Salvation By Grace, Or By Works?

There are different beliefs among Christian denominations as to how salvation is obtained. I remember hearing Paul Washer, one who is affiliated with the Baptist doctrines, and you might remember me posting a video here where he is speaking to a large audience of youngsters, labeled as a *shocking* message - he (Paul Washer) preaches that salvation is obtained not through works, but through grace and grace alone, and when acknowledging that, we act upon that acceptance or acknowledgment. So, it's not so much works that will save us, but our works will show that we have accepted God's grace and the forgiveness of our sins to go forward and do as Jesus taught us, to sin no more.

Sanctification also has an element of grace, because through sanctification which is based for the most part on works, is being guided by the Holy Spirit, this can be attested to by the writings of the Apostle Paul in Romans 8:26 -

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.

Did you ever think that sometimes you are too weak to handle life's battles on your own?

Part of sanctification is manifested through prayer to our heavenly Father, so that we might persevere in all things according to His plan and will for our lives. God guarantees good as a result of doing what He asks. That is why, since we are in the flesh, and the flesh wars against us, we need assistance in every area of life, and that comes through the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Grace (God's Love) is sufficient to cover our sins, but we have to be willing to not just observe grace, but to act upon that grace in order to be justifiable and glorified in Christ Jesus. As Christians we assess the present in the light of the future assurance of future happiness, as our love for God is evoked by knowledge of His love for us.

So, if someone has said that they are a "Christian," but when we look at their life and it doesn't model God's commandments, or Christ's example, are they still under grace?

Spiritual Milk

In 1 Corinthians Paul makes reference to spiritual milk in his address to those at the Church of Corinth-

1 Corinthians 3:2 - I fed you with milk,not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready, for you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way?

As I understand it, the Corinthians had received the knowledge of what the Spiritual nature if about, but were not acting in accordance with the Spirit.

So, I have a couple questions -

1. Had the Corinthians not yet received the Holy Spirit?

Or,

2. Was Paul in a sense, acting as mediator between the people and God? Did he have this same authority that we understand Jesus as being the only One who has this authority?

Feel free to explain...

Less Faith Becoming More Common In America

HARTFORD, CT - A new report finds that American adults who claim no religious affiliation increased from 14 million in 1990 to 34 million in 2008.
Read the full story... Credits go to OneNewsNow.Com - Your News Right Now.

Now, while the report says that there is less "religious affiliation" we need to first understand that religion itself is not faith, and is a great deal of the problem we are seeing today. The Church has failed to deliver the true message of Christ to the people...keep in mind, I am not saying that most churches or pastors, ministers are failing in this endeavor, but that many of today's mega-churches with extra large numbers in attendance, are bringing messages which do more to satisfy the sensibilities of human desires ... such as: "Oh you are a good person," and "believe in yourself" etc, which does much to rob the true message of Christ and the Church, which states that we are sinners in need of a Savior, and whatever sin that we may have in our life, we need to get it out and start living according to God's Will for our lives.

Why are people being more skeptical of having faith in God? Well, there are a lot of lies being spread in our government-run, public schools, and those lies have been disseminated across the country in our public schools for 46 years. So there are millions upon millions of folks today since the starting point of atheism in our schools who have no knowledge of the truth, because it has been effectively forced out of the debate through the preaching of tolerance...and this is what happens when the tolerance of diversity, which leads to polytheism (the worship of many gods), which leads to confusion and eventually mayhem and anarchy.

Although the report may say that the majority of those without any religious affiliation are non-antagonistic toward religion, any reported findings like that will inevitably prove a great deal of reluctance on the part of the individual/individuals to share their true feelings regarding the matter, and it is my contention that they are hostile to most religions, the faith of Christianity in particular. Why? Because of the reasons I mentioned, seeing how the majority of people have learned from the atheistic school system for the past 46 years.

Something must be done about our public schools. The atheism must go. It must be permeated from the learning process for all those concerned.

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Homosexuals Permitted Into Lutheran Clergy

MINNEAPOLIS - Even though the Rev. Mark Chavez believes the leaders of his church made a decision in direct contradiction of the Bible by lifting a ban on sexually active, monogamous gays and lesbians as clergy, he said he's staying with the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America.

"I'm not leaving," Chavez said Friday night, promising an effort to keep the church moving even further toward what he sees as an embrace of behavior condemned by Scripture.

Chavez, of Landisville, Pa., is director of Lutheran CORE, a conservative group within the ELCA that fought the homosexual clergy policy. The group will hold a convention in Indianapolis in September to review its next steps, but Chavez said he thinks some ELCA clergy, congregations and individual members will walk away from the nation's largest Lutheran denomination.

Read the full story... Credits go to OneNewsNow.Com - Your Source For News Right Now.

