TRUE REPENTANCE IS OBVIOUS
“…I KNOW THY WORKS, AND THY LABOR, AND THY PATIENCE, AND HOW THOU CANST NOT BEAR THEM WHICH ARE EVIL: AND THOU TRIED THEM WHICH SAY THEY ARE APOSTLES, AND
ARE NOT, AND HAS FOUND THEM LAIRS… REPENT AND DO THE FIRST WORKS…”
(REVELATION 2:2, 5 KJV).
*
God is lovingly admonishing the church of Ephesus in Revelation 2
to REPENT. “…REPENT AND DO THE FIRST WORKS…”
(REVELATION 2:2 KJV).
It is a WARNING for them to change their minds and think
differently about the duty-bound religious services they have been performing,
thinking, they are becoming righteous by their OWN WORKS. “… Knowing that a man is not justified
(made right with God) by the works of the Law but through faith in (or dependence upon) Christ
…”
(Galatians 2:16 NASB).
“…Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man,
I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. The grace (unmerited favor) of our Lord was poured
out on me (transferred to me) abundantly, ALONG WITH
FAITH (the indwelling power to depend upon God) … that are “IN” Christ Jesus…”
(1 Timothy 1:13-14 NIV). “…God … sent
forth the
Spirit of His Son “INTO” [Y]OUR… HEARTS…”
(Galatians 4:6 NASB). “…Christ [IS]… in you, …” (Colossians 1:27 KJV). “…It
is the [indwelling Holy] SPIRIT who gives [spiritual life to you]…”
(John 6:63 NASB). “…GOD IS SPIRIT…”
(John 4:24 KJV). “…The
Spirit of God dwell in you…” (Romans 8:9 KJV). “… [You have]…the fruit of the Spirit (dwelling in you)…”
(Galatians 5:22-23 KJV). “…God has given [you] HIS Spirit as
PROOF that … he [dwells]…in [you]…” (1
John 4:13 NLT).
The duty-bound, religious services are done as a boring, dull
obligation to become worthy or deserving of, or earn, the FREE gift of
salvation. “…The
grace (unmerited
favor) of our Lord was poured out on me (transferred to me) abundantly, ALONG WITH FAITH (the indwelling POWER to depend upon God)
… that are “IN” Christ Jesus…”
(1 Timothy 1:13-14 NIV). “…BY
GRACE have ye been saved through… FAITH…” (Ephesians 2:8-9 ASV). “…Through faith
in
(or dependence upon) Christ Jesus … we have believed (or have been empowered to
believe) in Christ Jesus, so that we may be
justified (made
right) by faith in (or dependence upon) Christ and not by the works
of the Law (or self-effort)…” (Galatians 2:16 NASB). “…BY GRACE (unmerited favor)… [you are] …saved …not of WORKS, that no man should glory…”
(Ephesians 2:8-9 ASV). “… Apart from [Jesus,
You]…can do nothing…” (John 15:5 NIV). “…I will supply all your NEED…”
(John 12:32 KJV).ONLY “…By the
grace of God I am what I am…” (1 Corinthians 15:10 NIV).
By the GRACE of God I am SAVED. I am
sanctified. I am justified. I am sustained. I am working out my salvation. I
have eternal life. ONLY “…By the
grace of God I am what I am…” (1 Corinthians 15:10 NIV).
In order to REPENT God’s people willfully choose to change their
minds from a duty-bound perspective of service and return to a devotional one. “… So that we
may be justified (made
right with God) by faith in (or dependence upon) Christ and not by the works
of the Law (one’s OWN self-effort); since by the works of the Law no flesh will be
justified (made
right with God)…” (Galatians 2:16 NASB).
The church of Ephesus was encouraged to remember they were SAVED
by GRACE and not by WORKS. “…BY
GRACE … [you are] …saved …not of WORKS, that no man should glory…”
(Ephesians 2:8-9 ASV).
They were also KEPT by GRACE and not by WORKS. “…Being confident of
this very thing, that
HE (the
indwelling Holy Spirit) WHICH HATH “BEGUN” A GOOD “WORK” IN YOU WILL “PERFORM”
IT until the day of Jesus Christ…” (Philippians 1:6
KJV).
Therefore, “…Looking unto Jesus (not self) the AUTHOR (originator) and FINISHER (sustainer) OF [Y[OUR…[indwelling
Spirit of]… FAITH…” (Hebrews 12:2a KJV). “…The LORD WILL PERFECT (grow, mature) that which concerneth me…”
(Psalms 138:8 KJV). “…HE “WILL” KEEP YOU STRONG
to the end…” (1 Corinthians 1:8 NLT). “…the Father that
dwelleth in me, he doeth the works…”
(John 14:10 KJV).
