rebuked them for their carnality, for their "envying, and strife, and divisions" (1 Cor.3 :3), for their immorality (1 Cor. 5:1), for their dishonesty and oppression of each other (1 Cor. 6:7,8), for their unfaithfulness in giving (1 Cor. 9:11-14), for their selfishness and pride (1 Cor. 11:21,22), and told them: "And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned!" (1 Cor. 5:2, 4:18).
Yet this SAME Corinthian church, at this SAME time, ABOUNDED in miraculous gifts (1 Cor. 1:7, 12:8-11, 14:12, 18,26).
If these Corinthians had received an "11 Biblical Tests of Genuine Salvation", how would they have scored? They were saved believers, don't forget. And how would others have scored them? Would they believe these Corinthians were saved?
There is more to the subject, but I'll leave it at this for a moment..:)
he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works...be fully persuaded in your own mind...persuaded that He is able to keep that which you have entrusted to Him...to Him who is able to keep you from falling and present you faultless...be found in Him, not having your own righteousness.
For He has said... Behold, the LORD's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save...Is my hand shortened at all, that it cannot redeem? or have I no power to deliver?...even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you...with exceeding joy...be not afraid,only believe...this is the work of God...for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
See 2 Corinth 13 quote by Paul at post #37
I noticed the same thing about the Corinthians church.
There was also the issue of the sin in their midst. Paul seemed to consider the man who was having relations with his father’s wive as a believer, and he had to rebuke the church for bragging about it.
It’s almost like God put 1 Corinthians in the Bible just almost as an enigma.
Amen HD!
(From another thread)...The scary thing (the fear and trembling type!)is that not only does the Creator of the cosmos know every single word that gets posted here but also every single thought and intent behind it.I'll freely admit that I don't have an absolute handle on every agenda that dwells deep within me because my heart is also desperatly wicked and deceitfull and I do not fully know it.That is not humility that is a cold hard fact.Would anyone here say they've done nothing but post exactly how God's Spirit would have us post?When I contemplate the utter depth of myself,as far as I can know with any semblence of certainty,I shudder at the thought that I could possibly think I have anything in the way of 'good' to offer God.It would say to me that I have absolutely no idea of the dire depths I am in.It would be (as I've ranted many times before)akin to me standing on the surface of the sun expecting to cast a shadow. I can't say I know every thought and intent of my own heart but I can thank God for sending His only begotten Son to RESCUE ME.Jesus is Lord.Maranatha
I agree. I was told one time that when the rapture occurs, we will be shocked to see who is part of it. And who is not. I believe that..
Then there should be no problem with following Paul’s advice in 2 Co 13 to examine ourselves to see if we pass the test. Nor should there be problem with Peter’s admonition that we be eager to make our calling and election sure.” 2 Peter 1:10
BFRL.
Absolutely not.If we were doing the "work of God" we'd see ourselves in a proper light on a daily basis yes?
"Nor should there be problem with Peter’s admonition that we be eager to make our calling and election sure.” 2 Peter 1:10"
I'm not sure that 2Peter 1:10 means what you seem to think it means.
If you had a choice between doing what had been asked by Jesus and not doing it, then surely you would say that you’d rather be doing it than not doing it.
And, if as one who was doing what the Lord asked, would that not give you greater assurance than if you were not doing what had been asked.
As Jesus said, “Happy is the man who does these things.”
“Let me take just a slight bit of issue with the “even myself” part. “
No problem. I suspect that in my daily reading the HS would also have corrected my thinking.
Thanks
Not all are given the same gifts or talents. Paul said in Romans 12:4 For we have many parts in one body, but these parts do not all have the same function.
I’m sensing a danger when we try to analyze either ourselves or others. God has given each of us different talents, different gifts and different functions within His church. Not only that but I find in my own life that God has used me differently in periods of my life. If we take a standard and try to apply it to ourselves or others we risk demanding things from either ourselves or others that perhaps God doesn’t have for us.
Satan is the accuser. If we either look at ourselves as failures or look at others to judge their “works” are we risking going against God’s will for our lives and theirs at that particular point in time? We may be feeling inadequate or accusing others of “not living up” to a standard when God is really saying something different. He may be saying like Milton “They also serve who only stand and wait”. He may be doing something in our life that isn’t contained in that “standard” that’s been listed. He may be saying “you are learning and growing my child, I have something bigger for you, your time will come”.
Let’s not get ahead of God. I believe He tells us to do all we can at any particular time. To compare that to someone else, what we would like to be, or even some “standard” that has been developed could cause us to fall under the accusing of Satan.
I don’t know the bfrl acronym
While it is true that each Christian has differences, it is also true that the bible is the written standard, and it is true that even the New Testament has instructions.
They are not instructions from me, or from some pastor, or from some committee. They found their way intentionally into the Word of God.
I suggest we'd be better with ourselves if we would adhere to those instructions rather than not adhering to them.
Sorry for the 'attitude' FRiend.I've been following another never-ending thread on the RF and am a bit prickly on the works-salvation issue just now.I do think though that were all believers doing "the work of God" that many of these things would be self evident.
God bless you and thankyou for the spirit of your reply.
Is it possible for me to take my life back after I have turned it over to the Lord of all creation, the King of Kings, the Alpha and Omega?
Who has the power to snatch that life from God’s hand?
Is it possible for you to take a wrong direction even though you are a believer? See below:
Galatians 1: 6I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel;7which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ.8But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed!9As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed!10For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ.
"If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of GOd. Set your affections 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.
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