LOOKING FOR THE TRUE CHURCH?? The ONLY CHURCH in the BIBLE...

[tokidoki]

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mao gani pre. i once posted a question how would you know if jesus came for the 2nd coming? daghan man kaayo jesus sa kalibutan. LOL what would prevent the real jesus from being thrown to the loony bin if ever he came back? and if one found jesus in china and another found it sa tisa, labangon, who would be right? gubot napud?

kanta lang gyud ta ug imagine ani. hehehe

[idolpunk]

True biblical christianity is a hierarchy but your jesus is no god. and we have no evidence that your so called god exist. even quiboloy now claims to the the son of god. what a crap!

people have such wild imaginations.

kanta nalang ta ug "imagine" ani...

that is what we called FAITH....have you ever encountered about that WORD??

if not kindly read this one....have you ever asked your self about the air?? mkakta ka anang hangin??hehe



try to asked your self bro...im not asking you to believe..just try to read it...

Hebrews 11:1
Faith

"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see"(Heb. 11:1, NIV).



1. Faith is an important word in the Bible. Faith is where the Promises and Work of God are made real to His redeemed.
1. Ephesians 2:8-9, We are saved by faith.
2. Rom. 1:17, We live by faith.
3. Rom. 4:13, We receive righteousness by faith.
4. Rom. 5:1, We are justified in Christ by faith
5. Rom. 5:2, We have access to God’s grace by faith.
6. 2 Cor. 1:24, We stand firm in our belief by faith.
7. Gal. 3:14, We receive the promise of the Spirit by faith.
8. 1 Tim. 1:4, We do God’s work is by faith.
9. Gal. 5:5, We wait for the return of Christ by faith.
10. Indeed, faith is very important; it is vital to the Christian.
2. What is Faith?
1. According to Webster’s Dictionary faith is "an unquestioning belief that does not require proof or evidence."
2. Though Webster’s Dictionary says we don’t need evidence to have faith, as Christians we do have evidence for our faith.
1. We have the Bible: 66 books, 40 authors, written in 3 languages, over 1600 years, prophecy, and moral and spiritual truth,
2. We have the resurrection of Jesus; confidence in His words, and evidence of God’s truth in our lives.
1. The nearest definition we have in the Bible of what faith is is found right here in Hebrews 11:1
2. The NIV says, "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see."
3. The KJV and the NKJV say, "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."
4. The RSV, NRSV and NASB each says, "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen."
1. Literally the Greek of Hebrews 11:1 says, "Now faith is the reality of things being hoped for, the proof of things not being seen."
2. But the English does not carry the full meaning of the verse. That is why it is good to examine several translations of the verse to try to get a better understanding.
3. An important point, though, is that faith is only as good as the object in which it is placed.
1. All the faith in the world in someone false won’t help you.
3. But how does faith affect your lives?
1. You get in the car and drive on faith. You don’ know if you’re going to make it to your destination alive or not, but you go.
2. You have faith that the food you buy that is grown by strangers is not harmful, so you eat it.
3. You have faith that the doctors you see are competent. So you put yourself in their hands.
4. If you did not have faith, if you did not trust others you wouldn’t be able to drive, eat, or get help in times of sickness. Your life would be very difficult.
5. Let’s look at this chapter a bit and see how faith affected the people of God.
6. Hebrews 11:4 says, "By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as a righteous man, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead." (NIV)
1. We do not know many details of Abel’s faith.
1. We do not know just how much was revealed to him.
2. But we do know that his faith caused him to worship God.
1. He picked the best of his flock to sacrifice to God. "and Abel brought of the firstlings of his flock and of their fat portions. And the LORD had regard for Abel and his offering, (Genesis 4:4, RSV).
2. He brought it to the place of sacrifice. It was natural for Abel’s faith in God to manifest itself in a blood sacrifice, a sacrifice that pointed to the Messiah.
3. It was natural for Abel to worship.
1. There is something wrong with the Christian who does not worship.
2. Faith looks for opportunities to worship.
4. Faith made Enoch walk with God, v. 5
1. "By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death; he could not be found, because God had taken him away. For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God" (Hebrews 11:5, NIV).
2. In Genesis it says, "And after he became the father of Methuselah, Enoch walked with God 300 years and had other sons and daughters. 23Altogether, Enoch lived 365 years. 24Enoch walked with God; then he was no more, because God took him away" (Genesis 5:22_24).
3. Your walk will change if you continue to trust in Christ
1. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" (NIV).
4. Enoch pleased God. Is God pleased with you?
1. Is God pleased with the places you choose for recreation?
2. Is God pleased with the books you read? with what you watch on T.V.?
3. Is God pleased with the words you use? the conversations you have?
4. Is God pleased with the plans you’ve made for your future?
5. Enoch’s walk of faith delivered him from death.
1. Your walk of faith has already delivered you from death, the death called damnation.
2. Your faith is in Jesus; therefore, there is no death to come to you.
5. Faith made Noah work for God, v. 7.
1. We have in Gen. 6, the tragic story of the decline of humanity into sin.
2. But God’s grace triumphs: God saves Noah (v. .
3. In Noah, his faith manifested itself in real works. James 2:26 says, "As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead."
1. Noah built an ark because he believed in God
2. Every swing of his axe said, "faith."
3. Every felled tree said, "faith."
4. Every swing of his hammer said, "faith.:
4. Faith will make you work today
5. Faith is not something for long ago; for trusting in Jesus for salvation and not trusting Him for anything else. It means you trust Him for everything--even when it is difficult sometimes. It means that every day you continue to trust Him and that you continue to manifest the fruit of your faith.
1. Caring, sharing, witnessing, forgiving, helping, etc. In these things you please God.
2. Hebrews 11:6 "And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him" (NIV).
3. Faith connects you to God; it is your admission that you are dependent upon Him; that your hope is in Him. It pleases Him, because it is Him you are trusting and no one and nothing else.
6. Much more could be said about this chapter. By faith Abraham, by faith Isaac, by faith Jacob, by faith Joseph, by faith Moses, by faith Rehab,
1. By faith: we understand the universe was formed; people offered sacrifices; humanity was saved; people left their lands and moved; blessings were given; people were freed; death was escaped; and walls fell; and verse 32 "And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets," (NIV).