Jesus (the WORD, the
Gospel, the GOOD NEWS) “empowers”
your “salvation,” and by GRACE through the Spirit of Faith you are SAVED. “…BY GRACE (unmerited favor) have ye been saved through… FAITH…” (Ephesians 2:8-9 ASV). “…The
grace (unmerited
favor) of our Lord was poured out on me (or transferred to me) abundantly, ALONG WITH FAITH (the power to depend upon God) … that are “IN” Christ Jesus…”
(1 Timothy 1:13-14 NIV). “….The
gospel of Christ … is the power of God unto SALVATION TO EVERY ONE THAT BELIEVETH…”
(Romans 1:16 KJV).
In other words, as
SAVIOR, Jesus pours his Holy Spirit
into your heart and transfers his GRACE
abundantly along with his “indwelling Holy
Spirit of faith” “…GOD IS SPIRIT…”
(John 4:24 KJV). “… [One of]…the fruit of the Spirit… is…FAITH…”
(Galatians 5:22-23 KJV). “…God … sent
forth the Spirit of His
Son “INTO” [Y]OUR… HEARTS…”
(Galatians 4:6 NASB). “…The
Spirit of God dwell in you…” (Romans 8:9 KJV). “…The grace (unmerited favor) of our Lord
was poured out on me (transferred to me)
abundantly, ALONG WITH FAITH (the power to depend upon God) … that
are “IN” Christ Jesus…”
(1 Timothy 1:13-14 NIV).
Jesus empowers salvation, and sustains it through his indwelling Holy Spirit. “…It is God who works in you to will and to act
in order to fulfill his good purpose…” (Philippians 2:13 NIV). ).
“…[God]… is … sustaining ALL THINGS by his powerful WORD…”
(Hebrews 1:3 NIV). “…In him ALL THINGS hold
together…” (Colossians 1:7 NIV).
The continuous and perpetual WORK of the indwelling Holy Spirit is a labor of
LOVE. “…Love
… the perfect BOND of UNITY...”
(Colossians 3:14 NASB). “…God is love…” (1 John 4:4-8 KJV). “the work of God (love) [is] that ye believe on him (or depend upon him)…”
(John 6:29 KJV). “…Faith (dependence upon God) … worketh (is empowered) by love
(God is love)…” (Galatians
5:6 KJV). “…the Father [of love] that
dwelleth in me, he doeth (empowers) the
works…” (John 14:10 KJV).
The “the indwelling Holy Spirit” can NEVER be
taken away, change, depart, become powerless, forsake, weakened, or leave
(Romans 12:3). “…The
Spirit of God dwell in you…” (Romans 8:9 KJV). “…God has said “Never will I leave you; never
will I forsake you…”
(Hebrews 13:5 NIV). “…No one can undo what I have done..." (Isaiah 43:13 NLT).
“…When I act, who can reverse it?" (Isaiah
43:13 NIV). “…I am the Lord, I change NOT…”
(Malachi 3:6 KJV). “Jesus Christ is the
same
yesterday and today and forever”
(Hebrews 13:8 NIV). “…If
… [you] … are unfaithful, he remains faithful…” (2 Timothy 2:13 NLT). “….the…faithful love of the Lord,
never ends...” (Lamentations 3:22-23 NLT).
God’s people were given the indwelling Holy Spirit, in
order to depend upon God, to do the WORK of faith “IN” and “THROUGH” them. “…the Father [of love] that
dwelleth in me, he doeth the works…”
(John 14:10 KJV). “…The
Spirit of God dwell in you…” (Romans 8:9 KJV).
“…The …HOLY SPIRIT …is the SOURCE of [everything]. …it is …God who does the work IN and THROUGH all of us who
are his. The HOLY SPIRIT DISPLAYS God’s power THROUGH each of us …
(1 Corinthians 12:4-11 NLT).
Hearing
the gospel SAVED you. The WORD OF GOD (JESUS) is “…the POWER of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth…” (Romans 1:16 KJV).
“…For you have
been born again … through the living and
enduring WORD of God…” (1 Peter 1:23
NIV).
HEARING the gospel gave birth
to the indwelling Holy Spirit that
dwells in you. “…The
Holy Spirit gives birth to SPIRITUAL LIFE…” (John 3:6 NLT). “…GOD IS SPIRIT…”
(John 4:24 KJV). “…The Spirit of God dwell in you…” (Romans 8:9 KJV).
