The Father sees no sin in you - Part II

You may scroll back to our previous class - Part I of this topic for better understanding. There we saw how the Father assumed a "good" view of us because of Jesus' eternal sacrifice, such that when He looks at us, it's no longer our works of righteousness (which Isaiah describes as filthy rag) anymore, but if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature, he is not known after the flesh but in Christ's work of righteousness. This is why Paul had to abandon his St. Holiness and Moses' unshaking adherence Synagogue to join the Circle of Grace Family Church of Christ.

Philippians 3:9 KJV
And be found in him, NOT HAVING MINE OWN RIGHTEOUSNESS (filthy rag), which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

This is the eye with which we are reckoned before God. The Father is never seeing an unworthy sinner trying to approach Him for mercy. He is always seeing a perfect and worthy man not approaching Him, but always living with him!

Now is God blind? Doesn't He see and know the innermost of my being? "If I deceive myself, is God also deceived?" No. No. No! We settled this in the previous part: God isn't blind, rather God is only seeing rightly!

*[[Psa 94:9]] KJV* He that planted the ear, shall he not hear? he that formed the eye, shall he not see?
God is only being just in calling you who has chosen to live by faith of Christ equally just. Jesus paid for your sins: so God will be unjust in making you pay for the sins again. This payment must not even be in form of Him depriving you of His presence for one moment. He must not judge you a sinner again or punish you if He will not be unjust.

See,
It must be you who is getting it wrong by relying on your poor eyes and senses! You know this is a world people are given freedom of opinion: so everyone want to stick to his own opinion. As for me, I think God's opinion must be the sovereign truth, and that's what I choose to rule my life with.

We saw Hebrews 8:12 in the last part,

*[[Heb 8:12]] KJV* For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.

And we saw how it's true God does not keep account of our sins. In a past article we asked DOES GOD ISSUE A LAST WARNING OR QUIT NOTICE ON GRACE? You know you only talk of "last warning" if and only if you have a "first". The question should have been "Does God issue a warning at all on grace?" Now, I didn't say "Does God give a warning on sin?" because He has actually done that! Grace is God's warning for sinners.

...now commandeth all men every where to repent: [[Act 17:30]] KJV
(Also Colossians 1:28)

But on grace, it's God's gift which He (not your conscience) will not "upbraid" you for, not for once.

Hebrews 8:12 tells us He no longer "remembers" it. Oh! Last warning so called, can only come into play because you have been keeping a record and numbering the sins. You'll tell him, "this is sin number 1, 2, 3... then the last warning". "Remember the last time you spoke and I corrected you on pride. REMEMBER the last time I WARNED you on anger, are you getting angry again? See, the next time you get angry, I'll take my grace". If He doesn't remember your sins, there can not be "last warning" because there is no "first".

Let's see scriptures quickly before you squeeze that face.

*[[Psa 130:3]] KJV* If thou, LORD, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand?

No, Read again.

If thou, LORD, shouldest mark iniquities...

What does that mean? The Lord does not "mark" iniquities.

The Lord does not "mark" iniquities, otherwise the world would be desolate by now. So the Lord doesn't mark your iniquities against your name. Tell everyone that is alive today he is alive, not because he keeps the law but because God has not been marking his violations of the law against him. There is forgiveness and it is with God. You know what that means? God is not going to have to search if He can find forgiveness for you. He gives you forgiveness because it is WITH HIM. License for more sin? Certainly not. That's because You didn't read the next verse: ...that thou mayest be feared. (v4)

Thus, it is not a license to sin, but license to be feared. When you see His abundance of forgiveness, you will be afraid! "Who is this infinite forgiver?" and the shackles of sin will be broken.

We close this here. Appreciate this mercy of God that Jesus made available. The Father isn't unaware that you're not perfect, but He doesn't hold them recorded anywhere. Alleluia.

Does God issue a "last warning" or "quit notice" on Grace

Under grace, everything is FREE! ABSOLUTELY FREE! I must emphasize this because some of us might have gone into terrible times in the name of FREE OF CHARGE: where con people tell us an item is free, we stretch our hands for it only to discover awkward "terms and conditions apply": hence it's always said "no free thing in Freetown".

I must first clear your minds of these biases and let you know the integrity of Him with whom you have to deal: this is God not man. And what difference does this make? ALL THE DIFFERENCE!

He lacks the ability to LIE or DECEIVE

*[[Num 23:19]] KJV* God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?

