Lies Christians Believe #6 – “I am justified by faith ALONE!”

October 2, 2017

Now, before you stone me or throw me in the dungeon for blaspheming the Reformation, hear me out. 😊

This lie is completely true in one sense, but if it is twisted (as it often is), it is a lie. Such a lie has the potential to lead many men to Hell because they think their “belief” in Jesus, regardless of their works, will save them.

We love to preach the message of salvation by faith through grace, apart from works and we should love that. We certainly should preach that and preach it confidently!

Let me give you Strong’s definition of this word (justify) used throughout the New Testament. Strong’s G1344 - “to render (that is, show or regard as) just or innocent: - free, justify (-ier), be righteous.” So, the word “justified” means that God regards a person as just, innocent or righteous. Does God regard us as holy only because of faith or because of works as well?

As I pointed out in a previous note (Lie #1), our actions do in fact affect God’s view of us and can determine our eternal destiny. If our actions affect God’s view of us, what does that mean for the issue of justification?

In my note titled Lies Christians believe #4, I spoke about the true nature of grace. I endeavored to show from Scripture that the role of grace after being born again was different than before being born again. 

Before conversion a man is drawn to God and saved apart from any works, because such a man was dead in sins. Grace could not expect a man to live soberly, righteously and godly in this present world. Grace could only point the Sinner to Christ, the source of all life and righteousness. But the man who has been liberated from slavery to sin will find that grace expects him to live like Jesus.

In the same way, the word “justified” needs to be understood in the two different ways that it is used in Scripture. When we take a word like faith, grace or justification and insist that there is only one way to understand that word, we end up being unbiblical. The first kind of justification found in Scripture (like grace) is apart from works. The sinner has not yet been grafted into the Vine through which he can bear fruit. His faith connects him to God because God will not cast out anyone who comes to Him in faith. At this point justification is apart from works because his faith has had no opportunity or ability to work until now.

The second kind of justification talked about in Scripture is justification by works. Whenever the Scriptures talk about Judgement Day, it is never written that a man will get to Heaven because of a profession of faith in Christ. It is ALWAYS works that justify a man on Judgement Day. Let me give you some examples of Scriptures that talk about being justified or condemned by works (at death or Judgement Day) regardless of our profession of faith. Note that some of these passages actually use the word “justified” and the Greek word used in those verses is the SAME Greek word used elsewhere to say that we are justified by faith.

Matthew 7:19 says that those who do not bear good fruit (works) will be thrown into the fire which is Hell. No profession of faith apart from works is going to save you here.

Matthew 7:21 says that it’s not the person who calls Jesus “Lord, Lord” (a profession of faith in Christ’s Lordship) that will enter God’s kingdom, but he that DOES the will of God will enter.

Matthew 12:36-37 warns us that we will be “justified” or “condemned” based on our words, even idle words. Notice the word “justified” is used here.

Matthew 25 tells several parables about Judgement Day. The last parable is of the sheep and the goats. Jesus makes it clear that people were regarded as sheep or goats based on what they did or did not do. They were justified – regarded as righteous in the sight of God because of their works, NOT their profession of faith.

Romans 2:6-10 – The context here is God’s judgement. God will give to each man according to His works! If a man were justified by faith only, without works, God would have said so. In fact, this passage says that it is those who seek for eternal life  by “patient continuance in well doing” that will be saved! Those who do not “obey the truth” will receive “indignation and wrath.”

James 2 of course tells how Abraham and Rahab were “justified” by works. God regarded them as just and holy because of their righteous works.

If justification has to do with being in right standing before God, we could include Jesus’ letters to the Churches in Revelation. He was going to remove some people’s names from the book of life because of their actions, not their lack of faith.

Why is it that we are justified or “regarded” as righteous before God through works?

Works are the fruit of saving faith. A man without works does not have a living faith any more than a body is alive without the spirit. When righteous works are present in a person, we know there is a living faith. Faith by itself will not produce works any more than faith in the mower will mow the lawn. God gave us a free will and intends that we use that will to choose to obey Him. Because we believe Jesus is Lord (faith), we deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow Him through His grace (works).

Works are a sign of righteousness in the heart. A good tree will produce good fruit and a bad tree will produce bad fruit. 1 John 2:29 says that righteous actions are a sign that we are born of God.

Being justified by works does not mean that we are saving ourselves. These are Christ’s works through us. We have a will and must choose to obey, but our choice will be misguided and powerless unless God gives us grace. It is God who works in us to do His good pleasure.

