The Validity of Romans 9:11-15

(For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;)
12 It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger.
13 As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.
14 What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid.
15 For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.
[Rom 9:11-15]

If the above scripture is anything to go by,...

1. God does not need you to do good or evil (neither having done good or evil), to pass His verdict of righteousness (or otherwise) on you. Think on this. #Unbeatable

2. The purpose of God according to election is always independent of works
"...not of works, but of him that calleth"

3. God does not in later times need works to justify a man. Once He has started to justify without works, so will He continue. If He started to be kind without works, He'll so continue. Because we see in the life of the Jacob He loved, that He remain loved unto the end even though Jacob's life was a questionable one. However, this tenacious love of God changed this man at last. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?...

4. "What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness...", God is not after what you or other people will say, He's after how to work out His own counsel.

That is, controversially or uncontroversially, whom God has loved, He has loved! (the gifts and calling of God are without repentance)

5. " ...unrighteousness with God?" Do you call that unrighteousness? No! it's not unrighteousness.

It's sovereignty.

Or say, VETO POWER

Peradventure you become God tomorrow, you can try to change that.
"I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy..."

So, are you ready to be on the favoured side of God? or you want to serve as Esau, labouring in the heat of the day and yet missing the blessing?
God's favour is His righteousness with which he seals ALL THAT BELIEVE.

Rom 3:22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:

BBE But to him who without working has faith in him who gives righteousness to the evil-doer, his faith is put to his account as righteousness. (Rom 4:5)

Believe in Jesus and enjoy His FREE righteousness.

The Law is not evil

Several times Paul in his teaching of we not being under the law, have often have to correct any emerging notion of the law being evil.

Please follow this Bible event story carefully

[[1Co 5:1]] It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife.

What did you read there? Amongst these church members, there are people who are involved in the practice of sleeping with their own very step mother. Ha! How do you see that act? Worst grade of fornication, you might say. Hmm..

[[1Co 5:2]] And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you.

They, instead of frowning seriously at the act, were "puffed up" - proud. They were not humbled, neither were they ashamed. Maybe they never really see anything that bad in it. Christians! Church that has pastors, elders, and every setting.
Hmm...

The entire church lived and enjoyed the company of this brother. He worships with them, and there was no shame or perhaps, guilty conscience.

Hmm...
In fact, they were boastful because verse 6 says,
"Your glorying is not good"

Could this be ignorance? Could it be that they do not know this is in fact horrible? May be.

Note that, nowhere in the new testament is this "clearly spelt out" as a sin. Not even Jesus' "Gospels". Oh! They don't even have these epistles or Gospels books anyway. Where in the Bible will you find sleeping with one's step mother as a sin? Not even the simple "ten commandments"

Lev 18:8 The nakedness of thy father's wife shalt thou not uncover: it is thy father's nakedness.

Lev 20:11 And the man that lieth with his father's wife hath uncovered his father's nakedness: both of them shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.

Deu 22:30 A man shall not take his father's wife, nor discover his father's skirt.

Deu 27:20 Cursed be he that lieth with his father's wife; because he uncovereth his father's skirt. And all the people shall say, Amen.

So Paul got to know this as sinful because the scriptures (not just widespread societal condemnation) say it is, and this statement came from the law. Yet it's still true we are not under the law.

So, is the law useless? Is it a waste really?

See this again.

[[1Co 9:9-10]]
For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen?
Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope.

He quotes from the law of Moses and instructs the church with it. He admonishes us to keep that instruction in the law. This is only one of several examples where the law is referred to and an admonition is extracted. For your information, every instruction we have in the epistles have the law of Moses as source.

The law may have made sin to "abound" to death; it may have caused so great blindness and religion: yet it can be to our benefit today if we use/apply it "lawfully".

But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully (1 Tim 1:8)

The earlier verse says, "For our sakes, no doubt, this [law] is written"

Rom 7:12 Wherefore the law is holy... and just, and GOOD

Rom 7:16 ...I consent unto the law that IT IS GOOD

So we ought to thank God for the holy law. It is by it we know this is right or this is wrong, even though it cannot make anyone do the right it presents. By it we can admonish the brethren. By it, we can know what's MORALLY acceptable and what's not. By rightly dividing, we can show ourselves approved unto God. By it we can show any erring brother or sister proofs. This is part of the 'all scripture' that is profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction and instruction in righteousness (1 Tim 3:16-17). We should not resort to senses or experience or personal opinions or cultural perceptions to discern right or wrong, scriptures (Genesis to Malachi) guided the Bible time Church. Paul used it. Peter used it. Jesus used it. The law is not evil. The law is not error, it's people's interpretation that may be erring. Today we behold Christs life out of the law. The law is good, However, it must be used "lawfully".

Emmanuel?

[[Mat 1:23]] Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

Why must Jesus be called Emmanuel? If you've been conversant with the bible, you'll know whenever names are given to people, it is always to say something about what the parents feel, or what God says, about a contemporary situation. Remember how a sorrowful mother gave birth to a child and said the child should be called Ichabod. What's her message? - The glory has departed from Israel. See 1 Sam 4:21

What of Jabez? He was born by a mother in sorrow and was thus so named. 1Chron 4:9

Hosea was asked to marry a prostitute
Hos 1:4 and has by her Jezreel;
Hos 1:6 Loruhamah;
Hos 1:8 and Lo-ammi
All were messages to the nation.

After the fall of Adam and how God has announced the Good news of a coming "seed of the woman" who will give life, that was when Adam gave the woman the name - Eve

[[Gen 3:20]] And Adam called his wife's name Eve; because she was the mother of all LIVING.

What's the point? Names don't come in the Bible without a message, especially in such a case like this when God is the namer. So why the name - Emmanuel?

Now this is why that name emerged. The name simply means "God With Us". That is, God is now joined to man in this child that is born.

Hmmm..

Was there a separation before? Of course. The same Isaiah announced this.

[[Isa 59:1-2]] 1 Behold, the LORD'S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear:
2 But your iniquities have SEPARATED between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.

The separation was by sin. And Jesus born to save from sins (Matt 1:21), therefore will remove the sin barrier and sanctify (Heb 10:5-9). This He did and said it is finished! God and man today is reconciled by the sacrifice of Jesus.

[[Rom 5:10]] For if, when we were enemies, we were RECONCILED to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

Emmanuel! Emmanuel!! Each time you shout that name, you're saying, "I'm now at PEACE with God. I'm now reconciled with God! No barriers anymore!". Do you want to shout it one more time?

Now pay attention to this! Having established this, It will be out of place for anyone to quote Isaiah 59:1 and say "your sins is hindering God from hearing you, it's your sin! it's your sin! God is against you". It cant be true! because what? because Emmanuel! God said Emmanuel! God with us! No barriers!

Now Someone might want to say, "yes but that is only after you have repented. It does not apply to someone who still sins". I would probably have agreed with you but I will be ignoring scriptures if I so do.

[[Rom 5:10]] For if, WHEN WERE ENEMIES (not when we changed our ways to be friends with God)... when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son...

[[2Co 5:19]] To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, NOT IMPUTING THEIR TRESPASSES UNTO THEM; (so people being reconciled can have trespasses...) and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

So what we are sent to preach is the word of RECONCILIATION (God with us, not imputing trespasses...), not the word of SEPARATION (God has turned His back, your sins have separated etc).

This is the Good News. Christ has FULLY paid for all your sins: you either believe this or continue to walk in error. He is in fact an "overpayment" for your sins (1jn 2:2). People have always think that you must give something to be a partaker of the blessings of God. Stop this deception! Forgiveness is Free in Christ Jesus! (Romans 3:24).
Take this FREE OFFER of righteousness and give thanks. Alleluia!