*[[Tit 1:2]] KJV* In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;

2. He cannot change. He cannot repent. He CANNOT HAVE A RETHINK, not on anything!

*[[1Sa 15:29]] KJV* And also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent: for he is not a man, that he should repent.

That is why whatever He gives or does is forever.

*[[Ecc 3:14]] KJV* I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him.
*[[Rom 11:29]] KJV* For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.

He does not do a thing and say, "sorry, that was a mistake".

3. God is Infinitely rich. In fact, to say He is rich is an insult: He owns the rich as well as the poor. God is the Creator: He is above ALL! Who is like Him? Who is beside Him?

4. He is TOO GENEROUS. It's one thing to be rich, it's another to be willing to release. God gives liberally.
When He blesses, He gives RICHLY.

*[[1Ti 6:17]] KJV* Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;

So He not only gives but He gives you in ENJOYABLE quantities, He delights in your enjoyment of His gifts.

*[[1Ti 6:17]] ISV* Instead, let them place their confidence in God, who lavishly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.
*[[Psa 35:27]] KJV* Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the LORD be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.

That settled, the question comes now. "Does God issue a 'quit notice' on His 'all things to enjoy'? That is, God having given you a thing (eg the gift of righteousness, the gift of the Holy Spirit etc.), does He give you what is called "the grace of one more trial" after which He "withdraws" His gift?

By now, the answer should have been clear. He gives all things FREELY. There can only be 'quit notice' if there are terms and conditions or if it has an expiration date. Then you know it's not absolutely free. But God doesn't repent. To repent means to have a change of mind; to have a rethink. God cannot have a rethink. You know why? He already can see that thing that will come up later, so He has already taken care of it before that decision is announced to you. So if He gives you life, He won't go back on it. He won't go back to the drawing board to do a redesign. He cannot make mistakes. He couldn't have made mistake in giving you what He gave you. He cannot regret: He doesn't operate on the word of knowledge or wisdom or prophecy to predict the future disobedience: He is the giver of those spiritual gifts, much more He is OMNISCIENT.

See this verse again.

*[[Jas 1:5]] KJV* If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
*[[Jas 1:5]] ISV* Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to everyone generously WITHOUT A REBUKE, and it will be given to him.

What's a quit notice? A rebuke. What's a "last warning"? An upbraiding. He unlike men gives without strict "follow up" and monitoring and stringent requirements and quit threats. This obviously has been abused by many. yet God did not change His plan.
For, not to be regretted, are the gifts and the calling of God  [[Rom 11:29]] EBR

You'll enjoy grace until you "come to yourself" like that popular bible prodigal son as long as you live. But delay is dangerous too, so don't take salvation for granted. If God keeps loving you, blessing you, making all things work well for you, He is aiming at your salvation.

*[[Rom 2:4]] KJV* Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?

So beloved, enjoy God's limitless grace.What we are saying here is, God's ability to forgive is limitless. God's mercy unto you is limitless. God doesn't want you to continue in sin. True! But also do not let anyone deceive you by telling you God's eye of mercy has been blinded, and that you have reached the forgiveness limit or that before God can forgive you now, you'll have to do something extra. No. Nothing extra is required for forgiveness but that one and selfsame blood of the precious Lamb of God - Jesus Christ. No. God will not let go of you. He loves you still. Alleluia!

If you don't want Christ death to be in vain over you...

A serious message for you dear reader! If you don't want Christ death to be in vain over you, you must check this fast to be sure you're safe.

Now when can we say Christ death and resurrection is in vain over a man's life? This is always the clause of correction for Christians and non Christians alike. But who is it supposed to be meant for? And when is it supposed to be used? Let's investigate biblically.

This is a term used by Paul in the Bible. To whom was it referred to?

Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace. Galatians 5:4 KJV

Really?

Those who are justified by the law, Christ is of zero effect to such. Those who want to be righteous by their keeping of the commandments.

Next,..
Who are the ones justified by the law?

1. Those who ask for the Spirit because they think they've done and abstained from some things to be perfect by their keeping of the law. (Gal 3:2)

2. Those who seek divine approval by what they do.
*[[Luk 18:12]] KJV* I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.

3. those who resist the liberty of Christ (Gal 2:4; 5:1)

4. those to whom the way of faith is despicable and insufficient
1 Peter 2:6-8 KJV
Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. [7] Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, [8] And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.

5. those to whom salvation remains incomplete without a human input. Those who believe its their own work that makes salvation whole.
Acts 15:1 KJV
And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said , Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.

All the above five categories are trying to make Christ's work of none effect on their lives. Carefully investigate this in that book of Galatians and you will see this is true.

