I have heard it said that, 'it is easier to be saved then to be lost', and I believe they are right, whoever 'they' are. The reason being that we do not have the power to do anything right without Christ, so if we allow Him to work in us 'to will and to do of His good pleasure' wouldn't it just be easier to let Him do the saving and we just cooperate with Him. That seems sensible to me.
"How is it that man will repent? Is it anything of himself? No; because the natural heart is at enmity with God. Romans 3:7. Then how can the natural heart stir itself up to repentance when it has no power to do so? What is it that brings man to repentance? It is Jesus Christ. How does He bring man to repentance? There are a thousand ways that He may do this." F&W 64
"The God of heaven is working upon human minds all the time. An invitation is given in the Word of God, and it is not only given there, but it is given by all those who believe on Jesus Christ and are revealing Christ in their characters. They may not preach a discourse; they may not come directly to a person and speak to him in regard to his condition of impenitence, yet such a one sees when brought into connection with any of the disciples of Jesus Christ that there is something there that he does not have. The Pharisees saw that there was something in the disciples that they could not interpret. They saw something wonderful and were settled in their minds that the disciples had been listening to Jesus and they had learned their lessons from Him." F&W 64 & 65.
"There are impressions that are going forth al the time. There is an atmosphere that surrounds the human soul and that atmosphere is a heavenly atmosphere or a hellish atmosphere. There are two distinct lines. Either we are on Christ's side of the question or on the enemy's side. And if we are continually drawing rays of divine light from glory, angels of God are around about us and there is an atmosphere that surrounds the human soul. Our very attitude, our very words, witness influence. "The Spirit and the Bride say, 'Come!' And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires let him take the water of life freely.'" Revelation 22:17. F&W 65.
"Now that we are branches of the Living Vine we will be nourished by the sap that flows from the Vine. It flows all the time to every branch, and every branch will bear fruit to the glory of God. "Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom." Luke 12:32. F&W 65.
Can you see that it might be easier to be saved than to be lost? When you study your Bible you can cross reference your texts and come up with lots of encouraging texts to give you faith and hope in Christ. I pray that you have been blessed. Grandma Joan
Thursday, August 31, 2017
Wednesday, August 30, 2017
What Must I Do To Be Saved? -14-
"If there is nothing more in all the Scriptures which point out definitely the way to heaven, we have it here in these words. They tell us what conversion is. They tell us what we must do in order to be saved. And, my friends, I want to tell you that this strikes directly at the root of the surface work in the religious world. It strikes directly against the idea that you can become a child of God without any particular change. There is a decided change wrought in us if the truth of God has found a place in our hearts, for it has a sanctifying power upon life and upon character. When we see the fruits of righteousness in those who claim to have advanced truth, as we claim to have it then there will b a course of action which testifies that we have learned of Christ." F&W 63 See the following verses:
John 3:1-16 "There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, 'Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God: for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.' Jesus answered and said to him, 'Most assuredly, I say to you unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.' Nicodemus said to Him, 'How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?' Jesus answered, 'Most assuredly, I say to you unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.' The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.' Nicodemus answered and said to Him, 'How can these things be? Jesus answered and said to him, 'Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things? Most assuredly, I say to you, We speak what We know and testify what We have seen, and you do not receive Our witness. If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven.' And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so, must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."
"When Christ the hope of Israel, was hung upon the cross and was lifted up as He told Nicodemus He would be, the disciples' hope died with Jesus. They could not explain the matter. They could not understand all that Christ had told them about it beforehand." F&W 63
But after the Resurrection, their hopes and faith were resurrected, and they went forth proclaiming Christ and Him crucified. They told how by wicked hands the Lord of life and glory had been taken and crucified, but He had risen from the dead. And thus with great boldness, they spoke the words of life at which the people were much astonished."F&W 63
"The Pharisees and those who heard the disciples boldly proclaimed Jesus as the Messiah interpreted it that they had been with Jesus and learned of Him. They talked just as Jesus talked. This settled it in their minds that they had learned of Jesus. How has it been with His disciples in all ages of the world? Why they have learned of Jesus; they have been in His school; they have been His students and have learned the lessons of Christ in regard to the living connection that the soul has with God. That living faith is essential for our salvation that we should lay hold upon the merits of the blood of the crucified and risen Savior, on Christ, our righteousness." F&W 64
"There seems to be a cloudy atmosphere that has gathered about the soul of man and that has shut in the mind. It is next to impossible to break through this atmosphere of doubt and unbelief. It is next to impossible to arouse his vital interests so that he may understand what he must do to be saved." F&W 64
To me, this has been a great lesson. I hope that all of you who read these lessons will look and live, and by looking at the cross where our Savior hung in agony, will turn your lives over to Him and be saved by His grace that He through His death has supplied for all. Grandma Joan
John 3:1-16 "There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, 'Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God: for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.' Jesus answered and said to him, 'Most assuredly, I say to you unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.' Nicodemus said to Him, 'How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?' Jesus answered, 'Most assuredly, I say to you unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.' The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.' Nicodemus answered and said to Him, 'How can these things be? Jesus answered and said to him, 'Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things? Most assuredly, I say to you, We speak what We know and testify what We have seen, and you do not receive Our witness. If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven.' And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so, must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."
