As I have listened to many people from many different Christian denominations, I have become very concerned, because of what all these people believe when it comes to inheriting eternal life. So I thought we should go back to the basics and see what the Holy Word has to say on this issue. Let us first see what Jesus Christ says about it.
Luke 10:25-28 - On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. "Teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?"
"What is written in the Law?" he replied. "How do you read it?"
He answered: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'"
"You have answered correctly," Jesus replied. "Do this and you will live."
This is the only requirement to have eternal life with God – that we love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. The second commandment “Love your neighbor as yourself” you will do automatically when you do the first commandment. This first commandment is not a condition we can obtain just by saying the words with our mouth. It is shown by our actions that come directly from our heart’s deepest desires. Let us take another look when Jesus tests the heart condition of a certain rich man.
Matt 19:16-23 - Now a man came up to Jesus and asked, "Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?"
"Why do you ask me about what is good?" Jesus replied. "There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments."
"Which ones?" the man inquired.
Jesus replied, "'Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother,' and 'love your neighbor as yourself.'"
"All these I have kept," the young man said. "What do I still lack?"
Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."
When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.
Then Jesus said to his disciples, "I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.
In the above verses, Jesus was testing where this man’s heart really was, and the rich man failed the test. The rich man would not let everything go and love Jesus with all his heart, soul, mind, and strength and then follow Him. If this rich man would have been obedient and done the things Jesus said, then this rich man would have been perfect and rich in the Spirit.
Now someone might say that: “But I was told that I had eternal life because I was saved at the altar years ago”. The final result of salvation does result in eternal life – if a person is willing to let God’s Spirit make them into a perfect son/daughter of God. Coming to Christ for the forgiveness of our sins does put us into a saving relationship with Christ – where we no longer have to sin, but it is still our choice to continue on sinning or not. It is only through this saving relationship that we can choose to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. The bottom line on this issue is: the more we grow in love with God, the more we repent of our sin and do His will instead of our own. Every action that we do in word or in deed will represent who we really love.
I think we need to clarify the term “saved” a little more. Being in a “saved” state with God means we have entered into a relationship with God in order that we might become a son of God. It does not necessarily mean we are a son of God yet.
Gal 4:4-5 - But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons.
Titus 3:5-7 - He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.
The word “might” in the above verses has to be emphasized because when put in context with the rest of the Bible, we understand that out of all the people saved and justified by His grace – it is only the ones that commit all their love to God that will inherit eternal life.
Again, being in a “saved state” means we are in a relationship with God and have the power to overcome any and all sin by the power of His Grace. Within this salvation walk with Him is where the spiritual war happens for our souls. We still have our selfish nature fighting with God’s nature. What nature wins the war depends on which nature we feed. If we constantly feed God’s nature by growing in love with Him and repenting from our sins, than God’s Spirit and Grace will eventually win the war by starving out our selfish nature. But if we feed our selfish nature, then we starve out God’s nature in us and keep our dead spirit we were born with.
As long as we are still sinning – which means we know God’s will and we willfully go against it by going through with the selfish thought or deed – we are still considered by God to be owned by the devil.
1 John 3:7-8 - Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. He who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous. He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning.
Although it is true that we do not inherit eternal life depending on our works (good or bad), our heart is judged by God by our works. Works are a gauge of where our heart is. So God judges us by our heart which is gauged by our works. Works (good or bad) show God and others the desires of our heart and in turn shows God who we really love. If we are living righteously in every area of our life, then it shows God and others who we really love and who owns us. If we are still sinning in any area of our life, then it shows God and others that the devil still owns our soul even if we have already entered into the “saved” state with God.
This spiritual war for your soul continues on within this “saved” state until you have come into a total loving condition of loving only God with all you heart, soul, mind, and strength. When you have totally killed the selfishness in you by the power of God’s Grace by only loving God and His righteousness – then He will call you His son and because you are now considered His son, you will inherit His eternal life because you are His son.
Anyone that truly believes in Jesus Christ will also totally love Him. To believe in God you must know Him and to know Him you must love Him.
God’s and your servant,
Michael Reid
Showing posts with label eternal life. Show all posts
Showing posts with label eternal life. Show all posts
Friday, May 1, 2009
Friday, May 2, 2008
God Will Not Be Mocked – Message 2
Gal 6:7 - Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked.
Like in all the messages in this series, I will start out emphasizing how God wants His creation to see the full depth of His love for us, but since most people (including most believers) are so emerged in loving themselves, they can’t see or even understand God’s agape love that He has for us. So what does God have left to work with when it comes to reaching these lost souls – only FEAR. We must all come to the knowledge that God is God and we are not.
Proverbs 1:7 - The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.
I am calling to all people who are not already living by the Holy Spirit and by God’s precepts of love to come to a realization of who God really is and fear Him. For out of that fear of the true God and the realization of the damnation that He will cast you into - that you might come to Jesus Christ and be saved. But the fools that think they are wise and don’t need to be corrected by God will be cast into eternal suffering. It is not too late as long as you’re still breathing and you have come to the knowledge that you are spiritually bankrupt without God’s Holy Spirit in you. We have to realize that we don’t have anything in us that God would want in heaven, unless we have His Holy Spirit living already inside us. The only value we have, when it comes to being worthy of inheriting His eternal life with Him, is God Himself, living within us. His Spirit inside us is what is worth eternally keeping. We are not born with anything that would please God eternally. It is only His Spirit that is within us that pleases Him.
We must also come to an understanding that the filling of the Holy Spirit is not just for the asking. We can start down salvation’s path by confession and repentance, but the receiving of the Holy Spirit is reserved for the ones that have proven themselves faithful by dying to every sinful/selfish thing in them. The Holy Spirit cannot come in and fill a person until that heart and soul has previously been emptied. Before we receive the Holy Spirit, God’s Spirit is the one that comes along side our heart and soul to help us be cleansed of our selfish ways, but His Holy Spirit doesn’t fill us and give us a new heart until the previous process has been completed. This gets us to the next subject of this message and that is - what is this life all about.
This life is not about God blessing us so we can live a happy life. God is not our sugar daddy that just gives us everything we want – the devil does that for us. It is not about seeing how successful we can become in the world’s eye or how much money we make or have - this is what the devil helps us believe so that we never come to the knowledge that we need God. It is not even about seeing how good of a person we can be – God is the only one that is good and if we have any true goodness, it is only a byproduct of God’s Spirit living inside us. So what is this life really all about then?
Life on this earth is all about God testing and purifying us and then glorifying Him – not glorifying ourselves. God needs to test our heart and souls before He will let us inherit His eternal life. But some of you might say - how can this be? This sounds like God looks at our works. If you are thinking this, you are half way right. God does look at works, but is not our works He looks at. It is His works He is doing through us or trying to do through us. If we have belief and faith in God, than there will be works that come out of that faith, but if we don’t have real faith, there will be no works. This is why God says:
James 2:26 - For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
Every good thing we do or will do comes from God. When we first believe in God, that belief is given to us by God’s Spirit if we are open to it. When we put our faith in God’s Son Jesus Christ, that faith is given to us by God’s Spirit if we are open to it. When we repent from selfishness and turn to God, that power to repent is given to us by God’s Spirit if we are open to it. When we have hope for what God has promised, that hope is given to us through faith that God’s Spirit gives to us if we are open to it. When we are found faithful and worthy by all of God’s grace working in us, God’s Spirit then sends His Holy Spirit into us to live with us as one.
John 14:15-17 - If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter (the Holy Spirit), that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
John 14:23-24 - Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.
Before being filled with His Holy Spirit, God’s Spirit works at bringing us to salvation, but it is only upon this filling of the Holy Spirit that we can say that we have become one with God.
Phil 2:1-2 - If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.
John 14:20 - On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.
Don’t be fooled into thinking that you are saved onto heaven just because God’s Spirit is drawing you or working in your life. God must first work in you in order for you to be brought to salvation. When you have received the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit will attest to you that you are saved because you will know God intimately. You will know the nature of God and you will also notice that the Holy Spirit has taken control of your nature. You will be a slave to God’s will and you will love every minute with the Father in heaven because you will be sharing in His love, holiness, and righteousness. You will know that Christ is in you and you are in Christ and you are in the Father, because He is in you. Just like Jesus Christ is in the Father, you will know you are also in Christ which is in the Father. You will know that you have become one in Spirit with the Father and the Son. You will not hesitate to be called a brother with Jesus Christ, because Christ’s Spirit is in you and you are a son of the Father just like Christ is the Son of the Father.
