When God gave us the Law, He "turned the light on in the room." He illuminated what was right and what was wrong in our lives, and gave us something objective to follow; we didn't need to guess. We could see the obstacles in front of us and choose not bump into them. When we bumped into something we were un-Holy, and deserved hell, which is Justice.
When God gave us Grace, He showed us how to navigate through the room, with a benefit. The more we take direction from Him the more experience and understanding we have in the ways He leads us.
What is the benefit in following God's influence?
DOCTRINE #42: SALVATION
Salvation is the avoidance of eternal punishment. Jesus' death on the cross is the source of our salvation. The responsibility for our salvation is grace through faith. Salvation is according to our decision to allow God's Righteousness through us which results in works. God is the source, but we have the responsibility.
Question: Do you believe you are being responsible for your salvation?
Next Doctrine: Doctrine #43
Table of Contents
If you need it, here is the support from the Word of God...
SCRIPTURE
"1 And you did he make alive, when ye were dead through your trespasses and sins,
2 wherein ye once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the powers of the air, of the spirit that now worketh in the sons of disobedience;
3 among whom we also all once lived in the lust of our flesh, doing the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest:--
4 but God, being rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
5 even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace have ye been saved),
6 and raised us up with him, and made us to sit with him in the heavenly places, in Christ Jesus:
7 that in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus:
8 for by grace have ye been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;
9 not of works, that no man should glory." (Ephesians 2:1-9)
(We all used to be deserving of a punishing existence apart from God. However, salvation is by grace through faith, by our choice to let the divine influence upon the heart to be reflected in the life. This is not our effort that results in our righteousness, otherwise we would get the credit for our work. In Doctrine #14: HOW/WHY vs. WHAT, we saw that we can glory in the works that we do but that affects our reward, not our salvation. Salvation is something that was initiated by God, but works/reward is something that we can initiate.)
"5 Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.
6 But if it is by grace, it is no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace." (Romans 11:5-6)
(Grace is different than our righteous works, little "r". Grace is God's Righteousness working through us. We plant chords, and tools, and colors in us so that God can use them by grace. Our experience and our understanding depend on the Doctrine we have in us. Every time you intentionally learn a definition by God's way of Thinking you gain more faith. All the pieces fit together when you use God's words and definitions!)
"20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith apart from works is barren?
21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, in that he offered up Isaac his son upon the altar?
22 Thou seest that faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect;
23 and the scripture was fulfilled which saith, And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned unto him for righteousness; and he was called the friend of God.
24 Ye see that by works a man is justified, and not only by faith.
25 And in like manner was not also Rahab the harlot justified by works, in that she received the messengers, and sent them out another way?
26 For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, even so faith apart from works is dead." (James 2:20-26)
(Proof that you DON'T have grace is that works (Righteous OR righteous) aren't done; this is God's measurement. What proves what you believe, what you SAY or what you DO? We can know for sure someone isn't saved: they don't have any works. So what if we have righteous works?)
"1 What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather, hath found according to the flesh?
2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not toward God.
3 For what saith the scripture? And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned unto him for righteousness.
4 Now to him that worketh, the reward is not reckoned as of grace, but as of debt.
5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is reckoned for righteousness." (Romans 4:1-5)
(Our works result in righteousness that don't come from grace. God's works through us result in Righteousness because it came from grace. Grace saves us (HOW/WHY), not works. Works are the effects (WHAT). However, it is possible to look like you have the effects without having the cause of grace. So, if a person has works, we can't be sure they ARE saved because the works could be an effect of their personal effort. Remember the definition for deception?)
"20 For I say unto you, that except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no wise enter into the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 5:20)
(Salvation is by God's Righteousness through grace, not man's righteousness through works. The only way our righteousness can surpass the scribes and Pharisees is for our righteousness to be an effect of God's Righteousness. Some people say that humans are totally depraved and can't do ANYTHING good. Have you ever heard that statement? This verse stated the scribes and Pharisees had righteousness, they did good. However, the good was from their own strength which did not lead to salvation; their good was short term. However, it is deception to think we can't do ANYTHING good in our own strength. Why? Because when you do ANYTHING good, it would mean that you have to be saved because only God could do a good thing, and the second you stopped doing something good you have lost your salvation. That would mean that everyone IS saved because everyone is capable of doing good in their own strength. OR only a select group are saved because the select group judges who is saved and who isn't by their works. Does that remind you of the Pharisees? Saying that we are totally depraved appears to be humble, but it actually leads to contradictions with God's Word. It is a man-made doctrine that makes the Word of God of none effect. We learned the man-made definition for grace has contradictions as well.)
"40 And the child grew, and waxed strong, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him." (Luke 2:40)
(Jesus had grace. Jesus allowed God to direct all His actions; this was Jesus' choice. Jesus was a man (who had the option to think like a man) and had free will. This was not unmerited favor. What would be unmerited about thinking as God Thinks? Wisdom is to be sought after more than gold, even fine gold!)
"10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance unto salvation, a repentance which bringeth no regret: but the sorrow of the world worketh death." (2 Corinthians 7:10)
(Notice, recognition of the sin we did and doing the opposite is a Righteous work that is proof of salvation. In order to repent, we have to humble ourselves and allow God to flow through us, which is doing the opposite of the flesh. If you recognize you have sin, and you are wrong, you are recognizing God is Right. There is a difference between the way the Holy Spirit convicts and our flesh and the enemy condemns. Think of the way in which people are sorrowful in this world. "I will never have enough money. I will never be comfortable. I will never be happy until I find my dream job. I will never be content until I marry the woman of my dreams.")