"When Christ the hope of Israel, was hung upon the cross and was lifted up as He told Nicodemus He would be, the disciples' hope died with Jesus. They could not explain the matter. They could not understand all that Christ had told them about it beforehand." F&W 63
But after the Resurrection, their hopes and faith were resurrected, and they went forth proclaiming Christ and Him crucified. They told how by wicked hands the Lord of life and glory had been taken and crucified, but He had risen from the dead. And thus with great boldness, they spoke the words of life at which the people were much astonished."F&W 63
"The Pharisees and those who heard the disciples boldly proclaimed Jesus as the Messiah interpreted it that they had been with Jesus and learned of Him. They talked just as Jesus talked. This settled it in their minds that they had learned of Jesus. How has it been with His disciples in all ages of the world? Why they have learned of Jesus; they have been in His school; they have been His students and have learned the lessons of Christ in regard to the living connection that the soul has with God. That living faith is essential for our salvation that we should lay hold upon the merits of the blood of the crucified and risen Savior, on Christ, our righteousness." F&W 64
"There seems to be a cloudy atmosphere that has gathered about the soul of man and that has shut in the mind. It is next to impossible to break through this atmosphere of doubt and unbelief. It is next to impossible to arouse his vital interests so that he may understand what he must do to be saved." F&W 64
To me, this has been a great lesson. I hope that all of you who read these lessons will look and live, and by looking at the cross where our Savior hung in agony, will turn your lives over to Him and be saved by His grace that He through His death has supplied for all. Grandma Joan
Tuesday, August 29, 2017
Truth and Righteousness - 13 -
Matthew 5:16 "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."
Notice it doesn't say that they may see your good works, and glorify you but to glorify your Father in heaven. Our works are not to bring glory to us, all credit and glory go to God, always.
"Truth and righteousness must be presented with the love of God as it was manifested in Jesus. What purity will then be seen! What a cleansing of every moral defilement will be shown to be necessary! Then when this is done, the stubbornness of the will which has kept so many away from the light, as they behold the preciousness of the Redeemer, His mercy, and pity, will all be melted away from their souls." F&W 60
Some questions to ask ourselves: "Will there be one who will retain their stubbornness? Will there be one who will cling to his self-righteousness? Will there be one who will not catch sight of the preciousness of Christ? Is there a heart that will not be subdued by the love of Jesus? Will any retain one particle of self-esteem? Why is it that our hearts have been so insensible to the love of God? Why have we had so hard a judgment of our heavenly Father? We need to come still closer to God." F&W 60
"Then we have talked of the darkness that the evil one has cast upon us, and we have bemoaned our condition: and in so doing, we have only spread the shadow over other souls, and that which has injured us was an injury to them. As we have uttered our words of unbelief, others have been enshrouded in darkness and doubt." F&W 60
"We cannot afford to do this work. We thus put our kind heavenly Father in a false light. All this must change. We must gather up the rays of divine truth and let our light shine upon the darkened pathway of others. Heaven's light shines for those who will follow Christ, the light of the world. He says: 'He that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." John 8:12
F&W 60
"We need to drink deeper and deeper of the fountain of life. I hope that not a soul will be satisfied without making thorough work for eternity, and from this time on may it be seen, both by precept and example, that you are representatives of Christ. You may have a living testimony to bear: 'Hear what the Lord has done for my soul.' The Lord is ready to impart still greater blessings." F&W 61
This study has hit me square in the head, I'm serious. I've sort of been down and depressed because of pain and being handicapped and not able to get out much and I don't want to spread a shadow over anyone else's life, so have something to repent of, more than that too. What about you? Did this help you in any way. I sure hope so. I never want to cast any false interpretation upon what kind of character God has. I am so sorry. May God bless you with truth and the strength to follow the light. Grandma Joan
Notice it doesn't say that they may see your good works, and glorify you but to glorify your Father in heaven. Our works are not to bring glory to us, all credit and glory go to God, always.
