Reader,
Self righteousness
Dear Behold,
Like most are saying, self-righteousness is caused by anything that a person does which they believe is necessary for their salvation.
However, most do not understand what that really means.
I'll explain below.
The Old Covenant is solely based upon
man's works. In contrast, the New Covenant is solely based upon the
works of Christ.
Most will say that that they believe this statement, but in truth, they do not when you get them to answer one simple question:
If mankind's salvation is truly a gift from God and is solely based upon the works of Christ, why do most believers still say that Christ will not save everyone?
Some will say that it is because of mankind's "free will" and that not everyone will
choose to be saved. Some will also argue that some are just too evil to be saved. And I have also heard a few say that God does not want to save everyone.
However, all those arguments are completely contradicted by scripture.
Here is what scripture says:
Rom 3:10 As it is written, there is none righteous, no, not one: 11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.
Jer 18:4 And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.
Rom 8:20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, 21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.
Mankind was made spiritually marred. The flaw in mankind's spirit is that it is "weak". Because mankind's spirit is weak, it allows the flesh to govern us. This spiritual state causes mankind to be carnally minded and that is why mankind sins (subject to vanity).
Rom 8:7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
In this carnal condition, mankind
cannot be saved unless Christ intervenes
within (spiritually) mankind so that we are changed. This "change" is called
conversion. The old vessel must be destroyed so that the new vessel can be created.
Since Christ was sent by His Father to be mankind's Savior, He will do all the necessary work of converting all mankind.
1John 4:14 And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Savior of the world.
1Tim 2:3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior; 4 who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; 6 who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.
And since Christ is mankind's God, He cannot fail in this mission His Father gave him. Nothing is too difficult for Him to overcome:
Dan 4:35 And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; and he doeth according to his will in the army of the heavens, and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?
To accomplish the mission His Father gave Him, Christ established a plan to save every person who has ever lived. And since His plan does not require any "works" from mankind, nothing can stop Him.
In this age, Christ is bringing in the First Fruits (
the Elect) of His harvest of mankind. They have been chosen for this honor from the foundation of the world. They are considered blessed by God.
In the final age, Christ will bring in the remaining harvest of mankind with the help of the First Fruits (one of the purposes for them being harvested early).
To save one of the First Fruits in this age, Christ will begin His conversion process by spiritually coming to them and giving them the
Early Rain of the Spirit. The person does not ask for Christ to come nor do they give Christ their permission. Christ comes to them because He is their Creator and because of such, He has the authority and right to do as He pleases:
Job 23:13 But he is in one mind, and who can turn him? And what his soul desireth, that will he do.
In the beginning, the Elect person was made subject to vanity
without their permission, just as all mankind was. But now, because it suits God's plan and purpose, they will be made into a new creation
without their permission.
Once the Elect person has the Early Rain of the Spirit (Holy Spirit of Promise,
Eph 1:13-14), they will have a measure of faith and will make a confession of faith:
1Cor 12:3 Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Spirit.
And with the Spirit within them, they will no longer be able to reject Christ. At this point, the chosen person is "called out" and will enter the church.
This all happened because of the spiritual work of Christ within that chosen person. They did not make their confession of faith by a supposed "free will" choice to do so. They only made the choice because Christ freely gave them the Early Rain of the Spirit. They have nothing to boast about concerning their confession of faith and their salvation.
The Early Rain of the Spirit is ONLY an earnest amount (down payment) of the Spirit however. Because the Spirit is given to the chosen person in "measure", they remain carnally minded and spiritually blind
(Mark 8:21-25). And because the chosen person has no ability to know the true Christ, they are ripe for the deceptions of Satan.
CONTINUED ON THE NEXT POST...