"12 So then, my beloved, even as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;
13 for it is God who worketh in you both to will and to work, for his good pleasure." (Philippians 2:12-13)
(It is our responsibility to work out our salvation, "work out your OWN salvation". This meant "to bring it out from an origin". The origin is our thought process into our heart (cause) and bringing it out is works (effects). Every influence is planted in your heart: God's influence, your influence, and the devil's infulence. What did fear and trembling refer to?)
"11 Serve Jehovah with fear, And rejoice with trembling." (Psalm 2:11)
(Fear was respect for God. We respect God because of who He is. Trembling was from rejoicing, from joy. We ought to be respecting God's influence (grace) and experiencing joy. Does your faith result in more or less joy over time?)
"1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus.
2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus made me free from the law of sin and of death.
3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God, sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
4 that the ordinance of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." (Romans 8:1-4)
(The Law could not give us Righteousness. The effects of the Law were fulfilled by having the cause of grace on our heart and making progress in this spiritual direction. The Law "turned the light on", as we say, while Grace has now come to help us navigate through the room. What we actually DO ourselves, to allow God to work through us, is to kill our flesh (our animal thinking). We focus on getting our flesh out of the way so God can work through us. So, we don't DO anything, we PREVENT the flesh from hindering God. Our flesh desires that we justify ourselves, be right in our own eyes, be prideful, exc. If we choose to sacrifice our flesh before God, we would be humbling ourselves before God expressing our need for His grace. Imagine what the Church would look like!)
"21 I do not make void the grace of God: for if righteousness is through the law, then Christ died for nought." (Galatians 2:21)
(If we could DO the Law, then we wouldn't need Jesus. However, the Law is fulfilled; it is now grace. If grace is unmerited favor we couldn't void it. We can void grace by choosing not to let it be worked out. People who believe in unmerited favor still believe that we are under the Law, even if they SAY they don't. Think about it, Israel was called a Holy Nation because God chose them, and gave them His Law. If you believe that God only chose some, then you still believe that some are chosen to be Holy while others are chosen to go to hell.)
"14 Follow after peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no man shall see the Lord:
15 looking carefully lest there be any man that falleth short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby the many be defiled;
16 lest there be any fornication, or profane person, as Esau, who for one mess of meat sold his own birthright.
17 For ye know that even when he afterward desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected; for he found no place for a change of mind in his father, though he sought it diligently with tears." (Hebrews 12:14-17)
(If grace is unmerited favor we couldn't fail it and it would be able to cover any issue, and the greater the unmerited act the more favor we would receive. However, Esau failed the grace of God and there was nothing Esau could do to change the situation. We can do things to hinder grace, like being prideful and operating under our flesh. We can't make grace happen. Just like wisdom, some situations don't require that an action and/or a decision be God's. God gave us free will so that we could make good or bad choices, for which we would be responsible.)
"13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he shall guide you into all the truth: for he shall not speak from himself; but what things soever he shall hear, these shall he speak: and he shall declare unto you the things that are to come." (John 16:13)
(This was another example of the definition of grace. The Spirit will lead you, and remember the Spirit is unpredictable and is equated to fire, water, and wind! This was an amazing example of truth, A Right WHAT with a Right HOW/WHY. Can you see it?)
"28 Jesus therefore said, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself, but as the Father taught me, I speak these things.
29 And he that sent me is with me; he hath not left me alone; for I do always the things that are pleasing to him." (John 8:28-29)
(Jesus said that He did nothing of Himself, yet He did many things. God taught Jesus through His influence and Jesus pleased the Father with His actions. The words that we speak can be grace, just like Jesus' were, but our actions would follow, as Jesus' did. How would you know if an influence was from God or not? It would be truth! It would be eternally good!)
"2 Ye are our epistle, written in our hearts, known and read of all men;
3 being made manifest that ye are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in tables that are hearts of flesh." (2 Corinthians 3:2-3)
(The Law was written physically on stones because it was a law that listed physical effects. Now grace is the spiritual law, written on heart, which is a principle. A principle is always something more because it is a benefit. By having the grace of God we also have the Law, and therefore the Spirit can convict us if we are acting outside the Law, and we can be convicted and shown a benefit. We have the ability to repent and create something more than simply getting back to zero with grace.)
"12 For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without the law: and as many as have sinned under the law shall be judged by the law;
13 for not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified:
14 (for when Gentiles that have not the law do by nature the things of the law, these, not having the law, are the law unto themselves;
15 in that they show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness therewith, and their thoughts one with another accusing or else excusing them);
16 in the day when God shall judge the secrets of men, according to my gospel, by Jesus Christ." (Romans 2:12-16)
(God judges causes. Grace is a more effective way than the Law, because it is a principle. Remember when Jesus talked about the man who built his house upon the rock? This man not only heard the words of Jesus, but did them, and Jesus called the man "wise". No one is always and completely Just except God, but the doers of the Will of God will be justified because they have been humble enough to take direction from God.)
This is the most exciting time to be alive because we have the gift of the Holy Spirit and we all have access to the grace of God. Are you looking to take direction from God, or are you looking to justify yourself to God and others around you? You are telling God HOW you want Him to treat you, by HOW you treat others.
We treat everyone differently. Are there people who have tried to tell you that you ought to treat everyone the same way? They may have a Right WHAT, but have you asked them their HOW/WHY to make sure what they are saying is TRUTH?
What does UNIQUENESS mean?