I say all this to let people know that most people, including most believers are being fooled by the devil out of their salvation. God has called me to prophesy the truth to who ever will listen. Through the Holy Spirit that lives inside me and is now part of me, God has made known the very nature of Him self to me and I need to let everybody know that even though most people are being deceived – God is not being fooled. God wants to have His creation open their eyes, read His Word, and be lead by His Spirit to true salvation. Don’t go to other Christian books. None of these other Christian books have the full truth – they are partial truths. Everybody is set free by the truth, the whole truth. A partial truth is always deceiving. Read only the Bible for the full truth. Every Christian writer must have the whole Bible to back up what he/she is writing. So get to know the Word of God first before studying anyone else’s books.
God wants to let everybody in the United States know that – God has left us no excuse to not be saved, other than our choice of unwillingness. God has already given the Way, Truth, and Life to make this possible for anyone who believes. There will be a few (small percentage) that are saved. Are you willing to be one of the few?
Like in all the messages in this series, I will start out emphasizing how God wants His creation to see the full depth of His love for us, but since most people (including most believers) are so emerged in loving themselves, they can’t see or even understand God’s agape love that He has for us. So what does God have left to work with when it comes to reaching these lost souls – only FEAR. We must all come to the knowledge that God is God and we are not.
Proverbs 1:7 - The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.
I am calling to all people who are not already living by the Holy Spirit and by God’s precepts of love to come to a realization of who God really is and fear Him. For out of that fear of the true God and the realization of the damnation that He will cast you into - that you might come to Jesus Christ and be saved. But the fools that think they are wise and don’t need to be corrected by God will be cast into eternal suffering. It is not too late as long as you’re still breathing and you have come to the knowledge that you are spiritually bankrupt without God’s Holy Spirit in you. We have to realize that we don’t have anything in us that God would want in heaven, unless we have His Holy Spirit living already inside us. The only value we have, when it comes to being worthy of inheriting His eternal life with Him, is God Himself, living within us. His Spirit inside us is what is worth eternally keeping. We are not born with anything that would please God eternally. It is only His Spirit that is within us that pleases Him.
We must also come to an understanding that the filling of the Holy Spirit is not just for the asking. We can start down salvation’s path by confession and repentance, but the receiving of the Holy Spirit is reserved for the ones that have proven themselves faithful by dying to every sinful/selfish thing in them. The Holy Spirit cannot come in and fill a person until that heart and soul has previously been emptied. Before we receive the Holy Spirit, God’s Spirit is the one that comes along side our heart and soul to help us be cleansed of our selfish ways, but His Holy Spirit doesn’t fill us and give us a new heart until the previous process has been completed. This gets us to the next subject of this message and that is - what is this life all about.
This life is not about God blessing us so we can live a happy life. God is not our sugar daddy that just gives us everything we want – the devil does that for us. It is not about seeing how successful we can become in the world’s eye or how much money we make or have - this is what the devil helps us believe so that we never come to the knowledge that we need God. It is not even about seeing how good of a person we can be – God is the only one that is good and if we have any true goodness, it is only a byproduct of God’s Spirit living inside us. So what is this life really all about then?
Life on this earth is all about God testing and purifying us and then glorifying Him – not glorifying ourselves. God needs to test our heart and souls before He will let us inherit His eternal life. But some of you might say - how can this be? This sounds like God looks at our works. If you are thinking this, you are half way right. God does look at works, but is not our works He looks at. It is His works He is doing through us or trying to do through us. If we have belief and faith in God, than there will be works that come out of that faith, but if we don’t have real faith, there will be no works. This is why God says:
James 2:26 - For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
Every good thing we do or will do comes from God. When we first believe in God, that belief is given to us by God’s Spirit if we are open to it. When we put our faith in God’s Son Jesus Christ, that faith is given to us by God’s Spirit if we are open to it. When we repent from selfishness and turn to God, that power to repent is given to us by God’s Spirit if we are open to it. When we have hope for what God has promised, that hope is given to us through faith that God’s Spirit gives to us if we are open to it. When we are found faithful and worthy by all of God’s grace working in us, God’s Spirit then sends His Holy Spirit into us to live with us as one.
John 14:15-17 - If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter (the Holy Spirit), that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
John 14:23-24 - Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.
Before being filled with His Holy Spirit, God’s Spirit works at bringing us to salvation, but it is only upon this filling of the Holy Spirit that we can say that we have become one with God.
Phil 2:1-2 - If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.
John 14:20 - On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.
Don’t be fooled into thinking that you are saved onto heaven just because God’s Spirit is drawing you or working in your life. God must first work in you in order for you to be brought to salvation. When you have received the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit will attest to you that you are saved because you will know God intimately. You will know the nature of God and you will also notice that the Holy Spirit has taken control of your nature. You will be a slave to God’s will and you will love every minute with the Father in heaven because you will be sharing in His love, holiness, and righteousness. You will know that Christ is in you and you are in Christ and you are in the Father, because He is in you. Just like Jesus Christ is in the Father, you will know you are also in Christ which is in the Father. You will know that you have become one in Spirit with the Father and the Son. You will not hesitate to be called a brother with Jesus Christ, because Christ’s Spirit is in you and you are a son of the Father just like Christ is the Son of the Father.
I say all this to let people know that most people, including most believers are being fooled by the devil out of their salvation. God has called me to prophesy the truth to who ever will listen. Through the Holy Spirit that lives inside me and is now part of me, God has made known the very nature of Him self to me and I need to let everybody know that even though most people are being deceived – God is not being fooled. God wants to have His creation open their eyes, read His Word, and be lead by His Spirit to true salvation. Don’t go to other Christian books. None of these other Christian books have the full truth – they are partial truths. Everybody is set free by the truth, the whole truth. A partial truth is always deceiving. Read only the Bible for the full truth. Every Christian writer must have the whole Bible to back up what he/she is writing. So get to know the Word of God first before studying anyone else’s books.
God wants to let everybody in the United States know that – God has left us no excuse to not be saved, other than our choice of unwillingness. God has already given the Way, Truth, and Life to make this possible for anyone who believes. There will be a few (small percentage) that are saved. Are you willing to be one of the few?
Your servant in Christ – Michael Reid
Thursday, April 10, 2008
What Will Jesus Do With You When He Returns
Jesus says only the ones that have overcome the world will enter His eternal kingdom.
Rev 2:7 - He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.
Rev 2:11 - He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt at all by the second death.
Rev 3:4-5 - He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels
Rev 3:12 - Him who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will he leave it. I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the New Jerusalem,
Rev 3:21 - To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne.
Rev 21:7-8 - He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son. But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars — their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death."
1 John 5:4 - for everyone born of God overcomes the world.
Who will inherit the eternal kingdom of God?
Matt 19:29 - And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.
Mark 10:17 - Good teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?"
Mark 10:21 - Jesus looked at him and loved him. "One thing you lack," he said. "Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."
Luke 10:25-28 - "Teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?"
"What is written in the Law?" he replied. "How do you read it?" He answered: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'" "You have answered correctly," Jesus replied. "Do this and you will live."
1 Cor 6:9-10 - Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.
Gal 5:19-21 - The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
James 2:5 - Listen, my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him?
Here are some other scriptures to consider.
John 5:39-40 - You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life.
John 10:25-28 - The miracles I do in my Father's name speak for me, but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life.
John 12:25 - The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.
Rom 2:7-8 - To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger.
Rom 6:22 - But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.
Gal 6:7-8 - A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.
1 John 2:24-25 - See that what you have heard from the beginning remains in you. If it does, you also will remain in the Son and in the Father. And this is what he promised us — even eternal life.
1 John 3:15 - Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life in him.
So where is your heart and soul at today?
If he comes today, are you ready?
What about others around you, are they ready?
Rev 2:7 - He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.
Rev 2:11 - He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt at all by the second death.