Conclusion
Faith is vitally important in the life of the Christian. It is by faith that you are saved; you are justified; cleansed, and look forward to the return of Jesus. Faith is where you please God, admit your dependence upon Him, and continually seek to rely upon Him and His grace. I would like to close by asking you these question: "What has faith changed in your life? What are faith’s evidences in your life? Is faith growing in your life.

Hebrews 11:1_40

1Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. 2This is what the ancients were commended for.

3By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.

4By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as a righteous man, when God spoke well of his offerings. And By faith he still speaks, even though he is dead.

5By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death; he could not be found, because God had taken him away. For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. 6And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

7By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes By faith.

8By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. 9By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. 10For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.

11By faith Abraham, even though he was past age __ and Sarah herself was barren __ was enabled to become a father because he considered him faithful who had made the promise. 12And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.

13All these people were still living By faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth. 14People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. 15If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. 16Instead, they were longing for a better country __ a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.

17By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had received the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, 18even though God had said to him, "It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned." 19Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead, and figuratively speaking, he did receive Isaac back from death.

20By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau in regard to their future.

21By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph's sons, and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff.

22By faith Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and gave instructions about his bones.

23By faith Moses' parents hid him for three months after he was born, because they saw he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid of the king's edict.

24By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh's daughter. 25He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time. 26He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward. 27By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king's anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible. 28By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel.

29By faith the people passed through the Red Sea {That is, Sea of Reeds} as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned.

30By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the people had marched around them for seven days.

31By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient.

32And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets, 33who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, 34quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. 35Women received back their dead, raised to life again. Others were tortured and refused to be released, so that they might gain a better resurrection. 36Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison. 37They were stoned; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated 38the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground.

39These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised. 40God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.

[Super Bisdak]

so....do you believe that the true church is the church of christ?? Or not??

Bro, dako kaayo kung uyon sa imong first post.

Pero sa pagkakaron daghan ang gadala sa "Church of Christ" nga karatola apan kung imong susihon ang ilang pagtulon-an wala man nagsubay sa pagtulon-an ni Cristo ug sa Iyang mga Apostles. Busa kinahanglan magbantay ang mga magtotoo bahin niini.

God bless us!

[idolpunk]

mao gani pre. i once posted a question how would you know if jesus came for the 2nd coming? daghan man kaayo jesus sa kalibutan. LOL what would prevent the real jesus from being thrown to the loony bin if ever he came back? and if one found jesus in china and another found it sa tisa, labangon, who would be right? gubot napud?

kanta lang gyud ta ug imagine ani. hehehe

you will never know if kanus-a siya mubalik....even in the bible wa ng-state kong kanus-a...


here some points:


There are two key passages that address this subject. 1 Thessalonians 5:2 says, "For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night." A second passage is Revelation 3:3, "Remember therefore what you have received and heard; and keep it, and repent. If therefore you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you."


dili na literally na gabie gyud siya mu-abot....but it means that he will come back...at any moment..mu-abot siya...dba??

