> General Discussions
Evil Spirits
Mike Gagne:
Hi Dave, I agree with you. God is sovereign in everyones life, all that lived or are living are not running around doing their own thing! Your right Dave, I have never seek out God. His word says that there is none that seek God, no not one. Why would it be different for any of us? Its not, none of us sought the Lord. I never look for Lray Smiths and Dennis Vogels websites, Jesus led me right here! Dave I can see it now, I am reputed as nothing.
I have been thinking about this scripture for a while...
2Th 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
The last part of that scripture, the man of sin be revealed. You know I just Didn't read from Lrays teachings and then that was it. No, it seems to me the man of sin being revealed is a process. Just thought that might fit in.
Ian 155:
Quote from: Michael G on Yesterday at 10:37:57 AM
Hi Ian, you agree with what I said, you said you lean toward the contrary most times. Yes Ian you made a choice to lean that way.
Yes it is Jesus who gives me his faith and He opens my eyes to these truths...
Michael Perhaps I did or perhaps an evil spirit was sent to cause me to lean the other way, either way God got his way
I think a starting point for me and the hardest things to digest was understanding that I was not the one who made me and I, although accountable for choices, I am not responsable ...
Therefore there is now no condemnation, as i have been given understanding of the above and am therefore In Christ.
We have an advocate thank God ...I believe Pharaoh and Nero and Hitler ,hard as it may sound,have one too
santgem:
What is the difference between............
I have the power to overcome VS I have overcome by the power.............
Not an English teacher but I think big, big, big difference....... ??? :-\ ;) :)
Mike Gagne:
--- Quote from: santgem on June 10, 2015, 04:55:05 AM ---What is the difference between............
I have the power to overcome VS I have overcome by the power.............
Not an English teacher but I think big, big, big difference....... ??? :-\ ;) :)
--- End quote ---
Hi santgem, Read what I wrote again and see where I said, I have the power to overcome comes from. Theres no difference, its not my power its His power. He has given it to me. Its right there in the scripture read it....
In Christ
Kat:
Hi gk,
I always likely how Ray put that faith and grace work together and all the other relevant point he brought out in this part of Bible study about 'Do James and Paul Contradict?'
http://forums.bible-truths.com/index.php/topic,9742.0.html ------------
“BY GRACE ARE YE SAVED THROUGH FAITH”
In Ephesians 2, here Paul puts it all together for us.
Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith (alone?)…
Is that what it says? That’s what Martin Luther would have you think it says. That’s what A. E. Knoch would have you think. That’s what Dobson and Billy Graham and all the rest of these guys, the modern Worldwide church of God, would have you believe. No!
Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that (‘this’ would be a better word)...
Now I‘ve always said ‘that,’ that being the faith. That that faith is not your own it’s the gift of God. But I think it is talking about ‘this’ or ‘these.’
v. 8 For by grace are ye saved through faith…
‘This’ grace and ‘this’ faith, both of them, not just the one, but both of them.
v. 8 … not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
v. 9 Not of works…
Here it is, here we get to bring it on down. It’s “not of works,” it’s of FAITH. But it’s not your own faith, it’s this gift of God faith and this gift of God grace. That’s how you're saved, not by your works. Not by works, because that is something you do. This faith and this grace, it’s not yours, it comes from God. It's a gift, that’s not yours, it’s God’s, but He gives it to you. That’s what is going to save you, not your own works. Your own works will not save you, it takes this gift of grace, gratuitous, free, favor, love from God and the faith of God as a gift to you. That’s going to save you, not your good works, lest you boast.
v. 9 …lest any man should boast.
Then you would say, ‘well I earned it, I did it, I deserve it, I did it and I earned it.’ It’s not of works. Now get the context here, sometimes we read these verses and we don’t put them all together in one thought, in one sentence. This grace and this faith of God is given to you as a gift and that is what is going to save you, not your own works.
v. 10 For we are HIS workmanship…
Now if you read that, "for WE are His workmanship," well then you lost it. No no no, you’ve got to know how to put the emphasis on the right words.
