"Avoid every kind of evil. May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." 1 Thessalonians 5:22&23
Are our actions and words keeping us blameless in our spirit, soul and body? We can use the Bible as a means of judging our own hearts. "For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." Hebrews 4:12 When you are not sure whether or not your actions or words are pleasing to the Lord, you can use the Bible as a means to check yourself.
If you find that you are lacking, which we all should because no one is perfect, God allows you to ask him to strengthen your heart. "May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones." 1 Thessalonians 3:13 If you continually ask God to strengthen your heart and change your heart to what he wants, he will answer your prayers. Before you know it you will be amazed at how God has changed you. You will look back on things and realize that you looked at life differently. You will notice how you don't participate in activities that you used to. You will also notice how you WANT to participate in activities that bring glory to God. Which brings me to my last point.
After we allow God to change our hearts and strengthen them, we need to do good works for Him. "In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead." James 2:17 Also, God is going to reward us for the good works we have done. So how would we not want to do good works? We are not only pleasing God, but we are storing up treasures in heaven for ourselves. "For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father's glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done." Matthew 6:27
In the process of writing this blog, I broadened my vocabulary. I found out that the word "Flory" means "Heraldry" which means "the science of armorial bearings". And if you are unsure of what those are, armorial bearings are coat of arms that were worn by medieval knights over their armor. This identified them with the crown they served. Just a random side note. :)
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Saturday, October 1, 2011
Justified By Faith
While reading in Galatians tonight, a topic that is brought up numerous times in the Bible, jumped out at me once again. Paul wrote this letter to the churches in Galatia to counter the claims of the legalistic Judaizers. The legalistic Judaizers were trying to persuade the Galatians that they needed to be circumcised and keep in the law of Moses in order to be saved. However, Paul had some words against this belief.
First off, Paul told them that the gospel he preached was NOT from man; that it indeed WAS from God. He also told them of his past concerning "the way" and how he persecuted all those who partook in it. But God had set him apart at birth to preach the gospel to the gentiles. By God's grace, Jesus was shown to him and he did not consult any man.
When Peter came to Antioch, Paul opposed him because he was acting like a hypocrite. Before certain men came, he would eat with the Gentiles. But after they arrived, he separated himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid. Just because the Gentiles had not been circumcised and they did not follow the law of Moses, the circumcised party did not want anything to do with them. They were not doing what Jesus would have done and therefor were in the wrong.
When Paul opposed Peter about this, he stated that "man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ." Gal 2:16 The law is only there to show us that we need salvation; and that salvation can only come from Jesus Christ. There are still those who need to be reminded of this. And, also, reminded they cannot do just good works to be justified. Only faith in Jesus Christ will be your justification.
"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!" Galatians 2:20-21
First off, Paul told them that the gospel he preached was NOT from man; that it indeed WAS from God. He also told them of his past concerning "the way" and how he persecuted all those who partook in it. But God had set him apart at birth to preach the gospel to the gentiles. By God's grace, Jesus was shown to him and he did not consult any man.
When Peter came to Antioch, Paul opposed him because he was acting like a hypocrite. Before certain men came, he would eat with the Gentiles. But after they arrived, he separated himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid. Just because the Gentiles had not been circumcised and they did not follow the law of Moses, the circumcised party did not want anything to do with them. They were not doing what Jesus would have done and therefor were in the wrong.
When Paul opposed Peter about this, he stated that "man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ." Gal 2:16 The law is only there to show us that we need salvation; and that salvation can only come from Jesus Christ. There are still those who need to be reminded of this. And, also, reminded they cannot do just good works to be justified. Only faith in Jesus Christ will be your justification.
"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!" Galatians 2:20-21
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