There is a struggle for believers. The world is against the truth and, therefore, it is also against those who stand with Christ. We are tempted. The enemy of our souls delights to bring us down. Our mind can take us away from God’s truth. In all these God gives us the victory. But there is not a continuing and daily battle with sin. Some say, “But we still have a struggle with sin. That which I would, I do not and that which I would not, that I do.”. The problems with this are:
1. It is not the gospel.
2. It robs us of the life of joy.
3. It gives us an excuse to sin.
There are two places where Paul speaks of a struggle with sin and neither of them is in relation to the gospel. First, in Romans 7, he speaks of his plight without the grace of Christ, under the power of the law. 1 Cor 15: 56 explains that law is the power of sin.
The second is Gal 5:17, when he said that the flesh struggles against the Spirit. Many have claimed that this is normal Christian life. Paul never spoke of a struggle with sin in his own life after salvation, even though he listed all his struggles in 2nd Corinthians 12, including false brethren, persecutions and cares.
Sunday, 28 February 2010
Saturday, 27 February 2010
Self Satisfied
A self-satisfied Christianity is not evidence of Jesus Christ. To say that we are children of God and have no need of others, no need to improve ourselves, to be kind, to care, to be courteous, to share, no need to give diligent attention to the admonitions of Paul or of Jesus should be foreign to us. We should give diligence in the factors below:
I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that you walk worthy of the vocation wherewith you are called, with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love, endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace…
Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour. For we are members one of another. Be angry and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath, neither give place to the devil. Let him that stole steal no more, but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needs.
Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed to the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamour and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind one to another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake has forgiven you. (Eph 4:1-3, 25-32).
Be therefore followers of God, as dear children; and walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and has given Himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savour. But fornication and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becomes saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.
For this you know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God…For you were sometimes darkness, but now are light in the Lord: walk as children of light; for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth; proving what is acceptable to the Lord…
See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil…And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess, but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord. Giving thanks always for all things to God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God. (Eph 5:1-21).
In all these things that we do, we do not give credit to ourselves, but to God who works in us both to will and to do of His good pleasure (Phil 2:13).
I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that you walk worthy of the vocation wherewith you are called, with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love, endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace…
Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour. For we are members one of another. Be angry and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath, neither give place to the devil. Let him that stole steal no more, but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needs.
Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed to the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamour and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind one to another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake has forgiven you. (Eph 4:1-3, 25-32).
Be therefore followers of God, as dear children; and walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and has given Himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savour. But fornication and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becomes saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.
For this you know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God…For you were sometimes darkness, but now are light in the Lord: walk as children of light; for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth; proving what is acceptable to the Lord…
See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil…And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess, but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord. Giving thanks always for all things to God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God. (Eph 5:1-21).
In all these things that we do, we do not give credit to ourselves, but to God who works in us both to will and to do of His good pleasure (Phil 2:13).
Friday, 26 February 2010
Mortifying
We are told by Paul to mortify, put to death, the sinful deeds of the flesh. This does not mean to punish the flesh, but it means not to allow its sinful excesses. It does not mean that we must fast and deny sleep. It means cut off sin.
Paul always told the saints to do this in light of the fact that Christ had put to death the body of sin through their new birth. Paul’s admonition is simply that we walk in what Christ has already done for us. We do not need more power to do this. We do not need to die to self to do this. All this is already done in the new birth. We are simply admonished to live out who we are in Christ.
Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence and covetousness, which is idolatry: For which things' sake the wrath of God comes on the children of disobedience: In the which you also walked some time, when you lived in them.
But now you also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Lie not one to another, seeing that you have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of Him that created him. (Col 3:5-10).
Paul does not mention a process here. This is just something he tells us to do. This is something we do because Christ lives in us and changes our nature. We mortify the deeds of the flesh because Christ has set us free. Seeing sin for what it is causes us to loose taste for it. The Holy Spirit shows us that all forms of immorality are uncleanness and we turn away from them.
It does not mean that we will not be tempted. We are tempted when we are led away by our own desires (James 1:14). God said He will not allow us to be tempted beyond what we can bear (1 Cor 10:13). We are told to keep our flesh under, which means to control its passions according to the will of God (1 Cor 9:24-27).