Rev. Mark Chavez is right. This will only further hurt the already big split in the Lutheran and Episcopal Orthodox Churches/mainline denominations by allowing homosexuals into the clergy of the ministry.

Scripture is clear on this issue:

1 Corinthians 6:9-10 "Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God."

That makes it absolutely clear with certainty.

God working through the apostle Paul, a minister and messenger for Jesus Christ said that for those who reject God's authority and the warnings set forth in His righteous Word that He would turn them over to a reprobate mind. Three times it is written: He gave them up.

Romans 1:24-28 "Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hears to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen. For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with mena nd receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error. And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done."

This is what happens you see, God puts before us a test to see whether or not we will accept or reject His plan for our life, and when we do not choose to follow His plan for our life, but instead, do things our own way, we have effectually failed the test, God's test and therefore, He rejects us and turns away His loving restraint that He places upon our hearts.

2 Peter also give us some incite into what will be the fate of such wicked desires and practices.

2 Peter 2:4-10 "For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to chains of gloomy darkness to be kept until the judgment; if he did not spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah, a herald of righteousness, with seven others, when he brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly; if by turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to ashes he condemned them to extinction, making them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly; and if he rescued righteous Lot, greatly distressed by the sensual conduct of the wicked (for as that righteous man lived among them day after day, he was tormenting his righteous soul over their lawless deeds that he saw and heard); then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials, and to keep the unrighteous under the punishment until the day of judgment, and especially those who indulge in the lust of defiling passion and despise authority."

Just a glimpse, but a vivid glimpse at that.

God bless!

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Making Them Worse Than Infidels - Preaching Self

Today's thread is for all of you who consider yourselves "Christians" out there, and if you attend church on a regular basis...I'm going to ask a few questions, and then make a follow-up response on what I think, is probably one, if not the most misleading example we are faced with in today's array of multicultural, religious and/or faith based beliefs.

What or whom, led you to the church and your convictions (belief in God, or, as an the case of an Atheist - "No God")?

When, and how often do you attend church, and for what reasons? Is there any in particular reason - Is it purely for social purposes? Some of you might be familiar with the reasons of some...that are known for their sole purpose of coming to church that are in the habit of spreading rumors about the community, in essence, gossiping.

Do you agree with what the Pastor of your church's doctrine is?

If you've changed churches, or used to go to church, and are now not going to church or are attending a new church, for what reasons did you change, and likewise, for those of you who aren't going any longer, why did you stop going?

If you don't go to church, and/or stay at home to listen to a minister on television, is there any Pastor or Pastors in particular that you identify with that agree with your convictions, if so, for what reasons?

Regardless, if you are in regular attendance, or don't go at all, there's definitely a great deal that can be said of the degeneration that is taking place in America, simply because many people have their convictions in the wrong places, instead, using their time in the church and God's time of worship for a time to satisfy their own selfish desires, and squander this time for God's devotion and prayer into a worldly pleasure, that, while God has used the many Pastors all across America to do His Will....for the people in attendance, it's just another ordinary day like any other....Go in the church praising the Lord, and come out blaspheming and cursing as they would any other day.

In truth, every day should be the same, as Holy and devoted to God Our Creator on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday as it is on Sunday. Going to church is not meant to be used as an excuse to keep going on sinning, but that we might strenghten our day to day walk with the Lord, and to direct us to keep ourselves from giving into temptation.

While on the point regarding people using the church as an excuse to go on sinning, I want to add with greater emphasis on the larger issue concerning those of you who are more attentive to what is being preached to you by your Pastors, and how you apply those teachings to your everyday living.

There are many different doctrines and beliefs being taught out there to try to get people to heaven, what may not be realized by many, however, is that what many Preach... it is not consistent with the Scriptures...take for example, Joel Osteen, who has a congregation of about 25,000 members, the largest congregation of church-going members in the United States today. Mr. Osteen is always smiling, and always giving words of encouragement, trying to create a positive image for one's self, but one basic thing that he is neglecting to do, is by not warning the people about the consequences of not accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, in which he makes it seem as if....if you're always smiling, always believing in yourself, always saying kind words to others, that everything's going to be alright and that God is going to take you right in without even as much as asking you a single question before He let's you into those big pearly gates. In this, Mr. Osteen is embracing unbelievers (Atheists), to think that their belief system is "ok".. all is "fine", just as long as they believe in "themselves" and relay a positive message to everyone they meet....in essence, he is denying the only true God, and the only way to heaven, through our Redeemer, Jesus Christ. Jesus said, 'I am the way, the truth, and the life, no man cometh unto the Father except through Me.
I hate to say this, folks, but Mr. Osteen is preaching a dangerous message, and is leading many people to hell.

So, the important point here, is that, believing in yourself will not get you to heaven, but a dedicated relationship to Jesus Christ, and constantly keeping of the Faith through study and reading of His Holy Word so that we can know His Will for our lives. I can't stress to you enough, how important it is for you to do this, simply because of the snares and false doctrines that Satan will place in your pathway through this one time life journey, we are appointed with only one body, but an Eternal Spirit.