Tithing and The New Testament

If you still expect a blessing from your tithing, you have not started to walk fully in Grace...

If you are still a "tither" faithful or unfaithful, you're not yet walking fully in the rights Christ bought you.

If you still have tithe envelopes or boxes, all the same..I invite you to learn this truth in Grace.

There is no commandment called tithing in the New Testament!
Paul never taught his Church or ask his Church to show him their "tithe cards"

Jesus never taught his disciples to tithe!

Listen! The closest word of Jesus to tithing is found in Matthew 23:23 and he wasn't teaching to tithe, nor saying "do not tithe", but rather condemning certain tithers

Mat 23:23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin...

Hmm... How careful these guys are, as to tithe of even mint and anise and Cummin... but Jesus never praised that, but Jesus "woed" them because they didn't keep the law at all points.

Hmm...
*[[Jas 2:10]] KJV* For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

*[[Mat 23:23]] KJV* Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.

So, no "faithful tither" is faithful indeed: ask him, "have you areas of the law you neglected? Are you sure you're all rounder in keeping this law of God? Are you sure you'll be able to continue to tithe of mint and anise and Cummins, very minute details and yet, other areas of the law do not suffer neglect?". According to Jesus, until you do this, you'll always fall in bad light in the eye of God: thus, don't expect any blessing if your neighbors are dying of hunger and you're rich and tithing faithfully, despising their cries.
Pro 21:13 says Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard, meaning, his tithes shall not be blessed.
And you also must not "rob God" in tithes. Don't rob Peter to pay Paul! So was Jesus' teaching.

Tithing is an old testament injunction. Nowhere in the epistles was it demanded. Did Paul wrote about Church finances at all? Yes he did. Did he reveal how his Church was making it financially at all? Yes. Without tithes? Yes.

*[[2Co 9:1]] KJV* For as touching the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you:

*[[Phi 4:15-16]] KJV* Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only. For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity.

What is that? Giving by the church. So there was giving by the Church. But was that tithes? No.

*[[Act 2:44-45]] KJV*  And all that believed were together, and had all things common; And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.

Was that tithes? No.
But did it meet their needs? Yes.

*[[2Co 11:8-9]] KJV* I robbed other churches, [taking wages of them]<this word in square brackets was inserted by translators, readers take note>, to do you service.  And when I was present with you, and wanted, I was chargeable to no man: for that which was lacking to me the brethren which came from Macedonia supplied: and in all things I have kept myself from being burdensome unto you, and so will I keep myself.

So there was meat in Gods house not by tithing, but by a voluntary offering.

More scriptures?

*[[1Co 16:1-3]] KJV* Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come. And when I come, whomsoever ye shall approve by your letters, them will I send to bring your liberality unto Jerusalem.

What is this "collection for the saints"? Looks like our offerings today. It is gathered first day of the week and collected to be forwarded to Jerusalem. But this is in no way same as tithes, because in verse 3, he calls it "liberality".
"them will I send to bring your liberality unto Jerusalem".

Just in case, you're slow in believing..
*[[Gal 2:9-10]] KJV* And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision. Only they would that we should remember the poor; the same which I also was forward to do.

They didn't tell Paul, "only remember your tithing! Tithing!! Always pay", but GIVING! GIVING!

Now what's the new testament practice?

*[[2Co 8:12-15]] KJV* For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not. For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened: But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality:  As it is written, He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack.

First, willing mind. No giving without a willing mind.

*[[2Co 9:12]] BBE* For this work of giving not only takes care of the needs of the saints, but is the cause of much praise to God;

So we give in church to take care of needs, yet not by tithing. Why?

*[[2Co 9:7]] KJV* Every man ACCORDING AS HE PURPOSETH IN HIS HEART, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.

This is how we give in the new testament. Talk of tithing, it's not tithing!

Tithing is AS THE LAW PURPOSE FOR YOU, not as you purpose in your heart.

"so let him give...". In tithing, it is "so let him PAY", not so let him give.

"..not grudgingly, or of necessity...", in the law of tithing, it is of necessity. You don't pay it, locusts will devour your works. But the new testament giving is out of love. You're not blessed by the giving you do (we're blessed by what Christ has done Gal 3:13-14), neither are we cursed for not giving. Locusts don't invade your works for not tithing (because He Nevers asked you to tithe in the first place), there are always open heavens because of what Christ has done for us. Giving is our nature, we need not be coerced to do so. Accept the unconditional blessing of Christ and serve in love.
Amen.

What happened in Daniel 3:24-end

Daniel 3:24-25
(24)  Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, and rose up in haste, [and] spake, and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king.
(25)  He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.


He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.

Now I've heard a preacher say this is the first appearance of Jesus on the earth. In fact, we have a common eulogy that describes God as the "fourth in the furnace". That is because of the way he was described: "and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God". But it's not Jesus. Jesus has never showed up on the earth as a man until John 1:14.

What Nebuchadnezzar was actually seeing was a vision! A vision! And the meaning of the vision is simply that God is with these men! Simple!

God opened his eyes to see a vision, and it wasn't Jesus in the furnace, but an ANGEL. The word "son of god" is "bar elahin" which is sometimes translated "angel" (see Good News Bible). And in case, you don't agree with that, see verse 28.

[Then] Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed [be] the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who hath sent his ANGEL… (Daniel 3:28)

So Nebuchadnezzar confessed what he saw was an angel of God.

In fact, it appeared like only the king saw it, because he said, "Lo, I SEE", not "we see", or "can't you see?" Lo, I see four men… and he was the only one who described the how that fourth man look like. Now, you don't describe a picture to a person if the picture is right before the eyes of both of you and the other person isn't blind. It's only when people around me are not seeing what I'm seeing will I ever need to start to describe.

Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king. He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.

It can also be seen this vision just like every other vision was very brief: it had disappeared when he called out for the three men.

Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, [and] spake, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego,… no mention of the fourth man anymore, just the three men were called. Evidently, the vision has disappeared.

Well if you ask me, can a person who is not saved have a vision? I'll refer you to Cornelius (Acts 10:3), to Paul on his way to Tarsus (Acts 9:3-6)

…Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, came forth of the midst of the fire… no fourth man anymore.

And in verse 29, God was to be honoured in every nation, on the earth.

Blessed be the name of the Lord for the written word.

Learning from The Confidence of Shadrach Meshach and Abednego

Daniel 3:16-18
(16)  Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we [are] not careful to answer thee in this matter.
(17)  If it be [so], our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver [us] out of thine hand, O king.
(18)  But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.

Thank you for going through the story of the trio with me.

Trust that you are well familiar with the story from which we can draw lessons (Rom 15:4, 1Cor 10:11).

But this is where most people and even translations misinterpret this story.

They say, the trio said, "if you throw us into the fire, our God is able to deliver us". Correct up to this point. But they add "but if our God doesn't deliver us, we will…" Wrong!

Let's read the story again.

The king said,
Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear… all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; [well]: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who [is] that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?

The response:
"If it be [so]",… if it be so that what?

that "ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace" because the king added that "who [is] that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?"

Is this clear at this juncture?

If it be so, [if that's the case], that we shall be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace [thinking no God is able to deliver out of your hands], our God is able to deliver…

But if not…

if not what? If it be not so… if it be not so;

the exact opposite of the previous statement:

if that's not the case, that you shall not cast us into the furnace,… be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up [because only a person who has not been burnt by fire can choose whether to bow or not to bow]

So, those men never said, "even if our God does not deliver us", rather, they were saying, "if you do what you promise to do because we did not bow, our God is able to deliver us, but if you do not throw us into the furnace, we will still not bow"
because if God never delivered them, they will already be in ashes, roasted. So they couldn't have been saying, we will not bow. They would have said, "and if our God does not deliver us, well, so be it that we die a good death, not denying our faith".