God hate’s evil actions and loves righteous actions. If this is the case, it must follow that He will only “justify” those whose lives are righteous. On the flip side, God will certainly not justify those whose actions are abhorrent in His sight, regardless of that person’s profession of faith. 1 John 3:7 says, “Little children, let no man deceive you, he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even has he is righteous.” Only a man who is living a righteous life is justified in God’s sight.

These works by which we will be “justified” come from walking in the Spirit. I am not talking about obeying the law of Moses or following our own set of rules. Romans 8:13 says that if we “THROUGH THE SPIRIT” mortify the deeds of the body, we shall live. Only works that flow from self denial and obedience to the Holy Spirit will bring life.

The first kind of justification comes because God has forgiven a man of his sins and given him a new heart apart from works. He now stands as a clean slate before God with all his previous sinful actions erased.

The second kind of justification is where Christ lives out His holy Life through that person in all future actions so that God can look on that person and justify them (regard them as holy) on Judgement Day. God will see that such a person has believed on the Son of God and obeyed as a result of their faith.

Faith without works is dead and no man will be justified on that Great Day unless they have done the will of God. Be not deceived, whoever doeth righteousness IS righteous and only the righteous will be justified on that great day of judgement. He that sinneth is of the devil and will share in his reward.

It may be argued that we are saved by faith. This is true, but it isn’t the faith itself that saves us but God’s response of grace to save those who come to Him in faith. We are saved, not because of our faith, but because of God’s gracious response to faith. In the same way, works do not save us from our sins, but God regards us as holy and just if our lives are righteous.

Do you stand justified before God?

Lies Christians Believe #5 ~ “I’m a saved sinner”

August 18, 2017

(I've added a bit to this one since it was posted on FB)

This lie is said by many and lived out by many more. For some I’m sure, it is simply some sort of “humble” rhetoric that is supposed to make them look less proud. It might also be an effort to keep some sort of camaraderie with unbelievers. They think that if they don’t talk as if they are holy, they won’t look self-righteous and push people away.

For others however, this lie is a statement of their false security. They will call themselves saved because, after all, they asked Jesus into their hearts. But then they call themselves sinners because they are sinners. And they are ok with that because they are “saved sinners.” Whatever that means. They consider it normal to sin in thought, word and deed every day. What they are saved from is still a mystery.

Whether it is simply an attempt to be “humble” or whether it’s actually the way people live, it’s high time we put such unbiblical terminology to rest…six feet under.

Listen to what Leonard Ravenhill has to say about such language:
“You know, people say that today. "I am a saved sinner." That is like saying you are a married bachelor. That is like saying you are an honest thief, or a pure harlot. You can't be a saved sinner. You are either saved or you are a sinner.”

I want us to consider several Biblical reasons why we should stop using the word “sinner” to refer to the saints:

The word sinner is never used in Scripture to describe anyone except for, 1) Unbelievers, or 2) Believers who are in a wrong relationship with God. Hence, if you are a “sinner,” you need to repent. The Bible contrasts the sinner and the righteous, which are you?

Sin separates from God (Isaiah 59:2) A holy God cannot have fellowship with sinners. Therefore, if you are a sinner, you are not in fellowship with God and need the saving work of Christ in your life.

He that sinneth is of the devil (1 John 3:8). Sinners are offspring of their father the devil and will share in his reward. The word “sinneth” is in the present continual sense. This is talking about someone who is in habitual sin, he lives a life of sin. Do you still want to call yourself a sinner?

1 John 1 says that if we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Do you believe that the person who confesses their sin is washed clean from ALL unrighteousness through Christ? Such a person cannot be called a sinner.

True humility is accepting what God says about us. It is not humble to call yourself a sinner (someone living in unrepentant sin), unless of course you are a sinner. God’s view of normal believers is that we are new creations in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17), partakers of the divine nature (2 Pet. 1:4), escaped the corruption of the world, we are sanctified, we are washed (1 Cor. 6:11), set free from the bondage of sin (Rom. 6:14), no longer living after the lusts of this world, we are the righteousness of God in Christ, justified by His blood (Rom. 5:9), being saved to the uttermost (Heb. 7:25), hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience (Heb. 10:22), we have a new heart, dead to sin (Rom. 6:11), alive to God, no longer slaves to sin (Rom. 6:18), servants of righteousness, saved from wrath (Rom. 5:9), reconciled to God  and beloved of God (Rom. 5:10; 1:7). Notice that many of those references are just from the first half of Romans! It’s incredible how highly God speaks of His church through Paul and the other apostles! If you look through the epistles you will find so much more evidence that God sees His people as a radically redeemed and holy people, zealous of good works. Do you still insist on calling yourself a sinner?

