When the Lord
first taught me his gospel of grace, I didn't understand the concept of me not
working to earn being upright before the Lord. I'd get angry and even exude
tirades; having worked so hard and now all of a sudden I find out there's
nothing I have to do? I was watching my husband living a life of "receiving"
and it made me furious! You mean to tell me that I've been bustin my butt
all these years for nothin?" I was so mad that I fought back against it;
even called my own husband a liar. But I thank God for extending me that grace
in order to receive the revelation. It makes me SO upset that the enemy is lying
to so many people, just like he did me...
By the grace
of God, I'll be joining forces with others who preach the gospel of grace;
which will obviously consist of responses to the many rebuttal scriptures (and
whatever else the Holy Spirit wants you to know). For now, I'll ask the same
question Paul asked the Galatians, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit as the
result of obeying the Law and doing its works, or was it by hearing
the message of the Gospel and believing it? Was it from observing a law of
rituals or from a message of faith?" Now, if I were going to say this in
my own way, it would sound a little something like this, "Once you're born again, whether you
receive the gospel of grace or not, it's still true. You're still in
right-standing, you're still upright before the Lord, and you're still
going to heaven, whether you want to believe it or not. So the only issue here
is quality of life. Do you want to walk in true freedom, or do you want to
fight to keep the pressures of trying to be perfect on your own; constantly
repenting and feeling guilty for every little thing you do?"
For it is by
free grace (God’s unmerited favor) that you are saved (delivered from
judgment and made partakers of Christ’s salvation) through [your] faith.
And this [SALVATION] is NOT of yourselves [of your own doing, it came
NOT through your own striving], but it is the gift of God; Not because of
works [not the fulfillment of the Law’s demands], lest any man should
boast. It is not the result of what anyone can possibly do, so no one can
pride himself in it or take glory to himself.
O YOU
poor and silly and thoughtless and unreflecting and senseless
Galatians! Who has fascinated or bewitched or cast a spell
over you, unto whom, right before your very eyes, Jesus Christ (the Messiah)
was openly and graphically set forth and portrayed as
crucified? Let me ask you this one question: Did you receive the Holy
Spirit as the result of obeying the Law and doing its works, or was
it by hearing [the message of the Gospel and believing it? Was it from
observing a law of rituals or from a message of faith? Are you so
foolish and so senseless and so silly? Having begun your
new life spiritually with the Holy Spirit, are you now reaching perfection
[by dependence] on the flesh? Have you suffered so many
things and experienced so much, all for nothing (to no purpose)-if it
really is to no purpose and in vain?
THIS SUMS IT
UP
Looking away [from all that will distract] to Jesus, Who is the Leader and the Source of our faith [giving the first incentive for our belief] and is also its Finisher [bringing it to maturity and perfection].
Looking away [from all that will distract] to Jesus, Who is the Leader and the Source of our faith [giving the first incentive for our belief] and is also its Finisher [bringing it to maturity and perfection].
BOTTOM LINE
Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith. He didn't start it so
that you'd have to finish it. We're self-righteous if we think we have anything
to do with our salvation or our standing with God. It's an insult to Jesus and
what he went through for us. You started out believing, when you were saved.
Why now are you trying to strive to earn it?
References
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