Things New and Old

Ancient truths revealed in the Scriptures are often forgotten, disbelieved or distorted, and therefore lost in the passage of time. Such ancient truths when rediscovered and relearned are 'new' additions to the treasury of ancient truths.

Christ showed many new things to the disciples, things prophesied by the prophets of old but hijacked and perverted by the elders and their traditions, but which Christ reclaimed and returned to His people.

Many things taught by the Apostles of Christ have been perverted or substituted over the centuries. Such fundamental doctrines like salvation by grace and justification have been hijacked and perverted and repudiated by sincere Christians. These doctrines need to be reclaimed and restored to God's people.

There are things both new and old here. "Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things"
2Ti 2:7.

Friday, August 6, 2021

A Momentous Message Mindlessly Mangled!

 

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A Momentous Message Mindlessly Mangled!

"For by grace are ye saved, through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." Eph. 2:8-9

This is such a glorious Scriptures declaring the grand truth of the gospel of grace!

The gift spoken of is salvation, which is by grace through faith.

'By grace' declares of the MANNER the gift is bestowed by God, i.e. freely, without any condition whatsoever.

'Through faith' states the BASIS or GROUND of that salvation, i.e. through the fidelity or the faithfulness of Jesus Christ in the work of redemption.

Take it any other way, that salvation would be by works of some sorts, and man has some good reason to boast.

Popular fable 1:
'Faith' speaks of the gift of God to the dead in trespasses and sins.
- They attribute stupidity to God... that He would even give the gift of faith to the dead in trespasses and sins!
- Maybe they give gifts to the dead too, expecting the dead to benefit from them!

Popular fable 2:
The dead in trespasses and sins are able to utilize the gift of faith to them, i.e. the spiritually dead can believe in order to be saved.
- So, their salvation is through their work of utilizing this gift.

Popular fable 3:
The dead in trespasses and sins utilize the gift of faith to believe in order to be saved are NOT work. They insisted the dead must do something to be saved!
- If they don't utilize the faith, there is no salvation for them!
- So their work of utilizing the gift is the determining factor in their salvation! But it is insisted that it is still by grace, and not of works!
- How weird! They insist there must be works but deny works are involved in the same breath!!! How confused and self-deceived!

Popular fable 4:
The dead in trespasses and sins cannot utilize faith in a vacuum.
- They need the preachers to do the works of preaching the gospel to them. Faith comes by hearing... hearing is work just as much as preaching the word is work!
- How weird! They insist there must be works but deny works are involved!!! How confused and self-deceived!

Ro 11:6 And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.

Why is it so hard for those whom God HAS SAVED by His grace alone to confess and acknowledge that they have been saved by grace alone? Why do you need to sneak in their works somewhere into the equation of their salvation?

Works are activities of the living; works of righteousness like believing and preaching are activities of those whom God has saved, i.e. effectually called out of their native state of sin and death to that of grace and salvation!

Works of righteousness are the effects of salvation by grace; they are not the means unto salvation.

Rom 3
21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;
22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

Sins brought condemnation and death.
Righteousness secures justification and life.
No righteousness, no justification nor life!

That righteousness is secured either through your own obedience to the law or through Christ's obedience to the law. It is either the righteousness of God's provision or the righteousness of your own provision!

The righteousness of God's provision is through the PISTIS - FIDELITY / FAITHFULNESS of Christ in His work of redemption.

All are plainly stated in the Scriptures above!!!

See the intimate connection between: "For by grace are ye saved, through faith" and "being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus"?

Justification by God's grace [i.e not by your faith! that's a horrid lie from hell!] is the FIRST divine activity in the application of eternal salvation to an elect...

Justification by God removes condemnation, giving divine warrant for the Spirit to regenerate the one to whom God has applied the righteousness of Christ. One whom the Spirit regenerates, the Father adopts!

The effectual calling of an elect out of his native state of sin and death to that of grace and salvation requires these divine activities... in these NUMBER and LOGICAL ORDER (though chronologically simultaneous) because the effectual call is instantaneous by the direct and immediate act of God without any means.
- justification by the grace of God to deal with condemnation. (This is distinct from justification by the blood of Christ at the cross, and justification by the believer's faith at conversion) 
- regeneration by the Spirit of God to deal with death!
- adoption into the family of God, giving access to all the rights and privileges belonging to the sons of God.

When effectually called, an elect is perfectly fit for eternal glory.
The gospel ministry is ordained for God's children, i.e. those already born of God; it is essential for their temporal well being as God's child while he journeys through this world to his eternaal inheritance.