HEARING the gospel transfers God’s GRACE
onto you. “…The grace of our Lord (the unmerited
favor of SALVATION) was poured out on me (transferred to me) abundantly, ALONG WITH FAITH … that are “IN” Christ Jesus…”
(1 Timothy 1:13-14 NIV). “…BY
GRACE have ye been saved through… FAITH…”
(Ephesians 2:8-9 ASV “… [When] …we …
[depend upon]… the GRACE
of the Lord Jesus Christ … we shall be SAVED…” (Acts
15:11 KJV).
Receiving salvation by GRACE through FAITH,
along with the indwelling Holy Spirit
is PROOF that you have been rescued from God’s judgement and will not get what
you actually deserve, which is death. “…ALL HAVE SINNED and fallen short of the
glory of God…” (Romans 3:23). “…the wages of sin is death…” (Romans 6:23 KJV).
Receiving salvation by GRACE through FAITH,
along with the indwelling Holy Spirit
demonstrates you have depended upon God to SAVE YOU and you
are depending upon God to deliver you from eternal death. “…God so loved the world that he gave his only
begotten Son...the just for the unjust...that
whosoever believeth in him should not perish (experience eternal death)…” (John 3:16 KJV & 1 Peter 3:18 NASB). God “….is …not willing that any should perish
(experienced eternal death), but that all should come to repentance”
(2 Peter 3:9 KJV). “…The GIFT of
God is eternal
life through Jesus Christ ….” (Romans 6:23 KJV). "…
The righteous [will inherit] eternal life…" (Matthew 25:46 NIV).
You were SAVED by GRACE and not by WORKS. “…BY GRACE … [you are] …saved …not
of WORKS, that no man should glory…”
(Ephesians 2:8-9 ASV).
You are also KEPT by GRACE and not by WORKS. “…Being confident of
this very thing, that
HE (the
indwelling Holy Spirit) WHICH HATH “BEGUN” A GOOD “WORK” IN YOU WILL “PERFORM”
IT (empower it) until the day of Jesus Christ…”
(Philippians 1:6 KJV).
“…The
just shall live by faith (dependency upon the Holy Spirit…” (Galatians 3:11
KJV). “…The just shall live by HIS faith
(dependency upon HIS indwelling Holy Spirit)…” (Habakkuk 2:4 KJV). “…GOD IS SPIRIT…” (John 4:24 KJV). “…The Spirit of God dwell in you…” (Romans 8:9 KJV). “……It is …God who does the work IN and THROUGH all of us who
are his. The HOLY SPIRIT DISPLAYS God’s power THROUGH each of us …
(1 Corinthians 12:4-11 NLT). “…the Father [of love] that dwelleth in me, he
doeth the works…” (John 14:10 KJV).
Many
of God’s people have and are attempting, through routine, boring, rituals, and
religious obligations to do righteous works and feel close to God. “…We are made right with God by placing our
faith in (or dependency upon) Jesus Christ…” (Romans 3:22 NLT).
The
church of Ephesus revered God and respected his righteous judgement, but many
struggled and struggled with trying to be some ideology of perfect and
righteous. “… By the works of the Law
(self-effort) no flesh will be justified (be made right with God)…” (Romans
3:20 NASB). “… Righteousness … is
[attained]… by faith (dependency upon the indwelling Holy Spirit)…” (Romans
9:30 NASB).
No
matter how hard any child of God’s struggles to be righteous in God’s sight it
will NEVER happen nor will it satisfy God’s HOLY standard of living. “…The just shall
live by faith
(dependency upon the Holy Spirit…” (Galatians 3:11 KJV).
The
righteousness of God comes by faith or dependency upon the indwelling Holy
Spirit ONLY. “… Righteousness … is
[attained]… by faith (dependency upon the indwelling Holy Spirit)…”
(Romans 9:30 NASB).
Righteousness is obtained by GRACE through
faith; just like salvation.
“…BY
GRACE …through faith… [you are]
…saved …not of WORKS, that no man should glory…”
(Ephesians 2:8-9 ASV).
The
child of God does not have to struggle, by doing religious, obligatory works,
to attain righteousness. “…not of WORKS, that no man should glory…”
(Ephesians 2:8-9 ASV). He or she is ALREADY justified (made right) by faith or
dependency upon the finished work of Christ of the cross. “….not having a righteousness of my own … but that which is through faith in
(dependency upon) Christ, the righteousness
which comes from God on the basis of faith (dependence on god)…” (Philippians
3:9 NASB).
“…I am the Lord who …brings …righteousness to the earth…” (Jeremiah 9:23-24 NLT). “…The Father (the SPIRIT) that
dwelleth in [you] he doeth the works…”
(John 14:10 KJV).