There was no doubt in their speech. They are Hebrews. It's not their first time of seeing miraculous interventions. Remember they've practically seen the miraculous knowing and interpretation of the king's dream before amongst several wonders Jehovah has demonstrated in their lives. They were used to things like that, and never counted it a risk to utter such a word before the great Nebuchadnezzar and amidst threat of seven-time-heated furnace. And so, the author of Hebrews will say they were men "who through FAITH (not fear, not doubt)… quenched the violence of fire (Hebrews 11:33-34)

The lesson we draw here is that our confidence in such times our faith is tested can be strengthened when we "get used to the miraculous".

Jesus has NEVER gave it a thought that "what if this miraculous things fail?" The day Jesus walked on water, it never came to His mind that "hey! this is water! Who do you think you are? This is too much and you may be going beyond your boundaries". He simply stepped on the water and walked. Elijah was so bold to challenge the prophets of Baal to a "the god that answers by fire be God" contest and even asked that more waters be poured on the sacrifice. Experiential confidence can be helpful for you in times of storm. Give your ears daily to hearing testimonies of how God is setting men free everyday; healing the sick through men; unstopping deaf ears; cleansing lepers through men that are not clergy. Take steps too. Pray over situations and try to observe how your prayer of faith change the situation. You can do it because Jesus says so. So go ahead! And when you're tried, it is that God may be magnified.
Blessed!

that the works of God might be made manifest

The Works of God
John 9:1-4
(1)  And as [Jesus] passed by, he saw a man which was blind from [his] birth.
(2)  And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?
(3)  Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.
(4) I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.
This seems to look like Jesus is saying
“God made him blind, so Jesus can have some miracles to perform on earth that people might believe him”
Or that
“This is not the kind of problem caused by sin, it is a SPECIAL kind of problem that God put there so He can be showing Himself, otherwise people won’t serve Him.”
But that’s far from the message!
Please notice what Jesus did not say. He didn’t say
“He was CREATED blind”, or “He was made blind”
So Jesus cannot be talking about God as the reason for that situation. But the fact Jesus admitted was that “he was blind, but… the works of God shall be manifest”. It therefore means that hitherto, the works of God has not been manifest in his life.

Jesus simply said, ‘Hey! what you people are about to see now is “the work of God”’,
“I must work the works of him that sent me”, and we saw what?
…a healing
Therefore, his blindness is not “the work of God” is the simple message: his healing is the work of God.
It is only one person Jesus told us does nothing but is come to steal, to kill, and to destroy – the thief (John 10:10) and God is not a thief.
Therefore, don’t make a false doctrine out of this: that God maketh sick and then healeth. Don’t say “God has made me sick so He can heal me again that I can know that He is powerful”.
Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: James 1:13
This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
(1 John 1:5)
Peace to you.

If you Don't Know Who You are in Christ...

O ma she o! (What a pity)

Believers of today, being IGNORANT of whom they are in Christ before God have reduced themselves to all manner of trash. This is evidenced by stupid songs we sing and prayer points we raise. Songs like "pass me not o gentle savior", "aanu Re Baba wa orun lawa n toro...". Ask him to explain the scripturality of the songs, he'll say in John 5, Jesus "by mercy" healed only the lame man at Bethesda and ignored others (which is not true according to Jn6:2): that Jesus passed others by.
Hmm! "Gentle savior" indeed.

Q2.
Besides, Is the believer now at the same level with an unsaved sick who is looking for healing? When the believer is THE ONLY carrier of God's healing power on earth? (Romans 16:18 Act 3:6-8; Act 3:12; Act 3:16; Act 4:10; Act 4:22; Act 4:30; Act 5:15; Act 5:16; Act 9:17; Act 9:18; Act 9:34; Act 9:40-42; Act 19:12)

Jesus said to the woman of Canaan in Matthew 15:26, that healing is ALREADY children's bread and dogs do not qualify for it. That is, it is the right of every child, but today many believers prayers and "prayer songs" come in the manner of the dogs. No authority at all. Instead it is "shout till you lose your voice: Jesus son of David, have mercy on me", "je ki n raanu gba", "roughen your cloth, tear yourself, beg for mercy" etc.

You even have people who believe only a vow can "bribe" God to give them answers. That is not childly, nor fatherly. Imagine your son having to make a vow to you as a father before you give him his daily bread (remember Jesus calls healing children's bread). If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him? (Matt 7:11)

Children today beg for the crumbs that fall from the table when the table was prepared for them. That is what ignorance will do. #GodPunishIgnorance

Saved by Grace Alone

If you say it this way,..
"It is BY GRACE we are saved in Christ, it is NOT OF WORKS" (Eph 2:8-9)

Almost everyone will give a nodding in agreement with your statement as biblical.

But if you say the same thing this way

"your working or not working after your salvation cannot UNSAVE you"
I bet you'll get hard knocks, serious criticism and even have to face a panel (sahendrin council) in disapproval. Read what I wrote again:

"your working or not working after your salvation cannot UNSAVE you"

Please what's the difference? We are saved by grace alone and not of works. "not of works" already mean, "not by works". That is, whatever your works mean (whether good or bad), yes, will surely affect some other important things (such as people's opinion of you, your opinion of yourself, your shining as light, your relationship with fellow men, your freedom to win your neighbours to Christ, your conscience condemning or approving you, personal trust etc) but NOT SALVATION since salvation is NOT OF WORKS: otherwise it is of works: and a thing cannot be of works and also be of grace at the same time says the scripture.

[Rom 11:6]And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.

[Tit 3:5] Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us...

My hope is built on nothing else
but Jesus blood and righteousness
I dare not trust the sweetest frame
but only lean on Jesus name

Only One Believing is Needed

REPENTANCE may be daily..

FORSAKING OF ONE SIN OR THE OTHER may be time after time..

"Lord, I'm sorry", "brother I'm sorry I acted like that" may be needed always...

But SALVATION through Christ is ONCE AND FOR ALL TIMES

How?

how do you get saved?

Believe in Jesus (Acts 16:30,31), believe in your heart and confess (Romans 10:9-10)

How many "believe" and reject, and rebelieve and rereject, and go and come back home do you need for salvation?
O-N-E. Just Once and by that ONCE, you pass the baton to Christ who finishes it.

*[[Eph 1:13]] KJV* In whom ye also trusted, AFTER that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also AFTER that ye BELIEVED (past tense), ye were SEALED with that holy Spirit of promise,

Why do kings SEAL things?

Dan 6:17 And a stone was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the den; and the king SEALED it with his own signet, and with the signet of his lords; THAT THE PURPOSE MIGHT NOT BE CHANGED concerning Daniel.

The King of kings will not take chances, so He seals you with the Holy Ghost till the day of redemption THAT THE PURPOSE MIGHT NOT BE CHANGED; that "they which are called might receive the promise of ETERNAL inheritance" (Hebrews 9:15);

Redemption and Restitution

They say salvation/forgiveness is INCOMPLETE without RESTITUTION.
VERY TRUE

But listen,..

What did the man/woman that got you converted tell you? What did you believed to be saved?

"Jesus PAID for ALL your sins"

Do you really believe this in your heart and your acts? Or it's just memory verse and another religious recitation?

"Jesus paid for all your sins". What does it mean to PAY for sins? Not SOME sins, ALL your sins.

