His loving mercy endures forever

Does God love His children only in this life time, or forever? The Bible says, "...for His loving mercy [endures] forever" (Psalm 136, 118), (1 Corinthians 13:13)  

If His love is forever, it endures beyond man's death -- even if he still had not turned back to Him.

So then while suffering the torment of "hell" God still loves each one the same as those in heaven.

And if His mercy endures forever, how is the mercy shown to the ones He loves still? Abandonment or salvation?

Some insist it comes down to free will of man that sends him to hell, so don't fault God.

But is it really free will that saves man or God's grace that offers faith? And is it really free will if it can be taken away? Left in our own flesh, will anyone choose God? 

No, it is the mercy of God that chooses and saves man by allowing him to see mercy and freely choose grace.

For what is mercy but an open heart and open arms waiting for the lost son either in life or in death; however long forever is, however long the father awaits. 

And if it is pride that keeps man from choosing grace, how is it man keeps his pride when suffering in hell, knowing what he didn't know, seeing what he didn't see?

The first thing that burns away in hell is pride, like the lost son who came to himself while feeding swine. 

Will we ever be outside God's mercy or live beyond forever? If not, then repentance is not rejected even if there is a hell. 

God is ever patience, and make His face shine upon one and all whom He created. (Deuteronomy 6:25)

The love of Christ is for all, and He draws all to Him when He is lifted up (John 12:32).  

To man salvation is for himself, but to a sovereign and loving God His work of Salvation is incomplete if one remains in hell.

Amen

We should often ask of ourselves

The question every believer must ask often of him or herself is not "What have I been doing for Christ?" but "Do I truly believe I am completely forgiven of all sins?"

If the answer is "No," then one is still under bondage of law, trying to earn forgiveness.


But if it is "Yes," then one is free from law and now in the spirit of grace.


Law is of no use to this believer anymore because it is the obedience to the spirit that leads not into sin.


Knowing you are totally forgiven as a child of God will not cause you to sin more, just as we won't steal even without a security guard present.


It is not the presence of safeguard that restrains us but the inner voice of God who keeps.


But if it takes the presence of law to keep from sin, then one is not yet of the spirit of grace.


The faith of a Christian is not being saved only to be put under the yoke of law again, but in that he is empowered by the complete forgiveness of grace.


Being saved is being completely forgiven by God. If one does not believe in having received total forgiveness he has no faith in the salvation of Christ.


Amen

Soar to the deep blue sky

God has already placed the spirit of the law in our hearts and our minds (Jeremiah 31:33). These are the spiritual muscles God wants us to rely on in our walk of holiness.


It was a promise He made to man of a new covenant to come -- the grace and truth that came through Jesus Christ　(John 1:17). And we have received it by being born again under the baptism of His blood.


Now live by the spirit (grace) and not flesh (law) lest our faith grow weak. For like muscles of the flesh a spirit unused wastes away. If we rely on others to help us go about we lose the ability to do it ourselves.

A crutch or training wheels have their purpose, but we are meant to walk in the health and maturity of spirit. A constant reliance on these aids to reach the goal of holiness ultimately fails because the path is steep and rugged.


The law is only such aid to help and guide us, but cannot be the strength to forge ahead and carry us to victory. It is only in the letting go of law can we fully depend on the God-given spirit inside to take flight.


We naturally fear lawlessness, equating it as abandonment to sin. But let us trust that God will not forsake and have equipped us with the wings of every spiritual blessings (Ephesians 1:3) to overcome. In holding desperately to law we remain lame and grounded.


Only when the mother eagle pushes her chicks out of the nest falling to the ground, will the babies extend their wings to reach that deep blue sky. So it is God who wants us to take that leap of faith and trust in His loving grace.

Amen

Watched by angels

I once heard a pastor say,"Think of an angel always watching you and what you do, then you will think twice before committing sin." I am sure many have heard of a similar advice.


Very well, this will make us sin less. But, is this kind of obedience pleasing to God?


If we need being watched over and monitored (the principle of law) to not sin, are we really sinless? Even if we don't commit sin, doesn't the sinful thought within count as sin?