“… So that we
may be justified (made
right with God) by faith in (dependence upon) Christ and not by the works
of the Law (one’s OWN self-effort); since by the works of the Law (self-effort) no flesh
will be justified (made
right with God)…” (Galatians 2:16 NASB).
Being RIGHT with God is NOT something the
child of God has to achieve by tedious, religious, obligatory works, but he or
she has RECEIVED righteousness by faith in the finished WORK of Christ of the
cross. “… Christ died for [my]… sins according to
the scriptures; And ...he was buried, and …he rose again the third day
according to the scriptures…” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4 KJV). “He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins…” (1
John 2:2 NIV). “…A person is made
right with God by
faith in (or dependency upon) Jesus Christ…” (Galatians 2:16
NLT). “…The righteousness which is by faith (dependency
upon the finished work of Christ on the cross)…” (Romans 9:30
NASB).
The church of Ephesus was already in right
standing with God by faith in or dependency upon the atoning sacrifice of
Christ on the cross. “He
is the atoning sacrifice
for our sins…” (1 John 2:2 NIV).
It is important to have a CLEAR and
unequivocal understanding on whether, the believer is justified (MADE RIGHT
with GOD) by faith (dependency upon Christ) or by works (one’s OWN self-effort). “…BY GRACE …through faith… [you are] …saved …not of WORKS, that no man should glory…”
(Ephesians 2:8-9 ASV). “…A right relationship with God …comes by faith…”
(Romans 4:13 NASB).
This understanding is CRUCIAL to YOU, because
it is foundational for choosing to DEPEND UPON and have confidence in FIRST LOVE
(God). “…God so loved the world that he gave his
only begotten Son, that
whosoever believeth in him, SHOULD NOT PERISH, but have everlasting life...”
(John 3:16 KJV). “…Christ …. died for sins ONCE for all,
the just for the unjust, SO THAT HE
MIGHT BRING US [BACK]…TO GOD…” (1 Peter 3:18 NASB). God “…spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us
all….?” (Romans 8:32 KJV).
God’s acts of GRACE are ALWAYS fueled by
the POWER of his eternal LOVE that NEVER wavers, weakens, fluctuates, or changes.
God has “….loved [you]...with an
everlasting love….”
(Jeremiah 31:3 KJV). There is “… [No] ….greater
love…than this…” (John 15:13 KJV). “…I am the Lord, I change
NOT…” (Malachi 3:6 KJV). “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever”
(Hebrews 13 :8 NIV).
Further, it is important because it is
pivotal for understanding how YOU are in and remain in RIGHT standing with the
HOLY God. “…God so loved the world that he gave his
only begotten Son, that
whosoever believeth in him (depend on his finished works on the cross), SHOULD NOT PERISH,
but have everlasting life...” (John 3:16 KJV). “…A person is made right with God by faith in (or dependency upon) Jesus Christ…”
(Galatians 2:16 NLT). “He is the atoning
sacrifice for our sins…” (1 John 2:2 NIV). “…Being confident of
this very thing, that
HE (the
indwelling Holy Spirit) WHICH HATH “BEGUN” A GOOD “WORK” IN YOU WILL “PERFORM”
IT (empower it) until the day of Jesus Christ…”
(Philippians 1:6 KJV).
We are justified (MADE RIGHT with God) by
dependency upon Jesus Christ alone. “…A
person is made right with God by faith in (or dependency upon) Jesus Christ…”
(Galatians 2:16 NLT). “…The righteousness
which is by faith
(dependency upon the finished work of Christ on the cross)…”
(Romans 9:30 NASB).
However, James said that Abraham was
justified by works. “… Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered
Isaac his son upon the altar?”
(James 2:21 KJV).
I mentioned earlier
that the duty-bound works and the devotional works LOOK the same, but they are
not. Duty-bound works are empowered by self-effort and devotional works are
empowered by the indwelling Holy Spirit
who does the WORK of faith “IN” and “THROUGH” God’s people. “……It is …God who does the work IN and THROUGH all of us who
are his… (1 Corinthians 12:4-11 NLT). “…the Father … he
doeth the works…” (John 14:10 KJV).
“…It was BY FAITH (dependency
upon that Holy Spirit) that ABRAHAM OFFERED UP ISAAC as a sacrifice when God
was testing him. Abraham, who had received God’s promises, was ready to
sacrifice his only son, Isaac,
even though God had told him, “Isaac is the son through whom
your descendants will be counted.” Abraham reasoned that if
Isaac died, God was able to bring him back to life again. And in a sense, Abraham
did receive his son back from the dead…”
(Hebrews 11 NLT)
“… Abraham was shown to be right with God by his actions when he offered
his son Isaac on the altar?
