While I don’t believe everything Pastor Alan Balou believes, I do believe he is extremely gifted at teaching Sanctification and faith. It will help you to see where I am coming from.
Check out one of my favorite videos by him here:
for me all the arguing and debating over salvation through Faith, and the works of that Faith…become moot and void, a waste of time if…Salvation through Faith has nothing to do with seeking after our own, but instead comes through another.
In the beginning of the video he brought up Christ …saying yes he died that we may have life … “but that is not our instruction”
Disagree.
Why? Because while we were (yet) weak and without strength, he became weak that we be made strong. That is exactly what Paul taught by the example(instruction) of Christ. To me, Paul lays this out in the passage about “do no wrong” “do what is right” even though I appear to you as a reprobate. To me, this is laid out instruction on what the video goes on to talk about “Charity”. To me, Paul could have spent useless time debating his faith, debating his salvation but knew Salvation was a Gift from God. “Deliver us from evil.” That debated “Salvation” that “deliverance”, the Power of God working
through “Faith” “the good fight” … “(the Spirit of God)works mighty towards you. In deliverance from the appearance of all evil. the Salvation
“that comes” through and by Faith in the Son. Consider when Paul is urging them to depart from evil, to do what is right …He says “I trust you will see we are not reprobate (unapproved)”.
Consider the magnitude of “deliver us from evil” in the face of evil, what Salvation and deliverance works God, through Faith in Christ. to me Paul demonstrates “Faith” in Christ, is towards
Them…that “
they” have the opportunity “to do what is right” even though he may appear weak. Not that he is weak, but instead Gods’ power and His alone works,
Mightily towards them. (To me this is
seen in
2 Corinthians 4:12 So then death (crucified with Him) works in us, but life (quickening, giving) in you.
So what “Salvation” what “deliverance from evil” is Paul trusting in Christ for? THEIRS. (At least in my opinion) the substance and Hope of things not (yet) seen Hebrews 11:1…what is hoped for? …is Christ In Them. (Or at least in my opinion.)
Do no wrong” “do what is right” “Fear God” “depart from evil” …who gives this “deliverance” and “Salvation” from and out from the enemy…isn’t this “the Good Fight” , where He who is patient (the Fruit is Spirit of God) waits for the precious fruit. Receiving the end of your Faith? Would that precious Fruit be
their doing no wrong.
their Doing what is right? Is “Salvation” “Deliverance” from evil doing being asked of God, sincerely and not in vain, by Paul praying they “do what is right.” What stops by the Saving Power of Christ in the face of evil? from what surely hurts, what surely to the flesh felt weak but God is Willing “A Gift” from Him… deliver (Save) us from evil.
the video mentions: we have instructions to do all He commanded. yes but How does one fulfill the whole law…through Faith? For the Joy set before Him(Christ), He endured such a contradiction of sinners.
Disagree with how the video goes into:
I finished the race
I kept the Faith
For me, laid up is a crown of righteousness for me.
I don’t disagree with the word, but disagree with how it is perceived or accentuated as if … I, I, me …striving to grasp what can’t be grasped except through Faith
unto obedience. speaking of the crown of righteousness…Paul said to them “you are my crown” the Lord will give to me. Wow. (Imo) it lines up with “whatever you ask for in My name, the Father will give it.”
would the Father give “
through (entering in through the vail, as an anchor)by Faith in Christ” what Paul prayed for? Deliverance from evil, Salvation…which he said was weak in Paul, but worked mightily to “save” “deliver” towards them. A work of Love, Imo. Not only do they get afforded the opportunity to “depart from doing evil” …Paul gets to be delivered, saved from evil by God giving their departing from evil. Paul wins, Imo. getting a taste of the Fruit of God “Salvation” from the workings of evil doing. But (again just an opinion) there is no way Paul could do or bear anything In pleading with them to depart from evil doing, affording them an opportunity to do so …unless God be for him and with him. Because Paul had no power, being weak …voicing over and over it was the mighty power of God working through Faith, always towards them.
the video mentions not shrinking back into perdition, but believe to the “saving” of our souls… again that is what I see displayed in no shrinking back in the face of evil, but Faith working to the saving of our souls …do what is right in the sight of God, do no wrong, it is God’s Will that you bring forth Fruit. “To the saving of our souls” is weak in the flesh, but the Spirit works mightily “towards you.” Philippians 1:28-30 And
in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation,
and that of God. [29] For unto you it is given
in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer
for his sake; [30] Having the same conflict which you saw in me, and now hear to be in me.
having a good conscience was brought up in the video. ^see above. Baptism of the Spirit ^also see above.
So to me, Salvation is not something that can be lost. It is given. For example, “I was delivered out of the mouth of a lion.” Given, mightily is the power and workings of Gods “deliverance” out from the Lions mouth. We debate “salvation”
And “deliverance” lost
Or “crown of righteousness” lost
But “what I’ve entrust to God he will keep”
It was “them” entrusted…
And how can deliverance or salvation from evil be lost …if God chooses to show up…
Choose the time is now for the destruction of all evil…for instance when Paul was praying they be made perfect, that they depart from doing evil…If God grants or “Freely Gives” that which Paul is seeking …that they do what is right in the sight of God, therefore they depart from evil doings and the Fruit of God is made manifest —through the evil doings they are being called to stop doing, and by their doing what is right …”You don’t want to be found fighting against God. For if this Work be of God then nothing can overthrow it.
Salvation” “deliverance from all evil workings”
is given through and by Faith in God. There would be nothing to argue over or nothing to scorn each other over if …that “salvation” or “delivering” Comes through others departing from evil, not by our own doing but God working mighty through and by Faith, therefore God has did what He said He would do…taste and see that I am good
and we pray, standing by Faith in the Son, holding forth the message of Life in the Son; “God deliver us from (all) evil”.