"Truth and righteousness must be presented with the love of God as it was manifested in Jesus. What purity will then be seen! What a cleansing of every moral defilement will be shown to be necessary! Then when this is done, the stubbornness of the will which has kept so many away from the light, as they behold the preciousness of the Redeemer, His mercy, and pity, will all be melted away from their souls." F&W 60
Some questions to ask ourselves: "Will there be one who will retain their stubbornness? Will there be one who will cling to his self-righteousness? Will there be one who will not catch sight of the preciousness of Christ? Is there a heart that will not be subdued by the love of Jesus? Will any retain one particle of self-esteem? Why is it that our hearts have been so insensible to the love of God? Why have we had so hard a judgment of our heavenly Father? We need to come still closer to God." F&W 60
"Then we have talked of the darkness that the evil one has cast upon us, and we have bemoaned our condition: and in so doing, we have only spread the shadow over other souls, and that which has injured us was an injury to them. As we have uttered our words of unbelief, others have been enshrouded in darkness and doubt." F&W 60
"We cannot afford to do this work. We thus put our kind heavenly Father in a false light. All this must change. We must gather up the rays of divine truth and let our light shine upon the darkened pathway of others. Heaven's light shines for those who will follow Christ, the light of the world. He says: 'He that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." John 8:12
F&W 60
"We need to drink deeper and deeper of the fountain of life. I hope that not a soul will be satisfied without making thorough work for eternity, and from this time on may it be seen, both by precept and example, that you are representatives of Christ. You may have a living testimony to bear: 'Hear what the Lord has done for my soul.' The Lord is ready to impart still greater blessings." F&W 61
This study has hit me square in the head, I'm serious. I've sort of been down and depressed because of pain and being handicapped and not able to get out much and I don't want to spread a shadow over anyone else's life, so have something to repent of, more than that too. What about you? Did this help you in any way. I sure hope so. I never want to cast any false interpretation upon what kind of character God has. I am so sorry. May God bless you with truth and the strength to follow the light. Grandma Joan
Monday, August 28, 2017
How To Tell If God Is Leading - 12 -
Isaiah 8:20 "To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them." F&W 55
This is how you tell if the doctrine you are hearing is truth or error. A very simple way to check up on what you are hearing or what you are reading or what is being acted out in front of you. If it is not according to the word of God, it is because there is no light in them.
"If it stirs up the enmity of the human heart when the Lord, the great Jehovah, is mentioned, you may know the person has no connection with God.....Now when Christ shall call forth the dead, it depends wholly upon your course of action whether you have a resurrection to life eternal or a resurrection to damnation. Thus they get these truths all mixed with error, and they cannot tell what is truth; and if asked to sit down and search the Scriptures with you to see what saith the Lord. I never knew a case but the answer was that they had no need to search the Scriptures, for the Lord told them what to do."
F&W55
"The voice of God is speaking to us through His Word, and there are many voices that we will hear but Christ has said we should beware of them who will say, 'Here is Christ or there is Christ.' Then how shall we know that they have not the truth unless we bring everything to the Scriptures? Christ has warned us to beware of false prophets who will come to us in His name, saying that they are Christ. Now if you should take the position that it is not important for you to understand the Scriptures for yourselves, you will be in danger of being led away with their doctrines. Christ has said that there will be a company who in the day of retributive judgment will say, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy name? and in Thy name have cast out devils? and in Thy name done many wonderful works?' But Christ will say, 'Depart from Me, ye that work iniquity'. Matthew 7:22,23 F&W 55
"The time is coming when Satan will work miracles right in your sight, claiming that he is Christ; and if your feet are not firmly established upon the truth of God, then you will be led away from your foundation. The only safety for you is to search for the truth as for hidden treasures. Dig for the truth as you would for treasures in the earth, and present the word of God, the Bible, before your heavenly Father, and say, 'Enlighten me; teach me what is truth." F&W 56
"And when His Holy Spirit shall come into your hearts, to impress the truth into your souls, you will not let go easily. You have gained such an experience in searching the Scriptures that every point is established. And it is important that you continually search the Scriptures. You should store the mind with the Word of God; for you may be separated and placed where you will not have the privilege of meeting with the children of God. Then you will want the treasures of God's Word hidden in your hearts, and when opposition comes around you, you will need to bring everything to the Scriptures." F&W 57
This is what I gained from this study. There are many voices out there and many strange doctrines that are false, but we don't have to fear because we can test everything 'to the law and to the testimony and if they don't speak according to this Word, there is no light in them. Also if we search the Scriptures daily and try to memorize as much as we are capable we will know what we believe and be able to stand up for God and His Word. Very enlightening. Grandma Joan
This is how you tell if the doctrine you are hearing is truth or error. A very simple way to check up on what you are hearing or what you are reading or what is being acted out in front of you. If it is not according to the word of God, it is because there is no light in them.