You see, his faith (dependency upon the Holy Spirit) and his actions(works) worked together. His actions
made his faith complete. And so it happened just as the
Scriptures say: “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because
of his faith.” He was even called the friend of God. So
you see, we are shown to be right with God by what we do, not by faith alone…”
(James 2:21-24 NLT).
Devotional works will PROVE or DISPLAY that
your works are empowered by your dependency upon Jesus Christ, the indwelling Holy Spirit. “…The HOLY SPIRIT DISPLAYS God’s power THROUGH
each of us … (1 Corinthians 12:4-11 NLT).
“… We are shown to be right with God by what we do, not by faith alone…
[Abraham’s]… faith
(dependency upon the Holy Spirit) and his actions (works)
worked together… …” (James 2:21-24 NLT). Therefore,
“You can identify them… by their … fruit, that
is, by the way they … act…”
(Matthew 7:16 NLT).
“…Every good tree bringeth forth good fruit... [and] a good tree CANNOT
bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. WHEREFORE BY
THEIR … FRUIT YE SHALL KNOW THEM …...” (Matthew 7:16-22
KJV). “…The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,
forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness
and self-control….”
(Galatians 5:22-23).
“…
[Abraham’s]…
faith (dependency upon the Holy Spirit) and his
actions (devotional works) worked together…
…” (James 2:21-24 NLT).
Your works are ONLY
justified WHEN they are EMPOWERED by the indwelling HOLY SPIRIT who does the
WORK of faith “IN” and “THROUGH” you. “……It is …God who does
the work IN and THROUGH all of us who are his… (1
Corinthians 12:4-11 NLT). “…the Father … he doeth the works…”
(John 14:10 KJV).
Struggling, through duty-bound efforts are
a sign that you have forgotten and abandon FIRST LOVE (God), who called you a
never ending act of GRACE. “… I marvel that ye are so
soon removed from him that called
you into the grace of Christ unto
another gospel…” (Galatians 6:9 NASB). “…If you are trying … [in your OWN effort] … to make yourselves
right with God by keeping
the … [commandments], you have been cut off from
Christ! You have fallen
away from God’s GRACE…”
(Galatians 2:21 NLT). “…a person is made right [and KEPT right]
with God by faith
[or depending upon]… Jesus Christ…”
(Galatians 2:16 NLT).
ALL truly righteous CONDUCT is empowered
by the indwelling Holy Spirit. “…May … God…EQUIP YOU with everything good for doing his will…” (Hebrews 13:20-21 NIV). “…May … God… WORK IN US what is pleasing to him, THROUGH Jesus Christ…” (Hebrews 13:20-21 NIV). “…The righteous will live by his faith…”
(Habakkuk 2:4 NASB). “… [You] can do all
things THROUGH CHRIST which strengtheneth [you]…”
(Philippians 4:13 KJV). “….Apart from [the indwelling Holy Spirit]…, YOU
CAN DO NOTHING…” (John 15:5 NIV).
The “justified” person
who chooses to do devotional works is the one EMPOWERED by the indwelling Holy Spirit who does the WORK of faith
“IN” and “THROUGH” them. “…The righteous will live by his faith…” (Habakkuk 2:4 NASB). “…Jesus Christ is in you…” (2 Corinthians 13:5 KJV). “…
May … God… WORK IN US what is pleasing to him, THROUGH Jesus Christ…” (Hebrews 13:20-21 NIV).
The justified person,
who chooses to do devotional works, will enjoy the promises and blessings of a
life empowered by the indwelling Holy
Spirit who does the WORK of faith “IN” and “THROUGH” them. “……It is …God who does the work IN and THROUGH all
of us who are his… (1 Corinthians 12:4-11 NLT). “…the Father … he
doeth the works…” (John 14:10 KJV).“…It shall
be done to you according to YOUR FAITH (according to your dependency upon
the indwelling Holy Spirit who does the WORK of faith)…"
(Matthew 9:29 NASB). “…Jesus
asked them, “Do you believe (do
you depend on me) [that]… I can make you see?” “Yes, Lord,” they told him, “we
do.” Then he touched their eyes and said, “Because of YOUR
FAITH (your dependency upon the indwelling Holy Spirit), it will happen.”
Then their eyes were
opened, and they could see...” ( Matthew
9:28-30 NLT).
