If I believed I could save myself, I wouldn't need a Savior. If I believed I could be perfect, I wouldn't need His righteousness. He forgave my sin. He became my sin. He took the penalty for my sin. He declares me righteous, holy, and perfect. I love Him BECAUSE HE FIRST LOVED ME.
Too many Christians are trying to prove they deserve Heaven. *Newsflash* No one deserves Heaven. "There is none (get that?) righteous, no not one." We live rightly because He has saved us, not in order to be saved. All of our attempts at perfection are a joke in the eyes of God.
The only way to become "perfect" is to fall on the mercy of Jesus. Some of us are trying to buy our way into Heaven with monopoly money (self-righteousness). It's worthless. His blood is the only real currency that pays the debt of sin.
Our lifestyle, worship, and rules exist simply to honor what He's done. Now that we are in relationship with Him, we should aim to please Him. Gratitude is at the heart of real Christianity, and that gratitude exudes from a life full of joy.
Gratitude cannot be replicated. Holiness cannot be legislated. Joy is a gift, not a mandate. These attitudes and attributes are present in the life of every truly SPIRIT-FILLED believer. Christianity is about relationship and assurance, not fear and separation.
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I'm (sic) not cynical, I just haven't been around long enough to be Jedi mind-tricked by politics as usual. Alas, maybe in a few years I'll be beaten back into the herd. tstew
"Imputation doctrine," "Reform doctrine," "osas." What's wrong with just seeing what the bible says instead of figuring out what pigeon-hole someone's idea fits into when it differs from our own? There's so much organizational-mindedness that people do not think to see what the bible says but what their doctrinal contrivances propose and how they have to stick to them no matter the cost.
Yup!!!
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...Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ...(Acts 20:21)
If I believed I could save myself, I wouldn't need a Savior. If I believed I could be perfect, I wouldn't need His righteousness. He forgave my sin. He became my sin. He took the penalty for my sin. He declares me righteous, holy, and perfect. I love Him BECAUSE HE FIRST LOVED ME.
Too many Christians are trying to prove they deserve Heaven. *Newsflash* No one deserves Heaven. "There is none (get that?) righteous, no not one." We live rightly because He has saved us, not in order to be saved. All of our attempts at perfection are a joke in the eyes of God.
The only way to become "perfect" is to fall on the mercy of Jesus. Some of us are trying to buy our way into Heaven with monopoly money (self-righteousness). It's worthless. His blood is the only real currency that pays the debt of sin.
Our lifestyle, worship, and rules exist simply to honor what He's done. Now that we are in relationship with Him, we should aim to please Him. Gratitude is at the heart of real Christianity, and that gratitude exudes from a life full of joy.
Gratitude cannot be replicated. Holiness cannot be legislated. Joy is a gift, not a mandate. These attitudes and attributes are present in the life of every truly SPIRIT-FILLED believer. Christianity is about relationship and assurance, not fear and separation.
Ding ding ding!!!
I really want to embolden the whole post, but then that would defeat the whole purpose of highlighting.
Love the post!!!
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...Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ...(Acts 20:21)
If I believed I could save myself, I wouldn't need a Savior. If I believed I could be perfect, I wouldn't need His righteousness. He forgave my sin. He became my sin. He took the penalty for my sin. He declares me righteous, holy, and perfect. I love Him BECAUSE HE FIRST LOVED ME.
Too many Christians are trying to prove they deserve Heaven. *Newsflash* No one deserves Heaven. "There is none (get that?) righteous, no not one." We live rightly because He has saved us, not in order to be saved. All of our attempts at perfection are a joke in the eyes of God.
The only way to become "perfect" is to fall on the mercy of Jesus. Some of us are trying to buy our way into Heaven with monopoly money (self-righteousness). It's worthless. His blood is the only real currency that pays the debt of sin.
Our lifestyle, worship, and rules exist simply to honor what He's done. Now that we are in relationship with Him, we should aim to please Him. Gratitude is at the heart of real Christianity, and that gratitude exudes from a life full of joy.
Gratitude cannot be replicated. Holiness cannot be legislated. Joy is a gift, not a mandate. These attitudes and attributes are present in the life of every truly SPIRIT-FILLED believer. Christianity is about relationship and assurance, not fear and separation.
"Imputation doctrine," "Reform doctrine," "osas." What's wrong with just seeing what the bible says instead of figuring out what pigeon-hole someone's idea fits into when it differs from our own? There's so much organizational-mindedness that people do not think to see what the bible says but what their doctrinal contrivances propose and how they have to stick to them no matter the cost.
Exactly right! Our "concepts" should agree with what Jesus and the Apostles SAID.
LOL nice context and understanding all te underlying principles.
We are children to WHOM we obey. If we go after flesh we are not children of God. Unless we repent we will die in our sins. I can consider myself a child of God IF I am doing his will and commandments just as Jesus said concerning us being his friends. IF we obey we are his friends.
The prodigal's father was still his father even though the prodigal left. Here's the truth... if you must do God's will and keep His commandments... you must keep them all. You can't pick and choose. It isn't a buffet bar. Every minor detail has to be kept. Why? Because God is HOLY. I think if we take the position that we have to obey the Law (God's commandments) to be saved...we minimize how terrible sin really is. I know legalists who believe in keeping God's commandments and assume that they can live sinless lives. When I bring up a sin in their life, the typical response is, "Well, I don't think that's a 'sin' and here's why...." Also, this idea can breed a mentality wherein a person "thinks" they are obeying all of God's commandments, when in truth they are only obeying the religious dictates of their denomination or organization. This leads to a religious pride and self righteousness. In Christ... we are complete, we are perfect, we are justified, we are sanctified, we are holy, we are a new creature. A "transfering" has taken place. Christ took the body of sin and all it's condemnation upon Himself, and freely imputes His righteousness and holiness to those who believe and turn to Him. Now, when Satan (the accuser) points at our sin and demands God's justice, God points to the cross. The cross satisfied all of the justice of God. Jesus was indeed our propitiation.
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