Have you been at an institution where you're asked to pay for "damages" before? Perhaps some items were damaged or missing in your place and you're charged justly or unjustly for damages. After paying damages or someone pays the damages on your behalf, do you go to the place again because you remembered you truly did some damages to do "restitution"? In the eye of the law, can you be charged again for damages? So why do you say salvation/forgiveness is incomplete without one "restitution".

I'm sinless and COMPLETELY forgiven. Jesus paid it ALL. If any man be in Christ, he's a new creature (homos novos). He's a new born babe (1Peter2:2). He has never wronged any man. He has never sinned before (2Cor 7:2). He doesn't even have a recognized past because ALL things have become NEW. Please don't do foolish things in the name of restitution o.

Does God love the Backslider Still?

People have preacher that,
"you have God's love only as long as you have not backslidden. Once you backslide, forget God's love"

Hmmmm...

Have you read this before?

*[[Mat 26:31]] KJV* Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad.

Another version will say

NET. Then Jesus said to them, "This night you will all fall away because of me

ISV Then Jesus told them, "All of you will turn against me this very night,

Jesus is literally saying, these people will all BACKSLIDE from Him.

What do you think this knowledge should have put on Jesus?
I think Jesus should just lose confidence in His disciples and just begin to speak harshly in disappointment to them. "Hey! all ye disciples, despite all that I have been teaching you; despite the way I have always shown you love; you'll do this to me? Even this Peter that I think will be better off, he'll even deny me. Peter! You're a great disappointment! You, of all people"

Rather, Jesus was telling them
But after I am risen again, I will go before you into Galilee

Ah! I thought these people who have left/denied the faith in the trials ought to do something to get back the love of Jesus, but no. Jesus was telling them this to assure them He will never leave them despite their "backsliding".

And you have thought and taught that the backslider cannot be loved of God? You never read this

*[[Rom 8:35-36]] EasyEnglish* Nothing can make us separate from Christ, who loves us. We may have troubles. Things may happen to us that cause us to be very sad or afraid. Enemies may do bad things to us and hurt us. We may have no food or no clothes. There may be danger, or people may try to kill us. But none of these things can stop Christ from loving us. As it says in the Old Testament: 'Because we are your people, (God), other people try to kill us all the time. They think that we are worth no more than sheep. Sheep that should go to the butcher so that he can kill them.'

*[[Rom 8:38-39]] EasyEnglish* Nothing can make us separate from God, who loves us. I am completely sure about that. Whether we are alive or dead, it does not matter. Neither angels nor bad spirits nor any other powerful spirits can stop God from loving us. Neither things that are now, nor future things, can stop him loving us. Neither anything that is above the world, nor anything below the world, can stop him. There is nothing else in the whole world that can stop God from loving us. Christ Jesus, our Lord, causes us to know how much God loves us.

How Edified are you?

1Cor 14:4 says
He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself...

That is, how much/well you speak in tongues is how much/well you have edified yourself.

Conversely, how much you have abandoned or despised or rejected or get bored or get tired or felt unimportant or derisive of speaking in tongues is exactly how much you have abandoned your personal edification.

Hmm..

The Bible says
*[[Gal 6:9]] KJV* And let us not be weary in WELL DOING: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

Remember also that, to speak in tongues is a WELL DOING (1Cor 14:17).

So how edified are you? He that speaketh often in an unknown tongue edifieth himself often.
He that rarely speaks in an unknown tongue edifies himself rarely.
He that seasonally speaks in an unknown tongue edifies himself seasonally.
He that speaks in an unknown tongue on Sundays only edifies himself on Sundays only.

God is no respecter of persons. He that sows sparingly will also reap sparingly. He that sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.

In Church today, it's evident we're more edified than another because we speak in tongues at different frequencies and, yes, the Bible recognizes that we don't speak at same frequency. Some speak more than others. For example, Paul said, "I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye [Corinthian Church entirely plus your prayer unit, plus your prayer coordinator plus pastor ] all" (1Cor 14:18); so you can speak in tongues more than another person. No wonder we can say Paul was evidently more edified. God is no respecter of persons: it doesn't matter what your calling is. A "callingless" believer who choose to personally edify himself will do himself more favour.

I choose to edify myself personally. I choose to speak in tongues often. Don't know about you.

Is that truly God?

Lying/falsehood/deceit, you'll agree with me is not only when you claim something you're not,
But when you can conveniently take two contrasting nature at any given time. Any act of constantly changing personal identity is FALSEHOOD. You're black and white at the same time.
Agree?

If you say "yes".

If someone tell you "even God is a liar", how will you react?

Mad I guess.

So how did you react when you read this in your Bible?

*[[Isa 45:7]] KJV* I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.

Dual Identity, a characteristic of fraudsters. Always changing name, changing IP address.

*[[Job 2:10]] KJV* shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?

Please don't forget Job's weight of evil. When Job says "evil", he means losing 7 children in one day, losing all companies and business ventures in one day and staying home, not only as unemployed but as sick with boils. That is what he calls evil: not your 5 minutes headache where you pray and go back to paracetamol, or lack of admission/good job.

*[[Amo 3:6]] KJV* shall there be evil in a city, and the LORD hath not done it?

Hmm...
Amos is saying God is an Evil Doer.

Please is a new testament, regenerated, blood-washed, Holy Spirit-taught, Jesuslife-mentored, perhaps tongue-speaking endtime Christian with 66 books Bible in thousand translations and versions expected to limit his insight to that of Amos, Isaiah or Job who had no Jesus, no new creation experience, no unction from the Holy One, no 66 books in a portable book and on mobile and computer devices?

In summary, those guys were not to be blamed for writing those things based on their own understanding. But you are expected to be better off.
We know today that,

*[[1Jn 1:5]] that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

Joh 1:4 In him was life; and the life was the LIGHT of men.
not "light/darkness" of men, not both, not either. Light only.

Joh 1:9 That was the true LIGHT, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.

not "which lighteth or darkeneth every man"

Joh 8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness [no false or varying identity], neither shadow of turning.

God is straightforward; not a deceiver; a healer, not a killer; love, not hatred; light, not darkness; peace maker only, not evil doer. This is the message we have received of Jesus. Alleluia!

Why Halt ye Between Two Opinions?

There is a category of Christian today,

Just stand on pulpit and say
"We have been made righteous through Christ Jesus. Do you believe this?"

You'll hear unanimous hall-shaking "Yesssss that's true!!!"

Let another take the pulpit and say words like

"We're all sinners. There is not one righteous person among us".

You'll be amazed the same set of people who gave a hall-shaking "yes" to the first preacher will also agree with this preacher.

Hmm..

One preacher will come up and say "Christians are CITIZENS of heaven, not candidates" (Philippians 3:20). We'll agree with him.

Another will come up and say "if only we can make heaven. Let us pray that we will make heaven. Heaven should be our target". We'll also agree with him.

Elijah said in 1Kings 18:21, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him.

Why have we believed incompatible doctrines? Why have we refused to see inconsistencies in these two teachings? How can we be righteous and sinful at the same time when righteous and sinful are "words and opposite"? Even 2Corinthians 6:14 says what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? How can we be citizens of heaven and also CONTESTANTS of the same heaven at the same time? Is it this language that is our problem? If Philippians 3:20 says the relationship between me and heaven is that of CITIZENSHIP, do one have to CONTEST to be a citizen? I'm a Nigerian today. Did I "make Nigeria"? How come do we try to "make heaven" if we are indeed CITIZENS of the heaven? What Concord has light with darkness? How can we be child of God and child of devil at the same time (righteous and sinful) at the same time? Do we really take heed to what we hear at all? Do we really take time to meditate on what preachers teach us at all? Or we're just too afraid to disagree with a preacher just because of "man-of-God-ism"?