Rev 3:4-5 - He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels
Rev 3:12 - Him who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will he leave it. I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the New Jerusalem,
Rev 3:21 - To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne.
Rev 21:7-8 - He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son. But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars — their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death."
1 John 5:4 - for everyone born of God overcomes the world.
Who will inherit the eternal kingdom of God?
Matt 19:29 - And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.
Mark 10:17 - Good teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?"
Mark 10:21 - Jesus looked at him and loved him. "One thing you lack," he said. "Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."
Luke 10:25-28 - "Teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?"
"What is written in the Law?" he replied. "How do you read it?" He answered: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'" "You have answered correctly," Jesus replied. "Do this and you will live."
1 Cor 6:9-10 - Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.
Gal 5:19-21 - The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
James 2:5 - Listen, my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him?
Here are some other scriptures to consider.
John 5:39-40 - You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life.
John 10:25-28 - The miracles I do in my Father's name speak for me, but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life.
John 12:25 - The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.
Rom 2:7-8 - To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger.
Rom 6:22 - But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.
Gal 6:7-8 - A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.
1 John 2:24-25 - See that what you have heard from the beginning remains in you. If it does, you also will remain in the Son and in the Father. And this is what he promised us — even eternal life.
1 John 3:15 - Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life in him.
So where is your heart and soul at today?
If he comes today, are you ready?
What about others around you, are they ready?
What Does Works Have To Do With It
Up until this point, I have not mentioned much about the act of works in my writings. I didn’t want to give the subject of “works” more emphasis than it should have, since we aren’t saved by works, but by grace. In all of my previous writings I have tried to concentrate on God’s Holy Spirit working in and through us to accomplish all of God’s will that He requires and wants to perform in every individual life. In response to some of my writings, a few people have indicated that I am teaching a salvation based on works, when in reality I have continually communicated that all good works in a believer’s life is done by the Holy Spirit and only by His Spirit.
In this message I will share how we are not saved by works, but by grace alone. Although my goal of this letter is to talk on the subject of works, a person can’t teach on the subject of works fully without discussing grace also. Grace and works are tied together because good works comes out of God’s grace. So to look into this subject thoroughly, we must define what grace and works are, where grace and works originate from, and how grace and works interact with our heart, soul, and body.
Since we are saved by grace and not by works, we should first try to understand grace. Many people have a misunderstanding that God’s grace is limited only to what Jesus did for us on the cross. God’s grace is much more than what happened at the cross. God’s grace also continues its work today after the cross. Even though the grace God performed at the cross is so very important, I want to concentrate on the power of God’s grace that started at the point of Pentecost. Pentecost is when the power of God’s Spirit was opened up to anyone who would believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Anytime we talk of God’s grace, it is referencing some action that God has done or is currently doing, first of all for His glory and then secondly for our benefit. Grace is not just something God did in the past; it is also something He is continuing to do. When God’s Spirit softens a heart of stone to the point of being able to accept Jesus as Lord and savior, this is God’s grace in action. When God’s Spirit continues sanctifying a heart to bring it to a point of making it holy, this is God’s grace in action. When God’s Spirit baptizes a person’s heart and turns it into a heart totally devoted to Him and then puts that heart into service for Him, this is God’s grace in action. When God’s Spirit guides a person in a certain direction or to do something, even if that God directed action is to benefit someone else, it is God’s grace in action. Saving grace is any action on God’s part that He does in us or through us for HIS glory.
So how is God’s grace manifested in us and through us? God’s grace is manifested in us by the softening and perfecting of our heart into a new heart filled with His love. God’s grace is then manifested through us by God’s love flowing out of us in acts of love towards others. These acts of love are God’s grace being manifested in the form of good fruit and good works. These good works will then always glorify God. This love flows from the new heart He has given us. This love will always flow out of us back to God and to others, and is really God’s grace flowing through us to glorify God Himself. So any good works we perform is only by God’s grace and cannot come from our own humanness. Anytime God’s Spirit does any action through us, in us, or for us, it can only be called God’s grace.
Acts 4:33 NIV - With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all.
Acts 6:8 NIV - Now Stephen, a man full of God's grace and power, did great wonders and miraculous signs among the people.
Rom 12:6 NIV - We have different gifts, according to the grace given us.
1 Cor 15:10 NIV - But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them — yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.
2 Cor 8:7 NIV - But just as you excel in everything — in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us-see that you also excel in this grace of giving.
2 Cor 12:9 NIV - But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.
Eph 3:7-8 NIV - I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God's grace given me through the working of his power.
Eph 4:7-8 NIV - But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. This is why it says: "When he ascended on high, he led captives in his train and gave gifts to men."
James 4:6 NIV - But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."
If we are a Christian living under the New Testament and not under the law, we are relying on all of God’s grace to be eternally saved. God’s grace consists of the grace given to us by the works of Jesus before the cross and on the cross and also the grace that transforms our heart.
There is a real danger with the teaching that all of God’s grace was provided for us with the work done on the cross. There are some who believe and teach that they have little or no responsibility to live holy to be eternally saved because Jesus’ grace on the cross covers all their sins so they don’t have to even try to conform to God’s will and commandments to live holy. If we believe this lie, then in essence this gives people a license to keep on sinning and still believe they are saved. This is a lie devised by the devil to keep us from the truth and a true relationship with God.
Jude 4 NIV - For certain men whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are godless men, who change the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord.
Now, that we defined grace, let’s try to define what works is. The definition of works can be said to be any action or bi-product that comes directly from the condition of the heart.
There are good and bad works, or to say it a different way, there is good and bad fruit.
Eccl 8:11 NKJV - Because the sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.2 Tim 4:18 NKJV - And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom.Col 1:10 NIV - And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work.
Some examples of what spiritual good and bad fruit can be taken right from scripture.
Gal 5:22-23 NIV - But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Gal 5:19-21 NIV - The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
All good works or good fruit originate from God’s love that God’s Spirit has installed within our heart. This love can only produce the fruits of the Spirit (good works). It is impossible to produce bad fruit (bad works or sin) from God’s love. On the other hand, all bad works or bad fruit originate from a sinful nature. A sinful nature can only produce bad fruit (bad works or sin), because the sinful nature only has selfishness and pride within that nature. A heart that is filled with the sinful nature can only love itself or anything that sinful nature thinks benefits itself.
Matt 7:17-18 NIV - Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.
So we must understand that good works or good fruit are only from God’s Spirit and bad fruit or bad works are only from the sinful nature. Even though our eternal salvation is not determined by our acts of sin or good works, our works do indicate what kind of heart we have.
Luke 6:45 NIV - The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart , and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart.
So getting back to the subject of this message, what does works have to do with our salvation? Our works have nothing to do with God’s decision to accept us as sons and daughters or whether we inherit eternal life.
So what about the scriptures that indicate we must do God’s will to enter the kingdom of God?
Matt 7:21 NIV - Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
At first glance this scripture sounds like we must do good works to enter God’s kingdom, but you have to look deeper and understand that Jesus is really talking about a heart issue and is not talking about any works we need to perform out of our own humanness. Jesus is emphasizing that we will be doing God’s will if we are true Christians. Any works that we perform as Christians will be of God’s will since these good works are from God’s grace working within us. Jesus is saying that there will be good works, but not works of our own.
If we have good works (good fruit), we cannot claim these good works as our own since all good works are of God and not by our own accord. When ever we perform good works, it is really God’s Spirit working through us to glorify Himself. Since any good works are of God’s workings and not of ours, they have no value in determining whether we inherit eternal life or not. If we have bad works (sin or bad fruit), we have someone who has already paid the price for these sins if we believe in Jesus as our Lord and Savior. But even though Jesus paid for all our sins, Jesus’ payment of sins alone doesn’t guarantee eternal life with Him. We also need God’s grace to transform our hearts from a selfish sinful nature into a selfless loving nature.
So how does God determine whether we inherit eternal life or not? It is by a thorough inspection of our heart. God can always see our entire heart and how pure it is. God’s Word indicates we need to be born again of God’s Spirit. When we are spiritually born again, we are given a new heart, totally purified and absent of any sinful nature.
Heb 10:22 NIV - let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.