If we sin, it does not mean that we are not Christian. The prodigal son came home. He was always a son, which is why he came home. Sin does not make a son not to be a son. He will be disciplined, but he remains a son. The Father never forsakes His children. Jesus took away our sin. God’s children will always come home. They will always come out of sin.
In the whole New Testament there is not one case of someone losing their salvation. “Peter I have prayed for you that your faith will not fail. And when you are restored, strengthen the brethren, feed My sheep.” (Luke 22:32). This is the case with every child of God.
Paul always told the saints to do this in light of the fact that Christ had put to death the body of sin through their new birth. Paul’s admonition is simply that we walk in what Christ has already done for us. We do not need more power to do this. We do not need to die to self to do this. All this is already done in the new birth. We are simply admonished to live out who we are in Christ.
Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence and covetousness, which is idolatry: For which things' sake the wrath of God comes on the children of disobedience: In the which you also walked some time, when you lived in them.
But now you also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Lie not one to another, seeing that you have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of Him that created him. (Col 3:5-10).
Paul does not mention a process here. This is just something he tells us to do. This is something we do because Christ lives in us and changes our nature. We mortify the deeds of the flesh because Christ has set us free. Seeing sin for what it is causes us to loose taste for it. The Holy Spirit shows us that all forms of immorality are uncleanness and we turn away from them.
It does not mean that we will not be tempted. We are tempted when we are led away by our own desires (James 1:14). God said He will not allow us to be tempted beyond what we can bear (1 Cor 10:13). We are told to keep our flesh under, which means to control its passions according to the will of God (1 Cor 9:24-27).
If we sin, it does not mean that we are not Christian. The prodigal son came home. He was always a son, which is why he came home. Sin does not make a son not to be a son. He will be disciplined, but he remains a son. The Father never forsakes His children. Jesus took away our sin. God’s children will always come home. They will always come out of sin.
In the whole New Testament there is not one case of someone losing their salvation. “Peter I have prayed for you that your faith will not fail. And when you are restored, strengthen the brethren, feed My sheep.” (Luke 22:32). This is the case with every child of God.
Thursday, 25 February 2010
Hebrews Six
Hebrews 6 is often raised in discussions like this. Can a believer lose their salvation? Hebrews 6 is about those people Jesus spoke of in the parable of the sower, who did not receive the word on good ground. They were not sons. Hebrews 6 does not mean that God will refuse to restore the backslider. God will restore any backslider who returns to Him. God never rejects the penitent.
Peter saw all the miracles that Jesus did. He saw Jesus walk on water. Peter himself walked on water. Peter healed the sick and cast out demons and was sent out with the 12 and the 70. He tasted of the powers of the world to come. He claimed that he would never fall away. He would stand with Jesus in His trial and maybe even help Jesus redeem us! This is our view when we think that we play a part. Peter denied Christ and cursed Christ. Yet Jesus restored him.
Man, in his good intentions on repentance, salvation and sanctification, can do no better than Peter. This is why we have a Saviour, Furnisher and Finisher: Jesus.
Hebrews 6 (just like Heb 10:26) says that if someone leaves Christ then there is no repentance outside of Christ. There is no repentance (no remission of sins) in Judaism or in Buddhism. By this we mean effectual repentance to eternal life and transformation. There is only effectual repentance in Jesus Christ. So, if the Hebrews were to leave Him and go to Judaism, they would not find repentance and salvation there. There is no other sacrifice for sin.
Some say that God did not accept Esau, though he sought repentance with tears (Heb 12:17). Esau did not seek repentance (change of mind) for himself, but from his father: that his father might change his mind about giving Jacob the blessing. He did not care about the birthright, but wanted Isaac to change his mind about blessing Jacob.
Saul did not seek repentance. These are examples of the reprobate, who are sorry for their sin for a season, but they go right back to it again. They do not change, though they exhibit sorrow. Judas Iscariot was of this nature. Peter said they are like a pig that returns to the mud after being washed (2 Pet 2:22).