God gave ALL his
justified children the indwelling Holy
Spirit who does the WORK of Faith “IN” and “THROUGH” them as an assurance
of things they will and can hope for or expect from God, as proof; of things
not YET seen. “… [ The indwelling Holy Spirit
who does the WORK of]… FAITH IS the
substance (assurance, certainty) of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen…” (Hebrews 11:1 KJV). “… THE ENTIRE UNIVERSE
WAS FORMED at God’s command …
what we now SEE (the whole world) did not come from
anything that can be SEEN (the WORK of the Holy Spirit)…” (Hebrews
11:3 NLT).
The indwelling Holy Spirit who does the WORK of
Faith assures the believer that God will do EVERYTHING he promised he would
do and even beyond what they ask or think. God
says, I “…am watching over MY WORD TO PERFORM IT…”
(Jeremiah 1:12 NASB). God is able “… TO DO far more abundantly BEYOND all that we ask or think, ACCORDING TO “THE POWER” THAT WORKS WITHIN US…”
(Ephesians 3:20 NASB). “…the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works…”
(John 14:10 KJV).
The indwelling Holy Spirit who does the WORK of
Faith teaches the believer that duty-bound works are not as important as
depending upon his LOVE and never ending acts of GRACE. God says. “…My
grace is
sufficient for you…” (2
Corinthians 12:9 NIV). “…NOT
that we are sufficient OF
OURSELVES to think any thing as
of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God…” (2 Corinthians 3:5
KJV). Therefore, “Trust in(depend
upon) the Lord with
all thine heart; and LEAN NOT
unto thine own understanding…” (Proverbs 3:5-6
KJV). “…eye hath not seen, nor ear
heard, neither have entered into [the human]… heart … the things which God hath prepared for [them]...” (1 Corinthians 2:9 KJV).
The indwelling Holy Spirit who does the WORK of
Faith teaches the believer that ALL
of God’s benevolent promises, blessings, and acts of GRACE are an expression of
his LOVE. “…Faith (dependency
upon God) …worketh (is empowered) by love…” (Galatians 5:6 KJV).
“…God is LOVE…” (1 John 4:4-8 KJV). “…GOD IS
SPIRIT…” (John 4:24
KJV). “…God’s Spirit
dwells in
you?...”
(1 Corinthians 3:16 NASB). “…It is God who works IN YOU …” (Philippians 2:13 NIV).
The indwelling
Holy Spirit who does the WORK of faith ENABLES you to DEPEND UPON FIRST LOVE
(God) and FIRST LOVE’S (God’s) GRACE.
“…God …
[ is FULFILLING]… THE WORK OF FAITH WITH POWER (by his indwelling Holy Spirit)…”
(2 Thessalonians 1:11 KJV). “…This
is the WORK of God (empowered by the indwelling
Holy Spirit): [is]
…that ye believe on him (or depend
upon him) ...” (John 6:29 KJV). “…the Father that dwelleth in [you]… he
doeth the works (the empowering)…” (John 14:10 KJV).
Depending upon God is not passive, but an
active, daily, ongoing CHOICE. The relationship with God is one of dependency
which is reflected by devotional works.
Abraham’s faith or dependency upon God did
not rest on his OWN self-effort or abilities, but upon God’s LOVE and GRACE. Abraham was willing to sacrifice Isaac even though he was the
promised gateway for other descendants. “…And
when Abram was ninety years old and
nine, the Lord appeared to Abram, and said
unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect. And I will make my covenant between me and
thee…” (Genesis 17 KJV). “…And I will make of thee a great nation,
and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing. …And in thee SHALL
ALL FAMILIES of the earth be blessed…” (Genesis 12:2-3 KJV).
“…It was BY FAITH (dependency upon God’s LOVE
and GRACE)
that ABRAHAM
OFFERED UP ISAAC as a sacrifice when God was testing him. Abraham,
who had received God’s promises, was ready to sacrifice his only son, Isaac, even though God had told
him, “Isaac is the son through whom your descendants will be counted.”
Abraham reasoned that if Isaac died, God was able to bring
him back to life again…” (Hebrews 11 NLT).
Abraham’s faith in God
did not rely on his OWN ability, human reason, finite limitations, or what he
saw, but it depended upon the POWER of the
Holy Spirit! “…GOD IS SPIRIT…” (John 4:24 KJV). “…It was BY FAITH (dependency
upon God’s LOVE and GRACE) that …reasoned that
if Isaac died, God was able
to bring him back to life again…” (Hebrews 11 NLT).
Abraham demonstrated how dependency upon
God EMPOWERS the works of the justified who are devoted to him through his LOVE
and GRACE. “…I will show you MY FAITH
(dependency upon God) by my deeds (devoted works) ...” (JAMES
2:18 NIV). “…It was BY FAITH (dependency upon God, God’s LOVE and God’s GRACE) that ABRAHAM OFFERED UP ISAAC …” (Hebrews 11 NLT).