Some even think one can be a child of God now. If after now he commits a sin, he'll immediately become a child of the devil. If just after, he repents, he'll again become a child of God. And the cycle continues like that. So God and the devil keeps exchanging children. And whosoever hand you end up with at death or rapture, will be your final eternal possessor. Hmm.. But the bible does not teach so! I have been a Nigerian ever since birth and have not lost my citizenship. If a Nigerian abroad commits an offence, he'll still be a Nigerian (bad example). He won't become a citizen of another place. Take heed to what you hear.

Do you really want your service to be accepted before God?

Do you really want your service to be accepted before God?
Do you want your dance, your donations to God's work, your workforce service, your evangelism, your ministry; to be acceptable before God?

See this.
Heb 12:28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us HAVE GRACE, whereby we may serve God ACCEPTABLY with reverence and godly fear

Please note the following about that text:
1) It didn't say, "Let us have LAWS to serve God acceptably".
You don't please God by observance of LAWS. Rom 3:20 "by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight". Don't expect laws from here. The man that Jesus told "keep the commandments...and thou wilt enter into life" (Matt 19:17), confessed it's not working.
Mat 19:20 The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what LACK I yet?

2) It didn't say "let us have 7 keys to serve God acceptably". No keys but one.

3) It didn't say "Let us have grace and then after we have secured grace, we should be trying our best to be serving God in the acceptable way, we should still be fearing Him o". No! No! No! Because grace through faith will not produce God's pleasure; Grace is God's pleasure.

It's saying Grace is that whereby we serve God acceptably. Having Grace is serving God ACCEPTABLY.

Let us have grace, WHEREBY we may serve God ACCEPTABLY with reverence and godly fear

You think grace ALONE is insufficient? Why then did Jesus say
My grace is SUFFICIENT for thee (2Cor 12:9). If it were not enough, Jesus will not have said it. Why was God pleased with Noah in his generation? "But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD" (Gen 6:8).

Serve God with all strength; give with a pure mind; don't be like the Pharisees; don't keep grudges; forgive others as you approach prayer; keep a good conscience void of offence; follow peace with all men: but... HAVE GRACE. That is the way to SERVE ACCEPTABLY.

People think when Bible says:
Heb 11:6 "without faith it is impossible to please him", it means, you must have, number 1 - faith; number two - this and that… then you'll please… But No: It's saying FAITH ALONE pleases God. Gather everything, without faith, God is not pleased. Faith is not first, faith is ALL. Because if you read that passage well, it said earlier,
Heb 11:2 …by it [faith] the elders obtained a good report.

"by IT", not "by them". Just by faith, the elders got a recommendation because God was pleased with them.

And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them. But Noah FOUND GRACE in the eyes of the LORD. (Genesis 6:7-8). Oh! Most other versions substituted the word "found grace" for "pleased". Looks like this:
(GNB) But the LORD was pleased with Noah.
(GW) But the LORD was pleased with Noah.
(CEV) But the LORD was pleased with Noah

Grace does not lead to pleasing God: Grace is God's pleasure. let us HAVE GRACE, whereby we may serve God ACCEPTABLY with reverence and godly fear
Do you have this grace?

PLEASE DON'T MISS HEAVEN FOR "STUPID" REASONS

PLEASE DON'T MISS HEAVEN FOR "STUPID" REASONS

My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. [Hos 4:6]

Time will reveal this to you, that every reason any man will miss heaven/rapture is a stupid one.

Salvation is already DONE: it is called "FINISHED WORK". Man is not called to DO salvation: he is only called to FREELY RECEIVE and ENJOY what someone else has worked for. Yet some men will stay far from salvation for stupid reasons.

Please hear this and hear well: God requires NOTHING from the sinner to get him SALVATION
not holiness,
not righteousness,
not purification,
not even faith; otherwise man will boast.

You simply receive yours and in what you receive, you will find sanctification; you will find righteousness; you will find faith: will you just draw near and receive?

*[[1Cor 1:30]] KJV* But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption

No reason for missing something that's so free as this!

I'm praying for you that these things that are written here, you will see it and truly understand.

That you are a drunkard is not enough reason to go to hell!
That you are confined to a religious environ that opposes faith of Christ does not mean you should go to hell!
That you "like women" is not enough reason to go to hell: there are men who "like women" in heaven today and there are men who "like women" in hell too. David was a "lover of women" that even in his old age on his dying bed, a young girl was still fetched for the 'baba'. Don't follow the Samson's style with women, but today the same Samson is among the cloud of witnesses that has encompassed us. Samson is of the triumphant SAINTS today because "who is he that overcometh the world? but he that BELIEVES...". (1John 5:5)

In the same way, "I'm a prostitute; that's how I earn a living; I've slept with countless number of men" does not mean you should go to hell. There are prostitutes in heaven already.Join them. Hell is not your place. Ask Rahab how she made it and escaped being punished for her sins. She will tell you: BY FAITH the harlot Rahab perished not with THEM THAT BELIEVED NOT, WHEN SHE HAD RECEIVED...[Heb 11:31]

Which other stupid reason again? Men that have lied have entered heaven today. It's really wrong to lie, but don't stay away from salvation because you are a liar: for the liar's sake Christ died. You need to understand that we who are in the kingdom are not there because we are perfect, but it is God who justifies everyone who believes. Stay with us and have your sin nature dealt with.

What about murderers, abortionists etc? if they will confess with their mouth the Lord Jesus and BELIEVE in their HEART (not lips) that God has heavily dealt with the same Jesus for their sins, and that Jesus is alive again having fully paid for sins; verily, they shall not miss rapture because they are saved.

Jesus truly washed away your sins

Feel free to share the message in pictures. #WordInPictures

Who is Your Saviour?

Your Saviour is anyone you have entrusted your eternal destiny and destination unto.

That is, the question of "where will you spend your eternity?" is a function of whom your Saviour is, how powerful he is, and what his terms and conditions are. He is called a SAVIOUR: HE (not you) is expected to save. You are called the "saved", you're expected to be saved. You are expected to LEAN on him; count on him to do the saving for you.
Therefore the question again: WHO IS YOUR SAVIOUR?

Before you answer that, I'll want you to know the answer to that is more of deeds and belief system than words. You'll understand what I mean now.

There are men today who have made Moses their saviour. Be not surprised to hear this.

*[[Joh 5:45]] KJV* Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even MOSES, IN WHOM YE TRUST [as your saviour]

*[[Joh 9:28-29]] KJV* Then they reviled him, and said, Thou art his [Jesus] disciple; but we are Moses' disciples.  We know that God spake unto Moses [we believe in Moses]: as for this fellow [Jesus], we know not from whence he is.

If you also have trusted that Moses' law will justify you on the judgement day, that you will keep the commandments of Moses and hope to make heaven by it, then Moses had been your saviour hitherto. If you have no trust in the righteousness of Jesus but count on your own righteousness, Jesus isn't your saviour; it's Moses. What a pity the same Moses will accuse you because the law justifies no one. What you can have by that is what looks like "temporal salvation" because you'll break the terms and thus "lose the salvation".

But the believer is one who has entrusted ALL HIS ENTIRETY to Christ Jesus.

*[[Eph 1:12-13]] KJV* That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first TRUSTED IN CHRIST. In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

His righteousness, his sanctification (1Cor1:30), his reason and access and right to sit in the heavenly places (Eph 2:18, 3:12) and in fact, his praise is Christ. (Heb 13:15). That is the Christian!

