We are a POT, a pot does nothing, it's made to HOLD something, we; a pot, hold the SPIRIT, the SPIRIT gives the POT LIFE, the Spirit does ALL THE WORK, the pot only does what the SPIRIT CAUSES it to DO. YOU DIED on the cross: a NEW CREATION arose, the BODY of CHRIST.
Ezekiel 36:27 And I WILL put my Spirit IN YOU, and CAUSE YOU to WALK in my statutes and to KEEP my judgements and DO THEM.
Psalms 145:10 ALL THY WORKS shall praise thee ......
Psalms 139:14 ..... I am fearfully and wonderfully made (a NEW CREATION): marvellous are THY WORKS .....
Psalms 104:30 ....the SENDEST FORTH thy SPIRIT, they are CREATED (anew), thou renewest the face of the earth.
The gospel of the RESURRECTION has been lost to the traditions of man.
And God shined light in to DARKNESS (the pots of the earth) and they COMPREHENDED it not.
If you don't believe; you will DIE in your SIN (unbelief), ALL other sins are COVERED by the BLOOD of Christ.
You cannot; add or take away, from the WORKS of the CROSS of Christ.
Did his CROSS save mankind; from DEATH, or was the WORKS of the CROSS useless?
Philippians 3:18 For MANY (christians) walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are ENEMIES of the CROSS of Jesus Christ.
Galatians 2:20 I am CRUCIFIED with Christ, yet I LIVE, yet NOT I, but CHRIST ......
ONLY the BODY of Christ was RESURRECTED.
1 Corinthians 12:27 Ye are the BODY of Christ ..... you're just a BODY, nothing else.
Ezekiel 36:27 And I will put my Spirit in YOU (my BODY) and CAUSE you to walk in my statutes, and KEEP my judgements and DO THEM.
Ephesians 4:4 ..... ONE BODY ....
Most don't BELIEVE the WORKS of the CROSS of Christ.
Once again; the verse "the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom" is a necessary verse to quote and is found in Proverbs as well as at least a couple places in Psalms. Assuming that there is a genuine conversion needs to be in word and deed. Confessing with our mouth must be accompanied by believing in our heart ( Romans 10:9-10). Believing in our heart must involve; of course a heart change as Ezekiel 36:26 indicates. Evidence of that is an understanding that as sinners we are coming from being ENEMIES of God (i.e. the enmity is in both directions) as Romans 5:10 indicates. True faith understands the painful sacrifice of Christ to pay the redemption through the atonement which only His blood could do in our behalf. Obedience accompanies true love for God as John 14:15 indicates. RECOGNITION that we are crucified with Christ ( Galatians 2:20) means that our new nature is now having new affections and the old one is something which we no longer find our "default" mode. We are beyond wanting to avoid sin because of the consequences but because we recognize that we are offending a Holy God who dwells in us ( 2 Cor. 5:1; and apparently the meaning implicit in John 1:14 where He dwells in us. True salvation never brings contentment with sin; we may fall away but as Proverbs says in chapter 24; verse 16 he rises again; but it is not so for the wicked. We are saved by grace but always have potential to sin and a true believer will be as Paul was cognizant and wary of anything that will get in the way until the end of this earthly existance ( Philippians 3:12-14). This is like 1 Corinthians 9:24 in striving to gain the prize.
Another related situation is that a true believer recognizes that rewards can be attained or lost according to Revelation 3:11. Realizing that we can enter heaven but as through the fire suffering loss ( 1 Cor. 3:15) shows salvation is the beginning of the journey of a truly saved person
I would also add that we can look to Christ Himself who apparently "broke" the Sabbath law by healing on the Sabbath; having Disciples eating grain and thus "doing work"; etc. ( Matt. 12:1). Jesus replied a few verses later that the Son of Man was Lord of the Sabbath. Therefore Christ in His obedience did what He always did as a member of the Godhead; did all the works of the Father and of course as a man lived sinlessly. The one who created the Universe and was Divine Himself no doubt with the Father created the very laws themselves as well as all laws of physics in the universe. He could also do things such as desire and demand worship and be a jealous God as well as being able to hate perfectly and love that way as well. God's nature therfore is reflected in the law; and the lawless one (Satan) comes to remove all restraint.
So therefore to be free from the law we can choose to follow the Spirit or God forbid use it as a license to sin. ( Romans 6:1). That is what determines if we are truly free as a slave to Christ; or living what seems right to us but leads to death ( Prov. 14:12). Freedom is in following Christ and part of the New Covenant; but doesn't remove the universal laws affecting things such as murder and divorce and adultery (such as seen in Mark 6:18). This shows how even pagans are under covenant vow obligations. There are ceremonial laws and special O.T. laws specifically for Israel (which would cover the Sabbath Day requirement). That differentiation can help us understand things better; Jesus goes one step beyond with murder and adultery with the state of the heart. We also need to look at sins of omission as well as commission and how things affect others with a sort of ripple effect. Outer actions reflect the fruit of our inner most being; and whether we have a new heart or heart of stone
( Ezekiel 36:26).
Christ needs to Lord of all or He is not our Master; we must fall on the rock or be crushed ( Matt. 21:44).
Why do you assume the beast in Revelation is satan or the anti-christ?
Daniel 7:23 ...the FORTH beast shall be the FORTH KINGDOM on earth ....
John the Baptist came preaching the KINGDOM of GOD; the FORTH kingdom on earth, the FORTH BEAST, the last kingdom on earth.
The Kingdom of God has been on earth now for about 2000 years; CHRIST IN THE FLESH, IN YOU, his BODY, causing man TO WILL and TO DO his good pleasure.
Ezekiel 36:27 I WILL put MY SPIRIT IN YOU and CAUSE YOU to walk in my statutes and TO KEEP my judgements and DO THEM
Revelation 6:7 And when HE (the lamb of God) had opened the forth seal, I heard the voice of the FORTH BEAST (the lamb of God, the kingdom of God) SAY, come and see
Revelation 6:8 And I looked, and behold, a pale horse, and his name that sat on him WAS DEATH, and the grave followed after him, and POWER WAS GIVEN TO THEM (the image of the BEAST, the kingdom of GOD) over the forth part of the earth, to KILL with the SWORD (the word of God), and with HUNGER (no bread of life), and with DEATH, and with the BEAST of the EARTH (those that carry the mark of the BEAST: the kingdom of God.
Revelation 12:16 And the earth HELPED the WOMAN, and the earth OPENED her MOUTH (DEATH and the grave), and swallowed up the FLOOD (people, tongues and nations) which the dragon cast out of his mouth.
Psalms 7:13 He hath also prepared for him the INSTRUMENTS of DEATH; he ORDAINED his ARROWS against the persecutors.
Jeremiah 51:29 THOU (those that carry the MARK) are my battle axe and WEAPONS of WAR (arrows, the word of GOD); for with THEE (the saints, the BODY of Christ, the IMAGE of the BEAST) WILL I break in pieces the NATIONS, and with THEE will I destroy kingdoms.
Revelation 2:27 ...to him that overcometh, WILL I give POWER over the NATIONS .....
Recognizing that God is generous to you is acknowledging God and his presensence in you: YOUR HIS BODY. His word says he causes you to do his pleasure; therefore, you are not acting irresponsible with his generosity, but are acting according to his will.
Philippians 2:13 For it is God that WORKETH in you, both TO WILL and TO DO of his good pleasure.
Ezekiel 36:27 And I WILL put my spirit IN YOU and CAUSE you to walk in my statutes and ye shall keep my JUDGEMENTS and DO THEM.
Colossians 1:27 .....THIS MYSTERY ..... CHRIST IN YOU ......
You DIED with Christ on the cross, ONLY Christ arose; and you as a joint heir, with Christ of that resurrection, A NEW CREATION.
Luke 20:36 Neither can they (YOU, Jema) DIE anymore, for they (YOU, Jema) are equal unto the angels, and are the children of God, being the CHILDREN (YOU, Jema) of the RESURRECTION.
Revelation 20:6 Blessed and holy is he (YOU, Jema) that hath part in the FIRST (you and Christ) RESURRECTION ......
1 John 3:9 Whosoever is BORN of God (TRUTH) CANNOT COMMIT SIN; for his seed (the anointing) remaineth in him, and he cannot sin because he is born of God (TRUTH).
The wages of sin is DEATH: you DIED on the cross, the life IN YOU is CHRIST, your the BODY of CHRIST.
