Joe said:
Remember the admonishment that faith without works is dead? The reverse is also true, works (which the Pharisees were quite good at) without faith (in Christ) is just as dead.
James 2:14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith and have not works? can faith save him?
Arcturus said:
The problem is we all profess to know what is the fruit of the Spirit and we all try to put it on without the Cross of Christ! First the Cross then the reward that is the Spirit the fruit of His Victory! Oh we want the victory and we want the glory but it is not for sale but it sure is being counterfeited EVERYWHERE in BABYLON!
This reminds me of the story of Jacob. He falls in love with Rachel, and he labors seven years so that he could have her as his wife. But who did he end up with? Leah. He was deceived. All this time he thought he was working for Rachel, but he gets Leah.
And in the morning, behold, it was Leah! And Jacob said to Laban, "What is this you have done to me? Did I not serve with you for Rachel? Why then have you deceived me?" Genesis 29:25
This is like those who labor under a church system and their doctrines. You first come into the church because you fall in love with Jesus. Then somehow, someway you get caught in works....that insidious pervasive underlying concept that somehow we still must work in some way for our salvation.
You think, all this time that you are working for Jesus (Rachel)! But you are deceived. It is another Jesus who you end up with (Leah).
It really is a shock to wake up one morning realizing you have not been worshiping your first love.
Yet after all that, Laban still gives Rachel to Jacob, and he works another seven years for her. But here, the works come after finally receiving your first love.
There is a difference between the works that are done for Leah, and the works that are done for Rachel. One is working thinking that you are going to acquire that elusive Love, the other is working for the Love you already have! The works of the flesh contrasted with the works of the spirit.
So Jacob went in to Rachel also, and indeed he loved Rachel more than Leah, and he served with Laban for another seven years. Genesis 29:30
I often feel like I am still in the period between the two:
Complete the week of this one, and we will give you the other also in return for serving me another seven years." Genesis 29:27
I've come to the realization that I was previously deceived, and the works for "another Jesus" have ended. I no longer feel I have to do this, that, or the other thing, in the flesh. Or I should say more clearly, I know that there are no works I
can do in the flesh that will "get" Jesus onto the throne of my heart. He comes and takes over in His time.
But I also can't say that I fully and truly "have" Jesus and am performing His works, because I just don't see much of the fruits of the spirit in myself that Kat so beautifully laid out in her post. Too much of the beast still rearing its ugly head...
But the joy is, that when the "week" has ended, I too will receive my Jesus in full and certainly will joyfully perform His true works, by His power and strength.
Peace,
Diana