You see, to be saved or to gain admission into God’s Kingdom is based on GRACE only. Man has done nothing to deserve such an opportunity and favor. Man cannot do anything to pay for such an honor, because man himself and everything that man has is owned by God; therefore what can man offer to God as a price to purchase such a great gift? Man cannot do anything as a payment to obtain such a favor, because God is the source of man’s existence. The initial part of salvation – that is, GAINING ENTRY or ADMISSION into God’s Kingdom is all by GRACE, and becomes a done deal through our faith in Christ Jesus ONLY.
This is the first step of salvation, which is achieved through the WORK of our LORD and Savior Jesus Christ.
About 2,000 years ago in the province of Galatia some false teachers and prophets called Judaizes; who are a similitude of the current day false teacher and prophet gave a different meaning to the theology of salvation by GRACE. The Judaizes taught that faith in Christ Jesus was not enough to make a believer enter into God’s Kingdom; until he is circumcised, observed the Sabbath and observed the Passover. These doctrines of the Judaizes were in contradiction to Scripture; which teaches that our righteousness that permits us to GAIN ENTRY or ADMISSION into God’s Kingdom is by faith in Christ Jesus:
1. [17] For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith (Romans 1:17).”
2. [20] Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin. [21] But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. [22] This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile (Romans 3:20-22).
You see, in Paul’s time the Judaizes were teaching people to nullify faith in Jesus Christ and gain admission into God’s kingdom through a mixture of faith in Christ Jesus and the works of laws. Therefore, the Holy Spirit directed the Apostle Paul to write to the Galatians:
1. [21] I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose (Galatians 2:21).
So our RIGHTEOUSNESS that allows us to enter or gain admission into God’s Kingdom is attained by FAITH in Christ Jesus, and not by the observance of the laws.
Hello; my brothers and sisters; I want you to understand that you cannot gain entrance into God’s Kingdom by your works or by some human effort. We only gain entrance and admission by our faith and belief in Christ Jesus.
EVERY BELIEVER HAS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF MAINTAINING THE RIGHTEOUSNESS RECEIVED FROM CHRIST JESUS
Now, after we gain admission into God’s Kingdom; do we become a new creation or we continue to live like our old nature? We become a NEW CREATION and we live a new life as children of God by being obedient to God’s Word and Commandments which are written in the Bible. We maintain our place or position in God’s Kingdom by being obedient to the Word of God. So Jesus said:
1. [33] But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well (Matthew 6:33).
Seeking righteousness - because, when we enter God’s Kingdom; it is the continual pursuing of the righteousness of God that qualifies us to maintain and keep our place and position.
2. [19] Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, [20] and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age (Matthew 28:19-20).”
Teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you; because our obedience to God’s Word is our righteousness that enables us to maintain and keep our place or position in God’s Kingdom.
3. [14] As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. [15] But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; [16] for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy (1 Peter 1:14-16).”
After we enter God’s Kingdom we remain in it through the practice of HOLINESS – which is the setting apart of oneself for the performing of God’s Word only, and nothing else.
THE FALSE TEACHERS AND PROPHETS:
The false teachers and the false prophets teach that we should continue in our old nature because we are saved by grace. That is, we should continue to live like we used to live in the world – by living comfortably in our sin; because we are saved by grace. This is the same spirit of the Judaizes in the time of Paul – to make sure we do not maintain our position or place in God’s Kingdom. The false teachers and the prophets should know that the laws in the Bible that are not relevant to the Christian are the CEREMONIAL LAWS, which are customs of the nation of Israel; like circumcision, Sabbath and observing of Passover, redemption of the first born and the rest. But all MORAL LAWS apply to us also and every other law in the New Testament.
Do not make another god, is still a sin. Do not covet is still, do not covet. Do not commit adultery, is still do not commit adultery and all of the OLD TESTAMENT.
1. [17] “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. [18] For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. [19] Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. [20] For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 5:17-20).
The false prophet and the false teacher should know that Jesus Christ did not abolish HIS Word in any part of the Bible. And until they do better than the Pharisees and the teachers of the law in the time of Jesus; they will certainly not enter nor maintain their place in God’s Kingdom.
WHAT DOES THE WORD OF GOD SAY?
My dear brothers and sisters; if you listen to these false prophets and teachers you shall fail; because this is what the Word of God says:
1. [1] What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? [2] By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? [3] Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? [4] We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life (Romans 6:1-4).
Yes, we live a new life of RIGHTEOUSNESS leading to HOLINESS; by being obedient to the Word God. No, we do not keep sinning as the false teachers and prophets are saying – that we should not obey God, because we are saved by THE GRACE OF GOD. As for us we are dead to sin – we no longer become comfortable in sin; but as soon as we sin we come to God with a repentant and a broken and contrite heart; we confess our sins and turn towards God not to return to that sin again.
