Posted on 05/08/2020 4:37:58 PM PDT by pastorbillrandles
By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh. By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. (Hebrews 11:4-6)
The famous “Faith Chapter” in the book of Hebrews, begins with two Saints, Abel and Enoch as examples of faith which we are to imitate. Faith is the point, for faith is the only way to please God.
I once asked the LORD, ‘Why Faith? Why is that what you require?” I believe I received several answers in the form of scripture and impressions, from the LORD. God requires faith, because we simply cannot save ourselves. Only God can save our souls, no one can redeem themselves, therefore Faith is required, because faith glorifies God and not man.
Another reason for the requirement of faith that came to me, is that our problems began when we quit believing in the goodness of God. Adam and Eve were willing to entertain a false and degraded notion of God, that He was holding something back that would be good for the first couple. The Serpent bore false witness about the LORD, and they believed it.
The way back? It has to be faith. We must repent and believe again in the goodness of God.
The “hall of faith” begins with Abel and Enoch. One Saint who was murdered for his faith, and for bearing witness to God in a hostile world. There would be literally millions upon millions who would follow in his footsteps, being willing to let go of their life rather than deny the truth of God.
The other Saint, Enoch, was a man who lived in a kind of “end times scenario” living in the time leading up to the flood. It was a day of Apostasy, but Enoch walked with God, until God took Him home. He didn’t die , He was raptured. God took him home, to be with himself.
Faith was required of each of them.
I believe that we also live in an end-time. I have no doubt that Jesus is coming, and in our lifetime. What makes us unique is the re-emergence of the nation of Israel, in 1948, in fulfillment of the prophecies about the last of the last days. All of the prophets pre-supposed that there would be a national Israel, and a Jewish occupied city of Jerusalem, as well as a controversy over Judea, (The West bank) which would engulf the whole world.
The burden of the word of the Lord for Israel, saith the Lord, which stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation of the earth, and formeth the spirit of man within him. Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem. And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it. (Zechariah 12:1-3)
Which brings us back to our two Saints at the beginning of Hebrews 11. One died, He was martyred for his witness to God. The other one did not die. He was Raptured. Both of these Saints lived by Faith and Pleased God.
I believe that this speaks to us in our generation.
No doubt. many of us will end up dying. Perhaps some of us will be given an opportunity to be martyred. We are Saints and love God, but all things being equal, unless the LORD returns, we will die, one way or another.
(Of course, Christians don’t really die, they “go to sleep”) but the real point is that Faith is the only way to please God.
But according to the scriptures, there is a unique end-times event, coming, as I hope I have pointed out in this series, called the Rapture, or “Our gathering together unto Him”, “the Episynagogue” and Jesus coming to “take us where (He)…is, unto himself”. The LORD is coming to snatch us off the earth with a swift and irresistable power”.
To participate in such an event is a rare honor among the countless Millions of Saints who believed in Jesus before us.
But whether we die, or are martyred, o whether we are raptured, the real point is that we must live our lives by Faith,which is the only way to please God.
This is why I do not enter into the countless discussions as to the timing of the Rapture. “Will The Rapture be pre- ,mid , or post Tribulation”?
Honesty, the only things I am sure about the Rapture at all are that it is:
* For God’s Saints only, and the prospect of it is a comfort.
* A Mystery revealed in the New Testament era.
* It occurs before the actual “Wrath ” of God.
* It involves the “dead in Christ” as well as “We who are alive, until the coming of the LORD”.
As far as I know, all else can only be speculation. God doesn’t want us to know the exact timing otherwise it would be clearer. I am glad there is a Rapture, and my prayer has always been that I be involved in it, while alive. But I cannot say with certainty what the timing of it is, so I don’t.
What counts is Faith in Jesus. Not dead works, but a living, vital, infectious faith. Let us have a faith which still moves us to confess and forsake our sins, to Love and seek God. To forgive and love our brothers, and a faith which moves us to share with others what God has shown to us. Is your faith alive? Do you have oil in your lamp? Are you current with God?