We are looking to our experience rather than to God’s Word. If we believed God’s Word and walked in obedience through grace, our experience would line up with God’s truth. We need to stop defining doctrine by our experience of failure in the Christian walk. We need to examine God’s Word and allow our hearts to be lifted up in faith and rejoicing for the great salvation that is ours through Christ! Once again, if we truly are “sinners,” we need to but confess our sins and seek for daily victory through the grace of God (see my last note “Lies Christians believe #4). We are not to accept a life of sin as the norm and let it inform our doctrine concerning victory over sin.

Paul was not a sinner. Inevitably someone will pipe up and say, “But Paul called himself the chief of sinners.” Context is key here as usual. I’m going to draw from an earlier note to address this. In 1 Timothy chapter 1 Paul seems to say that he is the chief of sinners until you read the context of that chapter and the context of his other epistles. The immediate context is talking about Paul’s past life of sin. In another book he says of himself, “Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe:” 1 Thess. 2:10. Which is it? Present tense “chief of sinners” or holy, just and unblameable? It can’t be both.

Not once, do the apostles talk as if being a “sinner” is the normative condition of believers. If someone was in sin or was a sinner, they are expected to repent and move on as “saints” and “holy brethren” etc.

Let's consider this further. Either Paul was really a “sinner” (contrary to the rest of his writings about himself) which means we was the worst habitual sinner in the world and therefore in a wrong relationship with God. Or, it was rhetoric, he was just being “humble” and was expressing feelings of modesty (Paul doesn’t do that kind of thing). OR he was talking about his previous life. Note, he was not admitting to His neediness and weakness apart from Christ. There’s a big difference between admitting our great need for God’s grace to live holy and...  admitting to being a “sinner” (one who habitually sins or has unconfessed sin). Please, before you disagree on this point, do a study through the epistles about “sinners” and what the Apostles considered to be the normal (and therefore attainable) condition of the church.

Paul is not some pie-in-the-sky idealist who can’t relate to human weakness or who has unattainable standards. The Holy Spirit told him what the church was to be like and would therefore provide the needed power to make it happen. The problem is, we don’t believe God’s Word as we ought to which is why we find our experience falling so far short of God’s plan for the Church.

Someone may object with the parable told by Jesus about the Pharisee and the Publican. The Pharisee was proud but the Publican was humble enough to admit he was a sinner. Some would argue that this means we should have a humble attitude and call ourselves sinners. The problem with this is that the Publican "went home justified" not a "sinner." Yes, Jesus came to seek the lost, heal the sick and save the sinner. But when Jesus changes us, are we still "lost", "sick" and a "sinner"? No, we are found, healed and saved.

Finally, if you are living faithfully for Jesus, you dishonor Christ by calling yourself a sinner. You dishonor the mighty work of salvation He has done for and in you. Humbly and truthfully declare what Christ has done for you. Sinners need to see a holy difference not just hear a profession of faith. Let them call you self-righteous because on your confession of Christ’s work of holiness in you. You are standing on God’s work of righteousness in you through Christ. Your testimony gives glory to God and gives hope of change for those who need it. Christ’s life of holiness lived out through us ought to make sinners feel sinful and guilty and in turn, point them to Jesus.

“Well why in God's Name do you expect to be accepted everywhere? How is it that the world couldn't get on with the holiest Man that ever lived and can get on with you and me? Are we compromised? Have we no spiritual stature? Have we no righteousness that reflects on their corruption?".  - Leonard Ravenhill

Brothers and sisters, we are saints not sinners! If you are a sinner, repent and walk in obedience through the abundant grace of Christ. Sinners don’t go to Heaven, friends.

Lies Christians Believe #4 ~ “The grace of God covers my sin so that I can live how I like.”

August 12, 2017

“I don’t need to live a holy life because Jesus did that for me and it has been credited to my account through grace.”

“Don’t tell me how to live, I’m under grace, not under law.”

There is probably an endless number of lies that have come from a false view of God’s grace. Many in the “church” today live out such lies or at least are ignorant about what God’s grace really is. Growing up, I remember my dad lamenting the improper use of the word “grace.” Thankfully his concern has rubbed off on me and I began to discover what the Scriptures teach about grace. So many people today believe that grace covers their sin and lack of striving after holiness so that God doesn’t see what they are truly like. Others perhaps believe that their sinfulness is excused because of God’s grace.

