|
I am a retired pastor of
the Church of God (Tennessee). My name is Isaac Livingston. I am from Neyyoor India. |
Email: Pastor True Gospel
Declaration
We are saved by grace through faith. Grace is the power of Christ that makes a person perfect, and saves the person from sinning. Preachers turn the grace into lasciviousness. Faith is to believe in and to do what Jesus Christ commanded. He will be the most righteous impartial judge on the judgment day.
|
If video stops, you may watch this video by a click on this link
: You-tube video.Ephesians 2:8 says, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:" In this verse we see; Grace, salvation, and faith. All these are gifts from God. However, God gives gifts to his faithful servants and to his children, but not to his enemies and deceivers. So, let us study about grace, faith, hope, and salvation.
Most Christians have learned to say that they are saved by grace through faith. It is their slogan. Christians are taught that grace is an unmerited favor given to sinning Christians. But, the bible does not say this, and it is an interpretation of Satan. Christians are happy with it because, they think that they can enjoy sin without losing of heaven. So, they readily embraced the doctrine. Now let us see what is the grace of God according to the bible. 2 Corinthians 12:9 says: "And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me." So, grace is the power of Jesus Christ that rests upon a weak person like apostle Paul (but not people like us), who cry out to God day and night, and depend on God. So, God gave him grace so that his weakness will become perfect strength by grace. This grace is the power of Christ that will rest upon apostle Paul and people like him. If you and I got this grace, we will have perfect strength by the power of Christ that is resting upon us. But, the church grace, which is unmerited favor, is grace from garbage. The true grace cannot be kept as a secret, but it will turn us into the workmanship of God. Let us see how Paul witness his grace. "Galatians 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. 21 I do not frustrate the grace of God:" Apostle Paul says that he does not frustrate grace. How? He died to his own self, and Jesus Christ lives in his body as Paul. So, 'Grace of God' is not frustrated, but it is manifested. Let us see how does the power of Christ rests upon us? "Romans 5:17 ... they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ. --- 21 as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord." See, previously sin was reigning our life, and now since we have grace, Jesus Christ reigns our life through righteousness. And he will take us to eternal life. Others will also know it, because we will be living a righteous life, which is godly life, and it is not sin life.
Church people are chanting, that they are saved by grace, as they live in sin, boasting that it is their special privilege, they call it unmerited favor, and it is to commit sin and go to heaven. They pretend as all church people have this grace. God's grace will not help people to commit sin, but it will destroy sin. But, ungodly men have become pastors and preachers in churches, and preach false grace to lead people in sin. They call lasciviousness as grace. It is considered that sin and lust is acceptable to God for eternal life because of God's grace. "Jude 1:4.. 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." God curses false preachers. Yet there are still many of them. "Galatians 1:6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: 7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. 9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed." Still they have no fear of God, put up a show and preach false grace and false gospel. Truly they do not believe Christ. They are entertainers and performers, working for their fame and money.
Our text scripture is: "Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith;" It says we are saved. If we do not know what saved means, we may think that we are saved, probably we are not. Let us see how Jesus Christ saves us. Matthew 1:21 says, "... call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins." It says that Jesus Christ will save his people from their sins. We think that Jesus saves us from hell; is it true? Jesus will save only his people, and it is from their sins. If we do not sin, then we are saved from hell. So, there are two steps; and if we miss the first, the second will not happen. Further, he saves only his people. "2 Corinthians 6:14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? 16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people." God tells us to be separate ourselves from the evil people, and then God says, I will be their God, and they shall be my people. God saves these people from their sins, that is, Jesus Christ will removes their sins from them. Acts 3:26 says, Jesus Christ will turn away all his people from their iniquities. If we are saved from our sins, we will be children of God. This will give us inheritance in the kingdom of God. This is the salvation of Jesus Christ.
