Sin has not changed name: stay away!

Brothers and sisters in Christ let us take note that the lifestyle of sinning is not the kingdom lifestyle. Yes! Christ paid it all! Yes! We are not under the law: We are under grace! But sin has not done a change of name. It is still as cruel as ever, ruining lots of lives, destroying homes and diverting destinies.

God has not today (under grace) become a lover of sin: the hatred is still as strong as it was under the law. The only difference is that someone has offered to bear the chastisement so we can have the peace we all are enjoying today (Isaiah 53:5), so that even when we sin, we are not treated by God as one that sinned (1 John 2:1-2).

My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: (1 John 2:1 KJV)
And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. (Hebrews 10:17 KJV)

So you don't have to change the name of sin please! Please do not play down on sin. Don't reduce its weight in your attempt to confess grace. Let the people know how weighty what Jesus bore for them is so  they'll love Him much. What is sin? SOME things that are not right? FEW unrighteousness?... ALL UNRIGHTEOUSNESS is sin (1John 5:17) so Jesus paid a heavy price. How far you are from it if you have to depend on your own works!

On grace we must constantly insist, affirm and never be moved away from (Tit 3:8, 2Pet 1:12, Col 1:23, Gal 5:1).
God will not impute sins against you (John5:22).
you are forgiven unconditionally and without requirements (Heb 10:18, Act 13:39); and saved not according to our conducts (good/bad) (Tit 3:5).

Also, we must remember, sinful living is of the devil and not of God.
He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. (1 John 3:8 KJV)

That's why we have several admonitions in the epistles to stay away from sin.
Eph 4:26 Be ye angry, and sin not…
1Jn 2:1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not.
1Co 15:34 Awake to righteousness, and sin not;

In fact, apart from God not punishing you for your sins anymore, the earthly setup for sinners should scare you: the police to prosecute you; your good name to be soiled; gossips all around with their monitoring eyes and lips ready to speak your fall: oh walk in the Spirit please! You'll be doing yourself and the kingdom a favour.
Alleluia!

In What/Whom are you Glorying?

But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. (Galatians 6:14)

The word "glory" here is not the common word "doxa" used in most "glory" word, as in "from glory to glory" (2Cor 3:18) and other verses; but the Greek word "kauchaomai" which means to "boast" or to "vaunt". It is a word that occurred about 38 times in the New Testament, and interestingly, ALL of the occurrences are only found in the epistles. This speaks a lot about us. We are supposed to be boastful people!

We GLORY (kauchaomai) in tribulations (Romans 5:3)
We REJOICE (kauchaomai) in hope (Romans 5:2)
We also JOY (kauchaomai) in God through our Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 5:11)

To glory is not wrong: it is in what you're glorying in that may be wrong.
That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. (1 Corinthians 1:31 KJV)

Beloved, God permits only one glorying, and that is the glorying that you do in His finished work.

Not of works, lest any man should boast {glory in works}. (Ephesians 2:9)

And there are only two common place people can glory in: in the flesh or in the Lord.

When you confess and magnify Christ's offering for you OFTEN, you are glorying in the Lord. When you confess your strength, righteousness and ability to do it often, such as counting on the tithes you've paid to open the door of blessings on you; expecting your moral living to attract divine recognition and acceptance; looking forward to making heaven because you have been abstaining from sin; keeping yourself "holy" or counting on your fasting to cause God to forcefully attend to you; depending on your good church dance skills and ability to eulogise God to get His blessings; or any activity/service in church or anywhere intended to get God "impressed": you are glorying in the flesh. Doing the above good works (fasting, living holy, dancing etc) is good: but Christ ALONE must be the reason you have any blessing of God. For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. (Eph 2:18) Failure to acknowledge this is a glorying in the flesh, and an acknowledgment is a glorying in the Lord.

ONLY IN CHRIST IS GOD PLEASED. Others mean nothing to him.