BELIEVE, Christ is CAUSING you to do HIS WILL, for his good pleasure, you ARE NOT irresponsible, but walking in the WILL of God.
Just to refer to some of your points, David0921. My "view of OT Salvation is a Gospel of Grace plus Works". I would rather define my view as: "FULL Salvation" was not known by the OT saints under the Law. Whereas the 'Gospel of Grace plus Works' would apply today, where man chooses to add his own efforts, even the Law, to make God's Grace truly effective. Israel could never be saved whilst under the Law, for the Law (& the Sacrifices) gave no salvific provision. Why God accepted them, was simply because of their relationship to God by their election, obedience & ordained sacrifices. But they had to, like all those pre-Cross, wait for Christ's redemptive Work to be completed.
Re: Nicodemus. Yes, he should have, as a teacher of the Torah & the Writings, picked up easily what Jesus was speaking about concerning re-birth. Scriptures such as Psalm 51;10, Psalm 51:16,17; Ezekiel 11:19; Ezekiel 36:26 which Nico knew, should have immediately brought him understanding to the revelation Jesus just gave him. The OT saints could only yearn after such a cleansing of heart as God forgave them when they repented, but not until the Spirit of God would come (to whom Jesus pointed), would Nico & others experience that spiritual re-birth.
My great emphasis on the Luke 16 account is because I don't regard it as a parable. I've written before on this: that a parable (as Jesus gave), were simple, everyday stories that gave a view of Kingdom Life & God's Requirements. If the rich man, Lazarus, & Abraham being mentioned were simply a part of a parable (a non-specific account), then Jesus was lying, for no such situation ever existed or could exist in Hades & Jesus' disciples & Pharisees who were listening, would have been grossly misled into understanding about the after-life. Yes, the body lies in the grave, but the spirit lives on; & pre-Cross, Hades is given as that place.
24 I will take you from the nations and gather you from all the countries and bring you into your own land. 25 I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. 26 And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules. 28 You shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers, and you shall be my people, and I will be your God. Ezekiel 36:24-28
When we think that we do anything to contribute to our salvation we fool our self's, it is the Lord who brings and cleans us, it is the lord who separates us from our idols. It he God who gives us the new hearts, and removes our stoney heart. He puts his spirit in us, which now causes us to walk in his commands. He is the cause and our obedience is the effect. Do not stop striving against sin, but remember Christ, who paid it all. While we wait for the Lords return , we trust him and grow in submission. Purposefully, to the Glory of our Saviour Jesus Christ, our God.
Father we Praise you this day for all that you say you will do for those in Christ. Those who belong to you as children. Those who submit to your will as servants of righteousness. Since you are the one who begins the work, oh Lord help us trust you to finish it and not in our self's So that all will know all glory belongs to you.
When discussing this topic we put to much emphasis on Israel. The real emphasis is on Gods Promises!
God made his name great by his dealings with a rebellious Nation, Israel was a picture of all of mankind and the Adamic nature. we would have done no better.
Without the law and Israel failure to bare fruit under the law, we have no way to measure ourselves and this fallen nature of the flesh.
Ezekiel 36:23-24 says
"And I will sanctify my great name, which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, saith the Lord GOD, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes.
For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land.
How do you spiritualize a verse and fulfil it?
It has to be literally do it!
How do God Allegorically be sanctified in Israel before their eyes?
And then take them from among the heathen, and gather them out of all countries, and will bring them into their own land. Allegorically!?
Gigi, you said that's the Church receiving these promises,
If God said I will gather you from all countries and left off right there, you would have a case, "small but at least you would have one"
But God went on to say and put you in your OWN Land!
When did the Church have a Land?
And if this Land is Heaven, how is it the Heathen going to see what is mentioned in the verses above?
He's going to restore them right here on earth and fulfil the promises to Abraham.
Jeremiah 23:5-6.
Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice IN THE EARTH.
In his days JUDAH SHALL BE SAVED, AND ISRAEL SHALL DWELL SAFELY: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.
And God wants the world to see it!!
Jeremiah 31:10.
Hear the word of the LORD, O ye nations, and declare it in the isles afar off, and say, He that scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him, as a shepherd doth his flock.
He does this for his name sake!
Ezekiel 36:22-27.
Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; I do not this for your sakes, O house of Israel, but for mine holy name's sake, which ye have profaned among the heathen, whither ye went.
And I will sanctify my great name, which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, saith the Lord GOD, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes.
For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land... ( This will be done on earth! There's no heathens in heaven! )
Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.
A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.
And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.
"It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not." ( Lamentations 3:22)
...and in the wilderness where you saw how the LORD your God carried you, as a man carries his son, in all the way that you went until you came to this place.' ( Deuteronomy 1:31)
But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. ( Romans 5:8)
The mercy of God and His lovingkindness are something that never pass; or grow old. It is something to daily praise Him for no matter what the circumstances as we know that we shall indeed be in His presence someday; and out of these old bodies whether by Rapture or Resurrection. He has secured us for all eternity. As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. ( Psalm 103:12). As believers he has replaced our heart of stone with a heart of flesh ( Ezekiel 36:26). His children are sanctified and inevitably glorified ( Romans 8:30). Whether we consider the Israelites physically delivered from Egypt's bondage to the Promised Land; or our own delivery from the earth to heaven the Spirit seals believers with this "down payment" ( Eph. 1:13).
WORD OF WARNING
That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. ( Matt. 5:45).
This verse is related to previous ones speaking of loving our enemies as part of the Sermon on the Mount. Christ shared close ties with Judas Iscariot; according to Psalm 41:9 "Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me." The unregenerate enjoy for a time the creation in this life but attribute their blessings to what they consider the "goodness" of their heart; their accomplishments; merits; accolades etc. See Ecclesiastes 8:11 for a warning on delayed judgment; also see Galatians 6:7.
Romans 11:25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, (until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.) This is their current position.
26) And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:
Paul opens up this chapter with this. "I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.
Romans 11:24 For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be graffed into their own olive tree?
Verses 27-29. For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.
As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sakes.
For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.
This is a covenant of God unto them! And it is without repentance!
He do this for his name's sake as mentioned in Ezekiel 36:23-38.
This happens in the literal Millenium Kingdom right here on earth. It's to many details to say it happens spiritually or in our hearts.
So, if we take the Millenium kingdom to be right after the 70th week of Daniel, these conditions haven't been met yet.
So, if hold to a post-trib viewpoint where all the saints is raptured up at the end of the tribulation and judgement is poured out on all the rest of the world, Who's going to populate the Millenium?
Israel is God's elect and so is the Church both for different purposes.
If you are saying God is not through with Israel I also hold that view.
Here's more direct set of scriptures for the "Nation" of Israel.
Ezekiel 36:22-38.
Therefore say unto the "HOUSE" of Israel,
THUS SAITH THE LORD GOD; I DO NOT THIS FOR YOUR SAKES, O HOUSE OF ISRAEL BUT FOR MINE HOLY NAME'S SAKE, which ye have profaned among the heathen, whither ye went.
AND I WILL SANCTIFY MY GREAT NAME, which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; AND THE HEATHEN SHALL KNOW THAT I AM THE LORD, saith the Lord GOD, when I SHALL BE SANCTIFIED IN YOU BEFORE THEIR EYES.
( God will restore the Nation Israel for his Name sake )
Vs 36:24 For I will take you from among the heathen, AND GATHER YOU OUT OF ALL COUNTRIES, and will bring you into your own land.
( God is going to gather them of ALL Countries!)
There has never been a gathering like this and this certainly not the Church! The Church never possessed a Land.
Vs 36:26-28. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.
And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.
AND YE SHALL DWELL IN THE LAND THAT I GAVE TO YOUR FATHERS; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God.
There's no way to spiritualize this as to say this is the Church and God is going to rule in our hearts.
And the Spirit remains absent in them today so it didn't happen at the cross.
Again! Here's Paul pointed forward looking for salvation for his Kinsman of the flesh in Romans 11:1
"I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.
Continuing with the thought on deliverance; there are verses which state we are not to be hasty in laying on of hands with someone ( 1 Tim. 5:22). Obviously; the extended conversations with demons that are almost always on camera are not needed most of the time based on how Christ operated. It is often obvious this is for entertainment value; and certainly isn't helpful if someone is in need of deliverance to toy with the demons in them or keep them waiting. It is rare but not unheard of to see a person who is going through great grief be prayed for that is NOT possessed; or perhaps just oppressed.