John 3:3 NIV - In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.
Acts 1:24 NIV - Then they prayed, "Lord, you know everyone's heart.
Matt 5:8 NIV - Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
2 Cor 5:17 NIV - Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
Rom 10:10 NIV - For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.
John 3:5 NIV - Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.
2 Tim 2:22-23 NIV - Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
What is your treasure? If your treasure is God and serving Him wholeheartedly, then your heart will be pure and totally devoted to Him.
Matt 6:21 NIV - For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Every action we do and every word we speak comes directly from the heart. Our heart represents the desires of our soul and these desires are the driving force of the soul. Out of an evil heart come all kinds of evil.
Matt 15:19 NIV - For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. But out of a pure heart comes love and righteousness.
1 Tim 1:5 NIV - The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.
2 Tim 2:22 NIV - Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
For any person that will not humble themselves and repent, then it is that hardened heart that will send that person to an eternal hell. Everyone has the free choice to humble themselves before the Lord. If we choose Jesus as the Lord of our lives, then He will transform our hearts. But if our choice is to reject Him by rejecting His grace, then our hearts will not be transformed, but the Lord will have the last word. He owns every one of our souls, whether we accept this fact or not.
Rom 2:5 NIV - But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God's wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed.
Heb 3:12-13 NIV - See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God.
So does the works we do have any value? Yes, even though works doesn’t have any value in God’s decision on whether we receive eternal life or not, works does have a purpose. First of all, works has great value in that all good works point back to God and glorifies Jesus and our heavenly Father. Secondly, our works are meant to show ourselves and others whether our heart is pure or not. The works that come out of us show the condition of our heart. Our works can be used as a purity gage to show us the purification status of our heart. God intends to bring all believers to the point of having a pure heart and be blameless before Him so we can inherit eternal life. The only thing that will hold us back from receiving a purified heart is our own pride. So we must all humble ourselves before our Lord Jesus Christ to be saved. Thirdly, works do make a difference in the amount of rewards or punishment we receive in our eternal destination. If we have a pure heart, then the more we give up or sacrifice for the Lord in this life, the more rewards we will have in heaven. If we don’t end up having a pure heart because we have rejected God’s grace in some way, then the works we do here will have an effect on the amount of punishment we will receive in hell. But I want to emphasize, no one has to go to hell as long as they are willing to totally humble themselves before Jesus and make Him their Lord and Savior.
May the power of God’s grace strengthen you!
Phil 4:23 NIV - The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.
Living only by His grace - Michael Reid
In this message I will share how we are not saved by works, but by grace alone. Although my goal of this letter is to talk on the subject of works, a person can’t teach on the subject of works fully without discussing grace also. Grace and works are tied together because good works comes out of God’s grace. So to look into this subject thoroughly, we must define what grace and works are, where grace and works originate from, and how grace and works interact with our heart, soul, and body.
Since we are saved by grace and not by works, we should first try to understand grace. Many people have a misunderstanding that God’s grace is limited only to what Jesus did for us on the cross. God’s grace is much more than what happened at the cross. God’s grace also continues its work today after the cross. Even though the grace God performed at the cross is so very important, I want to concentrate on the power of God’s grace that started at the point of Pentecost. Pentecost is when the power of God’s Spirit was opened up to anyone who would believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Anytime we talk of God’s grace, it is referencing some action that God has done or is currently doing, first of all for His glory and then secondly for our benefit. Grace is not just something God did in the past; it is also something He is continuing to do. When God’s Spirit softens a heart of stone to the point of being able to accept Jesus as Lord and savior, this is God’s grace in action. When God’s Spirit continues sanctifying a heart to bring it to a point of making it holy, this is God’s grace in action. When God’s Spirit baptizes a person’s heart and turns it into a heart totally devoted to Him and then puts that heart into service for Him, this is God’s grace in action. When God’s Spirit guides a person in a certain direction or to do something, even if that God directed action is to benefit someone else, it is God’s grace in action. Saving grace is any action on God’s part that He does in us or through us for HIS glory.
So how is God’s grace manifested in us and through us? God’s grace is manifested in us by the softening and perfecting of our heart into a new heart filled with His love. God’s grace is then manifested through us by God’s love flowing out of us in acts of love towards others. These acts of love are God’s grace being manifested in the form of good fruit and good works. These good works will then always glorify God. This love flows from the new heart He has given us. This love will always flow out of us back to God and to others, and is really God’s grace flowing through us to glorify God Himself. So any good works we perform is only by God’s grace and cannot come from our own humanness. Anytime God’s Spirit does any action through us, in us, or for us, it can only be called God’s grace.
Acts 4:33 NIV - With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all.
Acts 6:8 NIV - Now Stephen, a man full of God's grace and power, did great wonders and miraculous signs among the people.
Rom 12:6 NIV - We have different gifts, according to the grace given us.
1 Cor 15:10 NIV - But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them — yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.
2 Cor 8:7 NIV - But just as you excel in everything — in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us-see that you also excel in this grace of giving.
2 Cor 12:9 NIV - But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.
Eph 3:7-8 NIV - I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God's grace given me through the working of his power.
Eph 4:7-8 NIV - But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. This is why it says: "When he ascended on high, he led captives in his train and gave gifts to men."
James 4:6 NIV - But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."
If we are a Christian living under the New Testament and not under the law, we are relying on all of God’s grace to be eternally saved. God’s grace consists of the grace given to us by the works of Jesus before the cross and on the cross and also the grace that transforms our heart.
There is a real danger with the teaching that all of God’s grace was provided for us with the work done on the cross. There are some who believe and teach that they have little or no responsibility to live holy to be eternally saved because Jesus’ grace on the cross covers all their sins so they don’t have to even try to conform to God’s will and commandments to live holy. If we believe this lie, then in essence this gives people a license to keep on sinning and still believe they are saved. This is a lie devised by the devil to keep us from the truth and a true relationship with God.
Jude 4 NIV - For certain men whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are godless men, who change the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord.
Now, that we defined grace, let’s try to define what works is. The definition of works can be said to be any action or bi-product that comes directly from the condition of the heart.
There are good and bad works, or to say it a different way, there is good and bad fruit.
Eccl 8:11 NKJV - Because the sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.2 Tim 4:18 NKJV - And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom.Col 1:10 NIV - And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work.
Some examples of what spiritual good and bad fruit can be taken right from scripture.
Gal 5:22-23 NIV - But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Gal 5:19-21 NIV - The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
All good works or good fruit originate from God’s love that God’s Spirit has installed within our heart. This love can only produce the fruits of the Spirit (good works). It is impossible to produce bad fruit (bad works or sin) from God’s love. On the other hand, all bad works or bad fruit originate from a sinful nature. A sinful nature can only produce bad fruit (bad works or sin), because the sinful nature only has selfishness and pride within that nature. A heart that is filled with the sinful nature can only love itself or anything that sinful nature thinks benefits itself.
Matt 7:17-18 NIV - Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.
So we must understand that good works or good fruit are only from God’s Spirit and bad fruit or bad works are only from the sinful nature. Even though our eternal salvation is not determined by our acts of sin or good works, our works do indicate what kind of heart we have.
Luke 6:45 NIV - The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart , and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart.
So getting back to the subject of this message, what does works have to do with our salvation? Our works have nothing to do with God’s decision to accept us as sons and daughters or whether we inherit eternal life.
So what about the scriptures that indicate we must do God’s will to enter the kingdom of God?
Matt 7:21 NIV - Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
At first glance this scripture sounds like we must do good works to enter God’s kingdom, but you have to look deeper and understand that Jesus is really talking about a heart issue and is not talking about any works we need to perform out of our own humanness. Jesus is emphasizing that we will be doing God’s will if we are true Christians. Any works that we perform as Christians will be of God’s will since these good works are from God’s grace working within us. Jesus is saying that there will be good works, but not works of our own.
If we have good works (good fruit), we cannot claim these good works as our own since all good works are of God and not by our own accord. When ever we perform good works, it is really God’s Spirit working through us to glorify Himself. Since any good works are of God’s workings and not of ours, they have no value in determining whether we inherit eternal life or not. If we have bad works (sin or bad fruit), we have someone who has already paid the price for these sins if we believe in Jesus as our Lord and Savior. But even though Jesus paid for all our sins, Jesus’ payment of sins alone doesn’t guarantee eternal life with Him. We also need God’s grace to transform our hearts from a selfish sinful nature into a selfless loving nature.
