Admired and Accepted by Jesus!

[acerrak]

Originally Posted by Michael The Disciple

7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. 8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, 9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: 10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; 11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. Phil. 3:7-11

If Paul thought he had to forsake all and live like this to win Christ and attain to the resurrection we should take it very seriously. Do WE want to win Christ? Attain to the resurrection?

Will God accept us if we live less?

well your either for the kingdom og God or your not. your either born again or your not, your either given a Spirit of adoption or your not.

your sealed to the day of redemption or your not.. we know you cant be either or.

but beyond what Paul said Christ won us. His actions wa shis life style, and he encouraged others to be like him. to run the race as though you want to win it. even though we as christian are not competing with each other.

Pauls point in general is everything that is here today will be gone, and Christ is more than these, but at the same token when Paul spoke of baptism in romans 6 and col 2 he spoke of being raised like Jesus through faith

and i really think that is what your trying todo is substitute works for faith. Instead of having faith that produce worth.

Paul was a extrodenary man, but paul also slipt back under the law and did a sacrifice, he also did a purification ritual to please others. He wasnt with out fault. But His faith was always keeping him pressed tword Jesus.

The deeds he did wouldnt gain him access, but the faith he had that produced those very works would be what Got him to heaven,

No one can ever do enough, Paul couldnt, Peter couldnt. I cant, you cant. we can never pay the debt. we can never do enough. That is the power of the cross. that is why we need grace.

ephesians 2:8-9
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God. and not of works less anyone should boast

Mike what is a gift? Do you have to labour to get a gift? or is a Gift given out of Love.

John 4:10 Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water."

Acts 15:11 No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are."

Romans 3:24 and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

Romans 9:16 It does not, therefore, depend on man's desire or effort, but on God's mercy.

Ephesians 2:5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions--it is by grace you have been saved.