If we look at the example of the parable of the seed and sower in Matthew 13:20 we see immediate joy at the Word without a root. Nonetheless we are to confess with our mouth AND believe in our heart that Christ is Lord; both mind and soul are involved. ( Romans 10:9). Since our heart is deceitful ( Jeremiah 17:9) above all things and desperately wicked; we need a new heart as Ezekiel 36:26 states. I have pointed out before that unless we realize that we are being delivered from an enmity with God we aren't going to be drawn toward Christ; we are going to shrink back and eventually fall away. ( Romans 8:7 as well as in many other passages!) BUT; as with anything else joy is the second attribute of good fruit that the Spirit MUST begin to place in our souls after love as the first ( Gal. 5:22). Note that the THIRD attribute is peace; so if we are truly saved we start to overcome fear; on the other hand there is no peace for the wicked. ( Isaiah 48:22; and other parts of Isaiah and Psalms; etc.)
Part of maturity in Christ is knowing the difference between spiritual fruit and our emotions. Seeing Paul's example of joy in extreme suffering certainly is a good example of this as well as Christ's love for us that He would suffer as He did to fulfill the Father's will.
Fellowship should balance mind and heart worship rightly
a new heart also will i give you, and a new spirit will i put within you: and i will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and i will give you an heart of flesh.
and i will put my spirit within you, and ( cause ) you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.
There is only ONE SIN ..... UNBELIEF .....all other sins are COVERED by the blood of Christ.
John 16:8 And when HE IS COME, he (the Holy Ghost) will reprove the world of SIN .... UNBELIEF ..... the HOLY Ghost is going to rule the world with a rod or iron (truth and mercy)
John 16:9 OF SIN, because they BELIEVE NOT on me (THE WORD) .....
Most believe Jesus came for the WORKS of the cross ..... they don't BELIEVE those WORKS ....
ALL BODIES DIED (yours, mine, and Christ's) on the cross 2000 years ago; ONLY ONE BODY arose, the BODY of CHRIST.
1 Corinthians 12:27 ... NOW ye are the BODY of Christ ..... who did NO SIN .....
There is NO .... I, me, myself ... ONLY ONE BODY .... the body of Christ ..... all creation, the NEW CREATION ....
John 17:22 And the glory that thou (the Spirit that raised Christ) has given me, I have GIVEN THEM (the new creation) that they may be ONE as we are ONE.
If you don't BELIEVE his WORDS your continuing in SIN ..... if you BELIEVE his WORDS you CANNOT SIN .... your just doing what Christ WILLS and Causes you TO DO.
Colossians 1:27 ..... this MYSTERY .... Christ in YOU ......
Ezekiel 36:27 And I (the Holy Ghost) will put my Spirit IN YOU (his body) and CAUSE you to walk in my statutes, and keep my judgements, and DO THEM.
Philippians 2:13 For it is God that WORKETH IN YOU both to WILL and to do his good pleasure.
Most don't BELIEVE the WORD.
God is giving you eyes to SEE his truth, your Christ's BODY, he is causing you to DO his good pleasure; therefore, you; his body, CANNOT SIN, because it's HIS WORKS, not your works.
Revelation 2:26 ....and he that keepeth MY WORKS to the end, to him will I give power over the nations ....as I have been given of my Father .....
God bless you as Christ CAUSES us to walk in TRUTH.
I see it as you do concerning the indwelling of the spirit upon the people of Israel. It was different than the way he indwells the Church.
In the Old Testament God often spoke in types, allegorically and similitudes. They also didn't have spiritual understanding of the new covenant ministry and the Church.
We see this evident when the Lord was talking to Nicodemus and also the Samaritan woman at the Well.
They had no idea what being born from above meant or what worshiping in truth and in spirit meant.
They didn't have the Holyspirit IN them as you see mentioned in Ezekiel 36:26-27
"A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.
And I will put my spirit within you, AND "CAUSE" YOU TO WALK IN MY STATUTES, AND YE SHALL KEEP MY JUDGMENTS, AND DO THEM.
(He will cause them to walk in his statutes,) "That hadn't taken place yet "
The death burial and resurrection hasn't taken place yet, Therefore the baptism of the Holyspirit that quickens the believer wasn't a part of their ministry and wasn't meant to be. If it had been part of their ministry righteousness would have come by the law.
We would be under the Leviticus priesthood and Christ wouldn't be our High Priest.
The spirit would come upon them to minister but It seems there was a certain season for certain things he would reveal to them.
Also God spoke to them by prophets he would anoint, today he speaks to us by his Spirit that teaches us the things of Christ as mentioned in John 14:26. (Church things!) "Something that wasn't revealed to them at that time".
Without the Holyspirit they would not have had an blood tipped ear to receive them. John 16:12-14.
Note;
I'm not digging into eschatology but focusing on Israel and their sacrifices and the law, what God required of them and what thet put their trust in.
Water Baptism does not contribute to our Salvation in any way whatsoever. It is not a requirement for Salvation, it does not guarantee our Salvation, it does not seal us so that we will not lose our Salvation.
Water Baptism during the Church Age, like Circumcision in the Old Testament, was a sign pointing to some aspect of the Nature of Salvation. In this case the washing away of our sins by God Himself when God applies His Salvation to our life in saving us.
Ezekiel 36:25 Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.
The Baptism that saves is the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, God Himself. Water Baptism is a sign and a symbol of the Baptism that God performs.
Do not fall into the snare of trusting in Water Baptism as contributing to your Salvation in some way. Unfortunately that is what National Israel did to a high degree with regard to the Ceremonial Laws. And what many of the New Testament Churches have done to one degree or another.
I would agree with all except, for the last sentence, beginning with "Absolute Purity". Luke 6:40; 1John 4:17; Rom 12:1; the plain write of the words used denotes we're still living in this world.
Hypocrites; I don't believe you intentionally imply this, yet the results of your statement implying this. They did not speak of the new birth, but from the new birth, 2Cor 5:17; Ezekiel 36:25,26,27; heart of flesh; denotes our life now in the flesh. Eph 4:24; you put Him on, here; Col 3:10; The apostles lived, enjoy & possessed what they preached; Philippians 3:15,16; Again, what God required of us is to live according to the measure of the Truth that He has revealed, the apostles received Acts 1:8' Eph 1:19; Eph 3:20; Col 1:29; to do so.
You stated "has sin left them or ever leave them: Never, but they can have victory over sin; this is an oxymoron. Being born again of His Spirit alias; Matt 3:11-12; the threshing floor of the heart is thoroughly purge of the chaff. (sin nature), the spiritual old man of sin, the Adamic nature that animates the flesh. He's deny, mortify & final crucify, he's dead & self is seen no more. All by the Grace appearance within our hearts.
Friend,,,,your covering yourself, but not with the Spirit of the Lord, but with; Gen 3:7;
Your the understanding is veiled, for only the spirit of darkness would plead for sin to remain within one, after all that God has wrought & revealed to us through His Son. For he (Satan) knows that despite one's profession, though maybe ever so high or lofty, & profess with elegant words, it what one does that defines him, Rom 6:16; John 8:34; Rom 2:6;
Hebrews 9:11,12,13,14,15; do you hear what the Spirit is saying here? The flesh purified, OT, now in NT even our conscience cleanse, the heart. Eternal inheritance Roman 8:17; 2 Pet 1:4; John 17:21-23;
No scripture of itself interprets scripture, it takes other scriptures combined together to interpret truth.
1 John 3:9 Whosoever is born of God CANNOT commit sin, for his SEED (GOD) remaineth in him, and he CANNOT SIN because he is born of God.
Ezekiel 36:27 And I will put my Spirit (God is Spirit) in YOU and CAUSE you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgements and DO them.
The kingdom of God only COMES to you if you believe what the word says.
Matthew 12:28 But if I (the Spirit of TRUTH) cast out devils (the spirit of deception) by the Spirit of God, then the Kingdom of God has COME unto you.
Was Paul saying something different; or, was he agreeing agreeing that is GOD IN YOU; HIS flesh and bone, that keeps you from sinning and not of yourself (your DEAD) only a NEW CREATION exist.
When you BELIEVE you are going to keep sinning in this life, then your going to keep sinning.
Matthew 8:13 .... and as thou hast BELIEVE, so be it done unto you ........
Do you BELIEVE you are a NEW CREATION, the flesh and bone OF CHRIST?
John 17:22 And the glory that thou has given me, I have GIVEN them, that they may be ONE as we are ONE.
If you don't believe that scripture, then the Kingdom of God has not YET COME to you.
God name is at stake when he deal with his people.
