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WORKS! WORKS! WORKS! April 15, 2006 |
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My last article raised quite a stir. I can't help but quote Jesus here, Matthew 10:34-36: 34 "Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. 35 For I have come to 'set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law'; 36 and 'a man's enemies will be those of his own household." Was Jesus lying? If your answer is no, then why would the majority of people who read this expect that the gospel is not, in fact, divisive? The further question is: Why is the gospel divisive? Because not all will be saved. Sure, this much we all know. But there are many, many Christians out there that absolutely denied my last article in its entirety. This is quite stunning to me because none of my last article was opinion; I quoted straight out of the bible. The reactions ranged from claims that I am influenced by Satan, that I cannot understand scripture because God has cursed me, that I am going to hell because I said "God damnable heresy", that I am going to hell because I don't even try to keep any of the commandments, and two comments of appreciation for daring to illustrate the gospel (good news) message that Jesus delivered. I have no desire or place to claim any glory or accolades; I simply said things that far better men before me have said - and is written in the bible. That I can quote is nothing special. Perhaps that I dare to quote is blessed by God. I want to list the major points that were raised against my article that quoted Jesus and the bible. I will respond to each, not with opinion, but with scripture. "After being saved, we need to try to keep the commandments to imitate Jesus." This was the most popular. Galatians 3:1-5: 1 O foolish Galatians! (you idiots!) Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth,* before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you+ as crucified? 2 This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? 3 Are you so foolish? (are you really so stupid that you now believe works will save you?) Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh? 4 Have you suffered so many things in vain (all your works were worthless) --if indeed it was in vain? 5 Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?God inspired this. Note also that God supplies the spirit by faith. The implication is that the spirit is NOT supplied when we "work." More on that later. "Salvation was never free. You have to earn it." Ephesians 2:8-9: 8 For by grace (free, unmerited favor) you have been saved through faith (trusting God, which puts you in the spirit), and that not of yourselves (nothing you do "earns" you this grace); it is the gift (a gift is not a gift if you have to work for it- a gift is free) of God, 9 not of works (God keeps repeating himself - you don't get saved by works), lest anyone should boast (God gave it to you for free because you can't keep the law, therefore, bragging about how well you keep the commandments contradicts God). Not only is salvation free, but God continues to harp on the fact that WORKS get you nowhere. "We are saved by grace but we must maintain our salvation with works to show good fruit." Galatians 3:10-12: 10 For as many as are of the works (those who are trying to keep the law) of the law are under the curse (the curse of the law is DEATH); for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them (once you try to keep ONE law, you have to keep all of them!)." 11 But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident (God won't take your works!), for "the just shall live by faith (faith puts you in the spirit, and the spirit gives you grace)." 12 Yet the law is not of faith (the law is NOT faith and thus NOT the spirit!), but "the man who does them shall live by them (once you try to work, you have to keep ALL the law and you are under the law and its curse - DEATH!).""But sinners won't go to heaven so if you sin, you're going to hell. Therefore we need to keep the commandments." Let me repeat Galatians 3:10: 10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them." You have to keep ALL the commandments. Well, how about this one: Leviticus 19:19: Nor shall a garment of mixed linen and wool come upon you. You wearing a poly-cotton shirt? Nylon socks? Silk? If you wear two different types of clothing made of different materials, you are sinning. You are instructed that to work, you nust keep the WHOLE law - not what you pick and choose. The death of Jesus freed us from all of that. John 8:36: Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed. "But but but, we can't be sinners and go to heaven! God says sinners won't make it!" Romans 6:1-6: 1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 Certainly not! (in other words we don't go out and purposely sin for the sake of bringing grace) How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? 3 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, 6 knowing this, that our old man (that's sin) was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with (by faith, our sinning body is crucified with Jesus and therefore punished with the death it deserves), that we should no longer be slaves of sin (we are no longer slaves to keeping the law because we received the punishment earned). Paul wrote about the dual nature of man - our present saved self trapped in the still-present body of sin: Romans 7:14-15: 14 For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin. 15 For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do (be good with good works), that I do not practice (the flesh sins instead of keeps the law); but what I hate, that I do (Paul sins).And even more on the dual nature: Romans 7:17:17 But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. Understand that. Paul is a two-part individual. His spirit self that was awakened and saved by the grace (free gift) of God and the other part, the "old man" that continues to sin but is crucified by faith with Jesus. To continue to work, then, is to indulge the flesh and live in it, and also be cursed with having to keep the whole law. Paul keeps repeating the dual nature aspect: Romans 7:24-25:24 O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 I thank God--through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin. Us Christians who don't even try to work, are thus saved by faith. Romans 4:5: 5 But to him who does not work (who doesn't even try!) but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness (sinlessness and perfection!) The longer we are in the spirit by faith, the stronger the spirit becomes. That indwellingof the spirit changes us and even brings the flesh into subjection. In my talks with those christians who believe we have to work for our salvation, I was amused and disappointed at the same time that these workers claimed to struggle with sin in their minds ALL day long. Jesus said if you do it in your mind, you're guilty. I was amused because I don't sin like that (as much) any more. And I was disappointed that I could not make them see that by giving up and surrendering to the spirit and refusing to "work", I was sinning far less than them, yet they still claimed I was going to hell and they weren't. I sin. This old man I carry around does things I don't like. By faith, this old man will die, and be crucified with Jesus, just punishment for the sins it is committing. By faith, I also will, like Jesus, rise from death with a new body, sinless and pure. Until then, I am justified by faith, not works. Paul said: 1 Timothy 1:15: This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. Paul? The chosen man of God to spread the gospel to the gentiles is the chiefest of sinners? I don't know, I might like to argue with Paul over that title. The established church uses sin as a bludgeon to create fear and guilt. Fear and guilt keep you coming back, paying money in tithes and offerings in hopes you might feel righteous enough to assauge your guilt. Works is a trap. I do not work. I do not try to keep any of the commandments. I AM UNGODLY. Romans 4:5: But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness. Glory to God! Sinner that I am, saved by grace THROUGH faith, not works. Ungodly as I am, God sees me as righteous. Stony ground christians won't get it. Many will go to hell that had called "Lord, Lord!" Matthew 7:21-23: 21 "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' 23 And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!' Doing all those good works, trying to keep the commandments, being a good church-goer, singing the hymns - it's all in the flesh (and thus sin) and God will reject them on Judgment Day. Works might look good to other christians who are also working for their salvation, but it is a God-damnable heresy, and that is NOT using the Lord's name in vain. I do not use it as an invective, but as a proper noun-verb sentence. God WILL damn those at Judgment who do not meet His standards. Works is what Jesus came to set us free from! Those who work insult Jesus and demean His sacrifice by trying to keep the commandments on their own. He who has ears, let him hear! |
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