To a large degree the problem seems to lie in the fact that we are only preaching about the role of grace to make us born again. We are right in preaching about being justified through grace alone without works. We are right in saying that we cannot be converted through works.

However, we often neglect the teaching of Scripture about the role of grace after being born again. What is the role of grace in a new, cleansed heart that has been set free from the power of sin? What is the role of grace in the life of a believer whose will is surrendered to the Lordship of Christ?

First of all, what is grace? Many say that it is simply the unmerited favor of God. There is truth to that, but the question remains as to what this “favor” looks like in the believer’s life. An excuse or covering for our sinfulness? The Strongs concordance has a very enlightening phrase in its definition of “grace.” Strongs says that grace is “the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life.” Grace is the influence of God in the heart that is reflected in the outward life of a person.  I, of course, cannot cover the whole of what grace is, but I do want to provide a refutation to the lies about the nature and role of grace.

I want to share three passages about grace to give us a better picture of the work of grace in our lives after conversion:

1. Grace as Deliverer - Romans 6:14 - For  sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. 

Many seem to read this as saying, “My sin against God’s law will not be seen or judged because I am not under law but under grace.” That is not how this verse reads. Because of grace, we are no longer under the dominion of sin! Hallelujah!

2. Grace as Ruler – Romans 5:21 - That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord. 

This verse says that just as sin reigned in our hearts unto death, grace now rules in the believer’s heart. Notice that grace reigns through righteousness. The Rule of grace in the life of the believer is a rule of righteousness unto eternal life. What a blessed thing to have the grace of God ruling in our hearts through righteousness.

3. Grace as Teacher – Titus 2:11-12 - For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 

The same grace of God that saves us in the first place is the same grace that teaches us to live soberly, righteously and godly in this present world. To resist the grace of God that teaches us to live holy lives is to resist the grace of God that saved us in the first place. A very dangerous thing indeed!

The first work of grace is to show us Christ and our sin which in turn leads to initial salvation. However, when a man has become a new creation in Christ with Christlike affections and a surrendered will – the grace of God works as a keeper and sanctifier from sin. Such a transformed person has no excuse not to do the works of righteousness by faith through the teaching influence of grace. Grace is the mighty liberator and sanctifier of the believer! If the grace of God is having its way in you and me, it will make us a holy people “zealous of good works” (Titus 2:14). It will make us a holy people set apart for God and not conformed to the customs of this world. It is the power of Almighty God to bring about God’s complete redemptive purpose in man. It will transform a man, body soul and Spirit, into the image of Christ.

What does this mean for us?

1. We must stop using the grace of God has a cloak to cover our sin (Jude v4). God’s grace radically sets us free from the power of sin and leads us on to greater holiness of heart and lifestyle.

2. We must stop excusing ourselves from pursuing godliness. We must make use of the “means of grace” that God has given us. How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation offered us through grace. We typically say that the following things are God’s means of communicating His grace to us: God’s Word, Prayer, Fellowship with other believers, Singing, Preaching of the Word and perhaps others. The means of grace bring us into contact with the knowledge and grace of Christ. These channels of God’s grace bring us into contact with the life and power of Jesus.

3. We must denounce the false teaching of irresistible grace. If God’s grace is irresistible in making us born again, it must also be irresistible in making us “sober, righteous and godly in this present world.” It begs the question, “If God’s grace is irresistible and God’s grace set’s us free from sin, rules in our hearts through righteousness and teaches us to live a holy life…why aren’t we made holy automatically? And therefore, why are there so many failing Christians if they are under the influence of irresistible grace?” As believers, we have been given new hearts and our wills have been surrendered to God. We must daily deny our selfish desires in order to choose to obey God’s teaching through grace. We must abide under the teaching influence of grace by the Holy Spirit. We must daily make the choice to surrender to the teaching and power of God’s grace.

4. We must choose to grow in grace. 2 Pe 3:18a says - But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. We are commanded to grow in grace. As usual, when we see a command in Scripture it implies that we have a choice to make. It also implies that there are consequences if we do not choose to grow in grace. In Titus 2, letting grace teach us is tied to looking for Christ return. We have no business looking forward to Christ’s return if grace is not having its way in our lives.