"If it stirs up the enmity of the human heart when the Lord, the great Jehovah, is mentioned, you may know the person has no connection with God.....Now when Christ shall call forth the dead, it depends wholly upon your course of action whether you have a resurrection to life eternal or a resurrection to damnation. Thus they get these truths all mixed with error, and they cannot tell what is truth; and if asked to sit down and search the Scriptures with you to see what saith the Lord. I never knew a case but the answer was that they had no need to search the Scriptures, for the Lord told them what to do."
F&W55
"The voice of God is speaking to us through His Word, and there are many voices that we will hear but Christ has said we should beware of them who will say, 'Here is Christ or there is Christ.' Then how shall we know that they have not the truth unless we bring everything to the Scriptures? Christ has warned us to beware of false prophets who will come to us in His name, saying that they are Christ. Now if you should take the position that it is not important for you to understand the Scriptures for yourselves, you will be in danger of being led away with their doctrines. Christ has said that there will be a company who in the day of retributive judgment will say, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy name? and in Thy name have cast out devils? and in Thy name done many wonderful works?' But Christ will say, 'Depart from Me, ye that work iniquity'. Matthew 7:22,23 F&W 55
"The time is coming when Satan will work miracles right in your sight, claiming that he is Christ; and if your feet are not firmly established upon the truth of God, then you will be led away from your foundation. The only safety for you is to search for the truth as for hidden treasures. Dig for the truth as you would for treasures in the earth, and present the word of God, the Bible, before your heavenly Father, and say, 'Enlighten me; teach me what is truth." F&W 56
"And when His Holy Spirit shall come into your hearts, to impress the truth into your souls, you will not let go easily. You have gained such an experience in searching the Scriptures that every point is established. And it is important that you continually search the Scriptures. You should store the mind with the Word of God; for you may be separated and placed where you will not have the privilege of meeting with the children of God. Then you will want the treasures of God's Word hidden in your hearts, and when opposition comes around you, you will need to bring everything to the Scriptures." F&W 57
This is what I gained from this study. There are many voices out there and many strange doctrines that are false, but we don't have to fear because we can test everything 'to the law and to the testimony and if they don't speak according to this Word, there is no light in them. Also if we search the Scriptures daily and try to memorize as much as we are capable we will know what we believe and be able to stand up for God and His Word. Very enlightening. Grandma Joan
Sunday, August 27, 2017
Counterfeit Sanctification-11 -
"Counterfeit sanctification has its origin in will-worship rather in submission to the will of God. The error is fast flooding the world. This error is fast flooding the world, and as God's witnesses, we shall be called to bear a decided testimony against it. It is one of the veriest delusions of the last days and will prove a temptation to all who believe the present truth. Those who have not their faith firmly established upon the Word of God will be misled. And the saddest part of it all is that so few who are deceived by this error ever find their way to the light again." F&W51
"The Bible is the standard by which to test the claims of all who profess sanctification. Jesus prayed that His disciples might be sanctified through the truth, and He says, 'Thy Word is the truth, John 17:17.