From Eph. 2:8-10, it’s grace and faith from GOD, a gift from GOD, not of yourself, from GOD, that saves you. Not your works, this gift is from GOD, "for we are HIS workmanship"… What kind of workmanship?
v. 10 …created in Christ Jesus unto good works…
Now are good works absolutely essential to this thing called salvation? Absolutely, you just have to get it straight in your mind. It’s not your faith, it’s Christ’s faith, it’s God’s faith... it’s not your grace, it’s God’s grace... it’s not your works, it’s GOD’S works in you. Do you see it? It’s God’s works in you.
v. 10 …which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
This is ordained, it’s got to be. This is not like, ‘well it’s nice if you have some, but it’s okay if you don’t, because you’re saved by faith alone.’ No, this is essential. Do you see how he brings faith and works together? They are both essential, they just come from God.
v
Now I’m going to start bringing this works and faith together here. First I want you to understand, good works are never referred to as ‘works of the law.’ See you could assume, that since Paul said “that by the works of the law shall no man be justified.” James said, “a man is justified by his works,” that it’s a contradiction. It’s not a contradiction. James is talking about works (and we are going to see what kind of works). Paul is talking about the works of the law. Now these are two different things. Paul tells us what works of the law are… circumcision, this observing of times and days weeks. And in other places touch not, eat not, all these dietary laws and so on. Paul talks about that through all his writings, works of the law, physical, carnal, beggarly, weak things, you see.
Now we are going to see what James talks about, when he talks about works, not works of the law. We are going to see what he talks about and see if he is talking about these days and times and circumcisions and washings and cups and eating and touch not and this endless array of laws that Israel had to do.
v
Show me, that’s what James is saying here. He said you “show me your faith without works,” which he’s saying, you can’t do it... then he says, “I’ll show you my faith by my works.” I put my money where my mouth is, James says I do what I say, I not only talk the talk, but walk the walk.
James 2:19 Thou believest (Strong’s 4100)…
The word is faith. There are two words, one is 4100 - pisteuō and then we have 4102 - pistis. One is used as a noun and one is used as a verb. It’s the same root word. Faith is a noun, I have faith 4102. How do I have faith, because I believe 4100, that’s a verb. My faith (noun) believe (verbs).
v. 19 Thou believe (or you have faith) that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
Wow, James doesn’t mince words does he. He says, so you believe and you’ve got this uppity yucky lovey dovey kissy kissy huggy huggy faith in your heart, right? Well let me tell you something, so do the demons, so do the devils. Now he could have said it again, what does it profit them without works, because they believe?
v. 20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
v
Two other important Scriptures. Did Jesus Christ have anything to say about good works or was He one of these faith and grace people like Paul supposedly was.
Mat 5:15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
v. 16 Let your light so shine before men…
Now He is talking to His Apostles this is the Sermon on the Mount, if you read my last installment you know that the Sermon on the Mount is for us. This is for us, His disciples.
v. 16 … that they may see your good works…
Works of the law? It didn’t say works of the law, it said “good works.”
v. 16 …and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
end of Bible study excerpt ------------------------------------------------------
Col 1:9 And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,
v. 10 so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.
So I am thinking we sometimes get 'good works' confused with how the church boost of their literal working out in the world - works of the law. But it seems more like to build up righteous character it is the inward man/woman that must learn/develop the fruit of the spirit.
Php 1:10 so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ,
v. 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
v. 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
v. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
This is so different than what the church does, though it certainly is a good thing to help the poor... but the believer's battle/struggle is inward, circumcision of the heart, a new attitude of mind.
Eph 4:22 that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts,
v. 23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind,
v. 24 and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.
Rom 2:29 but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God.
Hope that is helpful.
mercy, peace and love
Kat
P.S. I came back and added a part I realized I had left out about what James said in that excerpt from 'Do James and Paul Contradict?'
Navigation
[0] Message Index
[#] Next page
[*] Previous page
Go to full version