Faith follows hope. Hope is our desire or wish that we seek after. If we have confidence that we will get what we hope for, it will evidently be visible in the way we do things. This confidence is known as faith. The proof of faith is the things we do for that; we may call it works. But, if we do not have proof of work, then our confidence is dead faith. "James 2:26 …as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also." If our hope is to inherit the kingdom of God, if the source of our confidence is God, and if we walk in the ways that God tells us to walk to inherit his kingdom, then we have godly faith. "Mark 11:22 Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God." So, we have to have the confidence in God. "Hebrews 11:1 faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." The substance is heaven that we hope for, the evidence is the work we do, and our confidence in God is our faith. 1 Peter 1:21 says, "...by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God." God raised him from death, so that our faith might be in God. Lot of people have faith in their own faith. Instead, our faith must be in God based upon what he has said. "2 Corinthians 4:14 Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you." So, we also will be raised on that day. Our faith and hope must be in what God has said, but not on what preachers say. Preachers may say anything to become famous and wealthy. Faith in God is the true faith.
We do not want to see the philosophy of hope or the theology of hope, etc. Let us see; what is the hope of a Christian? We don't want to go to hell; but we hope that we will go to heaven. Heaven has two category of physical areas. One is new earth, which is paradise, and the temple of God will be there. The second is, new heavens, which is plural. The Bible does not say how many are there. The Sons of God and the Bride of the Lamb will be in the new heavens. We may hope for one of these areas. The Bible says in a few places that we will receive according to what we have done, which refers to the work we do. Jesus Christ says in "Luke 14:28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?" First count the cost. Is your tower 'a child of God', 'a servant of God', 'a son of God', or 'the bride of the Lamb'? Then, go for it. Or you may start from the status of a 'child of God' and then work your way up. Let me give an example of how 'a son of God' can work up to be 'the bride of Christ'. "1 John 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is." Say the present status of us is 'Son of God'. What we shall be depends on how do we persevere."Verse 3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure." Now we will try to be pure as Jesus Christ is pure, then we may become the bride of Christ. Paul says in "Philippians 3:14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you." Here Paul has become perfect, which will qualify to be a Son of God. So, he is not satisfied, but press forward to be the bride of Christ, and asking others, who are perfect, also to do the same. So, hope for the best, and this should be our hope.
Hebrews 9:27 says, ... "it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:" So, after we die, there will be a judgment. John 5:22 says, .. "the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:" So, the judge will be the Lord Jesus Christ. Acts 17:31 says, ... "he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained;" He will be the most righteous judge. Jesus Christ says in Revelation 22: "11 He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still. 12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. 13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last." So, we will be there with all what we have done, before the righteous judge, the Lord Jesus Christ. If we want him as our high priest, mediator, advocate, intercessor, and such, it will be when we are yet living (now), but not at the judgment seat. Christians think that the forgiveness and salvation is done at the judgment seat, and there will be a glorious acquittal. But, the Judgment will be strictly according to what we have done in our life. The trial is going on now in our life, between our conscience and the spirit of God. Just the rewards, either good or bad, that is heaven or hell, will be given on the judgment day. Galatians 6 says, "7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting." God says, be not deceived. However, we can change our destiny now, but not in front of the judgment seat.
Thank you for listening, God bless you and be with you. Amen.
Note: If any point needs explanation,
OR, if you find an error according to scripture,
Please write to me in the 'Mail Box' below. I will reply
promptly. Thanks.
Please look at a few of these links for more information: "Judgment", "Grace", "False Gospel". Thank you.
HOME |
Matthew 28:20, & Mark 16:15. Jesus Christ preached his commandments to obey, as his
Gospel; it is the true Gospel to inherit Eternal life. Genesis 3:1-4 & 2 Corinth 11:2-4. But Preachers, who are Serpents of Satan, preach the life of man Jesus just to believe, but not to live as a chaste virgin, as the gospel; it is another gospel, which cannot and will not give Eternal life.The true gospel will convert evil people to do good and thereby they will inherit the kingdom in heaven
. John 3:19-21 say that people are two kinds, evil and true. Evil doers will not come to the Light, who is God; but people of truth come to God for their deeds to be made manifest. We have good and evil people by our standard of our society or culture. These evil people may be converted to be doers of truth by the power of God, and they may inherit the kingdom of God in heaven.
Email: Pastor True Gospel