Jesus will account for every soul that have trusted in Him for their eternal destiny as a faithful steward because it is required in stewards that a man be found faithful. He won't fail. He has this to say:

John 10:27-29 KJV
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: [28] And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. [29] My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.

So,  may I ask you again. Who is your saviour?

Independent Forgiveness

As we forgive those who sin against us...

Matthew 6:12, 14-15 KJV
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
[14] For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: [15] But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Dearly beloved, when we read the Bible, it is highly IMPORTANT that we "rightly divide". If you carefully examine this statement of Jesus, it expresses an effort based forgiveness from God. Simply put - LAW. The law was still very effective at this time and this is why this came up.

However today, it will be foolish for any man to think God's forgiveness is based on his self effort. God's forgiveness is independent of you or your actions. It is purely an act of grace and not by how well you have been forgiving others but because of Christ.

Everything changed when Jesus resurrected! This is what our Lord said about God's forgiveness after resurrection (the law having been done away with)

Luke 24:46-47 KJV
And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

After resurrection, God had already FORGIVEN ALL SINS (remission) of ALL men without first giving them a test to see if they will forgive those who sin against them or not. He forgave us independent of us.

God's forgiveness had now become something preached, not demanded anymore. To preach means to announce, to proclaim the news of what happened somewhere. Jesus after resurrection said, God's forgiveness will now be an announcement among all nations. We are therefore to go and bear witness of the news of the forgiven world; of how that all sins have been paid for by Christ Jesus.

See what the apostles said after resurrection,

*[[Col 3:13]] KJV* Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.

*[[Eph 4:32]] KJV* And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you [not will forgive you, but has already forgiven].

Note that they didn't preach Matthew 6:14,15. They didn't preach that "forgiving one another so that God can forgive you" rather, it is "even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you" You're not sent to preach Matthew 6:14,15, you're sent to preach Luke 24:47, to announce "how that God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them" (2Cor5:19)

*[[2Co 5:19]] KJV* To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

It is no more "if thou will forgive us our trespasses as we forgive..." because today, God is not imputing their trespasses unto them, another word for complete forgiveness we have. A knowledge of this we make us know we have no option but to forgive our brothers when they offend, whether they acknowledge their sins or not; whether they apologise or not. Christ did not negotiate with us before dealing with our sins for us. We love Him!
Alleluia!

"Once Purged" Should be Enough

The word "once purged" is a phrase that can be found in Hebrews 10 and it gives a picture worth paying attention to.

*[[Heb 10:2]] KJV* ...the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins.

Did you see anything in that? Or you want to read again?

worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins

Let me put it this way for better picture.

worshippers once purged should [be enough to remain purged for all times and] have had no more conscience of sins [for ever and ever and ever]

Hmm...
So it means the proper, normal thing should be "once purged, always purged" and always without "conscience of sins".

It means it is actually ABNORMAL and IMPROPER a situation where "once purged is NOT always purged"; a situation where you must be forgiven as it were "daily" or as time call for it. Hmmm...

Please let this sink if you believe the bible. Or would some other versions of the bible help?

New Living Translation
If they could have provided PERFECT cleansing, the sacrifices would have stopped, for the worshipers would have been purified ONCE FOR ALL TIME, and their feelings of guilt would have disappeared

ISV Otherwise, would they not have stopped offering them, because the worshipers, cleansed ONCE FOR ALL, would no longer be aware of any sins?

Lay your hands on other versions that may be of help: the language is the same: ONCE FOR ALL.

It simply means the pattern of perpetual "confess your sins" as established by the law (or even "The Lord's Prayer which came under the law and not grace) was to God abnormal and due to something that was MISSING. What was missing? "the perfect" had not come! (Hebrews 10:1). But if the "imperfect" be so effective as to keep millions in the world away from wrath, how much more when the perfect and normal has come!

Dearly beloved, God wants you to live holy but not by neglecting or reducing what Christ did for you. Those worshippers were right to have keep coming annually to seek forgiveness of sins because what they had was only a shadow of things to come. But for us today, the very image has come. Why then should we prefer the shadow of things to come to the real thing to come?

What Mankind Really Needed

The law came as though men were angels, demanding a perfection which cannot be achieved by flesh. (Even angels could not keep common estate! Jude 6; how much more mortal man who is sexually alive unlike angels?)

Man needed a righteousness to keep the devil away and to close in with His Maker.

Man had laws to keep and live
Lev 18:5 Ye shall therefore keep my statutes, and my judgments: which if a man do, he shall live in them: I [am] the LORD.

But…
It is evident that all man could have by this way is a temporal/conditional righteousness. If Israel is said to be righteous now, just wait: it's only a matter of time, they'll soon break the law and become unrighteous. We thought Moses to be super law keeper but that also did not last: he soon lose his temper and oh Moses! but you shouldn't have acted that way. Oh Moses! But we face the same condition too. We make up our mind, dedicate and rededicate; make resolutions; make vows not to break the law: but the next moment, we've broken our vow. Temporal, "coming-and-going" righteousness.

So man needed a remedy for sins.

Now the law stipulates a remedy when man sins. It's called sacrifices and offerings.

Fantastic!

But again, this would be cost the sinner something much: what if the sinner is poor? Should a law of God favour the rich making heaven and disqualifying the poor even when the Lord is the maker of both people?

Besides, this method could not take away sins.

*[[Heb 10:4]] KJV* For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.

Even this that is called "forgiveness" by sacrifices is valid only till next sin point or at most next year.

*[[Heb 10:1]] KJV* For the law...  with those sacrifices which they offered YEAR BY YEAR continually...

Man could only reach out to righteousness which is scoped by human abilities - that which can be called "muscular righteousness"; forgiveness which is temporal, time bound, perpetual and non perfecting; sins which cannot be completely buried but must be remembered annually. The priests therefore had a busy schedule making offerings continually to keep wrath away.
Oh the rich, oh the poor, the scribes, the gentiles: none could give an eternal ransom. A man who gains the whole world cannot sell the whole world to save his soul. Man needed something lasting.

*[[Psa 49:6-9]] KJV* They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches; None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him: (For the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever:) That he should still live for ever, and not see corruption.

Here comes Jesus! Resolved to do the Father's will. If He that must come comes bringing the same temporal righteousness, temporal forgiveness, temporal sanctification, such that we must still go to the temple daily confessing for sins and needing forgiveness daily, then He need not come at all! Man had been doing that before. But mankind needs something better! If my acceptance before God will still be premised upon how well I've behaved, then there's no difference.

Introducing...
A "new and living way" in contrast to the erstwhile "dead works"

Jesus! He did it! Not perpetual anymore! Once! Once and for all!

Today, ETERNAL RIGHTEOUSNESS is available!

*[[Dan 9:24]] KJV* Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an END OF SINS, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in EVERLASTING RIGHTEOUSNESS, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.

*[[1Co 1:30]] KJV* But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness...
*[[2Co 5:21]] KJV* For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

*[[Psa 112:9]] KJV* his righteousness endureth for ever

*[[Psa 112:3]] KJV* ...and his righteousness endureth for ever.

And having a STABLE eternal righteousness now, the blessings we get from the Lord on basis of righteousness can now be eternal too.

*[[Heb 9:15]] KJV* And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of ETERNAL INHERITANCE.

ETERNAL LIFE is available!

*[[Joh 11:26]] KJV* And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

*[[1Jn 5:11-13]] KJV* And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

ETERNAL REDEMPTION is available!

*[[Heb 9:12]] KJV* Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.

ETERNAL SALVATION !