Look how God deals with Israel even after he Judged/punished them.
Ezekiel 36:19-23. And I scattered them among the heathen, and they were dispersed through the countries: according to their way and according to their doings I judged them.
And when they entered unto the heathen, whither they went, they profaned my holy name, when they said to them, These are the people of the LORD, and are gone forth out of his land.
But I had pity for mine holy name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the heathen, whither they went.
Therefore say unto the house of Israel,
Thus saith the Lord GOD; I DO NOT THIS FOR YOUR SAKES, O house of Israel, BUT FOR MINE HOLY NAME'S SAKE, which ye have profaned among the heathen, whither ye went.
AND I WILL SANCTIFY MY GREAT NAME, which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, saith the Lord GOD, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes.
The process of becoming Born Again is absolutely an instantaneous process of which God is entirely in control. It is a true miracle as God replaces or changes (we can't understand the mechanics) our spiritual dead soul (i.e. our stony heart) with a new resurrected soul. (Read Ezekiel 36:26,27). This can occur even before we are born (John the Baptist) or in the last moments of our life (thief on the cross) or any time in between, but always on God's time table, not ours.
When we do become Born Again there will very quickly be a change in our personality, in that our new Resurrected Soul is going to have a real problem with our sin infected body that still lusts after sin. And we will find in our life a growing desire to know and do God's will and turn away from sin. This is called Growing in Grace.
This is guaranteed to occur with every one of God's elect at some point in their life.
Read the account of the salvation of the Ninevites in Jonah where God saved 120,000 of them.
Ezekiel 36:24-32 For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land. Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them. And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God. I will also save you from all your uncleannesses: and I will call for the corn, and will increase it, and lay no famine upon you. And I will multiply the fruit of the tree, and the increase of the field, that ye shall receive no more reproach of famine among the heathen. Then shall ye remember your own evil ways, and your doings that were not good, and shall lothe yourselves in your own sight for your iniquities and for your abominations.
Joel 2:12-14 Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil. Who knoweth if he will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind him; even a meat offering and a drink offering unto the LORD your God?
Zephaniah 2:3 Seek ye the LORD, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD'S anger.
Philippians 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
If you DIED on the cross with Christ: and ONLY Christ arose, and you arose a NEW CREATION, Christ in you, the Holy Ghost in you.
You are now just the BODY of Christ.
Why would you NOT BELIEVE the Holy Ghost communicates with the body HE LIVES IN.
Christ ONLY arose from the GRAVE, that GOD'S GIFT to YOU.
The written word ONLY declares the WORKS of God, to bring you to TRUTH, who you are as a NEW CREATION.
Philippians 2:13 For it is GOD (in you) that WORKETH both TO WILL and TO DO his good pleasure.
You don't think when you WILL or DO, it's not the HOLY GHOST talking to you, your his BODY, every second he is talking to you, CAUSING YOU to will and do his good pleasure.
The bible is his WITNESS to this.
Ezekiel 36:27 I will out my spirit (the Holy Ghost) IN YOU and CAUSE you to walk in my statutes, and keep my judgements, and DO THEM.
YOU DIED on the CROSS, only CHRIST arose, making you a NEW CREATION, the BODY of CHRIST (the Holy Ghost, the Spirit of God)
The Spirit WILL rule all nations with a ROD, Christ in YOU, the ROD of Jesse.
We are the body of Christ; we were raised a joint heir with Christ, the Spirit of God that raised Christ is the LIFE in US, his body.
Everything that we do IS WORKS: but not OUR works, we will and do what God CAUSES us to do, EVERYTHING is HIS WORKS, we are just the instrument that God uses to do HIS WORKS.
Just as God created ALL THINGS, through JESUS; we do all works of God, through JESUS.
Ezekiel 36:27 And I will put my Spirit WITHIN YOU, and CAUSE you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgements and DO THEM.
Philippians 2:13 For it is GOD (in you) that WORKETH both TO WILL and TO DO of his good pleasure.
Revelation 2:26 And he that overcometh, and keepeth MY WORKS unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:
Jeremiah 51:20 Thou art my battle axe and weapons of war; for with thee WILL I break in pieces the nations, and with thee will I destroy the kingdoms ......
Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
Ezekiel 36:24-29
For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land. Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them. And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God. I will also save you from all your uncleannesses: and I will call for the corn, and will increase it, and lay no famine upon you.
2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Jude 1:24, 25
Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.
The true gospel of the Bible is a gospel where God does 100% of the work in saving us and our works cannot and do not contribute to our salvation in any way whatsoever.
If we have become saved it is because God has chosen us, paid for our sins, drawn us, and saved us. And He will therefore KEEP us.
If we are following a gospel where we can lose our salvation, we are not following the gospel of the Bible.
Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil. Who knoweth if he will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind him; even a meat offering and a drink offering unto the LORD your God?
Jonah 3:4-10
Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown. So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them. For the word came unto the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, and he laid his robe from him, and covered him with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. And he caused it to be proclaimed and published through Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying, Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste any thing: let them not feed, nor drink water: But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily unto God: yea, let them turn every one from his evil way, and from the violence that is in their hands. Who can tell if God will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not? And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not.
Ezekiel 36:24-31
For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land. Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes
Today we see Israel in their land but there's no throne and there's definitely no peace.
HERE'S HOW JEREMIAH DESCRIBES THAT DAY.
Jeremiah 23:5-8.
Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth.
In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.
Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that they shall no more say, The LORD liveth, which brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt;
But, The LORD liveth, which brought up and which led the seed of the house of Israel out of the north country, and from all countries whither I had driven them; and they shall dwell in their own land.
HERE'S ZECHARIAH.
Zechariah 8
Zachariah 8:8 Says "And I will bring them, and they shall dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God, in "TRUTH AND IN RIGHTEOUSNESS."
That's not what they can claim today.
HERE'S ZECHARIAH.
"Thus saith the LORD of hosts; In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you. Zechariah 8:23.
In "that day" the nation of Israel will be a vine that bares fruit.
a starch contrast to Ezekiel 36:20 and where they stand today.
Today as a nation Israel currently rejects there King.
However in Genesis 49:1 Jacob bless his sons and give them a prophetic msg for the last days.
I find Genesis 49:8-12 provocative.
This seems to mirror Revelation and a far future Kingdom with Christ on the throne.
Considering the description of the Covenants this earthly Kingdom hasn't happened yet.
Basic points: Scripture makes it clear that we as believers are to "suffer for His name's sake" ( Philippians 1:29). We are given a new heart with our stony heart removed ( Ezekiel 36:26). We are to love the brethren ( 1 John 3:14) if we have "passed from death to life." We also love our enemies ( Matt. 5:44) and we should read the entire passage to meditate on how we pray for them who despitefully use you"; etc. We are aliens ( 1 Peter 2:11-12; see also 1 Chron. 29:15) and not of this world. We are truly born again and seated in heavenly places ( Eph. 2:6) and our treasure is now in heaven as well ( Matt. 6:20-21). We understand that we were saved as hopeless sinners and therefore serve as "unworthy servants" ( Luke 17:7-10). We still have peace that passes understanding (Phillipians 4:7); and is not of this world ( John 14:27).
With all this we have an understanding of how we have been called and chosen and predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son ( Romans 8:29).
We learn to love His ways and His Word; trusting God for the difficult and hard scriptures and sayings as well. A true believer is being transformed by the renewing of His mind ( Romans 12:2) and is concerned about the needs of others; particularly within the house of God. Hebrews 13 as well as Paul's example ( 2 Cor. 11:28) despite the persecutions he endured. We desire to grow and also must believe He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him ( Heb. 11:6). That means we also desire to win the prize of the high calling (Phillipians 3:14). Therefore those in Christ should be careful not to lose their reward ( Rev. 3:11).
All this being said; there are examples of those who think they are saved but are not; as well as those who make it into heaven but suffer loss. Evidence of fruit can be seen in time; and each of us are responsible to test ourselves to see if we are in the faith ( 2 Cor. 13:5). Seek and ye shall find ( Matt 7:7-8
You said we ARE working with the Holy Spirit:
We ARE NOT working WITH the Holy Spirit.
We are a POT, a pot does nothing, it's made to HOLD something, we; a pot, hold the SPIRIT, the SPIRIT gives the POT LIFE, the Spirit does ALL THE WORK, the pot only does what the SPIRIT CAUSES it to DO. YOU DIED on the cross: a NEW CREATION arose, the BODY of CHRIST.