So how does God determine whether we inherit eternal life or not? It is by a thorough inspection of our heart. God can always see our entire heart and how pure it is. God’s Word indicates we need to be born again of God’s Spirit. When we are spiritually born again, we are given a new heart, totally purified and absent of any sinful nature.
Heb 10:22 NIV - let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.
John 3:3 NIV - In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.
Acts 1:24 NIV - Then they prayed, "Lord, you know everyone's heart.
Matt 5:8 NIV - Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
2 Cor 5:17 NIV - Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
Rom 10:10 NIV - For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.
John 3:5 NIV - Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.
2 Tim 2:22-23 NIV - Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
What is your treasure? If your treasure is God and serving Him wholeheartedly, then your heart will be pure and totally devoted to Him.
Matt 6:21 NIV - For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Every action we do and every word we speak comes directly from the heart. Our heart represents the desires of our soul and these desires are the driving force of the soul. Out of an evil heart come all kinds of evil.
Matt 15:19 NIV - For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. But out of a pure heart comes love and righteousness.
1 Tim 1:5 NIV - The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.
2 Tim 2:22 NIV - Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
For any person that will not humble themselves and repent, then it is that hardened heart that will send that person to an eternal hell. Everyone has the free choice to humble themselves before the Lord. If we choose Jesus as the Lord of our lives, then He will transform our hearts. But if our choice is to reject Him by rejecting His grace, then our hearts will not be transformed, but the Lord will have the last word. He owns every one of our souls, whether we accept this fact or not.
Rom 2:5 NIV - But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God's wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed.
Heb 3:12-13 NIV - See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God.
So does the works we do have any value? Yes, even though works doesn’t have any value in God’s decision on whether we receive eternal life or not, works does have a purpose. First of all, works has great value in that all good works point back to God and glorifies Jesus and our heavenly Father. Secondly, our works are meant to show ourselves and others whether our heart is pure or not. The works that come out of us show the condition of our heart. Our works can be used as a purity gage to show us the purification status of our heart. God intends to bring all believers to the point of having a pure heart and be blameless before Him so we can inherit eternal life. The only thing that will hold us back from receiving a purified heart is our own pride. So we must all humble ourselves before our Lord Jesus Christ to be saved. Thirdly, works do make a difference in the amount of rewards or punishment we receive in our eternal destination. If we have a pure heart, then the more we give up or sacrifice for the Lord in this life, the more rewards we will have in heaven. If we don’t end up having a pure heart because we have rejected God’s grace in some way, then the works we do here will have an effect on the amount of punishment we will receive in hell. But I want to emphasize, no one has to go to hell as long as they are willing to totally humble themselves before Jesus and make Him their Lord and Savior.
May the power of God’s grace strengthen you!
Phil 4:23 NIV - The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.
Living only by His grace - Michael Reid
What Have You Done With Your Talent or Gift
When anyone first comes to Christ for salvation we are given a gift from God. That gift is the gift of salvation from the bondage of our sins, which means we no longer have to be in bondage to our sinful nature. This is the first salvation God gives us, but the second salvation unto eternal life is determined by what we do with this first salvation. We can see this clearly in the story of Israel’s exodus out of Egypt. God saved them from their bondage of Egyptian slavery so they could once again have the choice to follow God’s will and ways. Sadly only two of the adults that were saved from the Egyptian slavery decided to live totally for God and were then allowed to enter the promise land.
We who have accepted Jesus Christ as our savior recognize that we have been imputed with Jesus’ righteousness. Through what Jesus Christ did on the cross for us, we now can put on the cloak of His righteousness. We are whitewashed on the outside with His righteousness, which means God has put His righteousness onto us so through Jesus Christ being our High Priest we can eventually be washed white on the inside as well. God freely gives this gift of His righteousness to anyone that repents and asks for it. God gives this gift freely so He can work through us, otherwise there would be no way for us to be free from our sinful nature. The parable of the talents is a good representation of this gift given by God and if used for God, He multiplies the gift and makes the gift grow, but if not used for God, the gift is taken away.
Matt 25:14-30 - Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more. So also, the one with the two talents gained two more. But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money.
After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. The man who had received the five talents brought the other five. 'Master,' he said, 'you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.' "His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!' "The man with the two talents also came. 'Master,' he said, 'you entrusted me with two talents; see, I have gained two more.' "His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!' "Then the man who had received the one talent came. 'Master,' he said, 'I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.' "His master replied, 'You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest. "'Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'
Please understand why this parable’s truth is so important; it is to warn all of you that have been given the first gift of salvation from the bondage of our sins so you will be motivated to reach the second salvation gift unto eternal life.
The talent(s) in the parable represent this first gift of salvation, but the second gift of salvation unto eternal life is determined on how you use the first gift from God. To use this first gift properly that God gives us, we must at some point decide to die to all our sinful nature to receive the permanent gift. Anyone that is unwilling to die totally to themselves will not be able to be washed totally white on the inside.
Like I said before, when we first come to Christ we are imputed with Jesus Christ’s righteousness, but eventually we must also be imparted with the very nature of Jesus Christ Spirit. When we are imputed with Christ’s righteousness we are whitewashed on the outside, but we must be imparted with Christ’s righteousness within also to be washed white to be eternally saved.
After we first have come to Christ as our savior for the forgiveness of our sins we are imputed with Christ’s righteousness and also receive Jesus Christ as our High Priest. We then can be covered by His cloak of righteousness until we physically die, but we only have this righteous covering of Christ as long as He is our High Priest. When we physically die we no longer have Jesus Christ as our High Priest and we are no longer covered by His cloak of righteousness. After we physically die the cloak of Christ’s righteousness comes off and God then sees our bare soul. If our bare soul has been thoroughly washed white by this time, we will enter heaven, but if our bare soul is still soiled with our sinful nature, we will not be allowed into God’s eternal kingdom where no evil and sinful thing can enter.
Truly I tell you this because this is God’s truth and God doesn’t want any to be lost. Please be wise with what God has given you. God wants you to keep the gifts He has given you, but this choice has to be your choice.
Sent from Jesus Christ’s heart within me,
Michael Reid
We who have accepted Jesus Christ as our savior recognize that we have been imputed with Jesus’ righteousness. Through what Jesus Christ did on the cross for us, we now can put on the cloak of His righteousness. We are whitewashed on the outside with His righteousness, which means God has put His righteousness onto us so through Jesus Christ being our High Priest we can eventually be washed white on the inside as well. God freely gives this gift of His righteousness to anyone that repents and asks for it. God gives this gift freely so He can work through us, otherwise there would be no way for us to be free from our sinful nature. The parable of the talents is a good representation of this gift given by God and if used for God, He multiplies the gift and makes the gift grow, but if not used for God, the gift is taken away.
Matt 25:14-30 - Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more. So also, the one with the two talents gained two more. But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money.
After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. The man who had received the five talents brought the other five. 'Master,' he said, 'you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.' "His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!' "The man with the two talents also came. 'Master,' he said, 'you entrusted me with two talents; see, I have gained two more.' "His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!' "Then the man who had received the one talent came. 'Master,' he said, 'I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.' "His master replied, 'You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest. "'Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'
Please understand why this parable’s truth is so important; it is to warn all of you that have been given the first gift of salvation from the bondage of our sins so you will be motivated to reach the second salvation gift unto eternal life.
The talent(s) in the parable represent this first gift of salvation, but the second gift of salvation unto eternal life is determined on how you use the first gift from God. To use this first gift properly that God gives us, we must at some point decide to die to all our sinful nature to receive the permanent gift. Anyone that is unwilling to die totally to themselves will not be able to be washed totally white on the inside.
Like I said before, when we first come to Christ we are imputed with Jesus Christ’s righteousness, but eventually we must also be imparted with the very nature of Jesus Christ Spirit. When we are imputed with Christ’s righteousness we are whitewashed on the outside, but we must be imparted with Christ’s righteousness within also to be washed white to be eternally saved.