5. Our victory over sin and overall growth in holiness is conditional on our pursuit of grace and submission to the teaching of God’s grace. “You can have as much of God and holiness as you like” is a true statement. God calls on us to seek Him and conform our lives to His Holy Character through the grace He has given us. Are we defeated in some area? God “hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue.” God will deliver us if we seek Him faithfully and fervently.

This note is primarily aimed at refuting the lies of our “Christian” culture in regard to “grace.” And yet, these truths should also give us much hope. Christ has given Himself to us without measure, through grace, that we might be the righteousness of God through Him. This is not a call to save ourselves. It is a call to partake of Christ and His life through pursuit of and submission to His grace which is freely given to us.

So, the question is brothers and sisters, are we growing in grace and allowing it to have its righteous dominion in us? Barnabas rejoiced when he had “seen the grace of God” in the new believers at Antioch. Can the fruit of grace be “seen” in us?

Lies Christians Believe #3 ~ “Works cancel out the righteousness of Christ.”

August 5, 2017

It is vital that we understand that to neglect the practical side of salvation is to jeopardize our position in Christ. A man who refuses to practically live out his faith will forfeit his faith. It doesn’t matter how vehemently he may claim that “I have faith that Christ’s righteousness covers me, therefore it doesn’t make a difference what my works are.” Such a man is deceived.  Every single command and warning in Scripture is strong testimony to the fact that a man must choose to deny himself to follow Jesus or he will be lost for his failure to obey and endure to the end (Matt. 7:21). God help us!

There are those who believe that our salvation is only positional and requires no practical “working out” in our daily lives (or that God does it all for us automatically). They claim that to “strive” or “do works” is to reject the righteousness of Christ.

God’s salvation is both positional and practical. There are realities in our Christian life that are true for every believer. If we are going to be saved in the end, these realities must be worked out practically in our everyday life. When I use the word “salvation” I mean the entirety of God’s work to redeem man to Himself. “Salvation” is God’s work in us from conversion till we meet Jesus.

The following Scriptures teach us that practical obedience is essential to retaining our position in Christ:

1. Joh 15:2, 6 “Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: …If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.” Jesus says that the branches “in me” (positional) who do not bear fruit (practical) will be cut off and cast into the fire. These branches “in” Christ represent every believer. If we refuse to abide in Christ, we forfeit our position “in” Him.

2. 1 Corinthians 10:1-10 clearly warns that believers who live in sin are in danger of judgement. Israel was God’s chosen people. They passed through the sea (baptism) and partook of the bread and water (Christ) and yet they were destroyed because their works were evil. Verses 11-12 say, “Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.  Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.” They wouldn’t be our examples if the same could not happen to us for our sin. Their position of salvation was negated by their evil works and therefore they are our examples and are a warning to us.

3. In Luke 13:6-9 Jesus gives us the parable of the fig tree that would not bear fruit. The Lord of the vineyard had mercy and waited for the tree to bear fruit, but when it did not bear fruit it was cut down. The life of the tree (position in Christ) was lost because of no fruit (practical holy living).

4. Galatians 5:25 says that if we live in the Spirit (positional) let us also walk in the Spirit (practical).

5. Romans 6 tells us that if we are dead to sin and alive to God (positional reality) then we must stop yielding our bodies to sin (practical obedience).

6. Acts 5 gives us a vivid life example of those who were in Christ but who were killed by God because their works/fruits were evil. Ananias and Saphira were born again believers and yet they were struck dead for their sin.

7. Titus 2:11-12 says that the same grace that saved us is the grace that teaches us to live soberly, righteously and godly in this present world. If you resist the grace of God to live soberly, righteously and godly in this present world, you also reject the grace of God that saved you in the first place.

8. 1 John 2:6 says that if we say that we abide in Christ we ought to walk even as He walked.

9. The churches of Revelation are good examples of how believers can lose the Holy Spirit or have their names removed from the book of Life if they do not live holy lives.

10. Colossians 2:6 says that if we have received Jesus as Lord, we must now walk in Him.

The list could go on and on of teaching and examples of this truth.

Part of the reason such teaching is rejected is because of a false view of Christ’s righteousness. It is crucial that we have a biblical understanding of the righteousness of Christ. To some people, when you preach works, they think you are somehow rejecting the righteousness of Christ. This is because supposedly Jesus’ life replaces ours in a way that we don’t have to be obedient. They teach that to “do” anything is to rely on your own works for salvation. I want to compare two different views of the righteousness of Christ.

