Saturday, August 27, 2011

Above The Law?

For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace. -ESV
Romans 6:14

Some wrongly believe that the Bible teaches that we are no longer bound to keep God's Law. This is a complete misconception. Shall we assert that we are free to kill... steal... curse our maker... have sex with next of kin, etc? Or shall we say that we should keep this Law but not that? Do we not then make ourselves a judge over God's Law by such mentality.

If carefully read and understood, Scripture teaches that believers are free from the CONSEQUENCES of the Law because by faith we naturally do from the heart those things which are written in the Law.
--> Romans 2:14-16
14 Even Gentiles, who do not have God’s written law, show that they know his law when they instinctively obey it, even without having heard it.15 They demonstrate that God’s law is written in their hearts, for their own conscience and thoughts either accuse them or tell them they are doing right. -NLT

If one compares the contexts of Paul's speeches concerning the Law, one will discover that the admonitions were aimed at correcting the pharisaical way of thinking that keeping the Law made one righteous. Paul's intended purpose in addressing the topic of the Law was for his hearers to comprehend that righteousness is by faith in Jesus and not by the works of the Law.
--> Galatians 2:16
16 know that no one is justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ. And we have believed in Christ Jesus so that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no human being will be justified. -HCSB

Paul never intended to imply that a believer is free from obeying the Law.
--> Romans 6:15-16
15 Well then, since God’s grace has set us free from the law, does that mean we can go on sinning? Of course not! 16 Don’t you realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey? You can be a slave to sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God, which leads to righteous living. -NLT

I think the NLT version of Romans 6:14 captures the essence of what Paul intended for us to understand:
--> 14 Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God’s grace.

...this speaks quite clearly that because we are under grace; we are above the Law- because grace is greater. Not in the sense that we free from the Law; but by faith, the Law has been inscribed upon our hearts- the Law has become part of our being so that we naturally obey it.

Saturday, August 13, 2011

Born Again or Saved: Is there a difference?

There is a biblical distinction between "born-again" and "saved."

According to 1Pet1:5 and Matt24:13 we WILL BE saved by God's grace at the last day through faith; if we endure to the end:
--> 1Peter 1:5
"who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time."
--> Matthew 24:13 ESV
But the one who endures to the end WILL BE saved.


The Greek word used here for "endure" [ὑπομένω {(G5278)hupomenō}] could be more accurately translated as "persevere" which indicates a striving forward and not a passive tolerance. It doesn't mean that we won't fail; but that we will not lay and wallow in the mire when we fall. An appropriate cross-reference would be:
-->Proverbs 24:16 for the righteous falls seven times and rises again,..

One is born-again at the moment they are filled with the Spirit {3 Jesus answered him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God."4 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?"5 Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit." -John 3
[*Note: In John 3:3-6 Jesus does not indicate that being born-again guarantees entrance into heaven; only that it is a requirement.]
God gives His Spirit to those who obey Him in order to empower the believer to live in a way that pleases God. We must submit to God and resist the devil and in the power of the Spirit refusing to give in to our lust.
--> Acts 5:32 And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him."
--> Philippians 2:13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
--> James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
--> James 1:14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
--> Galatians 5:16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.


Bottom line... no one who is still breathing is permanently saved nor irreconcilably condemned to hell. TODAY!!! if one hears His voice; believes the Gospel and repents- acknowledges Jesus as Lord and perseveres in following Him in loving obedience through faith... this one will be saved by God's grace in the last days.
--> Hebrews 3:15 As it is said, "Today, if you hear his voice,
do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion."
--> Mark 1:15 and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel."
--> Romans 10:9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
--> John 14:15 "If you love me, you will keep my commandments.
--> 1John 5:4 For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.
--> Ephesians 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,
--> 1Peter 1:5 "who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time."
--> Matthew 24:13 But the one who endures to the end WILL BE saved.


God is not willing that any should perish... He invites all to confess and repent of their sins and be forgiven:
--> 2Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
--> 1John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Cf. also-->  http://forjesusministry.blogspot.com/2011/09/can-one-lose-salvation-no-but.html