They are not born of God’s Spirit. These people may speak in tongues and prophecy, as Saul did. They might have financial miracles and cast out devils, like Judas did. They may even come out of some outward sins for a time; “be washed”. But then they return to it.
It is wrong to say that anyone cannot be restored. There is no one who cannot be restored. The unforgivable sin is refusing the gospel, which is the testimony of the Holy Spirit. We know people who have backslidden into Islam, returning to the Mosque and have been restored by the Lord and been used by Him. These are trophies of His grace. Jesus came to save. People face different trials and circumstances and we do not know their hearts. God does.
Peter saw all the miracles that Jesus did. He saw Jesus walk on water. Peter himself walked on water. Peter healed the sick and cast out demons and was sent out with the 12 and the 70. He tasted of the powers of the world to come. He claimed that he would never fall away. He would stand with Jesus in His trial and maybe even help Jesus redeem us! This is our view when we think that we play a part. Peter denied Christ and cursed Christ. Yet Jesus restored him.
Man, in his good intentions on repentance, salvation and sanctification, can do no better than Peter. This is why we have a Saviour, Furnisher and Finisher: Jesus.
Hebrews 6 (just like Heb 10:26) says that if someone leaves Christ then there is no repentance outside of Christ. There is no repentance (no remission of sins) in Judaism or in Buddhism. By this we mean effectual repentance to eternal life and transformation. There is only effectual repentance in Jesus Christ. So, if the Hebrews were to leave Him and go to Judaism, they would not find repentance and salvation there. There is no other sacrifice for sin.
Some say that God did not accept Esau, though he sought repentance with tears (Heb 12:17). Esau did not seek repentance (change of mind) for himself, but from his father: that his father might change his mind about giving Jacob the blessing. He did not care about the birthright, but wanted Isaac to change his mind about blessing Jacob.
Saul did not seek repentance. These are examples of the reprobate, who are sorry for their sin for a season, but they go right back to it again. They do not change, though they exhibit sorrow. Judas Iscariot was of this nature. Peter said they are like a pig that returns to the mud after being washed (2 Pet 2:22).
They are not born of God’s Spirit. These people may speak in tongues and prophecy, as Saul did. They might have financial miracles and cast out devils, like Judas did. They may even come out of some outward sins for a time; “be washed”. But then they return to it.
It is wrong to say that anyone cannot be restored. There is no one who cannot be restored. The unforgivable sin is refusing the gospel, which is the testimony of the Holy Spirit. We know people who have backslidden into Islam, returning to the Mosque and have been restored by the Lord and been used by Him. These are trophies of His grace. Jesus came to save. People face different trials and circumstances and we do not know their hearts. God does.
Wednesday, 24 February 2010
The Parable of the Sower
Jesus explained this in Mark 4 in the parable of the sower. In this parable many received the seed of God’s word and rejoiced for a season. They had a Christian testimony indistinguishable from a true believer. This is what Jesus meant by “many are called and few are chosen”. Many come under the call of the gospel, under the scattering of the seed. The “fishing nets” drag in many, but then God sorts them out. (Matt 13:46).
Those who are born of God receive the word so that it transforms the whole heart. It is not a shallow work that will disappear in time of trial. This is what the new birth is, not froth and bubble, not demonstration or even gifts of the Spirit that are commonly seen outwardly.
And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word and receive it and bring forth fruit, some thirty fold, some sixty and some an hundred. (Mark 4:20).
As a son we need to pay attention to this exhortation and ensure that God has done a work in our heart to this extent. We are not to attend to these things lightly, but diligently, to ensure that we are sons, not by presuming we are, but by checking to see whether the Lord has done this genuine work within us. Examine the fruit (1 John 2:3). “Faith without works (fruit) is dead, being alone.” (James 2:17).
Those who are born of God receive the word so that it transforms the whole heart. It is not a shallow work that will disappear in time of trial. This is what the new birth is, not froth and bubble, not demonstration or even gifts of the Spirit that are commonly seen outwardly.
And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word and receive it and bring forth fruit, some thirty fold, some sixty and some an hundred. (Mark 4:20).