*[[Isa 45:17]] KJV* But Israel shall be saved in the LORD with an EVERLASTING SALVATION: ye shall not be ashamed nor confounded world WITHOUT END

*[[Isa 51:6]] KJV* Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath: for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a garment, and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner: but my salvation shall be FOR EVER, and my righteousness SHALL NOT BE ABOLISHED.

*[[Heb 5:9]] KJV* And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;

Ahhhh!!!Mankind joy will no longer be short lived. Moses' law could not give this. Our joy is everlasting.

*[[2Th 2:16]] KJV* Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us EVERLASTING CONSOLATION and good hope through grace,

No wonder David will always say "I will bless the Lord FOREVER AND EVER".
Ahhh! Just what mankind needed! But ignorance/unbelief will keep many away.

The man is called Christ Jesus!
The requirement is hear and believe it's true for you! (Romans 10:9-10)

In conclusion,
If it's all the same laborious keep-the-law-to-make-heaven, righteous-till-next-sin or forgiven momentarily, then I'm sorry for Jesus: Jesus' death is NOT WORTH IT

The Validity of Hebrews 9:12

Heb 9:12 KJV Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.

If the above verse is anything to go by, then the following conclusions are valid.

1. He entered in once...for us..

Meaning I don't have to worry anymore about the dilemma of "who shall ascend into God's hill?", "who is qualified?" Etc. Someone has done that for me. I already have a rep there. If my rep is there, then I'm there too.

2. He entered in ONCE...

If I must enter (and my entering is not by the blood of bulls and calves), one time entering is ALL that is needed. Lest it's not different from the way it is practiced under the law. That means if I need a forgiveness of sins to enter, then I need the forgiveness ONCE. If it's justification I need, then I need it just ONCE. If it's salvation I need then I need it just ONCE...
why?
Because only ONE TIME ENTERING IS needed (in the new covenant). Also, we all don't have to go everyone INDIVIDUALLY since one man Christ Jesus can do that for us and get whatever we must get from the holy place.

3. Having obtained eternal redemption for us.

Meaning, Jesus going there for us is not to "try" if He can get us eternal redemption and if He's unable to, maybe we find alternatives. No! But it says,
Having [already] obtained eternal redemption for us, He entered in once into the holy place.
So it's not a 50-50 chance. He already got it settled.
Therefore, ascension could not have preceded redemption, but redemption made ascension possible in as much as He ascended to sit.

4. Eternal redemption for us.
The kind of redemption Jesus got whichever people He got it for must be ETERNAL. If yours is conditional, maybe you're not one of them Jesus got for. Because there seem to be many "saviours" in this world. (Your saviour is anyone you entrust your eternal destiny into.)
It's only when it's conditional will you need to go into the holy place again and again each time you sin.

As for me, I'm glad to be among the "us" for whom Jesus got the eternal redemption. I have believed in Jesus! I'm born again and filled with the Holy Ghost! I have believed ONCE to enter ONCE. I have received forgiveness ONCE to enter ONCE. I'm glad I'm born again! What about you?

Who shall enter into God's Holy Hill?

Psalms 15 posed a serious question of concern:

Psalm 15:1-5 KJV
Lord , who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill? [2] He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart. [3] He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour. [4] In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoureth them that fear the Lord . He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not. [5] He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved.

It was buttressed by Psalms 24

Psalm 24:3-4 KJV
Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord ? or who shall stand in his holy place? [4] He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.

A pure heart... a pure heart... a pure heart... God is holy. God's hill is holy. A man that must ascend here must be holy in and out.

The outward holiness was still very likely as at the time that scripture was written. The Pharisees wash outside hands habitually (Matthew 7:5). They wash the outside of the cup..

*[[Mat 23:25]] KJV* Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.
(Also Luke 11:39)

External qualities of good conduct, praying and fasting regularly, giving to the poor and having good deeds, they are so excellent so much that Jesus dedicated them a righteousness saying "THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF THE SCRIBES AND PHARISEES"

*[[Mat 5:20]] KJV* For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Luke 18:11-12 KJV
The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are , extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. [12] I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.

However, the inside has always been a problem because THE HEART IS INACCESSIBLE by deeds.

Jeremiah confessed.

Jeremiah 17:9-10 KJV
The heart is deceitful above all things , and desperately wicked: who can know it? [none but] I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.

The inside is deceitful and tricky: you could be deceived to think you're clean if you count on your gullible eyes.

Such was the case of the "holy" Isaiah who used to think he's pure above others until Isaiah 6 when He that can try the heart to know it's true state made him see his wretchedness. Then he cried.,

Isaiah 6:5 KJV
Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of UNCLEAN lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.

Psalm 14:1-3 KJV
The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good. [2] The Lord looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God. [3] They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

So the question: who shall enter into God's hill is magnified. Who is qualified? Remember God, who alone knows the heart, has concluded all under sin: you may think you're OK to go in, but Isaiah tried it and he saw how true God's conclusion is. "Holy" Moses attempted the same. He asked to see God's glory but he saw God's "back" showing him God's not at peace with men including himself. So who shall enter into God's hill?

The answer?

Hebrews 9:8 KJV
The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing:

The Holy Ghost was passing a message in all these scriptures that man cannot come... Yes, your sins have separated you from your God (Isaiah 59:1-2) but a man will soon come and make peace by His blood and will bring many sons unto glory, the glory Moses was begging to see.

So when you read those verses and similar ones, you'll be a good Bible student to interprete that was because the way into the holy hill was not yet manifest. But today,

Hebrews 9:11-12 KJV
But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; [12] Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood HE ENTERED... Alleluia!

Did he entered just for himself? No!

he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption FOR US .

The verse is saying, we don't need a repetitive entering. In fact, we don't need to enter individually... so NO PERSONAL ASSESSMENT or personal examination must be passed.

Once He entered and that is just ENOUGH! Oh great joy He entered having secured eternal redemption for us! Today we have an eternal redemption if the above scripture is anything to go by. This is the glory of the new covenant. Alleluia!

EVIL SPIRIT FROM THE LORD?

*[[1Sa 19:9]] KJV* And the evil spirit from the LORD was upon Saul, as he sat in his house with his javelin in his hand: and David played with his hand.

It's clear today that that account is an imperfect revelation because we have seen Jesus, the brightness of God's glory and express image of His person and we found there is NO EVIL in Him.

The people of the old testament had certain limitations in their insight because man was yet spiritually dead. The devil was able to hide in their ignorance that when he does his work (to kill, steal and destroy), the people will still think God is the doer.

But because of the new creation, we have an unction from the holy One, and we know all things (1John 2:20). We can now boldly declare that evil is not the work of God! Sickness was never created by God! God does not use satanic tools: evil, sickness is satanic.

*[[1Jn 1:5]] KJV* This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

EasyEnglish Jesus Christ gave us a message and this is the message: God is good and *clean like light. There is nothing dark about him.

*[[Jas 1:13]] KJV* Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:

But in the old, you'll see things like:
*[[Amo 3:6]] KJV* Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? shall there be evil in a city, and the LORD hath not done it?

*[[Isa 45:7]] KJV* I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.

No! God did not create evil. James says God tempts no one with evil. we see all that God created in Genesis: ALL were pronounced as good. Evil came later through another means.

More explanations on the origin of evil will come in subsequent posts. Share.
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The Gospel that is Balanced

Someone said,

a balanced gospel teaching is when you teach that making heaven / salvation is only when you believe in Jesus and also obey the law: not just believing in Jesus alone, or just not doing evil alone: but believing Jesus and also keeping the commandments. That this is balanced gospel.

Hmm... Sounds appealing? Nodding your head too?

It's not a balanced gospel: it is a balanced error!