[idolpunk]

Bro, dako kaayo kung uyon sa imong first post.

Pero sa pagkakaron daghan ang gadala sa "Church of Christ" nga karatola apan kung imong susihon ang ilang pagtulon-an wala man nagsubay sa pagtulon-an ni Cristo ug sa Iyang mga Apostles. Busa kinahanglan magbantay ang mga magtotoo bahin niini.

God bless us!

you're definitely RIGHT!!! hehee...try to know kong unsa gyud ang tinoud ilang gitohu-an... dba?? im not telling you na mubalhin daun sa kana na group of people...know them deeply...kong unsa ilang gi-touhan...dba??

[tribu]

14 What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him?

15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food,

16 and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit?

17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

18 But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.

19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!

20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?

21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar?

22 Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect?

23 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God.

24 You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only. (James 2:14--)

So, is it Faith alone?!? it is telling us that it's faith and works going together.

is there a passage in your book that says "saved by faith alone"? or is it only saying "by faith" but not "by faith alone"?

[Super Bisdak]

So, is it Faith alone?!? it is telling us that it's faith and works going together.

is there a passage in your book that says "saved by faith alone"? or is it only saying "by faith" but not "by faith alone"?

makuyog gyud ang pagtoo ug buhat. kay sumala na sa imong gi-post nga passage, ang maayong buhat bunga kini sa pagtoo.

God bless!

[idolpunk]

14 What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him?

15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food,

16 and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit?

17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

18 But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.

19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!

20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?

21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar?

22 Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect?

23 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God.

24 You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only. (James 2:14--)

So, is it Faith alone?!? it is telling us that it's faith and works going together.

is there a passage in your book that says "saved by faith alone"? or is it only saying "by faith" but not "by faith alone"?

no bai...you will be save by grace through faith...read the passage:




Perhaps either you or someone you know has accused Herbert Armstrong of teaching that we obtain salvation through the law. The church he founded even claims that today. Mr. Armstrong himself answers the critics: “We do NOT obtain salvation through the law” (Plain Truth, May 1962).

As Paul wrote in Ephesians 2:8, salvation is by grace through faith. In Romans 6:14, he tells us we are not under the law, but under grace. No one can ever be saved by obeying the law—any law.

Now most people within the traditional Christian world would prefer that we end this article right there—enough said. “Salvation is by grace—that’s all we need to know!”

But what exactly is grace? Have you ever really proved it? And did you know that God actually prophesied of a time when people would try to change the true meaning of the word “grace”? Let this be a challenge! Look up the scriptures. You might be surprised by what your Bible says.

What Grace Does Not Mean

“Beloved, my whole concern was to write to you on the subject of our common salvation” (Jude 3, Moffatt). That was Jude’s original intent. But because of false leaders teaching a perverted gospel, he was compelled to exhort them to contend for the faith that was once delivered unto them.

Verse 4 describes the deception false leaders were bringing into the Church: “For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.”

According to Thayer’s Lexicon, “lasciviousness” can be translated unbridled lust or licentiousness. Webster’s defines licentiousness this way: “marked by disregard for strict rules of correctness.” In other words, they were turning God’s grace into an excuse to disobey His law! As Lange’s Commentary states concerning this passage, instead of using grace “as an incentive to holiness, they employ it as a cloak of maliciousness.”

Why would someone assume they can live a lustful, rebellious life contrary to God’s laws because of grace? Because most falsely assume that grace means saved. We are saved by grace, but grace does not mean saved. What then is the proper definition for the biblical term grace? If you are under grace, you need to know!

Grace Defined

The Greek word for “grace” in Jude 4 can mean benefit, favor, or gift. Webster’s further defines “grace” as mercy or unmerited pardon. Another definition could be forgiveness.

Jude says this kind of grace is “of our God.” It’s not something we have, like most assume. It’s God’s grace. It is a quality that God expresses toward us. Paul often began his letters by saying, “Grace be unto you [the brethren], and peace, from God our Father …” (1 Corinthians 1:3). Grace is a free gift. It’s the benefit, mercy, pardon, or forgiveness God extends toward us. But why do we need God’s grace? 1 John 3:4 says, “Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.” John wrote this book around a.d. 90 during the last days of the apostolic times. Had the law been “nailed to the cross,” surely he would not have defined sin as “breaking God’s law.” For an abolished law could never define sin!