But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I {not you} [am] the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: FOR IN THESE [THINGS] I DELIGHT, saith the LORD. (Jeremiah 9:24 KJV)

As for me, God forbid that I should glory, SAVE IN THE CROSS OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. (Galatians 6:14) what about you?

Righteousness and Sanctification: Same source, same process

RIGHTEOUSNESS AND SANCTIFICATION: SAME SOURCE, SAME PROCESS

I agree that righteousness and sanctification (holiness) are not exactly the same. However, to say that one is a "higher level" than the other is a step outside of faith.

Commonly thought is the concept that when you receive Jesus (at salvation), you are given righteousness as a free gift. This is correct at this level. But it is often added that, as for holiness, it is what you must do: it comes from your effort and ability, and not from God. Wrong!

We teach righteousness and sanctification: SAME SOURCE, SAME PROCESS. Christ redemption brought the two. They are both freely given! Check your bible!

But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and RIGHTEOUSNESS, and SANCTIFICATION, and redemption (1 Corinthians 1:30 KJV)

You feel one is a "higher level" than the other but see how the writer puts both on the same line pointing to the same source: Jesus Christ … and RIGHTEOUSNESS, and SANCTIFICATION. The man who is made unto us righteousness, the same is made unto us sanctification, the same, redemption. Now, do you say, redemption is "another level" after sanctification? Since it is mentioned last?

Take heed what thou doest anytime you want to turn to YOURSELF for perfection. It is a mistake that seems to be common to all. They start out on claiming righteousness by faith, but when they hear "be ye perfect as your heavenly Father is…", they shrink back from faith, and begin to "try harder" on themselves. Paul calls this foolishness. Perfection is not in your muscles, it's in Christ.

Are ye so FOOLISH? having begun in the Spirit, are ye NOW MADE PERFECT BY THE FLESH? (Galatians 3:3 KJV)

Just let Him that began a good work in you, bring it to completion. Don't look elsewhere! No, not to yourself. You are made righteous through faith in Christ (Romans 1:17 2Cor 5:21 Acts 13:39). You are already sanctified by the same (Hebrews 10:10). Not one work of God is imperfect. He's a good God.

Righteous by Default

Righteousness! Righteousness!

In the world cup, FIFA has a rule that makes the host of the tournament qualified automatically while other teams must have to have a tough battle to reach the mondial.

In 2010, we all know that hosts South Africa ought not be there because they did not win enough matches to qualify, yet they must be there by the statutory law of FIFA.

The above is a good explanation for "without works".

Now the bible teaches that the righteousness and salvation of every believer is "without works". What does that mean? The believer is "automatically" righteousness by the law of God. It is not according to how he "qualifies" or not, but according to how God qualifies him.

Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth RIGHTEOUSNESS WITHOUT WORKS (Romans 4:6 KJV)
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9 KJV)

In a language a friend of mine often uses, EVERY BELIEVER is RIGHTEOUS "by default". He has no sin in his account because he is the blessed man David describeth, the man unto who God does not impute sin.

He may sin, he may be overtaken in a "fault" (Gal 6:1, 1John 2:1) because he is not perfect, but God instead of imputing sins, keeps imputing righteousness.

Blessed [is] the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin. (Romans 4:8)
This is the heritage of ALL that believe in Christ Jesus, but "who has believed our report?"

God is not Responsible for your Predicaments

I know life is full of troubles, ups and downs, fingers not being equal. Some seem to be lucky; some seem to be unfortunate despite being good and hardworking. In fact, there are people who have piled up questions that the day they see God, they'll ask them: you may be one of them too. I've not come here with a promise to provide answers to your questions but I'm already certain of one answer God will give… what's it? You want to know?

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 KJV)

Glory!
God is not responsible for all of those troubles life has posed you.
Are you surprised? He is not the cause! He is not "trying" you. He does not "tempt" with such things.