Every believer should be of good conduct (Matthew 5:16); live holy lives (1Peter 1:15-16 2Cor 7:1); and should be careful to maintain GOOD works (Titus 3:8).

However, they are not saved (or going to make heaven) by their good conducts!

If there is any of the good works you've been doing before they got born again
(such as being respectful to elders, not fornicating, being honest, maybe you don't even take alcohol nor smoke)
and despite those good works you remain UNSAVED, it goes to show you those things CANNOT effect a salvation in you. They could not write your name in heaven!

That's the misery of good works.

And if you only started to do good only after they got saved, it goes to show you those things know NOTHING and have NOTHING to contribute to your salvation... since they came after salvation has already happened.

Only what effected the salvation can affect it. Only what brought the salvation can keep or withdraw it: WORKS HAVE NO SAY in the matter because good works is only an AFTERMATH of salvation.
Salvation abounds in much fruit in some people, and have less fruit in some others depending on individual receptiveness. Believers should walk more and more in the Spirit so they give more and more fruit unto holiness. The fruit however does not decide the tree, rather, the tree decides/affects/sustains the fruit.

What then is "balanced teaching"? Balanced truth teaching is:

Titus 2:1-14 KJV
But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine: ...be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience. ...be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things...to love their husbands, to love their children... be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to...husbands... In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you. Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; For (because) the GRACE OF GOD that bringeth SALVATION hath appeared to all men, (and because we have received this, it is) Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

A balanced gospel honours Christ redemption as eternal (Hebrews 9:12); does not refer to Christ's blood-purchased salvation as incomplete. it achieves zealous people by magnifying Grace.

What Romans 6:1 Does Not Say About Grace and Sin

Romans 6:1
What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?

This popular "balance-striking" verse indeed! What does it say, and what does it not say?

Yes! This verse establishes how that grace and sin are antithetical. It makes us see the incompatibility of grace and sin. It says we shall not continue in one that the other may abound. In other words, the continuity of one forbids the continuity of the other. Yes! This interpretation is safe up to this point.

However, bear in mind it does not say, "Grace will fade out for sin".

That is, it will be wrong to interpret it as "if you continue to sin, grace will vacate you". It did not say so and could not have. You know why?

Romans 6:1-2 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid.

God forbid what? Sin, devil, grace, or us in sin; which did God forbid?
Read the verse again.
Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid…

God forbid that WE (not grace) should continue IN SIN… so we might go on IN GRACE. Our continuity in sin is what "God forbid"; not the continuity of grace!
Shall WE IN SIN continue, that the new Mr Grace may abound? God forbid…

Now, how does/did God enforce the "God forbid"? How did God ensure we don't continue in sin that Mr. Grace may abound?
By Killing Mr Grace?
By punishing defaulters with the withdrawal of grace so that others will "run away from sin" in fear?
By vexing off Mr Grace?

Now can you see how we have added many things into that verse?
Romans 6 did not say that. What says it then?

God forbid. How shall WE, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Romans 6:2

That is, "we TO sin or we IN sin are already dead: so how shall we to sin who is dead ever live IN sin again?"
Simply put "God already forbade us continuing in sin that grace may abound in making us DEAD to SIN", "For he that is dead is freed from sin." (Romans 6:7)
(As additional information, verse 9-10 makes us know that this death to sin cannot happen twice: you don't live in sin after once dying to it. Just read it yourself and take note)

So that is the "God forbid" he is talking about; not "taking His grace away from us". What can we ever achieve without grace? What else can make a hardened sinner come to repentance but a persistent communication of everlasting love and mercy which endures forever to him? Grace is greater and stronger than our sins! Did you not read this verse?
"where sin abounded, grace did much more abound" (Romans 5:20)

True recipients of grace do not "live" in sin. "How shall we, that are dead to sin, LIVE any longer therein?" (Rom 6:2). It is not sin dealing with grace but God forbidding sin by grace.
That as sin hath reigned unto death… (That is, sin's despotic era is over) even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 5:21)
Praise Jesus!

Believers and Hell Fire

There have been so many reports and stories of one believer found in hell fire in visions. Thanks to God more and more people are beginning to discredit such visions; howbeit not because they have come to understand how that such insinuations are false, but just because they do not want it to be true. But if it's true, choosing to ignore it won't be a right approach. Will it?

Welcome to this timeout for a brief journey into the Bible, and thank you for our articles you've been sharing to get men free from ignorance.

Believers and Hell fire. Bible Standpoint.

*[[Rev 21:8]] KJV* But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

This is one popular scripture quoted to describe the kind of people who will go to hell. Please take note of the last clause: "which is the second death".
It didn't say "a second death", but "THE second death". So the "lake of which burns with fire and brimstone" is the second death.

*[[Rev 20:13-14]] KJV*  And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. THIS IS THE SECOND DEATH.

If it's clear that what is called "lake of fire" is "the second death", now, who partakes in this "second death"?

*[[Rev 20:6]] KJV* Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

Who will partake of this first resurrection?

*[[1Th 4:14]] KJV* For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

So the resurrection is for us that believe that Jesus died and rose again. On such, Revelations say the second death has NO POWER.

Do you believe that Jesus died and rose again? Then the second death (lake which burns with fire and brimstone) has no power over you!

Jesus said,

*[[Joh 5:24]] KJV* Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

He says you shall not come into condemnation (that is, judgment), but you are passed from (the second) death unto life. You have passed from your lake of fire unto life everlasting. It means it's too late to decide for hell because you didn't say "stop me here" when you were being passed from death and now the life you're in is everlasting - life forever.

But where is the place of living righteous lives? Show the world you're not of this world! Be good ambassadors for Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20). Preach the Gospel. Love your friends and have no enemy. Be submissive to your parents (physical or spiritual). But what qualified you for heaven is not your works (Titus 3:5), but the sacrifice of Jesus ONLY. Boasting is irrelevant except it is in the Lord. Congrations!

A Boast in the Lord is Humility

When we talk of righteousness, holiness and the "holy presence of God", so many of us are accustomed a religious lowly humiliating attitude and we often think it is a way of honoring God. In ignorance, we are doing exactly the opposite: we are not honoring God but despising Christ riches.

We think it's by confessing a sinner daily that we are humble. No! You honour God only when you confess His words (Josh 1:8). His word says you have exchanged your sins for Christ's righteousness. Don't henceforth confess that sin anymore then if you agree God's word is true. It's not the man that is humble in his thinking that God sees as humble. Humility can only be defined by God's word! And God's word says it's the man who trembles at GOD'S WORD that is humble.

…but to this [man] will I look, [even] to [him that is] poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word. (Isa 66:2)

He gives grace and has respect to the humble: the humble priotizes His word.

So if the word says you are worthy, the truly humble walks and speaks worthily with trembling. If the word says "come boldly to the throne of grace", he won't say "I must first examine myself because I can't be too sure"

Christ's work not only grants us a free access to the Father: it brought boldness with it.

In whom we have BOLDNESS and ACCESS with CONFIDENCE by the faith of him. (Ephesians 3:12 KJV)

If you cannot enter unto God and look Him straight in His eyes, you are making it look like Christ did not do a perfect job on your sins. The best way to reverence Christ is to stand fast in the liberty He has got for you. Being afraid of God amounts to taking lightly the gift of Christ. Don't forget: His thoughts of are not your thoughts and his ways are not your ways. When you think He will kill you for what you've done, He is thinking "if this man will just come to me, I will protect Him and even make him not see death anymore".

A boast in the Lord is NEVER counted as sin, but as righteousness before God. "And he {Abraham} believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness." (Genesis 15:6) If you also will approach God with boldness and confidence without guilt consciousness, it will not be counted as pride, but righteousness for you.