...because it is one of my better posts.
From Not faith alone?
All of this is not to say that we ought to reject the sanctifying work of the Holy Ghost as He seeks to make us more like Christ, holy vessels, after we have been justified by the grace of God.
Of course we are justified, not by keeping the law perfectly, but through Christ's shed blood; which justifies us (Romans 5:9) in imputed righteousness regardless of whether we have a perfect performance or not. We have a new identity in Christ, that we are the righteousness of the Lord in Him (2 Corinthians 5:21) even if we are ungodly in our behaviour (Romans 4:5). Now go and live like your new identity (see 1 John 3:7)....wherein you are practically righteous even as Christ is righteous. This is not the catalyst for our salvation, it is the result.
Damned for having been sanctified wholly? If that is the case, then we ought to reject the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit as He attempts to accomplish that in us. And I really don't think that that is God's message.
Even if I keep the law perfectly, this does not mean that I am necessarily justified by my law-keeping.
If I have already been justified by Christ, and His Spirit within me is fulfilling the righteousness of the law within me, then that fulfilling of the law is not going to condemn me; because I am still justified by the faith of Christ.
First of all, the finished work of the Cross has to do with Jesus' shed blood...and that has the function of sanctifying the believer (Hebrews 13:12, Hebrews 10:29) and cleansing him from all sin (1 John 1:7).
Secondly, what your statements mean is that we are not supposed to attempt to gain righteousness by being obedient to a set of do's and don'ts...as believers in Christ, we come at it from a different angle:
We receive the Holy Spirit through faith (Galatians 3:14) and then we bear the fruit of the Spirit, against which there is no law (Galatians 5:22-23)...thus the righteousness of the law is fulfilled in us who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit (Romans 8:4).
It is a righteousness of God apart from the law that is nevertheless attested to by the law and the prophets (Romans 3:21) that it is righteousness indeed.
The result is apparently the same...we do not violate the law.
(actually it is not the same; because if you seek to enter into righteousness through the avenue of attempting to obey a set of do's and don'ts, you will utterly fail at what you are attempting).
But the avenue by which we reach the goal is by faith alone.
Thus, when Jewish people seek to obtain their own righteousness through the avenue of law-keeping, they are not submitting to the righteousness of God; which in all reality is by faith.
In seeking to obtain it through attempting to obey a set of do's and don'ts, they stumble at that stumbling stone.
Why? Because they see that those who are born again do not have violations of the law on their record since receiving salvation (Galatians 5:22-23)....so they assume that the way to receive salvation is to seek to obey the law.
When in reality the need is to put their faith in Jesus.
When they do, the love of God will be shed abroad in their hearts through the Holy Ghost (Romans 5:5).
And this love is not impractical (1 John 3:17-18)...it is the fulfilling of the righteousness of the law within the believer (Romans 13:8-10, Galatians 5:14, 1 John 5:3, 2 John 1:6, Romans 8:4).
It is not the end result, therefore, that is condemned by Paul...
It is the avenue by which some attempt to reach the goal (attempting to obey a set of do's and don'ts), that is truly condemned by him.
From Not faith alone?
James said that if you break just ONE Law.....you have broken them ALL....
Given it up, guys.....God has us ALL “ trapped like rats” when it comes to using our Obedience to the Law as a means to merit Salvation.....
Think you are doing pretty Good , “fit for Heaven” because you have never committed Adultery? Jesus said if you just have a Lustful Thought you are as guilty as the guy that does it .Keep EVERY Law for Decades? Break just ONE Law, just ONE time ? You may as well have broken them all.If you make it past “these” barriers .....how are you doing with those pesky” Sins Of Omission?” How-many Strangers have you invited into your homes this week to feed and clothe?
Can’t you “ get it” . Don't you smell something, “ a little Fishy” ? Like God is trying Severely to Squash ANY and ALL attempts by human beings to make it to Heaven by their Performance? Only a Fool or somebody Seriously Deceived or Blinded by Satan would think they had a chance.As I said....God has the World Trapped like rats—-You either swallow your Pride and admit that the only chance to get SaveD is to accept the GRACE off God and realize that there are only TWO THINGS that Save you and keep you Saved — CHRIST’s BLOOD and YOUR FAITH . Nothing else.Obedience is great....it will get you blessed , here on Earth and it will get you Rewards in Heaven. It WILL NOT get you Saved......always remember the Song when it comes to Salvation, because it really IS True—- “Nothing But The Blood”.....God Bless.