In Romans 6:23, Paul said the wages, or payment, for sin is eternal death. Furthermore, as it says in Romans 3:23, “all have sinned.” So for breaking God’s law—for sinning—we all deserve eternal death. It was for this reason that Jesus Christ had to die. He came in the flesh for the very purpose of death so that His shed blood might erase the death penalty for our past sins (Romans 5:.

Now notice Ephesians 1:7: “In [Christ] we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.” Grace, as defined in this scripture, is God’s willingness to forgive us of our past sins, not His willingness to change or abolish His law. The very fact that Christ had to die proves the law was not abolished, because a penalty had to be paid! Think about it. If abolishing the law was the only prerequisite for God to forgive us by grace, it would not have been necessary for Christ to die. But Christ did have to die because God will not allow sin to go unpunished.

How We Obtain Grace

While grace is a free, unmerited gift, it is conditional. God requires certain things of us before we receive His grace.

Jesus said that unless we repent, we will all perish (Luke 13:3, 5). Let’s go to Webster’s again to make sure we understand the terms. Repent means “to turn from sin and dedicate oneself to the amendment of one’s life; to feel regret; …to change one’s mind.” Repentance is turning from sin.

David said, “Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin” (Psalm 51:1-2). David was pleading with God, asking Him to mercifully extend grace—to forgive him of his sins! That is a profound turn from sin.

Acts 3:19 says, “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out ….” Having your sins blotted out, or receiving grace, only follows repentance and conversion. Conversion means change: a conversion to a new and different way of life.

Prior to baptism, the Bible says we must repent, or change, and believe in, or accept, Christ’s shed blood as payment for our death penalty (Acts 2:3. God then extends His grace, as the baptismal ceremony symbolizes, washes you of your past guilt, and imparts His Holy Spirit within you, which is the power we need to live according to the Spirit—to convert to a new way of life.

This kind of repentance is very different from what you hear in religion today. Most believe repentance merely means to be sorry for what you have done. In David’s repentance in Psalm 51, notice verse 11: “take not thy holy spirit from me.” He not only abhorred sin enough to throw himself on God’s mercy, asking for grace, he understood the importance of God’s Holy Spirit as the agent required to change from a sinful way of life—to remain under grace.

Shall We Continue in Sin?

Imagine a judge who extends grace, or a pardon, to a criminal who has cried out for mercy after breaking a law, and then instructs the criminal to go out and continue breaking that same law! Does that make sense? Of course not. Yet this is the reasoning of religious scholars today. Just accept the blood of Jesus Christ and continue right on sinning. Let’s turn to the Scriptures to understand.

In Romans 5:21, Paul writes, “That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness [obedience to God’s law] unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.” Because of Christ’s shed blood, we are under grace .

Yet notice the very next verse in Romans 6:1: “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?” Not even traditional Christianity would say that we should continue in sin. Yet they all would insist on discontinuing the law! But what is sin? According to what John wrote almost 60 years after the death of Christ, “Sin is the transgression of the law”! Shall we then continue transgressing the law because of grace? “God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?” (verse 2).

Paul goes on to describe what baptism symbolizes. When we are put under the water, we are symbolically buried with Jesus Christ. When we come out of the water, we walk with Christ in “newness of life” (verses 3-4). Living a new life means change.

Notice verse 11: “Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.” The wages of sin is death. Christ paid for our penalty. But symbolically, our old sinful ways die at baptism because of grace.

Now notice the very next verse: “Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof” (verse 12). The story flow in this passage makes the meaning obvious. After we repent, get baptized, and receive the Holy Spirit, we ought not to let sin reign in our bodies! Living a new life means a life of overcoming sin by yielding ourselves to God (verse 13).

Verse 14: “For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.” Understanding the definition of sin and the law makes this verse completely clear. The law is the Ten Commandments—God’s law of love. Sin is breaking, or transgressing, that law, which brings with it the penalty of death. We are “under the law” when we are transgressing against it. In other words, we are under the penalty of the law—death.

Today, if we repent and become converted through the Holy Spirit, we are not under the penalty of the law, but under grace, because of Christ’s sacrifice.

In verse 15, it’s as if Paul anticipated some to misinterpret his words. After saying we are not under the law, but under grace, he asks, “What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.”

It could not be more clear. God’s merciful grace does not give us the right to live contrary to His law, the Ten Commandments. The plain, undeniable, biblical facts are these: If we think we can save ourselves by our own works, Christ died in vain (Galatians 2:21). On the other hand, if we think Christ did everything for us and that we can continue to sin against the law because of grace, Christ died in vain! Read Jude 4 again.