After we first have come to Christ as our savior for the forgiveness of our sins we are imputed with Christ’s righteousness and also receive Jesus Christ as our High Priest. We then can be covered by His cloak of righteousness until we physically die, but we only have this righteous covering of Christ as long as He is our High Priest. When we physically die we no longer have Jesus Christ as our High Priest and we are no longer covered by His cloak of righteousness. After we physically die the cloak of Christ’s righteousness comes off and God then sees our bare soul. If our bare soul has been thoroughly washed white by this time, we will enter heaven, but if our bare soul is still soiled with our sinful nature, we will not be allowed into God’s eternal kingdom where no evil and sinful thing can enter.
Truly I tell you this because this is God’s truth and God doesn’t want any to be lost. Please be wise with what God has given you. God wants you to keep the gifts He has given you, but this choice has to be your choice.
Sent from Jesus Christ’s heart within me,
Michael Reid
What Happened At The Cross
To value Christ’s crucifixion, we must understand we were all destined for a terrifying eternity in hell without it. How bad would this be? I want you to imagine being burned at the stake eternally, never being burned up, never losing consciousness, not being able to die, and the fire never being quenched. If you can imagine this – you might be able to understand what hell is like. With all the persecution that happened to Jesus, and Him being crucified on the cross instead of us, we now have a choice that we didn’t have before the Cross. Now we have a choice to have eternity in heaven with God or an eternity in hell with the devil and his demons.
God requires righteousness and full payment of sins to have eternal life with God. He requires us to be made holy as He is holy and righteous as He is righteous. This is not something we have the power to do; God must do this sanctifying work through His Holy Spirit. To make this happen, we must give up and let Jesus take our life. We have to die to ourselves. When we trust in Jesus and die to our selfish sinful nature and when we repent of our sins, He is just and will forgive us our sins.
What sins were paid for at the cross? When Christ was crucified, He paid for all of humanities sins, (past, present, and future), except one. Blaspheming the Holy Spirit was the one sin He would not pay for. I will cover this unforgivable sin topic in my next message. All sins can be broken down into three main groups, original sin, our personal past sins, and our personal present or active sins.
The fact that all sins are paid for does not mean that everybody’s sins have been forgiven. Forgiveness of our personal sins is conditional on our personal repentance. Payment and forgiveness for the original sin of Adam has been made complete through the cross. But we are all still responsible for our individual personal sins against God through our choice to repent and be obedient or not. Whenever God forgives us for any sin, the payment and judgment for that sin has already been made and paid for us through Jesus Christ at the cross. Rejoice that we don’t have to make payment for our sins. We couldn’t pay for our sins even if we wanted to – Christ had to do this for us.
Forgiveness comes through our willingness to be made righteous. Opposite to popular belief, we do not receive forgiveness just through the asking of forgiveness from God. We can ask God for forgiveness, but if the asking isn’t accompanied by repentance, the asking is not sincere. It is through our turning away from the ungodly to His godliness that we receive forgiveness from God. We must be willing to become righteous through the sanctifying work of His Spirit. We must be willing to become holy as God is holy. We must be willing to be sanctified to God. When we are sanctified, we are set apart for God. When we are set apart for God, we are set apart from the world and all its evil desires. Before the fall of man, Adam and Eve did not need to be sanctified, they were righteous already. They were right with God and needed no forgiveness. After the fall of man, humanity no longer had righteousness with God. If we are unwilling to let His Spirit totally transform our heart, soul, and mind, there will be no righteousness and there will be no place for us in heaven. Heaven (eternal life with God), is reserved only for the ones that have been made righteous.
The main reason Jesus went to the cross was to restore righteousness to whoever would be willing. Again the popular belief is that Jesus did everything necessary at the cross, so we don’t need to do anything. The truth is Jesus did everything we could not do for ourselves. The payment for our sins was an act that had to be done by God in order to restore the relationship to His creation. What was done on the cross by Jesus opened the door for the Holy Spirit to come. It is thru His Holy Spirit living in us that we are able to have this restored relationship to God. Enabling the Holy Spirit to come to us is the main reason Jesus went to the cross. God’s word says “He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit. “ (Gal 3:14 NIV)
With God’s Holy Spirit, we now have an awesome power within us to become righteous. We are called and are able to conquer and put to death all of our sinful nature within our heart, soul, and mind. This is why God was willing to send His only begotten son as a sacrifice, so we could once again have the choice and ability to have that true loving relationship God desires with us. Once again I have to emphasize, love has to be a choice. Just like Adam and Eve had the choice to show their love through obedience, now through the cross, all people once again have the choice to love God thru their voluntary obedience. The good news is that the Spirit does all the work to change our hearts, so we want to be obedient children, if we are willing to change.
How is our relationship different from Adam and Eve’s relationship with God? We have to remember, before the original sin, man had not fallen from God’s righteousness, but now we are born into a fallen state of righteousness. I want to help you understand this fallen state of man with a word picture. I want you to picture, in the beginning, Adam and Eve on top of a glorious mountain, having a close communion with God. When they ate of the forbidden fruit, they fell in a freefall down this big mountain. When they got to the bottom, they had no way to get back up since the walls of the mountain were too steep for any human to climb. This is the current state of where all humanity is at without the power of the cross and the Holy Spirit. This is where the power of the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit comes in. We still cannot climb up this mountain by ourselves to get to a right relationship with God. We have to let the Holy Spirit enable us to climb this mountain. This is where our faith comes into the picture. Through our faith in God, we have to believe in what we cannot see. We have to believe in a spiritual climbing ladder. We need a spiritual ladder because the mountain is a spiritual mountain. God’s Spirit from within us will prompt us to put our foot upon a ladder that we cannot see. If we have enough faith, we will put our foot out into space and believe we will not fall because we have faith that there will be a spiritual ladder rung there to support us. After each step we take in faith on this spiritual ladder, that previous step enables us to take the next step higher and closer to our living Father on top of this glorious spiritual mountain. Each climbing step taken in faith will allow you to be closer to God and see His true glory and as a result, your face and life will glow with His radiance through His love flowing through you. For some, if your faith is strong enough, you can take God’s spiritual elevator up this great mountain.
I want to encourage everyone, to grab hold of the faith that is available to each and every one of us through God’s Spirit and start climbing or to continue climbing the spiritual sanctification path God has for you. I know God’s path is not easy, but with God’s help through His Spirit, the burden of following His path becomes light and even joyous.
With God's love and Spirit, I bring you this message. May God bless you! - Michael W. Reid
Some scripture verses concerning this message: Mt 13:47-50, Mt 10:38, Mt 16:24-25, Lk 9:23, Mt 25:34-46, Mt 18:21-35, Gal 3:13-14, Rom 3:21-26, Eph 5:3-7, Heb 10:14, 1Jn 2:2, Mt 26:28, Mk 1:4, Acts 2:38, Heb 9:22, Mt 6:12&14-15, Mt 11:25, Lk 6:37, Lk 17:3, Lk 13:3-5, Acts 3:19, Acts 8:20-23, Acts 26:20, Rev 2:5, Rev 2:21-22, Rev 3:3, Rev 3:19-22, Mt 12:31-32, John 3:5-6, John 4:23-24, John 14:26, Rom 7:6, Rom 8:2-17, Rom 8:26-27, Rom 14:17, Rom 15:16, 1Cor 2:9-15, Gal 5:16-25, Gal 6:8, 1Tim 4:1, 1Pet 4:17-19
God requires righteousness and full payment of sins to have eternal life with God. He requires us to be made holy as He is holy and righteous as He is righteous. This is not something we have the power to do; God must do this sanctifying work through His Holy Spirit. To make this happen, we must give up and let Jesus take our life. We have to die to ourselves. When we trust in Jesus and die to our selfish sinful nature and when we repent of our sins, He is just and will forgive us our sins.
What sins were paid for at the cross? When Christ was crucified, He paid for all of humanities sins, (past, present, and future), except one. Blaspheming the Holy Spirit was the one sin He would not pay for. I will cover this unforgivable sin topic in my next message. All sins can be broken down into three main groups, original sin, our personal past sins, and our personal present or active sins.