We Overcome the World by our faith. “This is the victory that overcometh the World…our faith”. We overcome the Spirit of antiChrist also, by our faith. So also we overcome the sins that so easily beset us, and the Coldness and soul deadening effect of this world, by our Faith.
Of course we want out of here, we can increasingly see that there is nothing in this World for we who believe, but rejection and opposition.I want Jesus to come, and Long for the Rapture. I am either going up in it, or I am gong to die, but one way or another we are leaving.
Either way, the point is Faith. So I will leave the timing of the Rapture to God, and just strive to be counted worthy to attain it, whether ded or alive.
Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man. (Luke 21:35)
Paul is not speaking to believers hear.
He’s building a case that under the Law, everyone stands condemned.
The Law saves no one. Law keeping saves no one.
If it did, then Christ did not need to die.
The Law shows us God’s holy standard and that we cannot meet that and shows us our need for a redeemer.
The only way to get into heaven if by being forgiven of the sin that stands against us.
Keeping the law, good works, etc, do NOT deal with the sin debt we owe.
Keeping the law neither gets us saved nor keeps us saved.
We don’t work to get salvation, and we don’t work to keep salvation. ALL of it is a gift freely given us of God.
I’ll stand by this commentary explanation:
16. In the day. That is, the time of final judgment (Acts 17:31). The KJV connects
this verse with Rom. 2:12 by placing vs. 13-15 in parentheses. It is not necessary,
however, to regard vs. 13-15 as parenthetical. Verse 16 may be regarded as summing up
the entire preceding argument.
Secrets. Or, “hidden things.” It is by these that the character is really revealed (see on
Prov. 7:19). Since God has an exact record of every secret thing in our lives (Eccl. 12:14;
cf. Matt. 10:26; Luke 8:17; 1 Cor. 4:5), He is able to judge without “respect of persons”
(Rom. 2:6, 11; cf. GC 486). “For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every
secret thing” (Eccl. 12:14). This verse further explains Paul’s main argument in Rom. 2.
The favored Jew, with all his knowledge of the law, was inclined to look down upon the
ignorant Gentile and to adjudge him quite unworthy of salvation. But only God, who can
read the inner life, is in a position to make such decisions. The loving disposition, the
readiness to obey the law of conscience, are things that only God can fully know. Yet
these are the essential things that really constitute the keeping of God’s law. They are the
qualities of character that God expects of Jew and Gentile alike, and in the final judgment
no amount of external piety will atone for their lack.
By Jesus Christ. The Bible clearly teaches that Jesus is not only our Saviour but also
our Judge (Matt. 25:31-46; John 5:22, 27; Acts 10:42; 17:31; 2 Tim. 4:1).
ACCORDING TO MY GOSPEL. Some have understood this to mean that Paul was so
confident of the truth of his message that he could here assert that his gospel would be the
standard in the final judgment (see 1 Cor. 15:1; Gal. 1:6—9). However, Paul may have
simply meant that the fact noted, namely, that not only will men be judged, but they will
be judged by Jesus Christ, is set forth in the gospel. Coming judgment is clearly taught in
the OT (Dan. 7:9-12, 26,27). But one of the distinctive teachings of the gospel is that He
who lived and died to save men is also to judge them (2 Cor. 5:10).
“The Law saves no one. Law keeping saves no one.
If it did, then Christ did not need to die.”
Again, I CLEARLY UNDERSTAND AND AGREE WITH THAT STATEMENT.
Righteousness by faith and Justification. When you accept Christ your and ask for forgiveness of your past sins, you are at that moment blameless, covered by the righteousness of Christ......he is our advocate. Yes, we are sinners and deserve to die, but Christ says that by his blood being shed we are forgiven and we have salvation. Anyone got any problem with that?
SO WHAT IF YOU CONTINUE TO SIN and are UNREPENTANT? Metmom, that is the question. The bible is very clear. WE WILL ALL BE JUDGED by the law of liberty and that is God’s 10 commandment law.