1.      Some believe that the righteousness of Christ in us is like a robe that God simply gives to us and says “Here, put this on so I don’t see who you really are (a “sinner”). This robe of righteousness and grace will cover all your sinful ways and your sinful heart so that I won’t hold you accountable for the wretch that you still are after I ‘saved’ you. You’ll sin in thought, word and deed everyday but at least I won’t see it, I’ll only see Christ! If you try to do anything good, I’ll take that robe away from you, so just sit back and rest in that robe I gave you and you’ll be ok.”

2.       The biblical view of the righteousness of Christ in us is that God says, “In Christ you have been made a new creation (2 Cor. 5:17). You are washed, sanctified (1 Cor. 6:11), cleansed, made holy, given a new heart…you are “made” to be the righteousness of God in Christ (2 Cor.5:21). Christ is made unto you righteousness, redemption and sanctification (1 Cor. 1:30). The same holy life that Christ lived in His body on this earth has now entered you by the Holy Spirit (John 15 and Gal. 2:20) so that you can live out that same holy life of Christ. You have been made partaker of the divine nature because you have escaped the corruption of the world (2 Pet. 1:4).”

The first belief is that Christ just covers our sinfulness with His robe of righteousness, but it isn’t necessary for Christ to live His life through us. The second view says that the very life of Jesus has entered us. THIS MEANS that however Jesus would act, talk and think is to be lived out through us. This is why, if we are to accept the righteousness of Christ, it will change EVERYTHING about us. The works that we do will be His works in us because God is working “in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure” (Phil. 2:13) We look to Christ and submit to His life in us. He is the vine, the source of all life and fruitfulness.

The righteousness of Christ is not some stagnant thing that simply preserves us for Heaven. The Christ who walked this earth in holiness has now entered your body, His temple, and He intends to have His way with you. If we do not allow the life of Christ to have its way in us, we cease to abide and we reject Christ the Vine. The righteousness of Christ in you is Christ living His righteousness IN and THROUGH you. Either you are saved and cleansed OR you are still in your sins. You can’t be a “sinner” and a “saint” at the same time. Which is it brothers and sisters?

Jesus isn’t a robe, He is a living person with holy actions and words who has come to be your very life. As we abide in Him (John 15) and yield to Him (Romans 6) HIS holy nature will be seen in our daily lives. We are not merely called to collect moral attributes that are “Christ-like.” We are expected to accept His very life and let Him have His holy way with us. The Church is to be built up in Him (Col. 2:7) unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ (Eph. 4:13), growing up into HIM in all things who is the Head (Eph. 4:15)! For it isn’t us who live any longer, but Christ lives in us and the life we live now is by our faith in Christ. God’s intention is for men to see the life of Christ in earthen vessels just like when Jesus walked this earth. May God help us to yield to Him by faith and denying ourselves that Christ might be seen.

Is the living Christ having His way in you?

PS. I am not indicating that a man can fall in or out of salvation at the slightest sin. The mercy and longsuffering of God are mighty things. The Scriptures teach that a man must be habitually sinning against the knowledge of the truth to be lost. This should not make us presumptuous, but grateful. It should cause us to repent right away when we are convicted of sin. Then, we continue on in faith and purity of heart as becometh saints (holy people).  Help us Jesus!

Lies Christians Believe #2 ~ “I can be a Christian and imitate the world too!”

July 30, 2017

(It’s been too long since I started my series last year about lies Christian’s believe. I pray that God’s truth will set men free to pursue holiness with all their hearts. While people will not likely “say” this lie, many certainly live as if they believe it.)

Only Two Choices: Christlikeness or Worldliness

Worldliness and Christlikeness are THE two conflicting forces seeking to dominate the life of every Christian! The question of worldliness is a question of whether we will conform our lives to Christ or to Satan’s kingdom. We often say that our three enemies are the world, the flesh and the Devil. However, the Devil builds his world kingdom through the flesh of man – all three are connected.

What is worldliness? There are many ideas today among church goers of the West as to what “worldliness” looks like. Some believe it is simply alcohol, cigarettes and gross immorality. Some say it has to do with the things we wear and the movies we watch. Others say that worldliness is driving cars and having electricity.

What does God say that worldliness is? It is much more serious and encompasses much more than what is stated above.

1 John 5:19 says that the whole earth lies under the power of the evil One. Worldliness is Satan’s world system. Every person who ever lived has lived under the power of Satan. But what is the basis of Satan’s world system? The following point helps answer this question.