while the Psalmist says, 'Thy law is the truth', Psalm 119:142. All whom God is leading will manifest a high regard for the Scriptures in which His voice is heard. The Bible will be to them 'Profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works', 2 Timothy 3:16. 'Ye shall know them by their fruits" Matthew 7:16." F&W 51
"We need no other evidence in order to judge of men's sanctification; if they are fearful lest they shall not obey the whole will of God, if they are listening diligently to His voice, trusting His wisdom, and making His Word the man of their counsel, then, while they make no boasts of superior goodness, we may be sure that they are seeking to attain to perfection of Christian character. But if the claimants of holiness even intimate that they are no longer required to search the Scriptures, we need not hesitate to pronounce their sanctification spurious. They are leaning to their own understanding instead of conforming to the will of God." F&W 51,52
1 John 2:4 "He that saith, I know Him, and keepeth not His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him."
"Spurious sanctification leads directly away from the Bible. Religion is reduced to a fable. Feelings and impressions are made the criterion. While they profess to be sinless and boast of their righteousness, the claimants of sanctification teach that men are at liberty to transgress the law of God and that those who obey its precepts have fallen from grace. A presentation of its claims arouses their opposition and excites anger and contempt. Thus their character is shown, for 'the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be." Romans 8:7. F&W 53
I want to comment on 'will worship' which is mentioned in the first paragraph. I often wondered what was meant by 'will worship' and I think I finally understand it. Instead of worshiping God and doing His will, we do our own will and worship our will. Does that sound right? That's what I get out of it.
"The true follower of Christ will make no boastful claims to holiness. It is by the law of God that the sinner is convicted. He sees his own sinfulness in contrast with the perfect righteousness which it enjoins, and this leads him to humility and repentance. He becomes reconciled to God through the blood of Christ, and as he continues to walk with Him he will be gaining a clearer sense of the holiness of God's character and the far-reaching nature of His requirements. He will see more clearly his own defects and will feel the need of continual repentance and faith in the blood of Christ." F&W
53,54
Here's how we succeed!
"He who bears with him a continual sense of the presence of Christ cannot indulge self-confidence or self-righteousness. None of the prophets or apostles made proud boasts of holiness. The nearer they came to perfection of character, the less worthy and righteous they viewed themselves." F&W 54
I read another quote somewhere, I believe it was in 'Christ's Object Lessons' that we can tell when we are drawing close to Jesus because the nearer to Him we become, the worse we look to ourselves. Thats because we become humble and teachable in His presence. Let us all draw near to Him and let Him teach us His path that He wants us to walk in. Grandma Joan
"The Bible is the standard by which to test the claims of all who profess sanctification. Jesus prayed that His disciples might be sanctified through the truth, and He says, 'Thy Word is the truth, John 17:17.
while the Psalmist says, 'Thy law is the truth', Psalm 119:142. All whom God is leading will manifest a high regard for the Scriptures in which His voice is heard. The Bible will be to them 'Profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works', 2 Timothy 3:16. 'Ye shall know them by their fruits" Matthew 7:16." F&W 51
"We need no other evidence in order to judge of men's sanctification; if they are fearful lest they shall not obey the whole will of God, if they are listening diligently to His voice, trusting His wisdom, and making His Word the man of their counsel, then, while they make no boasts of superior goodness, we may be sure that they are seeking to attain to perfection of Christian character. But if the claimants of holiness even intimate that they are no longer required to search the Scriptures, we need not hesitate to pronounce their sanctification spurious. They are leaning to their own understanding instead of conforming to the will of God." F&W 51,52
1 John 2:4 "He that saith, I know Him, and keepeth not His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him."
"Spurious sanctification leads directly away from the Bible. Religion is reduced to a fable. Feelings and impressions are made the criterion. While they profess to be sinless and boast of their righteousness, the claimants of sanctification teach that men are at liberty to transgress the law of God and that those who obey its precepts have fallen from grace. A presentation of its claims arouses their opposition and excites anger and contempt. Thus their character is shown, for 'the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be." Romans 8:7. F&W 53
I want to comment on 'will worship' which is mentioned in the first paragraph. I often wondered what was meant by 'will worship' and I think I finally understand it. Instead of worshiping God and doing His will, we do our own will and worship our will. Does that sound right? That's what I get out of it.
"The true follower of Christ will make no boastful claims to holiness. It is by the law of God that the sinner is convicted. He sees his own sinfulness in contrast with the perfect righteousness which it enjoins, and this leads him to humility and repentance. He becomes reconciled to God through the blood of Christ, and as he continues to walk with Him he will be gaining a clearer sense of the holiness of God's character and the far-reaching nature of His requirements. He will see more clearly his own defects and will feel the need of continual repentance and faith in the blood of Christ." F&W
53,54
Here's how we succeed!