Can law guard the heart of man? Paul said, "...commandment came, sin sprang to life..." (Romans 7:9) Sin act is from sin thought, sin thought from sin nature, sin nature is aroused by the presence of law. Even if there is no sinful behaviors there still rages sinful thoughts and the nature of sin in us -- if law is not removed from the conscience.


Adam and Eve had no thought to sin until the commandment was spoken. We all have witnessed a child minding his business, but when told not to do something the curiosity and impulse gets the best of him. He isn't intending on disobeying, but the rebellion wells up inside from the command.


Yet it is not that we want to disobey God in this nature, but have no ability to while under the restrictions of law (Romans 7:19). This is so because our sense of free will is immature.


And only by receiving the spirit of Christ to completely transform and remake the flesh nature can we live in the realm where sin is not stirred by the temptations about us.


This is impossible by our effort to obey law, and may even have a reverse effect. Only trusting Jesus and living in constant grace revelation is it possible to be holy from the living waters of the holy spirit that truly pleases God.


With such faith the angels no more monitors, but look with approval the glory of our purity in Christ!


Amen

Lonely in heaven?

Summary: "For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven. " Matthew 5:20. A few verses prior, Jesus told the people that He had not come to destroy the law but to fulfill it. Many believers today take that as Him saying not to do away with law but follow His example to fulfill it on their own. I say it is fine to interpret in such a way, but let's be consistent and include verse 20 as literal truth in denying anyone whose righteousness does not exceed that of the Pharisees and Scribes. By comparing to these law experts Jesus was referring to obedient behavior, not intent. It is the literal knowledge and adherence of the law we need to excel at beyond the gatekeepers of law.

Keep the law; but do it perfectly or entry to heaven will not be granted you. Good news? If it is not so that heaven will be denied for falling short of perfection, then neither do you believe in keeping the law as commanded by God -- even though your mouth speaks of the contrary. This is double-speak. By grace or by law? Make a stand and not be ashamed. But never place faith in wishy-washy commingling of covenants.

If God says the only way for us to enter heaven is beating Michael Jordan at basketball, is that good new to us?

What if we need to score higher on a science test than Albert Einstein in order to be saved? What are our chances of that?

If one believes unequivocally that just because a command is found in the Bible it must be followed no matter what, this often clouds from the real intent of a scripture, having been taken out of its context.

For those who insist on teaching the Ten Commandments as still an integral part of new covenant faith, the sole reason for -- even in light of contrary scriptures -- is because it is God-spoken and cannot be done away, there is often found irreconcilable contradictions of doctrines.

They will cite Bibilical references such as Jesus from His sermon on the mount. In Matthew 5:17 & 18 He said, "Think not that I have come to destroy the law..., I am not come to destroy but to fulfill..., til the heavens and earth pass, not one jot or one tittle shall in no way pass from the law until all be fulfilled."

They point to these passages and proclaim that law must be even more so prominent in a believer's faith; and as Jesus Himself fulfilled the law we must follow the same -- even redoubling effort to fulfill the law of ourselves.

They forget that when these words were spoken Jesus had not yet gone to the cross, and that the work of salvation by grace is still to come. Jesus was simply preparing the way for the new covenant of grace to replace the impossibility of law-keeping as the only way to the kingdom of heaven.

If verses 17 & 18 is to be considered justification for keeping law as part of the new covenant, then verses 19 and 20 (and indeed the remainder of chapter) must also be followed to the letter as commanded. No exception. Jesus did not say that only certain teachings need literal obedience, but others are just for illustration purposes.

If we are to obey law and commandments of God, we do exactly that or else the purpose is disingenuous. These are not Ten Suggestions and more options, and if we fail there is still grace. And by the word of Jesus the new standard of law is as described in Matthew 5. Follow all perfectly or forget about heaven.

Verse 19 says that only perfect obedience and teaching such can we be great in heaven, but even allowing one tiny infraction he is considered the least -- that is, if one can even enter heaven. For verse 20 requires a believer to exceed the righteousness of Pharisees and Scribes to have any chance for heaven.