Salvation is complete without your works says the Bible. Abraham had boastable good works but he was never justified by them: he was justified when he was still in sins and that justification remained valid and unchanged by his latter works..Therefore simple faith is ENOUGH for salvation: if something else is asked, then that must be a post-salvation demand, the kind which can never come from God but you see, a heavy demand of holy lifestyle is asked by your community which you should try to meet.

Walk in holiness! Celebrate the completeness and eternality of Christ's work! Don't try to make Christ of none effect to you. Give thanks!

Shut out on grace: Open up on Sin. The Power of the Liberty of Christ

There's a fear in church today which is the fear of sin abundance or revival. Preachers are afraid Grace teachings may lead to more sin. To us, Grace sounds too loose and weak to produce a morally disciplined life and make a "sound" doctrine or "powerful" sermon. But how differently the Bible teaches:

1. that sin revival is a result of the law
*[[Rom 7:9]] KJV* For I was alive without the law once: but WHEN THE COMMANDMENT CAME, sin REVIVED, and I died.

2. that the abundance of sin is a result of the law (thou shall not, thou shall...) and that grace came to undo the trend much more
.
*[[Rom 5:20]] KJV* Moreover THE LAW ENTERED, that the offence might ABOUND. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:

3. that sin's strength is the law
*[[1Co 15:56]] KJV* The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.

4. that the law CANNOT make its hearers and DOERS perfect even though perfection is the desire of every law preacher.

*[[Heb 10:1]] KJV* For the law... can NEVER with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto PERFECT.

But what does grace teach and do?

1. it builds. It blesses.
*[[Act 20:32]] KJV* And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his GRACE, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.
*[[1Co 15:10]] KJV* But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.
2. It SAVES
*[[Eph 2:8]] KJV* For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

It means as "weak" or loose it may seem, an exposure to Grace teaching is an exposure to SALVATION.

It's not "strong teaching", yet it's the only one that can save, whereas the wise one cannot save.
*[[1Co 1:21]] KJV* For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

Therefore if this is what the Bible says, and if the Bible is objectively true, then the mind that tells us Grace teachings won't work must be fallacious. Shut out grace, open the door for more sins. Then it will be upon you like Job: *[[Job 3:25]] KJV* For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me.

Twice in Proverbs the Spirit sounded this:

*[[Pro 14:12]] KJV* There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
*[[Pro 16:25]] KJV* There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

Should you not then cease from your own wisdom? After all, it is written:
*[[1Co 1:25]] KJV* Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

If God seem foolish to have told us to preach what seemed to us as freedom to sin, we will be a false messenger if we deliver a different message. But it is good for you my brother if you remain "faithful" to the message
*[[1Co 4:2]] KJV* Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.

And what is faithfulness? Doing as instructed; staying where you are placed.
*[[Luk 19:13]] KJV* And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.
Stay in the word! Contend for the faith!

That settled, let's see how your refusal to preach grace as grace has been the fertilizer of iniquity within your flock.

*[[Gal 2:18]] KJV* For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a TRANSGRESSOR.

What did we destroyed that we must never build again? The Law.
He is saying if after verse 16 "Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ [thus destroying the law], that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified." we BUILD again our justification by the works of the law, we make ourselves a TRANSGRESSOR.

See this! It's God's plan that it's by LIBERTY and rest you'll learn of Christ.

*[[Isa 30:15]] KJV* For thus saith the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and REST shall ye be SAVED; in quietness and in confidence (as typical of faith) shall be your STRENGTH (recall that the strength of sin is the works of the law) and ye would not...

To God, your liberty precedes service. So He first worked out the freedom of the Israelites from Egypt in order to avail for free service of God.
*[[Exo 7:16]] KJV* And thou shalt say unto him, The LORD God of the Hebrews hath sent me unto thee, saying, Let my people go, that they may SERVE me...

He doesnt like service under yoke. So Jesus gave this:

*[[Mat 11:28]] KJV* Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Today, you'll be shortchanging your "service" of God if you trim down the liberty of the Spirit in anyway, because He prefers you doing service in liberty so much He had to leave His throne to come and die: and if you as His witness preach an abridged liberty, you will be doing Him a displeasure.

Knowing this, Paul orders:

*[[Gal 5:1]] KJV* Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

And Jesus came as the liberty Giver

*[[Luk 4:18]] KJV* The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor... to set at LIBERTY them that are bruised,

And he that the Lord has set at liberty, let no man bring to bondage again!