"He who bears with him a continual sense of the presence of Christ cannot indulge self-confidence or self-righteousness. None of the prophets or apostles made proud boasts of holiness. The nearer they came to perfection of character, the less worthy and righteous they viewed themselves." F&W 54
I read another quote somewhere, I believe it was in 'Christ's Object Lessons' that we can tell when we are drawing close to Jesus because the nearer to Him we become, the worse we look to ourselves. Thats because we become humble and teachable in His presence. Let us all draw near to Him and let Him teach us His path that He wants us to walk in. Grandma Joan
Saturday, August 26, 2017
Faith & Works - 10 -
Hebrews 11:6 "Without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him."
"There are many in the Christian world who claim that all that is necessary to salvation is to have faith; works are nothing, faith is the only essential. But God's Word tells us that faith without works is dead, being alone. Many refuse to obey God's commandments, yet they make a great deal of faith. But faith must have a foundation." F&W 47
"God's promises are all made upon conditions. If we do His will, if we walk in truth, then we may ask what we will, and it shall be done unto us. While we earnestly endeavor to be obedient. God will hear our petitions, but He will not bless us in disobedience. If we choose to disobey His commandments, we may cry, 'Faith, faith, only have faith,' and the response will come back from the sure Word of God, 'Faith without works is dead' James 2:20. Such faith will only be as sounding brass and as a tinkling cymbal. In order to have the benefits of God's grace, we must do our part; we must faithfully work and bring forth fruits meet for repentance." F&W 47
We are not to sit around and do nothing. Our work is to do the things that lie in front of us, even the little things. If Christ is living in us we will know what He has for us to do. In order for Him to live within us we must confess our sins daily if you don't know what they are, ask Him to show you and after we confess them we are to repent of them in sorrow that we have hurt the One who can save us. He will live within us and direct our paths every day if we choose to let Him. We must surrender our lives to Him, everything we are, every thing we do and even our thoughts. It is not an easy thing to do because we are set in our worldly ways it is hard to give them up, our temper, our pride anything that dishonors God. He cannot live in a temple that harbors sin and our bodies are His temple. He has promised to forgive us when we confess them and repent of them. Keep striving to do this so that He can abide in you and direct your lives to His paths and you will have happiness just knowing that you are letting Him live within you.
"Faith and works will keep us evenly balanced and make us successful in the work of perfecting Christian character. Jesus says, 'Not every one that saith unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that does the will of My Father which is in heaven.' Speaking of temporal food, the apostle said, 'For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat'. The same rule applies to our spiritual nourishment; if any would have the bread of eternal life, let him make efforts to obtain it." F&W 49
"There is no excuse for sin or for indolence. Jesus has led the way, and He wishes us to follow in His steps. He has suffered, He has sacrificed as none of us can, that He might bring salvation within our reach. We need not be discouraged. Jesus came to our world to bring divine power to man, that through His grace, we might be transformed into His likeness." F&W 49,50
When it is in the heart to obey God, when efforts are put forth to this end, Jesus accepts this disposition and effort as man's best service, and He makes up for the deficiency with His own divine merit But He will not accept those who claim to have faith in Him and yet are disloyal to His Father's commandment. We hear a great deal about faith, but we need to hear a great deal more about works Many are deceiving their own souls by living an easy-going, accommodating, crossless religion." F&W 50
Matthew 16:24 "If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me."
Denying self could be a heavy cross that we must take up to follow Jesus. While there are other crosses, the heaviest will probably be the one of denying self, selfish pride.
Micah 6:8 "He has shown you O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." Grandma Joan
"There are many in the Christian world who claim that all that is necessary to salvation is to have faith; works are nothing, faith is the only essential. But God's Word tells us that faith without works is dead, being alone. Many refuse to obey God's commandments, yet they make a great deal of faith. But faith must have a foundation." F&W 47
"God's promises are all made upon conditions. If we do His will, if we walk in truth, then we may ask what we will, and it shall be done unto us. While we earnestly endeavor to be obedient. God will hear our petitions, but He will not bless us in disobedience. If we choose to disobey His commandments, we may cry, 'Faith, faith, only have faith,' and the response will come back from the sure Word of God, 'Faith without works is dead' James 2:20. Such faith will only be as sounding brass and as a tinkling cymbal. In order to have the benefits of God's grace, we must do our part; we must faithfully work and bring forth fruits meet for repentance." F&W 47
We are not to sit around and do nothing. Our work is to do the things that lie in front of us, even the little things. If Christ is living in us we will know what He has for us to do. In order for Him to live within us we must confess our sins daily if you don't know what they are, ask Him to show you and after we confess them we are to repent of them in sorrow that we have hurt the One who can save us. He will live within us and direct our paths every day if we choose to let Him. We must surrender our lives to Him, everything we are, every thing we do and even our thoughts. It is not an easy thing to do because we are set in our worldly ways it is hard to give them up, our temper, our pride anything that dishonors God. He cannot live in a temple that harbors sin and our bodies are His temple. He has promised to forgive us when we confess them and repent of them. Keep striving to do this so that He can abide in you and direct your lives to His paths and you will have happiness just knowing that you are letting Him live within you.