Ezekiel 36:27 And I WILL put my Spirit IN YOU, and CAUSE YOU to WALK in my statutes and to KEEP my judgements and DO THEM.
Psalms 145:10 ALL THY WORKS shall praise thee ......
Psalms 139:14 ..... I am fearfully and wonderfully made (a NEW CREATION): marvellous are THY WORKS .....
Psalms 104:30 ....the SENDEST FORTH thy SPIRIT, they are CREATED (anew), thou renewest the face of the earth.
The gospel of the RESURRECTION has been lost to the traditions of man.
And God shined light in to DARKNESS (the pots of the earth) and they COMPREHENDED it not.
God Bless YOU!
What is ONE SAVED FROM?
DEATH
If you don't believe; you will DIE in your SIN (unbelief), ALL other sins are COVERED by the BLOOD of Christ.
You cannot; add or take away, from the WORKS of the CROSS of Christ.
Did his CROSS save mankind; from DEATH, or was the WORKS of the CROSS useless?
Philippians 3:18 For MANY (christians) walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are ENEMIES of the CROSS of Jesus Christ.
Galatians 2:20 I am CRUCIFIED with Christ, yet I LIVE, yet NOT I, but CHRIST ......
ONLY the BODY of Christ was RESURRECTED.
1 Corinthians 12:27 Ye are the BODY of Christ ..... you're just a BODY, nothing else.
Ezekiel 36:27 And I will put my Spirit in YOU (my BODY) and CAUSE you to walk in my statutes, and KEEP my judgements and DO THEM.
Ephesians 4:4 ..... ONE BODY ....
Most don't BELIEVE the WORKS of the CROSS of Christ.
God Bless YOU!
Once again; the verse "the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom" is a necessary verse to quote and is found in Proverbs as well as at least a couple places in Psalms. Assuming that there is a genuine conversion needs to be in word and deed. Confessing with our mouth must be accompanied by believing in our heart ( Romans 10:9-10). Believing in our heart must involve; of course a heart change as Ezekiel 36:26 indicates. Evidence of that is an understanding that as sinners we are coming from being ENEMIES of God (i.e. the enmity is in both directions) as Romans 5:10 indicates. True faith understands the painful sacrifice of Christ to pay the redemption through the atonement which only His blood could do in our behalf. Obedience accompanies true love for God as John 14:15 indicates. RECOGNITION that we are crucified with Christ ( Galatians 2:20) means that our new nature is now having new affections and the old one is something which we no longer find our "default" mode. We are beyond wanting to avoid sin because of the consequences but because we recognize that we are offending a Holy God who dwells in us ( 2 Cor. 5:1; and apparently the meaning implicit in John 1:14 where He dwells in us. True salvation never brings contentment with sin; we may fall away but as Proverbs says in chapter 24; verse 16 he rises again; but it is not so for the wicked. We are saved by grace but always have potential to sin and a true believer will be as Paul was cognizant and wary of anything that will get in the way until the end of this earthly existance ( Philippians 3:12-14). This is like 1 Corinthians 9:24 in striving to gain the prize.
Another related situation is that a true believer recognizes that rewards can be attained or lost according to Revelation 3:11. Realizing that we can enter heaven but as through the fire suffering loss ( 1 Cor. 3:15) shows salvation is the beginning of the journey of a truly saved person
So therefore to be free from the law we can choose to follow the Spirit or God forbid use it as a license to sin. ( Romans 6:1). That is what determines if we are truly free as a slave to Christ; or living what seems right to us but leads to death ( Prov. 14:12). Freedom is in following Christ and part of the New Covenant; but doesn't remove the universal laws affecting things such as murder and divorce and adultery (such as seen in Mark 6:18). This shows how even pagans are under covenant vow obligations. There are ceremonial laws and special O.T. laws specifically for Israel (which would cover the Sabbath Day requirement). That differentiation can help us understand things better; Jesus goes one step beyond with murder and adultery with the state of the heart. We also need to look at sins of omission as well as commission and how things affect others with a sort of ripple effect. Outer actions reflect the fruit of our inner most being; and whether we have a new heart or heart of stone
( Ezekiel 36:26).
Christ needs to Lord of all or He is not our Master; we must fall on the rock or be crushed ( Matt. 21:44).
Agape.
Why do you assume the beast in Revelation is satan or the anti-christ?
Daniel 7:23 ...the FORTH beast shall be the FORTH KINGDOM on earth ....
John the Baptist came preaching the KINGDOM of GOD; the FORTH kingdom on earth, the FORTH BEAST, the last kingdom on earth.
The Kingdom of God has been on earth now for about 2000 years; CHRIST IN THE FLESH, IN YOU, his BODY, causing man TO WILL and TO DO his good pleasure.
Ezekiel 36:27 I WILL put MY SPIRIT IN YOU and CAUSE YOU to walk in my statutes and TO KEEP my judgements and DO THEM
Revelation 6:7 And when HE (the lamb of God) had opened the forth seal, I heard the voice of the FORTH BEAST (the lamb of God, the kingdom of God) SAY, come and see
Revelation 6:8 And I looked, and behold, a pale horse, and his name that sat on him WAS DEATH, and the grave followed after him, and POWER WAS GIVEN TO THEM (the image of the BEAST, the kingdom of GOD) over the forth part of the earth, to KILL with the SWORD (the word of God), and with HUNGER (no bread of life), and with DEATH, and with the BEAST of the EARTH (those that carry the mark of the BEAST: the kingdom of God.
Revelation 12:16 And the earth HELPED the WOMAN, and the earth OPENED her MOUTH (DEATH and the grave), and swallowed up the FLOOD (people, tongues and nations) which the dragon cast out of his mouth.
Psalms 7:13 He hath also prepared for him the INSTRUMENTS of DEATH; he ORDAINED his ARROWS against the persecutors.
Jeremiah 51:29 THOU (those that carry the MARK) are my battle axe and WEAPONS of WAR (arrows, the word of GOD); for with THEE (the saints, the BODY of Christ, the IMAGE of the BEAST) WILL I break in pieces the NATIONS, and with THEE will I destroy kingdoms.
Revelation 2:27 ...to him that overcometh, WILL I give POWER over the NATIONS .....
God Bless You!
Recognizing that God is generous to you is acknowledging God and his presensence in you: YOUR HIS BODY. His word says he causes you to do his pleasure; therefore, you are not acting irresponsible with his generosity, but are acting according to his will.
Philippians 2:13 For it is God that WORKETH in you, both TO WILL and TO DO of his good pleasure.
Ezekiel 36:27 And I WILL put my spirit IN YOU and CAUSE you to walk in my statutes and ye shall keep my JUDGEMENTS and DO THEM.
Colossians 1:27 .....THIS MYSTERY ..... CHRIST IN YOU ......
You DIED with Christ on the cross, ONLY Christ arose; and you as a joint heir, with Christ of that resurrection, A NEW CREATION.
Luke 20:36 Neither can they (YOU, Jema) DIE anymore, for they (YOU, Jema) are equal unto the angels, and are the children of God, being the CHILDREN (YOU, Jema) of the RESURRECTION.
Revelation 20:6 Blessed and holy is he (YOU, Jema) that hath part in the FIRST (you and Christ) RESURRECTION ......
1 John 3:9 Whosoever is BORN of God (TRUTH) CANNOT COMMIT SIN; for his seed (the anointing) remaineth in him, and he cannot sin because he is born of God (TRUTH).
The wages of sin is DEATH: you DIED on the cross, the life IN YOU is CHRIST, your the BODY of CHRIST.
BELIEVE, Christ is CAUSING you to do HIS WILL, for his good pleasure, you ARE NOT irresponsible, but walking in the WILL of God.
God Bless you
Just to refer to some of your points, David0921. My "view of OT Salvation is a Gospel of Grace plus Works". I would rather define my view as: "FULL Salvation" was not known by the OT saints under the Law. Whereas the 'Gospel of Grace plus Works' would apply today, where man chooses to add his own efforts, even the Law, to make God's Grace truly effective. Israel could never be saved whilst under the Law, for the Law (& the Sacrifices) gave no salvific provision. Why God accepted them, was simply because of their relationship to God by their election, obedience & ordained sacrifices. But they had to, like all those pre-Cross, wait for Christ's redemptive Work to be completed.