All of this is not to say that we ought to reject the sanctifying work of the Holy Ghost as He seeks to make us more like Christ, holy vessels, after we have been justified by the grace of God.
Therefore....even if you attain your “ Fool’s Errand” Of Sinless Perfection .....you have been Barking Up the Wrong Tree!
Of course we are justified, not by keeping the law perfectly, but through Christ's shed blood; which justifies us (Romans 5:9) in imputed righteousness regardless of whether we have a perfect performance or not. We have a new identity in Christ, that we are the righteousness of the Lord in Him (2 Corinthians 5:21) even if we are ungodly in our behaviour (Romans 4:5). Now go and live like your new identity (see 1 John 3:7)....wherein you are practically righteous even as Christ is righteous. This is not the catalyst for our salvation, it is the result.
Therefore....even if you attain your “ Fool’s Errand” Of Sinless Perfection .....you have been Barking Up the Wrong Tree! You will wind up just like the Jews that Paul said we’re damned.
Damned for having been sanctified wholly? If that is the case, then we ought to reject the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit as He attempts to accomplish that in us. And I really don't think that that is God's message.
Even if I keep the law perfectly, this does not mean that I am necessarily justified by my law-keeping.
If I have already been justified by Christ, and His Spirit within me is fulfilling the righteousness of the law within me, then that fulfilling of the law is not going to condemn me; because I am still justified by the faith of Christ.
We know they are damned because Paul said he loved these Jewish Brothers So much that he would go to Hell on their behalf if he could .Like many here, they have a Zeal for God , but not with Knowledge—- they were trying to establish “their own “ Righteousness ( by there adherence to the Law....sound familiar? ) as opposed to GOD’S ONLY WAY to obtain Righteousness ——TOTAL FAITH in the FINISHED WORK of the CROSS .....Plus NOTHING!
First of all, the finished work of the Cross has to do with Jesus' shed blood...and that has the function of sanctifying the believer (Hebrews 13:12, Hebrews 10:29) and cleansing him from all sin (1 John 1:7).
Secondly, what your statements mean is that we are not supposed to attempt to gain righteousness by being obedient to a set of do's and don'ts...as believers in Christ, we come at it from a different angle:
We receive the Holy Spirit through faith (Galatians 3:14) and then we bear the fruit of the Spirit, against which there is no law (Galatians 5:22-23)...thus the righteousness of the law is fulfilled in us who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit (Romans 8:4).
It is a righteousness of God apart from the law that is nevertheless attested to by the law and the prophets (Romans 3:21) that it is righteousness indeed.
The result is apparently the same...we do not violate the law.
(actually it is not the same; because if you seek to enter into righteousness through the avenue of attempting to obey a set of do's and don'ts, you will utterly fail at what you are attempting).
But the avenue by which we reach the goal is by faith alone.
Thus, when Jewish people seek to obtain their own righteousness through the avenue of law-keeping, they are not submitting to the righteousness of God; which in all reality is by faith.
In seeking to obtain it through attempting to obey a set of do's and don'ts, they stumble at that stumbling stone.
Why? Because they see that those who are born again do not have violations of the law on their record since receiving salvation (Galatians 5:22-23)....so they assume that the way to receive salvation is to seek to obey the law.
When in reality the need is to put their faith in Jesus.
When they do, the love of God will be shed abroad in their hearts through the Holy Ghost (Romans 5:5).
And this love is not impractical (1 John 3:17-18)...it is the fulfilling of the righteousness of the law within the believer (Romans 13:8-10, Galatians 5:14, 1 John 5:3, 2 John 1:6, Romans 8:4).
It is not the end result, therefore, that is condemned by Paul...
It is the avenue by which some attempt to reach the goal (attempting to obey a set of do's and don'ts), that is truly condemned by him.
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