There is also the faction of Pastors in America who preach hate speach, by hate the sinner and not the sin...it may seem hard not to hate the sinner because of what they do, I know I'm guilty of it as are probably many other people who struggle with this dilemma, but it can be done, through God's help, it can be done, I assure you...Just pray and ask for God's direction to lead and speak through you when the opportune time as God has appointed for you to speak to that certain individual person, whomever that may be, but I can assure, God knows who that person is, and if God can use you to minister as a witness to that person, then God can use you for that purpose. There are a number of areas God can use you for His kingdom, and as our body has parts to functino and move about, so to does the Church, in which we, as Christ's followers are the body, and Christ is the head...

Colossians 1:13 -

Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgivenss of sins: Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or prinipalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. For it please the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in (or by your mind in) your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister; Who now rejoice in my suffering for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church: Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you , to fulfil the word of God; Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: Whom we preach, warning every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.

Colossians 2:18-23 - Let no man therefore beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministere, and knit together, increaseth with the increaseth with the increase of God. Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, (Touch not; taste not; handle not; which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men? Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.

In this, we should let nothing get in the way, that would seperate, or shake us in the firm foundation which is our Faith in the One True God of Creation, removing ourselves from all foolish arguments that would deviate from what God's Word states. In joining ourselves to the body of Christ, we put off the old self and on with the new, and depart from those things that were our former self, such as - anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication and gossip from our mouth. And when you do this, then you can distinguish between what the world (sinners) are like, and the institution which is Christ, walking in wisdom, and fully equipped to correct any man that should try to deny that only sound truth that perfects and makes clear the pathway to Eternal Glory in Heaven, with Christ Jesus, of which we gain true freedom.

God bless!

--Jeremiah--

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Obama's Doctrine Of "Salvation"...

GREENSBORO, N.C. -

Senator Barack Obama has told an audience that although he believes Christ died for his sins, those who reject that teaching can also be children of God.

This is another of the many reasons that Obama cannot be trusted to be our next President. It's clearly obvious that Obama has not a personal relationship with Our Creator through remarks such as the out-and-out lie he told the audience in N.C.

Jesus said - 'No one cometh unto the Father except through Me and in the book of Acts chapter 4 10-12 - 'Let it be made known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole. This is the 'stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.' Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.

'No other name.' So that tells you plainly, Obama is not a true Christian by any stretch of the imagination.

Without a personal commitment to God one cannot be a Leader. Leadership comes through the guidance of God Almighty in one's life, such as was the case for our Founding Fathers, who depended solely on Almighty God for their sustenance and Supreme Leadership - God spoke through them, and that's what made such eloquent words of True Hope come from such outstanding Leaders of their day and age. It was their belief in Jesus Christ, God's One and Only Son who made their existence possible to freely exercise thier God-given right to worship and govern in this blessed land we call 'America.'

I wonder more and more about some people in America every day...In understanding at how anyone could even remotely with honesty say that they think "Obama would make a good President." On the other hand, however, I can understand why...with the Liberal dominated educational system...it's no wonder so many are so misinformed on right from wrong in that respect. Just a hand full of Liberal indoctrinators' and you can ruin an entire Nation of people; which is exactly what has happened to America since the mid 1960s...but did it really all start in the 60s? No, actually, it was at least about 4 decades earlier, in the 1920s when the Evil forces of the ACLU (comprised primarily of militant Atheist activists) which became established on American soil, hence, 4 short decades proved to be disaster with their harmful intellectual debilitating influence spreading throughout America to every state, thus, we are now faced with large enough problem that Americans of every background who consider themselves Christians will have to take a stand against them if we are to make a difference for the bettering of America--or acqueicse into a Socialist state of darkness where it will no longer be possible for Christians to have their freedom that was so honorably fought and died for and handed on to us by our Forefathers for us to do the very same thing, because that's the only way that freedom is possible - is to stand up for it, like you mean it, and not put off another day and another and another...and before you know it the country has been destroyed ... That's the reason they knew they had to stand up and fight for Christian freedom, because Christ gave His all for all men to be free. So too, we must do the same, or lose and defame all that they fought to give us.

I've heard it said so many times by the Liberals that society has "changed" from what it was during the 17th, 18th centuries? Well, yes it has, but it hasn't been "good" change ... we are a morally bankrupt Nation compared to what we were in the early twentieth century, and are on a steady downward slide toward the infamous days of Sodom and Gomorrah ... Yet we've only seen the tip of the iceberg as to what's to come.

We, as True Believers, however, have hope ... So keep the faith, and stand up, for we know not what tomorrow may bring!

Feel free to share your commentary...

God bless!

--Jeremiah--

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