These people were law experts, most skilled in the art of boundary seeking and obedient following by the letter of the law. They were the Jordans and Einsteins of keeping the commandments. And Jesus said we have to beat them in order to qualify for heaven?

But Jesus was dead serious: if we intent on keeping law, we have to keep the entire law. Trying our best is simply not good enough. 

Some believers agree. They take the word of Christ literally...,well maybe not. I haven't seen anyone in church missing an arm or eyeball for offending and lusting, yet there is plenty of sin among even the greatest of law-keepers.

Being required to obey law we no more have any part of grace, for then it can only be by our obedience we are judged, not His. Good news? For some, maybe. It is a chance for them to shine and show God how capable and holy they are. 

In that case congratulations is in order for having righteousness exceeding that of the Pharisees and Scribes, and even equaling that of Chris in fulfilling the law. The rest of us fail miserably for regularly committing murder, adultery and not loving enemies, and having no hope of salvation.

But then, heaven must be a very lonely place.

Ignoring Paul

Summary: Many justify teaching of law by applying "Legalism" only to salvation, and ignore Paul's teachings of forbidding self-righteousness of obeying law as only for an unbeliever. Ironically, they take the teaching of Christ before His death as wholly applicable to a believer's walk after being saved. It should be reversed.

The time line is this: Jesus, cross, Paul. The gospel of grace was not birthed until the resurrection of Christ. Jesus taught the unbelievers and Paul taught the believers. Jesus taught repentance by elevating the impossibility of law (self-righteousness) so one may come to grace. But Paul has already repented from law (his previous identity) and into the light of grace. What he teaches is for ones already saved on how to live out the victorious identity Christ has already given them by grace. Every bit of Paul's teaching is applicable to our lives as believers -- and he spends an extraordinary amount of time and writing to expound on the danger of law for a Christian.

No, according to Paul, legalism is not only unacceptable before salvation, it continues to be unacceptable after, and actually voids faith and frustrates grace. Let's not ignore the central message of this great man of God.

Paul's teaching is plain and clear on the ineffectiveness -- even detriment of obeying law to be justified. This is indisputable, and in agreement by those who say that obeying law is necessary (required) for a believer.

How can such apparent contradiction exist in the minds of these believers as non-conflicting, and embraced as the complete gospel to teach obedience to law?

It is because they define "Legalism" as a no-no only in term of salvation, but not for personal sanctification. They proclaim correctly that salvation is only the work of God, and nothing of man's work can earn Him a place in heaven. The righteousness Isaiah counted as "filthy rag" and Paul as "dung" are rightfully applied when it comes to trying to be saved.

However, once saved this is no longer the case, they say, and that it is then a believer needs to walk even closer to the Lord by obedience to the law and personal holiness. Grace then becomes the justification for ever more stringent requirement of law (discovering boundaries), making it a favor we need to pay back with effort, and the support that "helps" one's walk toward holiness. (These are not found anywhere in the writing of Paul or New Testament.)

When one thinks about this a little more it becomes evident that, by turning back to obedience of law as central to one's "practical" Christian walk, grace is no longer pillar of one's faith but man's work, and that Jesus living inside is not the end goal of rest for us, but still a mean to help us get better and sin less. 

The focus then (both long term and daily) is not anymore on the finished work of Christ, but by the constant reminder and teachings of sin and obedience it shifts ever so imperceptibly toward overcoming sin and achieving holiness on our part -- essentially "finishing" the work for Christ.

For those who see no problem with this "balancing" of law and grace, they conveniently justifies the inconsistency with Paul's teaching by shoveling the illegality of legalism to pre-salvation times that applies only to those needing repentance from sin and good works to be redeemed.

Although there is not one shred of Biblical support for balancing law and grace or adding man's effort to God's finished work under the new covenant, they continue to teach such by ignoring Paul's warning as no longer applicable after salvation, and only glean those scriptures that paint a holy picture of what God had already accomplished in man as a standard to live up to.

Yet they often go back to Jesus in quoting scriptures that justifies keeping the law. It is a bit ironic, that the words used to dilute grace is taken from the One who shed blood and died a most horrible death to birth it.

