Don't fall into the trap, of thinking your faith is solely your doing - it is your doing in part, but praise God daily

[Gottservant]

Hi there,

So something that will vex you until you have understood, it is important not to claim that your faith is your doing. Jesus said "You did not choose Me, but I chose you" (John, from memory). What He meant by this, is that the Father Himself has forgiven you, now you must accept what has been done for you and respond in kind. In the perspective of Wisdom, that is respond in kind, for the rest of your life - actually plan to respond to God, for the rest of your life, no matter what happens. This kind of commitment, gets the Devil's attention: but you can always show him, the Door you are headed for. That is something you can do in this life, that the Devil will not be able to ignore.

The more the Devil can predict, the path you are going to take in life, the less he will persecute you - if you are taking up your cross, daily, where your cross has lead should become more and more obvious (the Devil can't ignore that). How much greater then, that struggle, if you are daily praising God, for what He has done on your cross, that forgiveness be extended to you, no matter what you have done (in principle). It becomes a consistent theme, that you are able to anticipate and celebrate more and more. God gave you the power, now you must walk worthily! Do not be frustrated that others do not share this walk with you, remember Solomon's admonition about the "good life": it is three score years and ten (70 years), in principle you should have a good life's worth of praise, by the time you reach seventy.

As you do this, you will discover that you have learnt to trust the Holy Spirit, that He has confided in you what it is that displeases God, and what in you that has pleased God. This is the beginning of discernment, which will carry you through to the appropriate praises for God, from the heart, as your testimony continues to establish that God has saved you, that you are loved, that you are received. We cannot do these things on our own, but the Holy Spirit enables us: He knew how much time we had left, what good repentance has done for us, what acceptance of God we revere God for - the Holy Spirit has a foundation of trust, on which to draw, to serve your conviction and your spirit and your answer. You will begin to be happy with the Lord, things (especially in the faith) will start to make sense. This is the nature of spiritual strength. It gives us word, and holiness and reverence.

So become familiar with the works of repentance, to trust what God has done and commit simply to the good life - all these things will be great in God's sight and He will bless and continue to bless you favourably. This is your calling! The things of this world will grow strangely dim, in the light of His Glory and Grace! Daily ask yourself "how familiar am I, with the works of forgiveness God has done for me this Day?" You will not need to grow in the kingdom of darkness, but will have the light of life and a crown that surpasses everything, because you have not left your God without praise, from the time He knew you, to now. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble (Jesus) - part of that is acknowledging today what God has already done. You cannot grow, all manner of fruit, in a Day, but Day by Day the Word of God can be sown in your heart and there is room to rejoice in what was to come!

I hope you receive this, as a blessing.

 

[prism]

Don't fall into the trap, of thinking your faith is your doing - thank God daily, that you have been counted worthy to have been forgiven (to the end)​

‘Counted Worthy to be forgiven’?
I thought it was by grace (unmerited favor) that we have been forgiven.

 

[thelord's_pearl]

Thanks Gottservant! Yes everyday I want to be right with God. If I fail, I climb back up again and adjust myself, prayer is important when you're off base. I want to be righteous by faith, trusting in God/Jesus and their words and in the Holy Spirit!

 

[Gottservant]

‘Counted Worthy to be forgiven’?
I thought it was by grace (unmerited favor) that we have been forgiven.

Worthy by Grace.

The point is we have dignity, not just eligibility.

But yes, having grace imparted to us, is more important again!

 

[Phoneman777]

Jesus said "You did not choose Me, but I chose you" (John, from memory). What He meant by this, is that the Father Himself has forgiven you, now you must accept what has been done for you and respond in kind.

It's more accurate to preach that PROVISION for forgiveness, not forgiveness itself, is proffered to the sinner. Forgiveness is granted only when the sinner seeks it in penitent faith.

For instance, while forgiveness was in the heart of his master, the Unmerciful Servant didn't receive forgiveness until he asked for it.

Likewise, provision for forgiveness is made possible by the Cross, but is not granted until it is sought. :)

 

[Gottservant]

It's more accurate to preach that PROVISION for forgiveness, not forgiveness itself, is proffered to the sinner. Forgiveness is granted only when the sinner seeks it in penitent faith.

For instance, while forgiveness was in the heart of his master, the Unmerciful Servant didn't receive forgiveness until he asked for it.

Likewise, provision for forgiveness is made possible by the Cross, but is not granted until it is sought. :)

I would rather say "provision for forgiveness and the forgiveness itself" are proferred.

