All of true religion consists in having a pure conscience both before man and God. Having the "old man" or "old nature" put off. With what does the "old man" or "old nature" consist? It is this, and no more, the very spirit of selfishness, the great "me", "mine", "my" and " I ". It is self-esteem, self-seeking, and living wholly to self, and this is all that possibly can come from "our flesh" or "old nature", in other words, the real you without God! And mark me well, these things must be "put off", so that the new man (Christ Jesus) can be put on.
Self-love, self-esteem, self-seeking, and living wholly to self, all of this selfishness is done away with in Christ, at the moment we are born of God. The new creation is always manifested by humility and meekness and, a deep desire to do the will of God.
A Very Important Point!
We are not abiding in Christ if any of the above forms of selfishness are present and ruling in us. For all of this disappears when we are literally and truly born of God. Selfishness or sin, whichever term you choose to use, becomes the rare exception in the believer's life, righteousness becomes the practice!
2 Corinthians 13:5 "Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you unless indeed you fail the test?" The proof of our being born of God is the reality of the Spirit of God living and ruling in us, and by His Spirit, we are brought into communion with the Living God. Luke 9:23 And He was saying to them all, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. When we actually become disciples of Jesus Christ, we are willing, and in fact do deny ourselves, we pick up our cross daily, and of course we follow Him! Jesus said that unless we do this we cannot be His disciples.
At this point while reading this, examine yourself, is anger or pride welling up in you, is indignation rising to the top? Then understand that as of this very moment you are still resisting the Holy Spirit. If on the other hand you are pleased with what you have just read, whether or not it is true in your life, you are yielding to the Spirit of God. In other words, are you crying out to God " O my God make this true in my life ""Is anger or pride welling up in you"Lord, Lord
Matthew 7:22 "Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name? and in Your name cast out devils? and in your name perform many miracles?" Many people rest in the works that they do, like witnessing, preaching and giving money for the work of God, and things like these, but the Buddhist monk does all of this and is no more born again of the Spirit of God than Satan is! Do not be at ease with your works, if self-will, selfishness or pride in any of it's forms are still ruling in your life!But also remember . . . .
Works don't save us, nor can they, nothing but the regenerating power of the living God can do that, through Christ! We are not saved by our works - Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast. This is a very important truth, and just as important, is this truth, the Bible tells us that after we are saved from sin, our works will be different, for example, Titus 2:14 who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds. And again, James 2:20 But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless? Many disregard this side of the coin, please realize this, we are not saved by any works we do, but after we are saved we become a new creation in Christ Jesus and this new creation is zealous to do good works. We do not do good works to save ourselves or stay saved, but only because we love the Lord and want to please Him! We, like Christ " will want to be about our Father's business." 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
To Sum Up!
We are not saved on the basis of our works, because, all of our works before we are regenerated are formed out of selfishness. Before we are born of God we have nothing but "selfish self" to draw from, we do things for self centered and self-serving reasons. After we are regenerated, we become new creations in Christ, we have the living God to draw from, to guide us, our motives now originate in love. This transformation is evident by the things we do, i.e. we love people, instead of simply using them, we truly live for God, instead of pretending to live for God! This is because after being born again from above, we truly love Him!
Here are a few more Scripture references on this subject of faith and works, Ephesians 2:10 1 Timothy 6:18 2 Timothy 3:17 Titus 1:16 Titus 2:14 James 2:17 James 2:18 James 2:26 1 Peter 2:12
Never forget, only the light of God, which alone gives humility and meek submission to all of the will of God, can make us like Jesus Christ. And that is God's goal for us!
In 1 John chapter 2 we find many Biblical proofs of our being born of the Spirit of God
1 John 2:29 If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone also who practices righteousness is born of Him. Do you practice sin or righteousness? It is impossible to practice both at the same time! Which are you practicing? By answering this question you will know if you are born of God or simply religious, but living like the Pharisees, and not following the example of Jesus Christ!
1 John 2:3-6 And by this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. The one who says, "I have come to know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him: the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked. John points out that if we do not obey the Lord we don't know Him.
1 John 3:7-10 Little children, let no one deceive you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous; the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, that He might destroy the works of the devil. No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother. This is Bible, I need not explain it, it is simply true in your life, or it is not!
Listen to the words of Jesus in Luke 6:46 "And why do you call Me, `Lord, Lord, and do not do what I say?"
A born again child of God does maintain a pure conscience. Acts 24:16 "In view of this, I also do my best to maintain always a blameless conscience both before God and before men.
1Timothy 1:5 But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.
1Timothy 1:19 keeping faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and suffered shipwreck in regard to their faith.
1 Timothy 3:9 but holding to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience.
Yes, this is the fruit of being born again, a good, blameless and clear conscience! If these things are true of you, you are now walking in newness of life, and You are His! But If these things are not true, in deed, in fact, in reality, in you, do not despair, only believe in God's many promises to bring this about! Remember the Christian life is Christ born within us! We do not get smarter, or better, we die to ourselves so that Jesus Christ can be formed in us! Here are a few Scriptures telling us this very thing,
Romans 6:4-6 Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, in order that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall be also in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, that our body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin; Has your old self been crucified with Him? Then you are no longer a slave to sin! The Son has set you free! And again, Galatians 2:20 "I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and delivered Himself up for me.
Philippians 1:21 For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
If you want to see clearly how we are set free from sin, and how we can walk in newness of life read our tract . . "How to live the Christian life"
After you are His, you can make a difference!