1John 1:5 has this to say:
"…God is light, and in him is no darkness at all." (1 John 1:5 KJV)

He is not both good and bad! He is not both light and darkness! He is alien to evil! He CANNOT do it!

But you say "but God knows all things and understands" and you're correct!
He knows, that is, He is "aware". But He is not the brain behind it! Far be it from God to be brain behind the affliction of His sons! That will be a wicked father! He knows your trials and understands how you feel, and would save you if He has the power to do so. He is surely not in charge of everything here on earth. That is why Jesus prayed "thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven" (Matt 6:9-12). His will is not being done on earth here, but it is in heaven. But by prayer, we can enforce His will to be done on the earth: that's what you call testimonies. So the correct description of God's person should be by the happenings of heaven where His will is perfectly demonstrated, not by the earth here where it is not automatic.

Now let me show you. This is what God tries to do in every temptation of His children:

but God [is] faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear [it]. (1 Corinthians 10:13 KJV)

While you are finding your way out of the temptation, God is making the way of escape: He is not unconcerned, neither is He behind the temptation brother!

See this beautiful Psalm with me.

Psalms 23:1-6 KJV
(1)  The LORD [is] my shepherd; I shall not want.
(2)  He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

Who made him lie in green pastures? God. Who led him behind the still waters? God.

Keep following this.

(3)  He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

Who does the soul restoration?... God.
Who leads in the path of righteousness? God.

(4)  Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou [art] with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Now, who walked through the valley of the shadow of death? The Psalmist, not God anymore. Did he say God was the one who led him as in previous verses?
NO! he was responsible for that evil valley he was walking through, and he never said "God". No good shepherd will lead his sheep to such a place. But do you notice God was still with him?
Because God has promised "I will never leave you nor forsake you (Hebrews 13:5)" so that David could boldly say, "I have been young, and [now] am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread. (Psalms 37:25 KJV)"

Your disobedience/mistakes could lead you into the valley of the shadow of death, but in that still, God will see to it to help you make a way of escape and protect you through it.

(5)  Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

Who does that good one? God.
God does good things only because He is only good. When it was only Him, there was no evil. When it was only Him and all creations before the sixth day when He created man, everything was good. When He made man in Genesis 1, it was still good, no evils. Until man sinned, we see death surfaced and other evils afterwards. Does this not give us a clue into the origin of evil?

(6)  Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

What about this in Isaiah?
Isaiah 43:2 KJV
When THOU passest through the waters, I [will be] with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when THOU walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.

Did He say "when I THE LORD put you in the waters"? or "when I THE LORD walk you into the fire"? Ha!! How on earth will a Father who understands the pain of His children do such a wicked thing? But take note that even when we are the ones that walked into the fire (even if He had forewarned us), He is with us to protect us and help out. God is so good!

4 Common Misconceptions About the Holy Ghost - Part 3 & 4

3. THERE MUST BE A "HOLY GHOST FEELING" IF HE IS AROUND
Many Christians are accustomed to one kind of feeling and conditioning that has been termed "Holy Ghost atmosphere". Since you heard this topic of Holy Spirit, you just begin to put up some imaginations and dreamings. The truth is, all those feelings exist only in the mind and they are based more on your background and first experience of "Holy Ghost meetings". The Holy Ghost is God and needs no feeling to validate or invalidate His presence.
God [is] a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship [him] in spirit and in truth. (John 4:24 KJV)
He didn't say "God is a feeling and they that must serve Him must serve Him in feeling and in imaginative atmosphere"

4. I HAVE A DUTY TO KEEP THE HOLY GHOST
Another common mistake believers often make is to try to "maintain" the Holy Ghost. What you got not by your begging for it, you want to retain by begging?