Nevertheless, let me point out the irony: Paul came after the death of Jesus Christ. All the warnings of law and judgment were spoken by Jesus to bring one to the end of himself for having no ability to live up to such high standards, and repent of self-reliance in an exchange for receiving grace. It was all law and no grace in His direct teachings (although grace is implied richly), for Christ had not yet gone to the cross.

It is true then that legalism has no part in our salvation, and we must repent not from sin (Jews have been doing that for thousands of years) but from trying to justify salvation with our own righteousness so that grace can be received by the mind and heart. This part we are all in agreement.

And if the majority of of Jesus' teachings were to bring an unbeliever (of grace, the Messiah) to repent from law -- not to continue living by his own righteousness, how then can these be used to justify a believer's walk now that grace is given? It only brings confusion when the teachings of Jesus is not put into the context of bringing one to grace, but once we are under grace these cannot be applied any longer.

Jesus said He didn't come to bring peace (agreeing with the law) but division (grace overtaking law), and caused such division among the Jews that it drove them to persecute Him on the cross. He did not destroy the law but fulfilled (died for our transgression of law, not just obeyed fully) it on behalf of man so that we might not taste death.

Christ fulfilled the requirement and terms of the law, and by it He tore up the contract (veil) on our behalf, so we must not go back under it again!

Remember Paul came after Christ? He is now a leader for believers, and his teachings have direct application to anyone who have already received the gift of grace. And by such one cannot say that the legalism Paul refers to is only for pre-salvation unbelievers. Paul is a dramatic example of repenting from law and into grace. Repentance is to turn away completely and not just partially. For someone like Paul to come to grace it is not a balancing act but total transformation into the light of grace.

And what Paul tries to say over and over again is to not come under the bondage once again under law. He is referring to the Christian walk of pure grace, no law. And one cannot conveniently shove his teachings to before accepting Christ as savior; but by the gospel of grace be not ashamed of living solely the life of Christ, no longer under the ministry of condemnation and death in constantly monitoring oneself of sin.

This is the essence of kingdom living -- no more bondage by the freedom in Christ. Let us throw away the crutches of reliance on law, and be lame no more, but stand up and walk the grace walk!

Amen

Bone of my bones, flesh of my flesh

"And Adam said: "This [is] now bone of my bones And flesh of my flesh." Genesis 2:23
" 那 人 ( 亞 當 ) 說 、 這 是 我 骨 中 的 骨 、 肉 中 的 肉 、"  創世紀 2:23

We, the church, is part of the body of Christ, He is the head. Jesus Christ is holy and blameless, so then His body should　be of the same holiness, not being separated -- having no spot, nor wrinkle. (Ephesians 5:27)

Many interpret this as another opportunity to teach obedience to law to deserve or qualify being the body of Christ. But is this Biblical or even logical?

How does one qualify to be body of Christ, new bride of the beloved, the holy one? Only also herself being holy and without blemish, by which the blood of the groom had already made her.

And are we already His body, or only becoming so one day in a future when we achieved our own holiness? Since the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus on the cross He had cleansed us with His blood, and we are at once His body by being made a new creation.

We then have been presented to Him and accepted as a perfect bride, clean and virginal. How can we be part of the body of Christ if we are not so sanctified?

Therefore if we are already part of His body, we are now spotless and without wrinkle as well; but so long as a believer still sees himself sinful he must then honestly not be qualified to be a part of Him, and never will because Christ is not to shed His blood again.

Christ has already made us clean. Now it is up to us to believe His words of promise made true, or not believe because our eyes still see imperfection in the "real"?

So, be assured that we are holy by the acceptance into His body, being once and for all time cleansed by His blood, and remaining forever clean by the washing of His loving words (Ephesians 5:26).

This is the continuous hearing of grace that strengthens a believer's faith in the spirit. If so believed we remain perfect (having no spot) and beautiful (having no wrinkle).

And in such faith we draw strength as a church, from holiness by grace not works we are transformed as one body with Christ in marriage, receiving His spirit in the perfect union of love.

Christ cannot marry an imperfect bride for He is perfect; but for love, He first made perfect the bride to be married. How joyful the good news!

Amen.