For we have an ability to believe it more or less, which we couldn't do, if one or the other was missing.

 

[Phoneman777]

I would rather say "provision for forgiveness and the forgiveness itself" are proferred.

For we have an ability to believe it more or less, which we couldn't do, if one or the other was missing.

You're right, after reading my post again, I agree both are proffered to the sinner, but the act of God forgiving the sin of sinners doesn't happen corporately on Calvary, but individually when the sinner asks for it.

 

[Gottservant]

You're right, after reading my post again, I agree both are proffered to the sinner, but the act of God forgiving the sin of sinners doesn't happen corporately on Calvary, but individually when the sinner asks for it.

You begin a journey by faith.

As Martin Luther King said "Faith is climbing the stairs, when you don't see the top of the staircase".

That is, the Lord starts ordering your steps, another way (another way to the way He did to begin with).

 

[Gottservant]

I think, to be fair, Salvation is a relationship - it is neither solely God's work, nor solely yours: hopefully it is more God's!

 

[Gottservant]

The importance of this idea, is that you keep being grateful, to the end.

He who is grateful to the end, is worthy of greatest things.

I am grateful for the Messenger that lead me to faith, and will be to the end of my days.

 

[Matthias]

The importance of this idea, is that you keep being grateful, to the end.

He who is grateful to the end, is worthy of greatest things.

I am grateful for the Messenger that lead me to faith, and will be to the end of my days.

I was reading yesterday about the Jewish tradition of offering 100 blessings each day.

 

[Matthias]

“If you enjoy something in this world without saying a blessing, it is as if you stole it.”

(Talmud Berachot 35A)

https://hebrew4christians.com/Blessings/Introduction/BlessingsIntro.pdf

 

[Gottservant]

The important thing to remember, is that this relationship (of sharing with God) is like this for the rest of your life.

You can go your whole life, not thanking God for salvation, because in your mind, it is something "you" have done.

Then when you get to Heaven, you can spend eternity wishing that you had praised God more.

Don't fall into that trap! Make praising God a daily habit!

 

[gordon7]

We are saved by the blood of Jesus Christ, not by the words and sport of men.

Belief in Jesus Christ ( alone who died for us) frees us from the puffing ( up) of men, and that is why He died for us, and bought us with a price. ( of HIs life)


If a person believes in that blood, they cant be taught by others how to value it, we either believe in the one who loved us, or we hear the ones who hate Christ, and seek glory for themselves instead of for Christ. If a person glorifies Christ, they already love others, believing in the love Christ had for them, and others see that love, not hear it from their text and talk.

 

[Gottservant]

The point of allowing God to have great place in your life, is that He is able to fashion you into what you need to be. If God can fashion you into what you need to be, you will be inspired with even greater praise for God. Greater praise for God, does not come about because you "crush" the flesh - God wants to nurture your flesh, just as He does your soul!

 

[Windmill Charge]

I think, to be fair, Salvation is a relationship - it is neither solely God's work, nor solely yours: hopefully it is more God's!

Sorry salvation is wholly 100% of God. We contribute nothing except the sin and needing salvation..

Once we have received salvation, then we share in the work of being changed.

 

[Gottservant]

Sorry salvation is wholly 100% of God. We contribute nothing except the sin and needing salvation..

Once we have received salvation, then we share in the work of being changed.

The flesh disappears when we believe in God? I'm not sure if you are thinking that through?

 

[Windmill Charge]

The flesh disappears when we believe in God? I'm not sure if you are thinking that through?

Where have I said that. As Christian we have to work at living a Christ honouring life style, Paul wrote that when Jesus returns we will be changed in an instant, untill then we work with the holy spirit to prune those bad habits, at using the fruit of the spirit.

 

[Gottservant]

The point is that God is not waiting to be thanked for saving, but to hear of how His Son has been rediscovered in you.

Now you can be foolish and say "I've done it!" or you can be wise and say "I've done something!"

 

[David Lamb]

The point is that God is not waiting to be thanked for saving, but to hear of how His Son has been rediscovered in you.

Now you can be foolish and say "I've done it!" or you can be wise and say "I've done something!"

Or you can thank God for doing it all:

“And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,” (Eph 2:1-8 NKJV)

Paul didn't tell the Christians at Ephesus, "You've done something!" No, he says "God has made you alive, God has made you sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, God has saved you by His grace."