Jesus said in, Matthew 5:14-16 "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. "Nor do men light a lamp, and put it under the peck-measure, but on the lampstand; and it gives light to all who are in the house. "Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
Do you want to be a light in this world? All you have to do is "LET" your light shine! You ask " what is this light that is to shine forth from us?" and how do we get this light? It is the very life of Jesus Christ that is born in the believer, Listen again to Jesus, John 14:12 "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go to the Father. Do you believe that He was telling us the truth? If you say "Yes" then you must look for the doing of the "greater works than these" because if we are not doing the greater works of Jesus, it can only be that we don't believe in Him. Yes this is a part of the light we are supposed to let shine.
Don't be beat down by all of the unbelief that professing Christians demonstrate daily! Believe the word of God! IT WILL NOT FAIL! The only reason Christians are not doing the greater works is because they don't really believe the words of Jesus! GET UP NOW, GO INTO YOUR CLOSET, GET BEFORE GOD AND REPENT OF UNBELIEF, AND START LIVING THE LIFE JESUS CHRIST INTENDED FOR YOU TO LIVE! DO IT NOW!
How to live the sanctified life
Jesus also said in John 15:4-5 "Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me, and I in him, he bears much fruit; for apart from Me you can do nothing." Are you bearing much fruit? The answer to this question will tell you if you are abiding in Jesus! We must abide in Christ to bear fruit, this too is the source of the "light" that is to shine forth from us.
An Important NoticeJesus tells us in, John 4:14 "But whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life." Do you have this water? it is free for the asking! And it too is the source of the light that shines forth from us.
How much clearer could we be told what this light is than by these words of Jesus, in John 8:12 Again therefore Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world; he who follows Me shall not walk in the darkness, but shall have the light of life."
Romans 8:13-14 tells us one of the important secrets of living the sanctified life -
"for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God." God gives us His Spirit because we can not deal with our old nature any other way, "by the Spirit we put to death the deeds of the body" Not by trying, not by our might, but by His Spirit! Fail at this and you will fail at everything!
The word humility plays a very important part in the Christian life.
Ephesians 4:1-2 I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, entreat you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing forbearance to one another in love,
Philippians 2:3 Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind let each of you regard one another as more important than himself;
Colossians 3:12 And so, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience;
1 Peter 5:5 You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.
Matthew 11:29 "Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and you shall find rest for your souls."
Yes, humility is a proof of the "light" being in us, if humility is absent in your life, this only means that the humble Jesus is absent in your life! Remember, without humility we have no light!
Can you see that this light we are supposed to let shine is Jesus Christ!
Is your light shining? Are you "letting" it shine?
If you are in a Church, that does not uphold these Scriptures, or a Church that will teach against them, or try to explain them away, A Church that does not exhort you to STOP SINNING, and does not exhort you to live a life that is pleasing to God,
GET OUT OF IT!
You are in a man-made organization that can be called nothing but a sinning religion, it will lead you to HELL! Remember it was our sin that caused Jesus to suffer and be killed on the cross! And don't let this small fact escape your notice, "And she will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for it is He who will save His people from their sins." Matthew 1:21. Yes, Jesus came to save us from our SIN! Are you saved? Take the time and effort to Find a Church that believes and teaches the Bible! I know that it is difficult to find a Church that is not following the world, but it can be done. It is important to your soul, and the souls of your family and loved ones!
Realize this
God hates SIN! That is why He converts sinners into Saints! Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Oftentimes I have been in Churches where the congregation refer to each other as "sinners", after observing this for a while, I looked into the word of God to find out if this label was correct. Biblically it is not! In the Bible you will not find Christians being referred to as sinners, but as Saints.
A sinner is someone who is in rebellion to God, a person who practices sin! A Christian is someone that has been converted from a life of rebellion to God, to a life pleasing to God. Sin is the rare exception in the believers life, not the rule!
How should a congregation refer to each other?
Acts 9:13 But Ananias answered, "Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he did to Thy saints at Jerusalem;
Acts 9:32 Now it came about that as Peter was traveling through all those parts, he came down also to the saints who lived at Lydda.
Acts 9:41. And he gave her his hand and raised her up; and calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive.
Romans 1:7 to all who are beloved of God in Rome, called as saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Romans 16:15 Greet Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who are with them.
1 Corinthians 1:2 to the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, saints by calling, with all who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours:
1 Corinthians 14:33 For God is not a God of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.
Just a few more references, if you care to look them up, again not a complete list, Romans 8:27 - Romans 12:13 Acts 26:10 - Romans 15:25 - Romans 15:26
Is The Term "Sinner" A Proper "Christian Term"?
When the Bible speaks of someone being a sinner, it is not speaking of a person in favor with God, but someone who needs to be saved from a fiery Hell! It is amusing to me that some read 1 Timothy 1:15 and come away believing that the Apostle Paul was stating that he is still a sinner, I believe the text itself shows this to be wrong, this is what he said "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all." Who among us does not see his sin as horrible. Do you think that Paul was saying that he was not yet saved? Remember Jesus came to save us from sin, if you are still in bondage to sin , you still need to be saved! Matthew 1:21 "And she will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for it is He who will save His people from their sins."
When the Bible speaks of Christians and a practice of sin, it is always in the "past-tense" Watch how often the Bible uses past-tense when referring to a believer and sin!
Romans 6:17-18 But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed, and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.
1 Corinthians 6:9-11 Or do you not know that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in the Spirit of our God.
Ephesians 2:1-10 And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest. But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places, in Christ Jesus,
in order that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in 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; not as a result of works, that no one should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Colossians 1:21-23 And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach if indeed you continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, was made a minister.
Colossians 3:5-11 Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry. For it is on account of these things that the wrath of God will come, and in them you also once walked, when you were living in them. But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices, and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all.
Titus 3:3-5 For we also once were foolish ourselves, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another. But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,
Remember each and every time the Bible speaks of a believer and sin as a practice, it speaks in the past-tense!
We will close with this scripture, Matthew 5:48
"Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect."
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