Not only did Abraham depend upon God’s love
and grace, but he had TOTAL confidence in God’s ability to keep his WORD! “….I am the Lord,
the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?” (Jeremiah 32:27 KJV). “…And
I will make of
thee a great nation…”
(Genesis 12:2-3 KJV). “…It was BY FAITH that ABRAHAM …was ready
to sacrifice his only son, Isaac, even though God had told
him, “Isaac is the
son through whom your descendants will be counted …”
(Hebrews 11 NLT). “… [Abraham] …reasoned
that if Isaac died, God
was able to bring him back to life
again…”
(Hebrews 11 NLT).
When a justified person, who is devoted,
does the works of God, those works will reflect their dependency upon the indwelling Holy Spirit to do the
WORK “IN” and “THROUGH” them. “……It is
…God who does the work IN and THROUGH all of us who are his…
(1 Corinthians 12:4-11 NLT). “…the Father that dwelleth in [you]… he
doeth the works (the empowering)…” (John 14:10 KJV).
The ROLE that justified WORKS display in
the life of believers are acts of God’s GRACE. “ … We have this treasure
[GIFT of the Holy Spirit] “in” earthen vessels…” (2 Corinthians 4:6-7 KJV). “…It is God who works IN YOU …” (Philippians 2:13 NIV). “…by the grace of God I am what I am…” (1
Corinthians 15:10 NIV).
A devoted person, whose works are
empowered by the indwelling Holy Spirit,
will also produce the fruit of the Spirit. “…The Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit
in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control…”
(Galatians 5 NLT).“…The flesh (self-effort)
profiteth nothing…” (John 6:63 KJV). “…It is
God which worketh [his holy power] in you…” (Philippians 2:13 KJV). “… Jesus Christ (the indwelling Holy Spirit) is in
you…” (2 Corinthians KJV). “…The
righteous will live by his faith (dependency upon the Holy Spirit DOING the WORK of faith “IN” and
“THROUGH” you)…” (Habakkuk 2:4 NASB). “… [You] live by
the faith (the dependency upon) of the Son of God.
…” (Galatians 2:20 KJV). “…Apart from [the
indwelling Holy Spirit], you can do nothing…” (John 15:5 NIV).
When you are truly “justified” by faith;
you will also become “justified” by works. Abraham’s works PROVED that his
empowered faith was genuine. “…It was BY FAITH that ABRAHAM …” (Hebrews 11 NLT).
Abraham was EMPOWERED to sacrifice Isaac. “…It was BY FAITH that ABRAHAM OFFERED UP
ISAAC…” (Hebrews 11 NLT). Abraham was EMPOWERED to leave
his homeland. “…It was BY FAITH … [ABRAHAM]… sojourned in the land of promise…”
(Hebrews 11 NLT).
These TWO actions EMPOWERED by the Holy Spirit were activated by
HEARING the WORD of God, which tested (confirmed) and displayed the WORK of
faith “IN” and “THROUGH” Abraham. “……It is
…God who does the work IN and THROUGH ALL of us who are his…
(1 Corinthians 12:4-11 NLT). “…It was BY FAITH (by depending
upon God, the Holy Spirit) that ABRAHAM OFFERED UP
ISAAC as a sacrifice when God was testing him (confirming
to him that the Holy Spirit was with HIM). Abraham, who had received (HEARD) God’s promises, was ready to (empowered to)
sacrifice his only son, Isaac,
even though God had told him, “Isaac is the son through whom
your descendants will be counted.” Abraham reasoned (was ENABLED to HOPE and expect)
that if Isaac died, God
was able to bring him back to life
again…”
(Hebrews 11 NLT).
“…The HOLY SPIRIT
DISPLAYS God’s power THROUGH each of us … (1 Corinthians 12:4-11
NLT). “…the Father that dwelleth in [you]… he
doeth the works (the empowering)…” (John 14:10 KJV).
These TWO actions EMPOWERED by the Holy Spirit were activated by
HEARING the WORD of God, which tested or confirmed, to Abraham, that God was
definitely DOING the WORK of faith “IN” and “THROUGH” him. . “……It is …God who does
the work IN and THROUGH ALL
of us (including Abraham)… (1
Corinthians 12:4-11 NLT). “…The HOLY SPIRIT DISPLAYS God’s power THROUGH each of us (including Abraham)…
(1 Corinthians 12:4-11 NLT). “… God was testing
him (confirming to him that the
Holy Spirit was with HIM). Abraham, who had received (HEARD) God’s promises, was ready to (empowered to DO the works)…” (Hebrews
11 NLT).
In Hebrews chapter 11
ALL of God’s people were EMPOWERED by the
Holy Spirit to DO the works of Faith.