Re: Nicodemus. Yes, he should have, as a teacher of the Torah & the Writings, picked up easily what Jesus was speaking about concerning re-birth. Scriptures such as Psalm 51;10, Psalm 51:16,17; Ezekiel 11:19; Ezekiel 36:26 which Nico knew, should have immediately brought him understanding to the revelation Jesus just gave him. The OT saints could only yearn after such a cleansing of heart as God forgave them when they repented, but not until the Spirit of God would come (to whom Jesus pointed), would Nico & others experience that spiritual re-birth.
My great emphasis on the Luke 16 account is because I don't regard it as a parable. I've written before on this: that a parable (as Jesus gave), were simple, everyday stories that gave a view of Kingdom Life & God's Requirements. If the rich man, Lazarus, & Abraham being mentioned were simply a part of a parable (a non-specific account), then Jesus was lying, for no such situation ever existed or could exist in Hades & Jesus' disciples & Pharisees who were listening, would have been grossly misled into understanding about the after-life. Yes, the body lies in the grave, but the spirit lives on; & pre-Cross, Hades is given as that place.
When we think that we do anything to contribute to our salvation we fool our self's, it is the Lord who brings and cleans us, it is the lord who separates us from our idols. It he God who gives us the new hearts, and removes our stoney heart. He puts his spirit in us, which now causes us to walk in his commands. He is the cause and our obedience is the effect. Do not stop striving against sin, but remember Christ, who paid it all. While we wait for the Lords return , we trust him and grow in submission. Purposefully, to the Glory of our Saviour Jesus Christ, our God.
Father we Praise you this day for all that you say you will do for those in Christ. Those who belong to you as children. Those who submit to your will as servants of righteousness. Since you are the one who begins the work, oh Lord help us trust you to finish it and not in our self's So that all will know all glory belongs to you.
Amen
Part 5.
When discussing this topic we put to much emphasis on Israel. The real emphasis is on Gods Promises!
God made his name great by his dealings with a rebellious Nation, Israel was a picture of all of mankind and the Adamic nature. we would have done no better.
Without the law and Israel failure to bare fruit under the law, we have no way to measure ourselves and this fallen nature of the flesh.
Ezekiel 36:23-24 says
"And I will sanctify my great name, which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, saith the Lord GOD, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes.
For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land.
How do you spiritualize a verse and fulfil it?
It has to be literally do it!
How do God Allegorically be sanctified in Israel before their eyes?
And then take them from among the heathen, and gather them out of all countries, and will bring them into their own land. Allegorically!?
Gigi, you said that's the Church receiving these promises,
If God said I will gather you from all countries and left off right there, you would have a case, "small but at least you would have one"
But God went on to say and put you in your OWN Land!
When did the Church have a Land?
And if this Land is Heaven, how is it the Heathen going to see what is mentioned in the verses above?
God bless you both and Goodnight.
I concur with Brother Chris.
God is going to give Israel a heart of flesh.
He's going to restore them right here on earth and fulfil the promises to Abraham.
Jeremiah 23:5-6.
Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice IN THE EARTH.
In his days JUDAH SHALL BE SAVED, AND ISRAEL SHALL DWELL SAFELY: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.
And God wants the world to see it!!
Jeremiah 31:10.
Hear the word of the LORD, O ye nations, and declare it in the isles afar off, and say, He that scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him, as a shepherd doth his flock.
He does this for his name sake!
Ezekiel 36:22-27.
Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; I do not this for your sakes, O house of Israel, but for mine holy name's sake, which ye have profaned among the heathen, whither ye went.
And I will sanctify my great name, which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, saith the Lord GOD, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes.
For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land... ( This will be done on earth! There's no heathens in heaven! )
Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.
A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.
And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.
God bless.
"It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not." ( Lamentations 3:22)
...and in the wilderness where you saw how the LORD your God carried you, as a man carries his son, in all the way that you went until you came to this place.' ( Deuteronomy 1:31)
But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. ( Romans 5:8)
The mercy of God and His lovingkindness are something that never pass; or grow old. It is something to daily praise Him for no matter what the circumstances as we know that we shall indeed be in His presence someday; and out of these old bodies whether by Rapture or Resurrection. He has secured us for all eternity. As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. ( Psalm 103:12). As believers he has replaced our heart of stone with a heart of flesh ( Ezekiel 36:26). His children are sanctified and inevitably glorified ( Romans 8:30). Whether we consider the Israelites physically delivered from Egypt's bondage to the Promised Land; or our own delivery from the earth to heaven the Spirit seals believers with this "down payment" ( Eph. 1:13).
WORD OF WARNING
That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. ( Matt. 5:45).
This verse is related to previous ones speaking of loving our enemies as part of the Sermon on the Mount. Christ shared close ties with Judas Iscariot; according to Psalm 41:9 "Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me." The unregenerate enjoy for a time the creation in this life but attribute their blessings to what they consider the "goodness" of their heart; their accomplishments; merits; accolades etc. See Ecclesiastes 8:11 for a warning on delayed judgment; also see Galatians 6:7.
Part 2.
Touching on their blindness.
Romans 11:25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, (until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.) This is their current position.
26) And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:
Paul opens up this chapter with this. "I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.
Romans 11:24 For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be graffed into their own olive tree?
Verses 27-29. For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.
As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sakes.
For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.
This is a covenant of God unto them! And it is without repentance!
He do this for his name's sake as mentioned in Ezekiel 36:23-38.
This happens in the literal Millenium Kingdom right here on earth. It's to many details to say it happens spiritually or in our hearts.
So, if we take the Millenium kingdom to be right after the 70th week of Daniel, these conditions haven't been met yet.
So, if hold to a post-trib viewpoint where all the saints is raptured up at the end of the tribulation and judgement is poured out on all the rest of the world, Who's going to populate the Millenium?
God bless you Brother.
Israel is God's elect and so is the Church both for different purposes.
If you are saying God is not through with Israel I also hold that view.
Here's more direct set of scriptures for the "Nation" of Israel.
Ezekiel 36:22-38.
Therefore say unto the "HOUSE" of Israel,
THUS SAITH THE LORD GOD; I DO NOT THIS FOR YOUR SAKES, O HOUSE OF ISRAEL BUT FOR MINE HOLY NAME'S SAKE, which ye have profaned among the heathen, whither ye went.
AND I WILL SANCTIFY MY GREAT NAME, which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; AND THE HEATHEN SHALL KNOW THAT I AM THE LORD, saith the Lord GOD, when I SHALL BE SANCTIFIED IN YOU BEFORE THEIR EYES.
( God will restore the Nation Israel for his Name sake )
Vs 36:24 For I will take you from among the heathen, AND GATHER YOU OUT OF ALL COUNTRIES, and will bring you into your own land.
( God is going to gather them of ALL Countries!)
There has never been a gathering like this and this certainly not the Church! The Church never possessed a Land.
Vs 36:26-28. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.
And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.
AND YE SHALL DWELL IN THE LAND THAT I GAVE TO YOUR FATHERS; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God.
There's no way to spiritualize this as to say this is the Church and God is going to rule in our hearts.
And the Spirit remains absent in them today so it didn't happen at the cross.
Again! Here's Paul pointed forward looking for salvation for his Kinsman of the flesh in Romans 11:1
"I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.
Conclusion;
Romans 11:25-27.
This is after the cross!
More to come at a later date
God bless.
Continuing with the thought on deliverance; there are verses which state we are not to be hasty in laying on of hands with someone ( 1 Tim. 5:22). Obviously; the extended conversations with demons that are almost always on camera are not needed most of the time based on how Christ operated. It is often obvious this is for entertainment value; and certainly isn't helpful if someone is in need of deliverance to toy with the demons in them or keep them waiting. It is rare but not unheard of to see a person who is going through great grief be prayed for that is NOT possessed; or perhaps just oppressed.
If we look at the example of the parable of the seed and sower in Matthew 13:20 we see immediate joy at the Word without a root. Nonetheless we are to confess with our mouth AND believe in our heart that Christ is Lord; both mind and soul are involved. ( Romans 10:9). Since our heart is deceitful ( Jeremiah 17:9) above all things and desperately wicked; we need a new heart as Ezekiel 36:26 states. I have pointed out before that unless we realize that we are being delivered from an enmity with God we aren't going to be drawn toward Christ; we are going to shrink back and eventually fall away. ( Romans 8:7 as well as in many other passages!) BUT; as with anything else joy is the second attribute of good fruit that the Spirit MUST begin to place in our souls after love as the first ( Gal. 5:22). Note that the THIRD attribute is peace; so if we are truly saved we start to overcome fear; on the other hand there is no peace for the wicked. ( Isaiah 48:22; and other parts of Isaiah and Psalms; etc.)
