Christian, Inspirational

When Work is No Longer Work

There are many today that argue we cannot be saved by works. They profess our actions can neither save or damn us. Some of these even claim that you don’t have to follow the law. But,

Is it work for you to not murder?

Is it work to not steal?

Is it work to not lie?

Is it work to not commit adultery?

Go through the Ten Commandments in Exodus 20. Are any of them really work? For some people, one or more of them might be. I tell you, unless you write God’s Commandments on your heart and do them, you will find yourself facing eternal damnation. However, if you walk in the light and truly follow Jesus; what you once found to be work can become effortless. Doing the right thing will just come naturally. Indeed his (Jesus) yoke is easy and his burden light.

Matthew 11:28-30 KJV
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. [29] Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. [30] For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

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Christian, Inspirational

Let’s Begin

There’s are those that say keeping the law is impossible.

The Bible says:

Mark 9:23 KJV Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.

Philippians 4:13 KJV
I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Matthew 5:48 KJV
Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

In the movie, Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, Yoda said, do or do not, there is no try.

I say don’t let naysayers (Matthew 23:13) keep you from your home in Heaven. Learn the law and try to keep it. With God’s help you can and will succeed.

A great place to begin is by learning the Ten Commandments. They can be found in Exodus 20.

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Confusing Duty with Works

Many proclaim we are not saved by works, but by grace alone. They cite these verses found in Ephesians 2:8-9 KJV. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: [9] Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Does this mean we have no duty to our Master and Saviour? Absolutely not.

We have a duty to respect his sacrifice.

We have a duty to keep the law.

We have a duty to love and act in charity.

Jesus said in Luke 17:10 KJV … when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.

My faith tells me duty and works should not be confused with one another. It also makes me wonder; how may I be a profitable servant of Christ.

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Christian, Inspirational

There’s Nothing To Forgive

A few days ago I was watching DayStar television. Joni Lamb made the statement that in the New Testament we are no longer under the law. In her very next breath she talks about asking God for forgiveness.

The spirit bears witness to the truth. If there is no law, there is no sin and hence no need for forgiveness.

Live above the law – know it and keep it and you will never need forgiveness!

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Above the Law

I’ve heard sin defined as falling short or missing the mark. In my opinion the definition of sin is simple and straightforward. Sin is breaking the law. Romans 7:7, 1 John 3:4.

You’ve probably heard that someone is above the law when the law does not seem to apply to them. I believe someone is above the law as long as they don’t break it. You no longer want to be under the law in the New Testament, fine – don’t break it.

Hebrews 10:16-17 KJV 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; [17] And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.

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Do You Know Him?

You may know who Jesus is. He is the only begotten Son of Jehovah, our Heavenly Father. He is God himself who died on the cross for our sins. He is our Savior, the promised Messiah.

But do you know him? Are you his follower?

Jesus is our example. Jesus died showing us how to live. He kept the law. He never sinned. He always did the Father’s will. Knowing this and that the wages of sin is Death, we should strive to not sin. Be perfect even as he was perfect. Matthew 5:48, Hebrews 4:15.

Believing in Jesus we must repent and be baptized. Acts 2:38. While it is true that love can cover a multitude of sin, the only sure forgiveness after baptism is confession. 1 John 1:9. Followers of Jesus do not continue in sin. Hebrews 10:26-27. Rather we strive to be as our Master, Jesus, who lived perfectly before the LORD.

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Heart of Stone

One view of reading the Holy Bible is to focus on context. Rather than applying it to self, the focus is on who wrote it, who was the audience and why was it written to them (or what was the purpose).

There’s nothing inherently wrong with examining and understanding context. The problem is this. The Bible was written for you. If you look at a clear New Testament commandment in Corinthians and say that only applied to female Corinthians you are in error. If you look at Exodus 20 and say that only applied to the Jews in the Old Testament you are in error.

Let the Lord write his laws on your heart and don’t seek ways to say that doesn’t apply to me.

Ezekiel 36:26-27 KJV
A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. [27] And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.

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Graduation

Today many preach legalism as something negative and shy away from teaching the law.

The Bible in Galatians 3 tells us the law was our schoolmaster. You aren’t finished with school until you graduate. Likewise we are not done with the law until we let God write it in our minds and on our hearts.

In Matthew 5:17 KJV Jesus, my Lord, Savior, and teacher, said, Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

Lessons we learn from our teachers (schoolmasters) guide us throughout our lives.

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A Closer Walk

It’s not about going to Church. It’s not about following a set of rules. It’s about having that personal relationship with Christ as our Lord and Savior.

Have you heard this before? The above is a direct quote from the television show, 7 Brides Who Portray the Bride of Christ, Christ in Prophecy. Sadly it’s nothing new. I’ve heard it before.

Do you desire a relationship with Jesus?

A few ways you can actually build a relationship with Jesus:

  • Go to Church – to learn, to sing, to fellowship with Jesus and other believers.
  • Follow God’s set of rules. In John 14:15, Jesus said, If you love me, keep my Commandments. A good place to start is Exodus 20, with the Ten Commandments you’ve heard your whole life.

Relationships take time, but just as in any relationship, be careful where and from whom you get your advice.

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Wages

Jesus did not die on the cross so that you don’t have to obey God and keep his laws.

Salvation is truly a gift of God, no argument there. But of late I’ve heard two teachers (one on Twitter and one on CBN) say that you don’t have to keep the law and salvation is not because of obedience. These statements are simply not true.

Romans 6:23 KJV For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

You can’t disregard the first part of this verse and accept the second. The wages of righteousness is salvation. Conversly, if you continue in your sin, you will die. To say it plainly this means spiritual death. You will not enter Heaven, your eternal destination is the lake of fire.

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