Depending upon the indwelling Holy Spirit to DO
the WORKS of faith is not a passive, duty-bound, religious obligation resulting
in fruitless actions.
Depending upon the indwelling Holy Spirit to DO the
WORKS of faith is an active, devotional endeavor resulting in the fruit of the
Spirit. “…Every good tree bringeth forth good fruit...
[and] a good tree CANNOT bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree
bring forth good fruit....” (Matthew 7:16-22 KJV). “…The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, gentleness and self-control….” (Galatians 5:22-23). Therefore,
“You can identify them… by their … fruit, that
is, by the way they … act…”
(Matthew 7:16 NLT).
The relationship with God is
either a duty-bound, outward display of religious obligation OR it is an
outward display of an inward dependency upon indwelling FIRST LOVE (God, the
Holy Spirit) and FIRST LOVE’S (God’s) GRACE.
BY HIS LOVE AND GRACE: I AM SAVED. I AM
JUSTIFIED. I AM SANCTIFIED. I AM GOD’S CHILD. I AM ACCEPTED IN THE BELOVED. I
AM EMPOWERED TO DO HIS WORKS. “…By the grace of
God I am what I am…” (1 Corinthians 15:10 NIV). “…the Father that dwelleth in [ME]… he
doeth the works (the empowering)…” (John 14:10 KJV).
The bottom line is that FAITH (dependency
upon God) and WORKS (empowered by the indwelling Holy Spirit) go together. “… Abraham was
shown to be right with God by his actions when he offered his son Isaac on the
altar? You see, his faith
(dependency upon the Holy Spirit) and his actions(works)
worked together…” (James 2:21-24 NLT).
It is common for human
nature to resort to duty-bound obligatory actions in long-term relationships
like marriage for instance. Many take pride, in those duty-bound, obligatory
works, and believe they are SO good they earn FAVOR with the other person.
Unfortunately,
duty-bound obligatory works DO not work with God and most of time they do NOT
work with people you are in LOVING relationships with.
You are NOT justified
with God by your self-effort of works, but by your dependency upon his works
“in” and “through” you. “…By the grace of
God I am what I am…” (1 Corinthians 15:10 NIV).
“…REPENT AND DO THE FIRST WORKS…”
(REVELATION 2:2 KJV). “… REMEMBER THEREFORE FROM
WHENCE THOU ARE FALLEN …”
(REVELATION 2:2 KJV). “…You have fallen
away from God’s GRACE…”
(Galatians 2:21 NLT).
Duty-bound works are
those of an independent, faithless-acting man or woman. Faith is dependency
upon the indwelling Holy Spirit to DO
the works, NOT self-effort. “….Without faith (depending upon the indwelling Holy Spirit who does the
work of Faith) it is impossible to please God…” (Hebrews 11:6 KJV). “…Trust in (depend
upon) the Lord with all thine
heart…” (Proverbs 3:5-6 KJV). “… [You] can do all
things THROUGH Christ
which strengtheneth [you]…” (Philippians 4:13 KJV). “…The righteous will live by his faith (by depending upon “his” indwelling Spirit of Faith)…” (Habakkuk 2:4 NASB). “… [You] live by
the faith (the indwelling faith) of the
Son of God.
…” (Galatians 2:20
KJV). “…the Father that dwelleth in [you] he
doeth the works…” (John 14:10 KJV).
Duty-bound believers
actually demonstrate they have NO relationship, no practice, and no experience
with the indwelling Holy Spirit who
DOES the WORK of Faith and PRODUCE true fruit. “… “Abraham believed (depended upon) God, and God counted him as
righteous because of his faith (dependency upon the Holy Spirit) …” (James
2:21-24 NLT). “…The fruit
of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, gentleness and self-control….” (Galatians 5:22-23). Therefore,
“You can identify them… by their … fruit, that
is, by the way they … act…”
(Matthew 7:16 NLT).
“… REMEMBER THEREFORE FROM WHENCE THOU ARE FALLEN …”
(REVELATION 2:2 KJV). “…You have fallen
away from God’s GRACE…”
(Galatians 2:21 NLT).
ONLY “…By the grace of God I am what I am…” (1
Corinthians 15:10 NIV).
“…REPENT AND DO THE FIRST WORKS…”
(REVELATION 2:2 KJV).
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