James 2:10 For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all. 11For He who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” Now if you do not commit adultery, but you do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. 12So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty.
Or maybe Christ told Paul through all the visions and Revelations He gave him, that the Gospel that was GIVEN to Paul WILL be the Gospel that all men will be judged by. Just as he plainly states.
Because his gospel takes man back before Abraham all the way to Adam. And Original sin that no one taught or preached about until Paul was raised up and sent to preach it. Peter and the 11 took it back to Abraham. Matthew, Mark. Luke ,John took it back to Abraham. Jesus Himself said He was not sent but to the children of Abraham(meaning Israel would become a nation of PRIESTS and take the glorious message to the GENTILES).
The only time Christ mentioned Adam was when He was speaking of divorce, and then He didn’t call him by his name.
Paul spoke of the first Adam. And the second Adam (Christ). He took man’s sin problem all the way back to the beginning. “For ALL have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”
The gospel that Paul preached pi is all encompassing. And it is favors no man above another. We are ALL sons of Adam.
How do you abide in God’s love? By “keeping his commandments”
“If you say you love him and you don’t keep his commandments, you are a liar”
13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
14 For God shall bring every work into JUDGMENT, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.
If you are repentant of your sins, you are covered by God’s grace and we will all see each other in heaven.
Jesus talks about divorce in Matthew 19 but he references Moses, not Adam???
Matthew 19 King James Version (KJV)
1 And it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these sayings, he departed from Galilee, and came into the coasts of Judaea beyond Jordan;
2 And great multitudes followed him; and he healed them there.
3 The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?
4 And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female,
5 And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?
6 Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.
7 They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away?
8 He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so.
9 And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.
10 His disciples say unto him, If the case of the man be so with his wife, it is not good to marry.
11 But he said unto them, All men cannot receive this saying, save they to whom it is given.
12 For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother’s womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven’s sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it.
I should have been clearer. Christ referred to Adam and Eve when He said “ He that made THEM in the beginning”, referring to Adam and Eve but not mentioning them by their names.
LOL! No I reject what fortes fortuna juvat teaches Paul is teaching. But you go ahead and trust in your own good works, commandment keeping and personal holiness to save your soul. It won't but only the Holy Spirit can open your slammed shut eyes and heart to understand the truth of the gospel. What you believe right now is an accursed version - one that Paul warned first century believers of.
It's telling how you don't seem to ever read what I actually write. I know you didn't because you keep on accusing me of things I haven't said. Your game playing once again has been exposed and trying to have a respectful discussion with you is futile. I'll keep praying for you though.
Yes, Paul was to take the gospel message to the Gentiles:
Acts 9:
10And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord. 11And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth, 12And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight. 13Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem: 14And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name. 15But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: 16For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake.
Yes, smvoice, you are correct that the gospel is a Jewish gospel (I believe that is what you are saying), and when the Jewish nation rejected Christ as their savior (final straw was the stoning of Stephen), it went to the Gentiles (effectively the heathens). The whole point of the sacrificial/ceremonial system was to show the show/play out the gospel of Jesus Christ. That’s what it was all about. The Jewish nation just refused to accept Christ as that sacrifice. They rejected him because they didn’t have faith. Paul clearly states this:
Rom 9:31 But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness.
Rom 9:32 Wherefore? Because they sought it not by FAITH, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone;
Rom 9:33 As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
The old and new covenants were both based on OBEDIENCE to God’s commandments. The problem with the first covenant is that the people focused on works and not faith. Moses was the mediator of the old covenant.
Deu 4:13 And he declared unto you his covenant, which he commanded you to perform, even ten commandments; and he wrote them upon two tables of stone.
Deu 5:29 O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever!
The new covenant is based on “better promises”. Jesus is the mediator of the new covenant.
Heb 10:14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.
Heb 10:15 Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before,
Heb 10:16 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;
Heb 10:17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.
“He will put his laws in our hearts and in our minds”
Christians will keep God’s law out of love for him. It has always been about FAITH AND OBEDIENCE and it always will be.