Part of maturity in Christ is knowing the difference between spiritual fruit and our emotions. Seeing Paul's example of joy in extreme suffering certainly is a good example of this as well as Christ's love for us that He would suffer as He did to fulfill the Father's will.
Fellowship should balance mind and heart worship rightly
a new heart also will i give you, and a new spirit will i put within you: and i will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and i will give you an heart of flesh.
and i will put my spirit within you, and ( cause ) you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.
There is only ONE SIN ..... UNBELIEF .....all other sins are COVERED by the blood of Christ.
John 16:8 And when HE IS COME, he (the Holy Ghost) will reprove the world of SIN .... UNBELIEF ..... the HOLY Ghost is going to rule the world with a rod or iron (truth and mercy)
John 16:9 OF SIN, because they BELIEVE NOT on me (THE WORD) .....
Most believe Jesus came for the WORKS of the cross ..... they don't BELIEVE those WORKS ....
ALL BODIES DIED (yours, mine, and Christ's) on the cross 2000 years ago; ONLY ONE BODY arose, the BODY of CHRIST.
1 Corinthians 12:27 ... NOW ye are the BODY of Christ ..... who did NO SIN .....
There is NO .... I, me, myself ... ONLY ONE BODY .... the body of Christ ..... all creation, the NEW CREATION ....
John 17:22 And the glory that thou (the Spirit that raised Christ) has given me, I have GIVEN THEM (the new creation) that they may be ONE as we are ONE.
If you don't BELIEVE his WORDS your continuing in SIN ..... if you BELIEVE his WORDS you CANNOT SIN .... your just doing what Christ WILLS and Causes you TO DO.
Colossians 1:27 ..... this MYSTERY .... Christ in YOU ......
Ezekiel 36:27 And I (the Holy Ghost) will put my Spirit IN YOU (his body) and CAUSE you to walk in my statutes, and keep my judgements, and DO THEM.
Philippians 2:13 For it is God that WORKETH IN YOU both to WILL and to do his good pleasure.
Most don't BELIEVE the WORD.
God is giving you eyes to SEE his truth, your Christ's BODY, he is causing you to DO his good pleasure; therefore, you; his body, CANNOT SIN, because it's HIS WORKS, not your works.
Revelation 2:26 ....and he that keepeth MY WORKS to the end, to him will I give power over the nations ....as I have been given of my Father .....
God bless you as Christ CAUSES us to walk in TRUTH.
I see it as you do concerning the indwelling of the spirit upon the people of Israel. It was different than the way he indwells the Church.
In the Old Testament God often spoke in types, allegorically and similitudes. They also didn't have spiritual understanding of the new covenant ministry and the Church.
We see this evident when the Lord was talking to Nicodemus and also the Samaritan woman at the Well.
They had no idea what being born from above meant or what worshiping in truth and in spirit meant.
They didn't have the Holyspirit IN them as you see mentioned in Ezekiel 36:26-27
"A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.
And I will put my spirit within you, AND "CAUSE" YOU TO WALK IN MY STATUTES, AND YE SHALL KEEP MY JUDGMENTS, AND DO THEM.
(He will cause them to walk in his statutes,) "That hadn't taken place yet "
The death burial and resurrection hasn't taken place yet, Therefore the baptism of the Holyspirit that quickens the believer wasn't a part of their ministry and wasn't meant to be. If it had been part of their ministry righteousness would have come by the law.
We would be under the Leviticus priesthood and Christ wouldn't be our High Priest.
The spirit would come upon them to minister but It seems there was a certain season for certain things he would reveal to them.
Also God spoke to them by prophets he would anoint, today he speaks to us by his Spirit that teaches us the things of Christ as mentioned in John 14:26. (Church things!) "Something that wasn't revealed to them at that time".
Without the Holyspirit they would not have had an blood tipped ear to receive them. John 16:12-14.
Note;
I'm not digging into eschatology but focusing on Israel and their sacrifices and the law, what God required of them and what thet put their trust in.
I'm fully in agreement with you.
God bless you.
God bless.
Water Baptism does not contribute to our Salvation in any way whatsoever. It is not a requirement for Salvation, it does not guarantee our Salvation, it does not seal us so that we will not lose our Salvation.
Water Baptism during the Church Age, like Circumcision in the Old Testament, was a sign pointing to some aspect of the Nature of Salvation. In this case the washing away of our sins by God Himself when God applies His Salvation to our life in saving us.
Ezekiel 36:25 Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.
The Baptism that saves is the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, God Himself. Water Baptism is a sign and a symbol of the Baptism that God performs.
Do not fall into the snare of trusting in Water Baptism as contributing to your Salvation in some way. Unfortunately that is what National Israel did to a high degree with regard to the Ceremonial Laws. And what many of the New Testament Churches have done to one degree or another.
Rom 5:12-14
I would agree with all except, for the last sentence, beginning with "Absolute Purity". Luke 6:40; 1John 4:17; Rom 12:1; the plain write of the words used denotes we're still living in this world.
Hypocrites; I don't believe you intentionally imply this, yet the results of your statement implying this. They did not speak of the new birth, but from the new birth, 2Cor 5:17; Ezekiel 36:25,26,27; heart of flesh; denotes our life now in the flesh. Eph 4:24; you put Him on, here; Col 3:10; The apostles lived, enjoy & possessed what they preached; Philippians 3:15,16; Again, what God required of us is to live according to the measure of the Truth that He has revealed, the apostles received Acts 1:8' Eph 1:19; Eph 3:20; Col 1:29; to do so.
You stated "has sin left them or ever leave them: Never, but they can have victory over sin; this is an oxymoron. Being born again of His Spirit alias; Matt 3:11-12; the threshing floor of the heart is thoroughly purge of the chaff. (sin nature), the spiritual old man of sin, the Adamic nature that animates the flesh. He's deny, mortify & final crucify, he's dead & self is seen no more. All by the Grace appearance within our hearts.
Friend,,,,your covering yourself, but not with the Spirit of the Lord, but with; Gen 3:7;
Your the understanding is veiled, for only the spirit of darkness would plead for sin to remain within one, after all that God has wrought & revealed to us through His Son. For he (Satan) knows that despite one's profession, though maybe ever so high or lofty, & profess with elegant words, it what one does that defines him, Rom 6:16; John 8:34; Rom 2:6;
Hebrews 9:11,12,13,14,15; do you hear what the Spirit is saying here? The flesh purified, OT, now in NT even our conscience cleanse, the heart. Eternal inheritance Roman 8:17; 2 Pet 1:4; John 17:21-23;
Therefore, 2Cor 7:1;
In Love & Truth
Frankie J
1 John 3:9 Whosoever is born of God CANNOT commit sin, for his SEED (GOD) remaineth in him, and he CANNOT SIN because he is born of God.
Ezekiel 36:27 And I will put my Spirit (God is Spirit) in YOU and CAUSE you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgements and DO them.
The kingdom of God only COMES to you if you believe what the word says.
Matthew 12:28 But if I (the Spirit of TRUTH) cast out devils (the spirit of deception) by the Spirit of God, then the Kingdom of God has COME unto you.
Was Paul saying something different; or, was he agreeing agreeing that is GOD IN YOU; HIS flesh and bone, that keeps you from sinning and not of yourself (your DEAD) only a NEW CREATION exist.
When you BELIEVE you are going to keep sinning in this life, then your going to keep sinning.
Matthew 8:13 .... and as thou hast BELIEVE, so be it done unto you ........
Do you BELIEVE you are a NEW CREATION, the flesh and bone OF CHRIST?
John 17:22 And the glory that thou has given me, I have GIVEN them, that they may be ONE as we are ONE.
If you don't believe that scripture, then the Kingdom of God has not YET COME to you.
God bless you
part 2.
God name is at stake when he deal with his people.
Look how God deals with Israel even after he Judged/punished them.
Ezekiel 36:19-23. And I scattered them among the heathen, and they were dispersed through the countries: according to their way and according to their doings I judged them.
And when they entered unto the heathen, whither they went, they profaned my holy name, when they said to them, These are the people of the LORD, and are gone forth out of his land.
But I had pity for mine holy name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the heathen, whither they went.
Therefore say unto the house of Israel,
Thus saith the Lord GOD; I DO NOT THIS FOR YOUR SAKES, O house of Israel, BUT FOR MINE HOLY NAME'S SAKE, which ye have profaned among the heathen, whither ye went.
AND I WILL SANCTIFY MY GREAT NAME, which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, saith the Lord GOD, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes.