"Faith and works will keep us evenly balanced and make us successful in the work of perfecting Christian character. Jesus says, 'Not every one that saith unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that does the will of My Father which is in heaven.' Speaking of temporal food, the apostle said, 'For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat'. The same rule applies to our spiritual nourishment; if any would have the bread of eternal life, let him make efforts to obtain it." F&W 49
"There is no excuse for sin or for indolence. Jesus has led the way, and He wishes us to follow in His steps. He has suffered, He has sacrificed as none of us can, that He might bring salvation within our reach. We need not be discouraged. Jesus came to our world to bring divine power to man, that through His grace, we might be transformed into His likeness." F&W 49,50
When it is in the heart to obey God, when efforts are put forth to this end, Jesus accepts this disposition and effort as man's best service, and He makes up for the deficiency with His own divine merit But He will not accept those who claim to have faith in Him and yet are disloyal to His Father's commandment. We hear a great deal about faith, but we need to hear a great deal more about works Many are deceiving their own souls by living an easy-going, accommodating, crossless religion." F&W 50
Matthew 16:24 "If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me."
Denying self could be a heavy cross that we must take up to follow Jesus. While there are other crosses, the heaviest will probably be the one of denying self, selfish pride.
Micah 6:8 "He has shown you O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." Grandma Joan
If There Ever Was A Time - 9 -
If there ever was a time in history that we need faith and enlightenment, it is now. Times are not looking very good for the world and even our wonderful America. We need to be thinking about our spiritual destiny and what happens to us. We already studied about two classes of people and their destiny, which class do we want to be in. Please, please study it out for yourselves and take the time to draw close to your maker and repent of your past and spend time in prayer so you will be in the right class of people when Christ returns to take all of us home. Please be ready!!
"Those who are watching unto prayer and are searching the Scriptures daily with an earnest desire to know and do the will of God will not be led astray by any of the deceptions of Satan. They alone will discern the pretext which cunning men adopt to beguile and ensnare. So much time and attention are bestowed upon the world, upon dress and eating and drinking, that no time is left for prayer and the study of the Scriptures." F&W 45
"We want the truth on every point, and we must search for it as for hid treasures. Dishes of fables are presented to us on every hand, and men choose to believe error rather than truth because the acceptance of the truth involves a cross. Self must be denied; self must be crucified. Therefore Satan presents to them an easier way by making void the law of God. When God lets man have his own way, it is the darkest hour of his life.....But Satan has his agents who are too proud to repent and who are constantly at work to tear down the cause of Jehovah and trample it under their feet. What a day of sorrow and despair when these meet their work with all its burden of results! Christ died for them that they might have life. He opened before them the way whereby they might, through His merits, keep the law of God. Christ says, 'I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it.' Revelation 3:8. How hard men work to close that door; but they are not able, John's testimony is, 'And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in His temple the ark of His testament' Revelation 11:19. Beneath the mercy seat, within the ark, were the two tables of stone, containing the law of Jehovah. God's faithful ones saw the light shone forth to them from the law, to be given to the world. And now Satan's intense activity is to close that door of light; but Jesus says that no man can shut it Men will turn from the light denounce it and despise it, but it still shines forth in clear, distinct rays to cheer and bless all who will see it." F&W 45,46
I am sure that everyone who is studying these lessons wants to be on Christ's side, I know I do and I know that times might be tough for us but the reward is greater than any of us can imagine, so let's hang on to truth and share with as many as will listen and help them prepare for heaven too. A lot of people think we are going to sit on a cloud and play a harp but Christ has told us that He went back to heaven and is preparing mansions for us and it describes all this in Revelation. Look it up and read it, it is something you will not want to miss out on. Grandma Joan
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)