We who are Jews by birth and not Gentile ‘sinners’ know that a man is not justified by works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have believed in Christ Jesus, that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.
But if, while we seek to be justified in Christ, we ourselves are found to be sinners, does that make Christ a minister of sin? Certainly not! If I rebuild what I have already torn down, I prove myself to be a lawbreaker.
For through the law I died to the law so that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. I do not set aside the grace of God. For if righteousness comes through the law, Christ died for nothing. (Galatians 2:15-21)
The flesh (the body and behavior mechanism) is always under condemnation, BUT for the born again spirit there is therefore now no condemnation because the born again spirit is IN CHRIST with God's Life abiding therein. Until you are able to differentiate the soul and spirit as separate aspects of a man/woman you will continue to see the scriptures from your fleshly nature. You cannot even see your own duplicitous reasoning even when it is highlighted for you. Your actions cannot redeem your flesh. It is under a death sentence. GOD redeems the spirit, however, for those who by faith receive HIS redemption and then HIS life intheir spirit.
I should have been clearer. Christ referred to Adam and Eve when He said “ He that made THEM in the beginning”, referring to Adam and Eve but not mentioning them by their names.
You are correct.
You asserted, If you are repentant of your sins, you are covered by God’s grace and we will all see each other in heaven."
It is IMPOSSIBLE to recount your every sin during a day in the life of a born again Christians. The sin of pride is one of the most pernicious hidden sins, but lusts are also well hidden from consciousness in many cases. The spirit with God abiding therein is not the source of the sins in the born agains. The flesh which is still active IS THE SOURCE. God has foretold that HE will give us a new body and behavior mechanism in the Rapture. That which cannot get out from under condemnation, the flesh (body and soul) is going to be discarded in the Rapture if you are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord Christ. For those who have died, the sentence on the flesh has been executed, they have died, so their ability to commit sin has ended in death but they still await the judgment if they were not born again while alive.
You calling everyone a LIAR reminded me of this song. I don’t know what you look like but I can envision you screaming “LIAR” like the singer.
Three Dog Night
Bingo!
The nation of Israel had three chances to accept the Gospel of the Kingdom, promised to them from the time of Abraham (”you shall be a nation of PRIESTS to the Gentile nations. The first chance was given from God the Father to John the Baptist to the nation of Israel. They rejected his message and ALLOWED his death. STRIKE ONE.
The second chance was through Jesus Christ the Messiah, God the Son in flesh. They rejected His message and DEMANDED His death. STRIKE TWO.
The third and final chance was God the Holy Spirit coming as promised on the day of Pentecost. The nation as a hole rejected Him and kept on until it culminated in Stephen. They PERFORMED his death themselves
They rejected the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. By Acts 28 God had blinded them and set them aside and turned to the Gentiles.(Israel will be blinded until the fullness of the Gentiles is complete)
God saved Paul and sent him to the Gentiles(and whatsoever Jews believed the Gospel of the GRACE of God. Apart from covenants He had made with Israel. This gospel is based PURELY BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH, NOT OF WORKS LEST ANY MAN SHOULD BOAST.
When the fullness of the Gentiles has come in and the Body of Christ is complete, He will once again turn His eyes to Israel and the kingdom GOSPEL that was promised and preached will be preached once again. Why? Because He is going to return and set up His Kingdom just as the KINGDOM GOSPEL says. With Israel becoming a nation of PRIESTS and taking the wonderful news to the Gentiles Nations.
I seem to recall some other folks asking the Lord the same question:
John 6:25-40
25 When they found him on the other side of the lake, they asked him, “Rabbi, when did you get here?”
26 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw the signs I performed but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. 27 Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.”
28 Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?”
29 Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”
30 So they asked him, “What sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you? What will you do? 31 Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written: ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’[c]”
32 Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”
34 “Sir,” they said, “always give us this bread.”
35 Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. 36 But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe. 37 All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. 38 For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. 39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. 40 For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.”
--Mormon_Dude(Hail Joseph!)
As would ALL true Scotsmen!
Like that 'call no man father' verse?
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