The fact that all sins are paid for does not mean that everybody’s sins have been forgiven. Forgiveness of our personal sins is conditional on our personal repentance. Payment and forgiveness for the original sin of Adam has been made complete through the cross. But we are all still responsible for our individual personal sins against God through our choice to repent and be obedient or not. Whenever God forgives us for any sin, the payment and judgment for that sin has already been made and paid for us through Jesus Christ at the cross. Rejoice that we don’t have to make payment for our sins. We couldn’t pay for our sins even if we wanted to – Christ had to do this for us.
Forgiveness comes through our willingness to be made righteous. Opposite to popular belief, we do not receive forgiveness just through the asking of forgiveness from God. We can ask God for forgiveness, but if the asking isn’t accompanied by repentance, the asking is not sincere. It is through our turning away from the ungodly to His godliness that we receive forgiveness from God. We must be willing to become righteous through the sanctifying work of His Spirit. We must be willing to become holy as God is holy. We must be willing to be sanctified to God. When we are sanctified, we are set apart for God. When we are set apart for God, we are set apart from the world and all its evil desires. Before the fall of man, Adam and Eve did not need to be sanctified, they were righteous already. They were right with God and needed no forgiveness. After the fall of man, humanity no longer had righteousness with God. If we are unwilling to let His Spirit totally transform our heart, soul, and mind, there will be no righteousness and there will be no place for us in heaven. Heaven (eternal life with God), is reserved only for the ones that have been made righteous.
The main reason Jesus went to the cross was to restore righteousness to whoever would be willing. Again the popular belief is that Jesus did everything necessary at the cross, so we don’t need to do anything. The truth is Jesus did everything we could not do for ourselves. The payment for our sins was an act that had to be done by God in order to restore the relationship to His creation. What was done on the cross by Jesus opened the door for the Holy Spirit to come. It is thru His Holy Spirit living in us that we are able to have this restored relationship to God. Enabling the Holy Spirit to come to us is the main reason Jesus went to the cross. God’s word says “He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit. “ (Gal 3:14 NIV)
With God’s Holy Spirit, we now have an awesome power within us to become righteous. We are called and are able to conquer and put to death all of our sinful nature within our heart, soul, and mind. This is why God was willing to send His only begotten son as a sacrifice, so we could once again have the choice and ability to have that true loving relationship God desires with us. Once again I have to emphasize, love has to be a choice. Just like Adam and Eve had the choice to show their love through obedience, now through the cross, all people once again have the choice to love God thru their voluntary obedience. The good news is that the Spirit does all the work to change our hearts, so we want to be obedient children, if we are willing to change.
How is our relationship different from Adam and Eve’s relationship with God? We have to remember, before the original sin, man had not fallen from God’s righteousness, but now we are born into a fallen state of righteousness. I want to help you understand this fallen state of man with a word picture. I want you to picture, in the beginning, Adam and Eve on top of a glorious mountain, having a close communion with God. When they ate of the forbidden fruit, they fell in a freefall down this big mountain. When they got to the bottom, they had no way to get back up since the walls of the mountain were too steep for any human to climb. This is the current state of where all humanity is at without the power of the cross and the Holy Spirit. This is where the power of the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit comes in. We still cannot climb up this mountain by ourselves to get to a right relationship with God. We have to let the Holy Spirit enable us to climb this mountain. This is where our faith comes into the picture. Through our faith in God, we have to believe in what we cannot see. We have to believe in a spiritual climbing ladder. We need a spiritual ladder because the mountain is a spiritual mountain. God’s Spirit from within us will prompt us to put our foot upon a ladder that we cannot see. If we have enough faith, we will put our foot out into space and believe we will not fall because we have faith that there will be a spiritual ladder rung there to support us. After each step we take in faith on this spiritual ladder, that previous step enables us to take the next step higher and closer to our living Father on top of this glorious spiritual mountain. Each climbing step taken in faith will allow you to be closer to God and see His true glory and as a result, your face and life will glow with His radiance through His love flowing through you. For some, if your faith is strong enough, you can take God’s spiritual elevator up this great mountain.
I want to encourage everyone, to grab hold of the faith that is available to each and every one of us through God’s Spirit and start climbing or to continue climbing the spiritual sanctification path God has for you. I know God’s path is not easy, but with God’s help through His Spirit, the burden of following His path becomes light and even joyous.
With God's love and Spirit, I bring you this message. May God bless you! - Michael W. Reid
Some scripture verses concerning this message: Mt 13:47-50, Mt 10:38, Mt 16:24-25, Lk 9:23, Mt 25:34-46, Mt 18:21-35, Gal 3:13-14, Rom 3:21-26, Eph 5:3-7, Heb 10:14, 1Jn 2:2, Mt 26:28, Mk 1:4, Acts 2:38, Heb 9:22, Mt 6:12&14-15, Mt 11:25, Lk 6:37, Lk 17:3, Lk 13:3-5, Acts 3:19, Acts 8:20-23, Acts 26:20, Rev 2:5, Rev 2:21-22, Rev 3:3, Rev 3:19-22, Mt 12:31-32, John 3:5-6, John 4:23-24, John 14:26, Rom 7:6, Rom 8:2-17, Rom 8:26-27, Rom 14:17, Rom 15:16, 1Cor 2:9-15, Gal 5:16-25, Gal 6:8, 1Tim 4:1, 1Pet 4:17-19
Does Salvation Really Cost Me Everything?
Anyone can become a believer of Jesus Christ by just having a little belief in Jesus, but the cost of being born again into Jesus’ kingdom will cost a person everything, but after being born again they realize what they gave up was worth nothing anyway.
When we believe in Jesus with 10% faith, that 10% faith will help us grow in faith to a 20% belief, and 20% faith grows to 30% and so on. But there is a point where we have to let God bring us to 100% faith in Jesus Christ, where we commit all of our self as a living sacrifice for God’s work and glory. If we never reach this 100% faith in Jesus Christ, we will not be reborn into His kingdom. See the scripture below to see what happens to a person that won’t give 100% of his life to Jesus Christ.
Matt 19:17-24 - Why do you ask me about what is good?" Jesus replied. "There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments." "Which ones?" the man inquired. Jesus replied, "'Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother,' and 'love your neighbor as yourself.'" "All these I have kept," the young man said. "What do I still lack?" Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth. Then Jesus said to his disciples, "I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."
This rich man was not willing to give 100% of everything he was or had. This man could not give it all up for Jesus, because he relied on his possessions to sustain him, he would not give it up to have 100% reliance on God. Anyone who is like this rich man of this parable will not be born again and cannot enter the kingdom of God.
So how can anybody believe and give 100% in faith to Jesus Christ? It is through the workings of God’s Spirit that is in us to bring us to the point of 100% faith. It is impossible for us, but with us letting God’s Spirit have control of our lives, He will make it happen. Nothing is impossible with God, we just have to humble ourselves and let him change us.
Coming to the point of being born again into God’s kingdom is really a revelation that God gives us through His Word and Spirit to see how priceless and righteous His kingdom is. When we realize that His kingdom is more valuable than anything we can keep for ourselves here on earth, we will give everything for the gift of salvation into His kingdom.
Matt 13:44 - "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.
Matt 13:45-46 - "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.
Is this how you see God’s kingdom? Are there any earthly things you have worth more than God’s kingdom? Are you willing to give your whole self as a living sacrifice to God in order to be in God’s kingdom?
In the kingdom by His Grace
Michael Reid
When we believe in Jesus with 10% faith, that 10% faith will help us grow in faith to a 20% belief, and 20% faith grows to 30% and so on. But there is a point where we have to let God bring us to 100% faith in Jesus Christ, where we commit all of our self as a living sacrifice for God’s work and glory. If we never reach this 100% faith in Jesus Christ, we will not be reborn into His kingdom. See the scripture below to see what happens to a person that won’t give 100% of his life to Jesus Christ.
Matt 19:17-24 - Why do you ask me about what is good?" Jesus replied. "There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments." "Which ones?" the man inquired. Jesus replied, "'Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother,' and 'love your neighbor as yourself.'" "All these I have kept," the young man said. "What do I still lack?" Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth. Then Jesus said to his disciples, "I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."