1 John 2:15-16 says that we are not to love the world and that worldliness is the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life. It is interesting that John doesn’t say that worldliness is something overtly “demonic.” He says that worldliness is the lusts of man.

Jesus told Peter “Get thee behind me Satan” and then says “for you do not savor the things of God but the things of man.” Here, the lusts of the flesh are linked to Satan. It is natural for us to spare the flesh, but this is a doctrine of demons.

Jesus also tells us in Luke 16:15 that what man highly esteems is an abomination to God! This ought to factor more heavily into our understanding of worldliness.

The latter part of James 3 tells us that worldliness has a wisdom of its own that is earthly and “devilish.” James 4:1 says that the lusts of the flesh are the cause of strife in the body of Christ and that to be a friend of the world is enmity against God.

Jude verse 23 says that we are to “hate” the garment that is even “spotted” by the flesh. We are to hate the smallest taint of the world on our “garments” and the garments of others. 

The last verse of James 1 tells us that keeping ourselves “unspotted” from the “world” is an essential part of true religion.

With all the weighty truths listed above, worldliness ought to be preached with much more sobriety and frequency than it is! When is the last time you heard a message about worldliness? When is the last time your pastor preached that we ought to hate even the garment that is “spotted” by the flesh? God help us! This issue of worldliness is the issue of whether we have “holiness without which no man shall see the Lord!”

From the Scriptures above we can see that worldliness has to do with the lusts of the flesh. Every unbeliever is bound by his lusts. Nothing a sinner does is disconnected from the lusts of the flesh. This is why we must be careful about imitating or taking part in things that the world highly esteems. It very well may be an abomination to God.

If we are not consciously seeking to be free from the lusts of the flesh (worldliness) we can be sure that the flesh is having it’s way in us. It is a conscious battle to look to Jesus and submit to His Headship rather than our lusts.

What are the practical implications for us in light of the seriousness of worldliness?

1. The lusts of the flesh, lust of the eyes and the pride of life are the roots and building blocks of Satan’s kingdom. Whenever we choose to follow our lusts rather than submitting to Christ, we are contributing to Satan’s kingdom. We must embrace a life of consistent denial of the flesh. Keeping ourselves pure from worldliness is a constant battle. In a large sense, Satan is much less of an enemy than our fleshly desires. His tactics are to seduce us through our lusts to disobey God.

2. Both the Old Testament and the New instruct God’s people to shun the customs of the heathen around them. We don’t have the benefit of having a whole nation who are “God’s people.” The “heathen” and their “customs” are all around us. This spirit of the world shouts at us in the store and through the media. If what man highly esteems is an abomination to God we must be careful what we imitate from the majority around us. Why is it that we think we can take on the language, clothing and entertainment of the world around us when the whole world lies under the power of the evil one?? There is a reason that worldlings dress and act the way they do, they are under the power of their sinful lusts! Why do we think we can be like them when they live for the flesh? Come out and be separate! Be not conformed to the pattern of the world!

3. We must shun teaching that overtly or subtly teaches us that we don’t have to daily die to self. Such a teaching is a doctrine of demons. It is impossible to be a disciple of Christ and refuse to deny the flesh.

4. We are to be different. The way we talk, do business, love others, dress, entertain ourselves and lead our families ought to be a declaration and demonstration of the righteousness of Christ! We are not supposed to fit in! We are to be a holy abrasion to the world! A representation in flesh and blood of the righteous life of Christ that left no cloak for the world’s sin. As HE was in the world, so are we. If we say we abide in Him, we ought to walk as He walked. Such a life of holiness will be a proclamation of the holiness of Christ and His law and will lead men to a Holy Christ.

5. If we love the world, we do not love God. And if we don’t love God, we don’t love others. A “worldly Christian” doesn’t know God’s love and will likely be the first to call an act of God’s love “unchristlike” and “unloving.” God’s love has man’s eternal best interests in mind. That is why God’s love sometimes comes across as severe. He is trying to save us from something much worse in the next life. God’s love is both good and severe. Worldly love is deceptive and mushy.

6. We must be consistent. If we truly hate violence, carnal attitudes, nakedness, witchcraft or any other sin, we will also hate it on the TV screen. We are hypocrites if we say we hate sin but we enjoy watching things that are sinful. Love rejoices not (is not entertained by) iniquity. Do we truly hate sin and love righteousness?