Let's reset the system if needs be, and make no more room for hypocrisy. It is only in this liberty atmosphere we can have TRUE holiness. (Eph4:24). A grace liberty atmosphere CANNOT be an atmosphere of sin, rather, an atmosphere of true righteousness. Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under the atmosphere of grace? No. Because Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. *[[1Jn 3:9]] KJV*

Don't resist the liberty of the Spirit, that's when genuine service can be evident. In it, the children of God and that of the devil are manifest (1 John 3:10). We'll excel more in our ministry if we run the Master's work the way He made it and stop being wise in our own understanding.
I leave you with the verse again:

*[[Pro 14:12]] KJV* There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
*[[Pro 16:25]] KJV* There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
Listen to God!

Which sins could God has forgiven: Past, Present or Future?

Let's investigate this together. Which sins could God has taken away in Christ? What do we tell our converts? That Christ forgave PAST sins? And what do we tell them happens if they sin afterwards? Is this belief from our minds or from the Bible? Let's see it together here: your Bibles

Isaiah 53:6 KJV
All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

for the transgression of my people was he stricken. *[[Isa 53:8]] KJV*

The best way to understand this is to answer this question: which sin is being referred to here? Which sins did Jesus suffered for?

A. ALREADY COMMITTED SINS
B. YET UNCOMMITTED SINS

What's your answer?

Well it is both the already committed and yet uncommitted sins Jesus was punished for! And these we're not His own sins but our sins.

*[[1Pe 2:24]] KJV* Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

Maybe this will be softer: which sickness did Jesus took stripes for? past sickness? No! You can see the emphasis of Jesus work is more on the future and not just our past as most preachers were afraid to tell us. They were afraid to tell us if we sin afterwards, we remain forgiven; we remain righteous; we remain JUST: for the just shall live by FAITH and not by SIGHT! They thought telling us this will make us "freed into sin". But oh how they refrained our liberty and by that brought us into bondage again (Gal 2:4).

Beloved, let us look at it this way. Why will Jesus wait till everybody sin before He forgive them? Without being a prophet, I can correctly predict two things about you when you'll be born. First, any man that will be born into this world (in Adam) will be mortal and will be a sinner.

*[[Psa 51:5]] KJV* Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.

*[[Rom 5:19]] KJV* For as by one man's disobedience many were made SINNERS

You were not going to be born righteous but into SIN. Besides, mine is only a prediction: God knew you perfectly and accurately before you were formed in the womb (Jer 1:5), so if He concludes you will need a remission, then don't argue!

*[[1Jn 1:10]] KJV* If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

Second, I predict that you will break God's law at least once before you die. Hear! Before you were born there had been disciplined and determined people who have tried to keep the law, they all failed, you won't be an exception, I predict. Unfortunately the blood of bulls and goats are a failure to take away your sins (Hebrews 10:1). So what's the point in Jesus having to wait for you to actually commit the sins before He comes to die for them for you? Will He combine His first and second coming into one? You see why He should die for uncommitted sins?

He died for my sins, it's not my past sins, it's not my present sins: they were all FUTURISTIC then! So as a convert, I appreciate redemption better when I know and believe Christ died for me even before I was born. And why could He have done this? Always remember Jeremiah 1:5
*[[Jer 1:5]] KJV* Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee..

God already knows you will need Forgiveness, so He made it for you. Appreciate redemption!

Your "making heaven" is a function of Christ

Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

Hebrews 7:25 KJV

please listen to this: What is the work of a saviour if he cannot save completely? Of what use is a saviour if the people to be saved must have to save themselves?

Picture this scenario: a baby fell from a boat into the sea. Soon the baby began to sink, not knowing how to swim. You being a qualified rescuer rushed to help the helpless baby. Now the boat from which the baby fell of is now at the harbour. You Mr Rescuer picked the baby from the deep waters and placed him on the water surface and tells him, "now you should be able to complete the rest and MAKE IT TO THE HARBOUR, I'm done. Work the rest yourself. I'm off to the harbour. If you afterwards die, it's not my fault as the rescuer, it's you who was helped to start well but fell by the wayside".

You have Good Works to your Account

Not only did God declare you righteous by mere word of mouth, you have righteous works to your credit all by the same faith of Christ Jesus. In as much as righteousness is having done some very good works according to the law qualifying you to stand unchallengeable before the Father, to say you too are righteous is to say you are good enough, holy enough, obedient enough, law-keeping enough before the Father. You are clean enough to not only enter the holies of holies but to PERMANENTLY dwell there! (Hebrews 10:19)