This rich man was not willing to give 100% of everything he was or had. This man could not give it all up for Jesus, because he relied on his possessions to sustain him, he would not give it up to have 100% reliance on God. Anyone who is like this rich man of this parable will not be born again and cannot enter the kingdom of God.
So how can anybody believe and give 100% in faith to Jesus Christ? It is through the workings of God’s Spirit that is in us to bring us to the point of 100% faith. It is impossible for us, but with us letting God’s Spirit have control of our lives, He will make it happen. Nothing is impossible with God, we just have to humble ourselves and let him change us.
Coming to the point of being born again into God’s kingdom is really a revelation that God gives us through His Word and Spirit to see how priceless and righteous His kingdom is. When we realize that His kingdom is more valuable than anything we can keep for ourselves here on earth, we will give everything for the gift of salvation into His kingdom.
Matt 13:44 - "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.
Matt 13:45-46 - "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.
Is this how you see God’s kingdom? Are there any earthly things you have worth more than God’s kingdom? Are you willing to give your whole self as a living sacrifice to God in order to be in God’s kingdom?
In the kingdom by His Grace
Michael Reid
Don't Count Your Chickens Before They're Hatched
Most people think salvation unto eternal life is a one stop fixit shop of God that we only have to visit once. Don’t be fooled by your desires to have it the easy way.
God’s Word says we must be obedient and do our heavenly Father’s will to enter the kingdom of heaven. See the verse below.
Matt 7:21-27 - "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!
We must be obedient to God’s will before the Father gives us the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Acts 5:32 - We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him."
But since we are not saved by works – but by grace, how can this be true? Aren’t all good works (obedience) done by the Father’s Spirit and not of our own accord? The answer to this question is an emphatic YES. So how does any of this make sense? Doesn’t God’s Word say that we can be sure of our eternal salvation by the deposit (installment) of the Spirit? See the verse below.
Eph 1:13-14 - Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession — to the praise of his glory.
So if we can only be obedient by the works of the Spirit, doesn’t that guarantee our inheritance of God’s heavenly kingdom - since any obedience we have towards God’s commandments can only come from the Spirit working inside us? The answer to this question is NO. You are now probably saying to yourself – what is this double talk.
I will explain this mystery to you. It is really very simple. There are two main Spiritual fillings that happens to every born again believer. The first Spiritual filling we receive is in measure of God’s Spirit. This Spiritual filling is what allows us to become obedient and grow in faith through the gifts of the Spirit that are measured out to us by God.
When we receive this first Spirit fulfillment - we then start receiving the gifts of the Spirit in proportion to our willingness and the Father’s will. These gifts of the Spirit are what gives us the ability to grow in faith and be sanctified by God’s Spirit. If we are willing to die to our self, we will come to a full faith in Jesus by the power of the God’s Spirit inside us. When we come to this full faith, by turning all our love and dependence towards God (the Father and Jesus) – we
will then want to be totally obedient to His commandments because of this love for God. It is upon this full faith which is demonstrated through our willingness to be totally obedient that we receive another Counselor (the Holy Spirit - Jesus Spiritual nature). This Spiritual filling is permanent. See the verses below.
John 14:15-17 - "If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever— the Spirit of truth.
Only after we love Jesus and obey His commandments (which are also the Father’s commandments) does Jesus ask the Father to give us His Spirit of truth, which is Jesus’ Spirit. Jesus is the truth (the Spirit of truth) and the way. This is the second main Spiritual filling.
John 14:23-24 - Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. He who does not love me will not obey my teaching.
It is only upon this second filling that the Spirit of Jesus and the Father make a home with the believer.
It is at this second filling of the Spirit, that the seal unto eternal salvation is realized. If there is a specific point in which a person cannot loose their eternal salvation it is at this point or anytime after this second filling. Most or all of the many scriptures about falling away from the faith are referencing the times before this filling of the Holy Spirit (Jesus’ nature imparted in us).
Jesus says He is the only way to the Father. It is only after we are converted with Jesus’ very nature (the Holy Spirit) that we have access to His heavenly kingdom and will be able to see (know) the Father. Jesus’ Spirit living inside us is the key that unlocks the doors of God’s eternal kingdom.
Matt 16:19 - I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven
So to put it as plainly as I can – It is the Father’s Spirit that calls and brings us to a full saving faith in His Son and it is by the Father depositing His Son’s Spirit inside us that we are eternally saved.
Please don’t let yourselves be fooled by the teachings of scholars that have not yet entered the kingdom. These people may even have a doctorate degree in theology, but if they haven’t been given the key to God’s heavenly kingdom, it is impossible for them to teach the truth about the kingdom of God.
Luke 11:52 - Woe to you experts in the law, because you have taken away the key to knowledge. You yourselves have not entered, and you have hindered those who were entering.
God Bless - Michael Reid
God’s Word says we must be obedient and do our heavenly Father’s will to enter the kingdom of heaven. See the verse below.
Matt 7:21-27 - "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!
We must be obedient to God’s will before the Father gives us the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Acts 5:32 - We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him."
But since we are not saved by works – but by grace, how can this be true? Aren’t all good works (obedience) done by the Father’s Spirit and not of our own accord? The answer to this question is an emphatic YES. So how does any of this make sense? Doesn’t God’s Word say that we can be sure of our eternal salvation by the deposit (installment) of the Spirit? See the verse below.
Eph 1:13-14 - Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession — to the praise of his glory.
So if we can only be obedient by the works of the Spirit, doesn’t that guarantee our inheritance of God’s heavenly kingdom - since any obedience we have towards God’s commandments can only come from the Spirit working inside us? The answer to this question is NO. You are now probably saying to yourself – what is this double talk.
I will explain this mystery to you. It is really very simple. There are two main Spiritual fillings that happens to every born again believer. The first Spiritual filling we receive is in measure of God’s Spirit. This Spiritual filling is what allows us to become obedient and grow in faith through the gifts of the Spirit that are measured out to us by God.
When we receive this first Spirit fulfillment - we then start receiving the gifts of the Spirit in proportion to our willingness and the Father’s will. These gifts of the Spirit are what gives us the ability to grow in faith and be sanctified by God’s Spirit. If we are willing to die to our self, we will come to a full faith in Jesus by the power of the God’s Spirit inside us. When we come to this full faith, by turning all our love and dependence towards God (the Father and Jesus) – we
will then want to be totally obedient to His commandments because of this love for God. It is upon this full faith which is demonstrated through our willingness to be totally obedient that we receive another Counselor (the Holy Spirit - Jesus Spiritual nature). This Spiritual filling is permanent. See the verses below.
John 14:15-17 - "If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever— the Spirit of truth.
Only after we love Jesus and obey His commandments (which are also the Father’s commandments) does Jesus ask the Father to give us His Spirit of truth, which is Jesus’ Spirit. Jesus is the truth (the Spirit of truth) and the way. This is the second main Spiritual filling.
John 14:23-24 - Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. He who does not love me will not obey my teaching.
It is only upon this second filling that the Spirit of Jesus and the Father make a home with the believer.
It is at this second filling of the Spirit, that the seal unto eternal salvation is realized. If there is a specific point in which a person cannot loose their eternal salvation it is at this point or anytime after this second filling. Most or all of the many scriptures about falling away from the faith are referencing the times before this filling of the Holy Spirit (Jesus’ nature imparted in us).
Jesus says He is the only way to the Father. It is only after we are converted with Jesus’ very nature (the Holy Spirit) that we have access to His heavenly kingdom and will be able to see (know) the Father. Jesus’ Spirit living inside us is the key that unlocks the doors of God’s eternal kingdom.
Matt 16:19 - I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven
So to put it as plainly as I can – It is the Father’s Spirit that calls and brings us to a full saving faith in His Son and it is by the Father depositing His Son’s Spirit inside us that we are eternally saved.
Please don’t let yourselves be fooled by the teachings of scholars that have not yet entered the kingdom. These people may even have a doctorate degree in theology, but if they haven’t been given the key to God’s heavenly kingdom, it is impossible for them to teach the truth about the kingdom of God.
Luke 11:52 - Woe to you experts in the law, because you have taken away the key to knowledge. You yourselves have not entered, and you have hindered those who were entering.
God Bless - Michael Reid
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