A BROTHER WRITES... "Christianity is not first and foremost about our behavior, our obedience, our performance, our faithfulness, our diligence, our sacrifices, or even our love for God.
It is first and foremost about Jesus. It is about His person, His performance, His faithfulness, His sacrifice, His life, death, resurrection, ascension, and promised return. We are fully and finally rescued and adopted by grace alone through faith alone in the finished work of Christ alone. Full stop."
TO WHICH I RESPOND.... Don't confuse salvation and sanctification. You've beautifully described what Jesus does to save us. But to "work out (our) salvation with fear and trembling" (Philippians 2:12) "our behavior, our obedience, our performance, our faithfulness, our diligence, our sacrifices (and) even our love for God" is first and foremost and He has freely given (grace) us all things that pertain to life and Godliness" (2Peter 1:3).
BEWARE modern day Antinomianism! Rom 6:1,2
"What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase? 2 May it never be!"
- dr. dick christen
THIS PASSAGE INSTRUCTS ALL OF US ABOUT THE DANGERS OF ANGRY SPEECH. WITH SOCIAL MEDIA SO PROMINENT, IT IS MOST APPLICABLE IN THIS DAY OF INTEMPERATE POLITICAL, PERSONAL NON-ENDING COMMENT. READ THIS CAREFULLY AND THOUGHTFULLY. LOOK FOR THE MEANING:
Act 23:1-5......(THE APOSTLE PAUL WAS BEING TRIED AND ABOUT TO BE WHIPPED FOR PREACHING THE GOSPEL) The passage says:
"Paul, looking intently at the Council, said, 'Brethren, I have lived my life with a perfectly good conscience before God up to this day.' The high priest Ananias commanded those standing beside him to strike him on the mouth. Then Paul said to him, 'God is going to strike you, you whitewashed wall! Do you sit to try me according to the Law, and in violation of the Law order me to be struck?' But the bystanders said, 'Do you revile God’s high priest?' And Paul said, 'I was not aware, brethren, that he was high priest; for it is written, ‘You shall not speak evil of A ruler of your people.’”
There are two negatives and one positive for the Apostle Paul:
Negative 1 - He spoke proudfully (1,2)
Negative 2 - He lashed out negatively (3)
Positive 1 - He responded respectfully (4,5)
NOW, apply to yourself and to the politcal personalities and chatter of today.
- Dick Christen