You see, we ought to maintain the Righteousness that Christ Jesus imparted into us when we believed in HIM – that RIGHTEOUSNESS that allowed us to enter into God’s Kingdom – need be supported by us by obeying the Word of God, which is written in the Bible.
(TO BE CONTINUED).
About 2,000 years ago in the province of Galatia some false teachers and prophets called Judaizes; who are a similitude of the current day false teacher and prophet gave a different meaning to the theology of salvation by GRACE. The Judaizes taught that faith in Christ Jesus was not enough to make a believer enter into God’s Kingdom; until he is circumcised, observed the Sabbath and observed the Passover. These doctrines of the Judaizes were in contradiction to Scripture; which teaches that our righteousness that permits us to GAIN ENTRY or ADMISSION into God’s Kingdom is by faith in Christ Jesus:
1. [17] For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith (Romans 1:17).”
2. [20] Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin. [21] But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. [22] This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile (Romans 3:20-22).
You see, in Paul’s time the Judaizes were teaching people to nullify faith in Jesus Christ and gain admission into God’s kingdom through a mixture of faith in Christ Jesus and the works of laws. Therefore, the Holy Spirit directed the Apostle Paul to write to the Galatians:
1. [21] I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose (Galatians 2:21).
So our RIGHTEOUSNESS that allows us to enter or gain admission into God’s Kingdom is attained by FAITH in Christ Jesus, and not by the observance of the laws.
Hello; my brothers and sisters; I want you to understand that you cannot gain entrance into God’s Kingdom by your works or by some human effort. We only gain entrance and admission by our faith and belief in Christ Jesus.
EVERY BELIEVER HAS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF MAINTAINING THE RIGHTEOUSNESS RECEIVED FROM CHRIST JESUS
Now, after we gain admission into God’s Kingdom; do we become a new creation or we continue to live like our old nature? We become a NEW CREATION and we live a new life as children of God by being obedient to God’s Word and Commandments which are written in the Bible. We maintain our place or position in God’s Kingdom by being obedient to the Word of God. So Jesus said:
1. [33] But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well (Matthew 6:33).
Seeking righteousness - because, when we enter God’s Kingdom; it is the continual pursuing of the righteousness of God that qualifies us to maintain and keep our place and position.
2. [19] Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, [20] and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age (Matthew 28:19-20).”
Teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you; because our obedience to God’s Word is our righteousness that enables us to maintain and keep our place or position in God’s Kingdom.
3. [14] As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. [15] But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; [16] for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy (1 Peter 1:14-16).”
After we enter God’s Kingdom we remain in it through the practice of HOLINESS – which is the setting apart of oneself for the performing of God’s Word only, and nothing else.
THE FALSE TEACHERS AND PROPHETS:
The false teachers and the false prophets teach that we should continue in our old nature because we are saved by grace. That is, we should continue to live like we used to live in the world – by living comfortably in our sin; because we are saved by grace. This is the same spirit of the Judaizes in the time of Paul – to make sure we do not maintain our position or place in God’s Kingdom. The false teachers and the prophets should know that the laws in the Bible that are not relevant to the Christian are the CEREMONIAL LAWS, which are customs of the nation of Israel; like circumcision, Sabbath and observing of Passover, redemption of the first born and the rest. But all MORAL LAWS apply to us also and every other law in the New Testament.
Do not make another god, is still a sin. Do not covet is still, do not covet. Do not commit adultery, is still do not commit adultery and all of the OLD TESTAMENT.
1. [17] “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. [18] For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. [19] Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. [20] For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 5:17-20).
The false prophet and the false teacher should know that Jesus Christ did not abolish HIS Word in any part of the Bible. And until they do better than the Pharisees and the teachers of the law in the time of Jesus; they will certainly not enter nor maintain their place in God’s Kingdom.
WHAT DOES THE WORD OF GOD SAY?
My dear brothers and sisters; if you listen to these false prophets and teachers you shall fail; because this is what the Word of God says:
1. [1] What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? [2] By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? [3] Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? [4] We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life (Romans 6:1-4).
Yes, we live a new life of RIGHTEOUSNESS leading to HOLINESS; by being obedient to the Word God. No, we do not keep sinning as the false teachers and prophets are saying – that we should not obey God, because we are saved by THE GRACE OF GOD. As for us we are dead to sin – we no longer become comfortable in sin; but as soon as we sin we come to God with a repentant and a broken and contrite heart; we confess our sins and turn towards God not to return to that sin again.
You see, we ought to maintain the Righteousness that Christ Jesus imparted into us when we believed in HIM – that RIGHTEOUSNESS that allowed us to enter into God’s Kingdom – need be supported by us by obeying the Word of God, which is written in the Bible.
(TO BE CONTINUED).
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