Hey don't be silly! The Holy Spirit is God: you cannot "keep" or confine God if He wants to leave a place. Neither can you cast Him out
After hearing that the Holy Ghost is in you now, you are happy and go jubilating for a while; then you want to begin to do something to RETAIN the Spirit. It's the feeling that you want to retain. Unfortunately, feelings are temporal creations of the mind: it may not be real. It's sense-ruled Christians who act like that. It's such an insult. The Holy Spirit is to KEEP you and not you to keep Him. He is to sustain you and not the other way round. He will keep you to the end.

*[[Eph 1:13-14]] 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,
Which is the earnest of our inheritance UNTIL THE REDEMPE of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

4 Common Misconceptions about the Holy Spirit – Part 2

Misconception #2 - YOU HAVE THE HOLY SPIRIT BECAUSE OF SOMETHING YOU DID OR DO

I say first that it is essential for Christians to portray holiness in carriage, conduct and conversation. God wants us to live holy. Mankind wants it too.

But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. (1 Peter 1:15-16 KJV)

Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. (2 Corinthians 7:1 KJV)

Follow peace with all [men], and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: (Hebrews 12:14 KJV)

1Th 4:3  For this is the will of God, [even] your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:

However, you do not have the Holy Spirit because of something YOU did or do. Why then do you have the Holy Spirit? Let's see that from the bible (and not from the unrenewed mind)

And BECAUSE YE ARE SONS, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. (Galatians 4:6 KJV)

So why do you have the Spirit of His Son?
"Because ye are sons"… Simple!

Another reason?

(But this spake he of the Spirit, which THEY THAT BELIEVE on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet [given]; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.) (John 7:39 KJV)

So the Spirit was given BECAUSE JESUS HAS NOW BEEN GLORIFIED, and you have believed on Him. Faith is key here.

Let me ask you this one question: Did you receive the [Holy] Spirit as the result of obeying the Law and doing its works, or was it by hearing [the message of the Gospel] and BELIEVING [it]? [Was it from observing a law of rituals or from a message of faith?] (Galatians 3:2 AMP)

Then does He Who supplies you with His marvelous [Holy] Spirit and works powerfully and miraculously among you do so on [the grounds of your doing] what the Law demands, or because of your BELIEVING in and adhering to and trusting in and relying on the message that you heard? (Galatians 3:5 AMP)

In fact, you do not have the Holy Spirit because you ASKED or PRAYED earnestly. Yes! Jesus said the Father will give the Spirit to any that ask Him (Luke 11:13) but it is not in answer to your prayer you have the Spirit now, but in response to Jesus' prayer and RIGHTEOUSNESS.

And I {Jesus} will PRAY THE FATHER, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; (John 14:16 KJV)

Because there is NO criterion for obtaining the Holy Spirit: a man receives the Spirit, not by His doings of the Law but by faith.

So, no believer is "IN NEED" of the Holy Ghost! The believer is not to "desire" to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Why? You don't desire to have what you have, do you? If I have so much money that I'm the world richest man, can I ever "wish" or "pray" that I should have money? If you are born again, you already HAVE the Spirit. To ask for "more Holy Ghost", "fuller Holy Ghost", "refilling" is only another subtle voice of unbelief in you. What you have is ALL that may be had of the Spirit – "without measure". (John 3:34)

Now the response of each believer to the Spirit may be different. That is why not all believers seem to manifest the abilities of the Spirit. The believer who is fulfilling the works of the flesh is doing so because he is not walking in the Spirit, not because He is void of the Spirit. (Gal 5:16). ALL believers have the Spirit. Don't get intimidated in any way by how some believers have reacted in the Holy Ghost to begin to contemplate changing your confession. Don't forget it is "by faith". YOU ARE FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT IF YOU ARE BORN AGAIN! "Let us hold fast the profession of [our] faith without wavering; (for he [is] faithful that promised;)" (Hebrews 10:23 KJV). Oh! "let God be true, but every man a liar" (Romans 3:4 KJV) It is one Spirit in us all by one and the same sacrifice! (Eph 4:4-6).