Also;
Isaiah 48:9-11.
Many more examples.
I will continue at another time.
God bless
I would add one other thing.
The process of becoming Born Again is absolutely an instantaneous process of which God is entirely in control. It is a true miracle as God replaces or changes (we can't understand the mechanics) our spiritual dead soul (i.e. our stony heart) with a new resurrected soul. (Read Ezekiel 36:26,27). This can occur even before we are born (John the Baptist) or in the last moments of our life (thief on the cross) or any time in between, but always on God's time table, not ours.
When we do become Born Again there will very quickly be a change in our personality, in that our new Resurrected Soul is going to have a real problem with our sin infected body that still lusts after sin. And we will find in our life a growing desire to know and do God's will and turn away from sin. This is called Growing in Grace.
This is guaranteed to occur with every one of God's elect at some point in their life.
Read the account of the salvation of the Ninevites in Jonah where God saved 120,000 of them.
Ezekiel 36:24-32 For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land. Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them. And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God. I will also save you from all your uncleannesses: and I will call for the corn, and will increase it, and lay no famine upon you. And I will multiply the fruit of the tree, and the increase of the field, that ye shall receive no more reproach of famine among the heathen. Then shall ye remember your own evil ways, and your doings that were not good, and shall lothe yourselves in your own sight for your iniquities and for your abominations.
Joel 2:12-14 Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil. Who knoweth if he will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind him; even a meat offering and a drink offering unto the LORD your God?
Zephaniah 2:3 Seek ye the LORD, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD'S anger.
Philippians 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
If you DIED on the cross with Christ: and ONLY Christ arose, and you arose a NEW CREATION, Christ in you, the Holy Ghost in you.
You are now just the BODY of Christ.
Why would you NOT BELIEVE the Holy Ghost communicates with the body HE LIVES IN.
Christ ONLY arose from the GRAVE, that GOD'S GIFT to YOU.
The written word ONLY declares the WORKS of God, to bring you to TRUTH, who you are as a NEW CREATION.
Philippians 2:13 For it is GOD (in you) that WORKETH both TO WILL and TO DO his good pleasure.
You don't think when you WILL or DO, it's not the HOLY GHOST talking to you, your his BODY, every second he is talking to you, CAUSING YOU to will and do his good pleasure.
The bible is his WITNESS to this.
Ezekiel 36:27 I will out my spirit (the Holy Ghost) IN YOU and CAUSE you to walk in my statutes, and keep my judgements, and DO THEM.
YOU DIED on the CROSS, only CHRIST arose, making you a NEW CREATION, the BODY of CHRIST (the Holy Ghost, the Spirit of God)
The Spirit WILL rule all nations with a ROD, Christ in YOU, the ROD of Jesse.
God Bless You
Works have nothing to do with salvation.
The wages of sin is DEATH.
You were SAVED from DEATH and GIVEN IMMORTAL LIFE by being resurrected a joint heir with Christ.
Eternal life is a GIFT of God.
It was given to you before you ever knew to do right or wrong.
The bible is the words of God; to bring you to truth of what Christ has done for you, and who you are as a NEW CREATION in HIM.
You are now the BODY of CHRIST, Christ is the LIFE in you you HIS body. All the WORKS: you his body does; are not your works, but HIS WORKS.
Ezekiel 36:27 And I will put my SPIRIT IN YOU and CAUSE you to walk in my statues, and to keep my judgements and DO THEM.
Philippians 2:13 For it is God who WORKETH in you (his body) both TO WILL and TO DO his good pleasure.
The WORDS were given so creation can come to TRUTH by those words that were written.
You can't be ONE with Christ if you do BELIEVE what he says he has done.
God Bless you.
We are the body of Christ; we were raised a joint heir with Christ, the Spirit of God that raised Christ is the LIFE in US, his body.
Everything that we do IS WORKS: but not OUR works, we will and do what God CAUSES us to do, EVERYTHING is HIS WORKS, we are just the instrument that God uses to do HIS WORKS.
Just as God created ALL THINGS, through JESUS; we do all works of God, through JESUS.
Ezekiel 36:27 And I will put my Spirit WITHIN YOU, and CAUSE you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgements and DO THEM.
Philippians 2:13 For it is GOD (in you) that WORKETH both TO WILL and TO DO of his good pleasure.
Revelation 2:26 And he that overcometh, and keepeth MY WORKS unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:
Jeremiah 51:20 Thou art my battle axe and weapons of war; for with thee WILL I break in pieces the nations, and with thee will I destroy the kingdoms ......
God bless you
Galatians 2:16
Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
Ezekiel 36:24-29
For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land. Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them. And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God. I will also save you from all your uncleannesses: and I will call for the corn, and will increase it, and lay no famine upon you.
2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Jude 1:24, 25
Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.
The true gospel of the Bible is a gospel where God does 100% of the work in saving us and our works cannot and do not contribute to our salvation in any way whatsoever.
If we have become saved it is because God has chosen us, paid for our sins, drawn us, and saved us. And He will therefore KEEP us.
If we are following a gospel where we can lose our salvation, we are not following the gospel of the Bible.
Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil. Who knoweth if he will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind him; even a meat offering and a drink offering unto the LORD your God?
Jonah 3:4-10
Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown. So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them. For the word came unto the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, and he laid his robe from him, and covered him with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. And he caused it to be proclaimed and published through Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying, Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste any thing: let them not feed, nor drink water: But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily unto God: yea, let them turn every one from his evil way, and from the violence that is in their hands. Who can tell if God will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not? And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not.
Ezekiel 36:24-31
For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land. Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes
Part 1.
2 Samuel 7:8-10.
Today we see Israel in their land but there's no throne and there's definitely no peace.
HERE'S HOW JEREMIAH DESCRIBES THAT DAY.
Jeremiah 23:5-8.
Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth.
In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.
Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that they shall no more say, The LORD liveth, which brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt;
But, The LORD liveth, which brought up and which led the seed of the house of Israel out of the north country, and from all countries whither I had driven them; and they shall dwell in their own land.
HERE'S ZECHARIAH.
Zechariah 8
Zachariah 8:8 Says "And I will bring them, and they shall dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God, in "TRUTH AND IN RIGHTEOUSNESS."
That's not what they can claim today.
HERE'S ZECHARIAH.
"Thus saith the LORD of hosts; In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you. Zechariah 8:23.
In "that day" the nation of Israel will be a vine that bares fruit.
a starch contrast to Ezekiel 36:20 and where they stand today.
Today as a nation Israel currently rejects there King.
However in Genesis 49:1 Jacob bless his sons and give them a prophetic msg for the last days.
I find Genesis 49:8-12 provocative.
This seems to mirror Revelation and a far future Kingdom with Christ on the throne.
Considering the description of the Covenants this earthly Kingdom hasn't happened yet.
God bless.
Basic points: Scripture makes it clear that we as believers are to "suffer for His name's sake" ( Philippians 1:29). We are given a new heart with our stony heart removed ( Ezekiel 36:26). We are to love the brethren ( 1 John 3:14) if we have "passed from death to life." We also love our enemies ( Matt. 5:44) and we should read the entire passage to meditate on how we pray for them who despitefully use you"; etc. We are aliens ( 1 Peter 2:11-12; see also 1 Chron. 29:15) and not of this world. We are truly born again and seated in heavenly places ( Eph. 2:6) and our treasure is now in heaven as well ( Matt. 6:20-21). We understand that we were saved as hopeless sinners and therefore serve as "unworthy servants" ( Luke 17:7-10). We still have peace that passes understanding (Phillipians 4:7); and is not of this world ( John 14:27).
With all this we have an understanding of how we have been called and chosen and predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son ( Romans 8:29).
We learn to love His ways and His Word; trusting God for the difficult and hard scriptures and sayings as well. A true believer is being transformed by the renewing of His mind ( Romans 12:2) and is concerned about the needs of others; particularly within the house of God. Hebrews 13 as well as Paul's example ( 2 Cor. 11:28) despite the persecutions he endured. We desire to grow and also must believe He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him ( Heb. 11:6). That means we also desire to win the prize of the high calling (Phillipians 3:14). Therefore those in Christ should be careful not to lose their reward ( Rev. 3:11).
All this being said; there are examples of those who think they are saved but are not; as well as those who make it into heaven but suffer loss. Evidence of fruit can be seen in time; and each of us are responsible to test ourselves to see if we are in the faith ( 2 Cor. 13:5). Seek and ye shall find ( Matt 7:7-8