Separation from the ways of the world is not an option for believers. Fleeing from worldliness is not just an Anabaptist distinctive or the pursuit of the “conservatives.” It is the pursuit of every child of God who loves Christ and His holy character. Which will it be? Will you submit to Christ or to Satan’s kingdom? Are we seeking to conform every part of our lives (inwardly and outwardly) to the image of Christ? Or are we believing the lie that we can fit in with the world but still be a Christian?

Lies Christians Believe #1 ~ “My actions do not affect my relationship with God or His view of me.”

It’s been on my heart for a while now to expose some of the lies that Christians believe. I hope to write about several of them in the next month or so as the Lord allows. I enjoy having an outlet for my study and this is an important subject with eternal consequence.

Truth is a Person. To embrace a lie of any sort grieves the Spirit of Truth and causes some degree of division between ourselves and the Person of Truth - Jesus.

Lies cannot be separated from unbelief and sinful conduct. How we believe will determine our actions. So, believing a lie will lead to “living a lie.”

Lie #1 - “My actions do not affect my relationship with God or His view of me because I am righteous in Christ.”

The implication of such a statement is huge! To say that our actions do not change our relationship with Christ or His view of us is to declare that what we do does not matter at all. That is the logical conclusion of this lie. If our actions do not change God’s view of us then God doesn’t CARE what we do. In that case God would cease to be holy.

To some of you this is an obvious lie but I have been surprised to hear some Christians saying such things boldly. Many live like they believe this lie whether they will admit to it or not. I want to list a number of Scriptures that very clearly prove that this is a lie and a doctrine of demons that leads men to Hell.

Note: These are passages about Old and New Testament believers. These are examples of believers whose relationship with God was greatly altered, some to their eternal ruin, by their actions. Here is just a sampling from Scripture:

1. Genesis 3:1-5 - Satan questions the consequences for disobeying God. He was the first to promote this foul doctrine of our disobedience not affecting our relationship with God. “Ye shall not surely die” is still at the heart of this lie today.

2. 1 Samuel 15:16-29 - Saul lost his right to be king because of a partial disobedience. God “rejected” Saul from being king because of his disobedience. God’s view of Saul was greatly altered through his disobedience.

3. God’s covenant with Israel in the OT was completely conditional on the obedience or disobedience of Israel. If they obeyed, they were blessed. If they disobeyed, they were punished till they repented or were destroyed. The whole Old Testament gives us a story full of God’s dealings with HIS people. Many who once believed in God were cast away because of their disobedience. God says in Isaiah 59:2 that the people have caused a separation between themselves and God because of their disobedience.

4. Matthew 7:21 clearly tells us that it isn’t those who have a profession of faith that will be saved (“Lord, Lord”) but he that DOES the will of the Father.

5. Matthew 12:36-37 says that we will be judged, not by our profession of faith in Christ, but by our words. We will by “justified” or “condemned” by our words.

6. In Matthew 25 Jesus tells us that those who showed kindness to the least of His brethren would be saved on Judgment day. It was what they DID or DID NOT DO that determined their eternal destiny.

7. Jesus tells us in John 15:2 and 6 that those branches “in Him” that do not bear fruit are taken away and cast into the fire (Hell). If this were referring to unbelievers, it would not say that they were “in Him.” Neither would it say that they will be “taken away.” There is no need to take something away from the vine if it was never connected in the first place.

8. Acts 5 tells us that two people lied to God and were struck dead. These were believers who had been washed in Christ’s blood but they chose to disobey. Their disobedience was eternally destructive for them.

9. Hebrews 6:4-6 describes people who have been enlightened, tasted of the Heavenly gift, partaken of the Holy Spirit, have tasted the word of God and of good things to come. There is no way to get around the fact that the writer is describing Christians. But they fell away! You can’t fall away from something that you were never joined to. Chapter 10 tells us that we can willfully sin ourselves into a position where we are deserving of the judgement of God.

10. Revelation 2-3 shows us that disobedience leads to the Holy Spirit being removed (removal of the candlestick) and even being vomited out of Jesus mouth. Their disobedience would not end well.

The Bible is full of these passages! And yet people insist that they are safe in Christ, regardless of their actions, because they are born again.

We need to examine the premise that is used to justify this lie. But I think it is best covered in another note about the true nature of grace. It is clear however that our actions do affect how God views us and how we relate to Him. God may continue to love us when we disobey, but He is not pleased. The following verses show us that we cannot claim to be righteous or like Christ if we do not DO righteousness through His grace.

1Jn 2:3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. 

1Jn 3:7 Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. 

1Jn 3:8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

And finally, consider the words of Peter:
"And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:" 1Pe 1:17