We can’t save ourselves. Neither can Christ do everything for us. But if, after accepting the blood of Jesus, we submit to God and His laws, Christ’s life in us through the power of the Spirit can save us! (Romans 5:10).

Obedience Through the Spirit

Jesus Christ died in our stead so that we could obey God’s law according to its spiritual intent and serve righteousness instead of sin. “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: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit” (Romans 8:3-4). God wants His law of love, summed up by the Ten Commandments, to be fulfilled in us—not abolished. For that reason He sent His Spirit, because not only have all men sinned, but the carnal man by himself simply cannot overcome sin.

“Because the carnal mind [of man] is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be” (verse 7). Notice why man’s mind is against, or hostile to, God. Because it’s not subject, or obedient, to God’s laws! All have sinned! So God sent His Son, as the ultimate act of grace, to be offered as a sacrifice for your sins and mine.

But there’s more! God’s plan does not stop with the blood of Christ. Man’s mind is hostile to God because it’s not subject to His laws; but notice the last four words of Romans 8:7: “neither indeed can be.” We need help to live according to the Spirit, because apart from God, we can’t! So for those who repent and accept the blood of Christ and then get baptized, God freely offers His Holy Spirit, again according to grace.

To repent from sin not only means you regret doing it, it means you determine, with the help of God’s Holy Spirit, to stop sinning. This process is called conversion. Through conversion, a Christian is actually able to “grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:1. Grace is more than just God’s forgiveness upon those who repent. Those living “under grace” are also striving diligently to obey God’s commandments by the power of the Holy Spirit. Growing in grace means striving, with the help of the Holy Spirit, to overcome sin.

God’s Word Is Truth

Carnal man has his own definition for grace. To religious scholars, it is defined as the permanent condition of a Christian, similar to being “saved.” Yet the very nature of this definition allows you to reason around the law of God and to excuse sin. “No-law” deceivers must turn their backs on literally dozens of Bible verses which command law-keeping.

Jesus said, “if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments” (Matthew 19:17). In Romans 7, Paul not only calls the law “holy” and “good” (verse 12), he said, “I myself serve the law of God.” James wrote that if you offend the law in one point, you are “guilty of all” (James 2:8-10). John said if we say we know God, but do not keep His commandments, we are liars (1 John 2:3-4). For those who reject the Old Testament, these are New Testament verses, most of which were written long after Christ died!

Be honest with yourself. Would God allow the violation of His law because of grace, when it was the violation of those laws which necessitated the death of His Son in the first place? If you still say yes, then how do you explain the verses listed above? Believe your Bible, not men! God’s Word is truth (John 17:17).

At the beginning of this article, I quoted Mr. Armstrong as saying, “We do not obtain salvation through the law.” That is absolutely true. Salvation cannot come by the law—any law. But here is the rest of Mr. Armstrong’s quote: “We do not obtain salvation through the law—we observe the law through the process of conversion. It is failure to understand this important distinction which is the cause of much misunderstanding upon the whole question.” It is true that we cannot become a Christian without grace. Neither can anyone be saved without God’s grace. But the question is, can one remain a Christian and receive all the benefits of God’s grace while continuing in sin? God forbid!

Living under grace means living according to God’s Spirit in humble obedience to His laws. By living a life without sin, Jesus Christ set for us an example which we are to follow (1 Peter 2:21-22). Are you willing to follow in that example—to strive diligently to keep and obey God’s every command? That’s the only way we will ever truly be under God’s grace.

God’s grace is free and unmerited. None of us deserve it. We only deserve death. But make no mistake. If we are not willing to change our lives and serve righteousness through the Spirit, God will never extend His grace upon us. May God help us understand so that His grace will be upon us! •

[idolpunk]

makuyog gyud ang pagtoo ug buhat. kay sumala na sa imong gi-post nga passage, ang maayong buhat bunga kini sa pagtoo.

God bless!

if you really want to know more...try to visit this website....it will answer all your questions and mga confusing believes.. Journeys Along God's Path: World Bible School




try lang...nothing will change nmo...dba?? just open your mind....


heheh




astig!!!

[tribu]

^^ aw bakakon diay nang james. kay not by faith alone gud ingon nya. unya niingon ka sayop sya. klaro gud iyang gisulti.

makuyog gyud ang pagtoo ug buhat. kay sumala na sa imong gi-post nga passage, ang maayong buhat bunga kini sa pagtoo.

God bless!

IOW, di gyud diay maluwas ang tao sa pag-ingon lang "Lord, lord, hallelujah praise the lord, i accept jesus as my lord and savior." wala na sa baba ra, naa pud diay gyud na sa buhat kay faith ug works gud magkuyog.