"Even so then, at this present time there is a remnant according to the election of grace. And if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work" Romans 11:5-6.
Grace is an unmerited favor of God. God loves you not because you are great (maybe you are), but because He is love. He shows us His favor, not because we deserve it (we don't), but because He is a gracious God. He saves us not according to our works, but because Jesus sacrificed Himself for you and me. You cannot earn the grace of God. It is for free. You cannot please God by your works, because you are sinful. You cannot do anything to earn His salvation. It is for free.
We cannot mix up grace with works when we talk about salvation or justification. It all comes from the grace of God. Our part is to accept it with faith. If salvation came through our good works, then, anybody could earn it. You would try hard enough, push up your score up in the eyes of God, and bam, you gain salvation. This kind of idea is alien to the spirit of the New Testament. Jesus' sacrifice would be unnecessary. But Jesus did not die in vain. His sacrifice is the only valid argument for God to justify us and save us from our sins. After Jesus died and resurrected, God justifies the ungodly by faith. Let's accept that. And be grateful. Works will follow, but they never, ever come before the grace of God.
Showing posts with label justification by works. Show all posts
Showing posts with label justification by works. Show all posts
Monday, May 25, 2020
Wednesday, May 6, 2020
The scary Hebrews 10
"If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. How much more severely do you think someone deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified them, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know him who said, “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” and again, “The Lord will judge his people.”It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God" Hebrews 10:26-31.
The tenth chapter of Hebrews has been one of the scariest excerpts of Scripture for most Christians. But should it be? It states that those who sin deliberately no sacrifice for sins is left for them but only upcoming judgment. Most having read those verses get scared about their salvation. Well, let's figure out 2 things.
First of all, most of the sins we commit are committed deliberately (time of weakness or succumbing to temptation), excerpts those we commit unconsciously. Which would mean that all of us have no longer sacrifice for our sins left, but a fearful expectation of judgment. Is that true?
The second thing about the verse is that we need to look at the context. When you read the whole epistle to Hebrews you will understand that it is written for Jews who have heard the message of salvation through believing in Christ and justification through faith. Some never believed it and continued keeping the law, sacrificing animals for the forgiveness of sins. Even some who were once converted started doing that. And that is one of the most terrible things discussed in the New Testament, both in the epistle to Hebrews and in the epistle to Galatians. It is rejection of the message of salvation through grace and believing in Jesus Christ and coming back to the keeping of the law of the Old Testament.
This is a deliberate rejection of the ultimate plan of God for salvation of every human. You reject Jesus, try to be saved by your own works, and you are condemned, because through the works of the law no human can be justified. So, do not insult God by rejecting His grace and trying to be good by your own works, but accept Jesus sacrifice and the forgiveness of sins is always there for you. No more condemnation for you as God justifies you through His Son. We are saved by believing what Jesus did. Do not ever try to add anything to that sacrifice by trying to get justified by God. He has already justified you once and for all. You cannot add anything to it, nor deduct from it. Receive grace and stay in it. The Old Testament is over. Sacrifice of Jesus is perfect. Your sins are forgiven.
The tenth chapter of Hebrews has been one of the scariest excerpts of Scripture for most Christians. But should it be? It states that those who sin deliberately no sacrifice for sins is left for them but only upcoming judgment. Most having read those verses get scared about their salvation. Well, let's figure out 2 things.
First of all, most of the sins we commit are committed deliberately (time of weakness or succumbing to temptation), excerpts those we commit unconsciously. Which would mean that all of us have no longer sacrifice for our sins left, but a fearful expectation of judgment. Is that true?
The second thing about the verse is that we need to look at the context. When you read the whole epistle to Hebrews you will understand that it is written for Jews who have heard the message of salvation through believing in Christ and justification through faith. Some never believed it and continued keeping the law, sacrificing animals for the forgiveness of sins. Even some who were once converted started doing that. And that is one of the most terrible things discussed in the New Testament, both in the epistle to Hebrews and in the epistle to Galatians. It is rejection of the message of salvation through grace and believing in Jesus Christ and coming back to the keeping of the law of the Old Testament.
This is a deliberate rejection of the ultimate plan of God for salvation of every human. You reject Jesus, try to be saved by your own works, and you are condemned, because through the works of the law no human can be justified. So, do not insult God by rejecting His grace and trying to be good by your own works, but accept Jesus sacrifice and the forgiveness of sins is always there for you. No more condemnation for you as God justifies you through His Son. We are saved by believing what Jesus did. Do not ever try to add anything to that sacrifice by trying to get justified by God. He has already justified you once and for all. You cannot add anything to it, nor deduct from it. Receive grace and stay in it. The Old Testament is over. Sacrifice of Jesus is perfect. Your sins are forgiven.
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