As a son we need to pay attention to this exhortation and ensure that God has done a work in our heart to this extent. We are not to attend to these things lightly, but diligently, to ensure that we are sons, not by presuming we are, but by checking to see whether the Lord has done this genuine work within us. Examine the fruit (1 John 2:3). “Faith without works (fruit) is dead, being alone.” (James 2:17).
Tuesday, 23 February 2010
The Bastard
But the bastard does not respond. He that is not a child of God does not receive correction and does not hear it and has no faith to accept it. The book of Hebrews was written to two types of people:
1. Those who were God’s children who would give heed to the things spoken.
2. Those who would draw back to perdition.
We get both types of people in any congregation. The child of God will “look diligently lest any should fail of the grace of God” and keep himself in the love of God and in the gospel, because of the new birth (Heb 12:15).
If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chastens not? But if you are without chastisement, wherewith all are partakers, then are you bastards and not sons. (Heb 12:7-8).
See that you refuse not Him that speaks. For if they escaped not who refused him that spoke on earth (Moses), much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from Him that speaks from heaven. (Heb 12:25).
This was written to the Hebrews, some of whom were in danger of going back to the Old Covenant and forsaking the gospel. They were in danger of refusing to hear the gospel. They were in danger of rejecting the gospel. But the children of God would not reject it and turn away. They are sons, not bastards.
People appear to be born again and yet go away from God. Jesus said, “I never knew you”, not, “I knew you, but you left Me.” (Matt 7:23). They go away because the work of God in them was not complete. Some people are swept up in the current of revival, but it is not really inside them. They can manifest all sorts of gifts and “taste of the powers of God”. (Heb 6:5). Saul did this among those called the prophets in 1st Samuel.
This is part of God’s glory. In His house there are all kinds of vessels and He can fulfil His purposes through any person or situation, even if the person is not His child. This means we can never boast in a gift, but only in the Lord. Jesus told His disciples not to rejoice because the demons were subject to them, but because their names were written in heaven.
People can be enlightened to know the gospel to the point that they appear like other believers. Jesus said they are like tares compared to wheat. Tares and wheat look the same, until harvest time when the wheat bears grain. We cannot tell their nature by their look, their confession, by miracles, or by anything but the fruit they bear in the long run. “You know them by their fruit.”
They went out from us (from Christ), but they were not of us. For if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us. (1 John 2:19).
1. Those who were God’s children who would give heed to the things spoken.
2. Those who would draw back to perdition.
We get both types of people in any congregation. The child of God will “look diligently lest any should fail of the grace of God” and keep himself in the love of God and in the gospel, because of the new birth (Heb 12:15).
If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chastens not? But if you are without chastisement, wherewith all are partakers, then are you bastards and not sons. (Heb 12:7-8).
See that you refuse not Him that speaks. For if they escaped not who refused him that spoke on earth (Moses), much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from Him that speaks from heaven. (Heb 12:25).
This was written to the Hebrews, some of whom were in danger of going back to the Old Covenant and forsaking the gospel. They were in danger of refusing to hear the gospel. They were in danger of rejecting the gospel. But the children of God would not reject it and turn away. They are sons, not bastards.
People appear to be born again and yet go away from God. Jesus said, “I never knew you”, not, “I knew you, but you left Me.” (Matt 7:23). They go away because the work of God in them was not complete. Some people are swept up in the current of revival, but it is not really inside them. They can manifest all sorts of gifts and “taste of the powers of God”. (Heb 6:5). Saul did this among those called the prophets in 1st Samuel.
This is part of God’s glory. In His house there are all kinds of vessels and He can fulfil His purposes through any person or situation, even if the person is not His child. This means we can never boast in a gift, but only in the Lord. Jesus told His disciples not to rejoice because the demons were subject to them, but because their names were written in heaven.
People can be enlightened to know the gospel to the point that they appear like other believers. Jesus said they are like tares compared to wheat. Tares and wheat look the same, until harvest time when the wheat bears grain. We cannot tell their nature by their look, their confession, by miracles, or by anything but the fruit they bear in the long run. “You know them by their fruit.”
They went out from us (from Christ), but they were not of us. For if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us. (1 John 2:19).
Monday, 22 February 2010
Exhortations
There are many exhortations in the New Testament. Nothing we say here wipes these aside. God’s standard of righteousness has not changed. His law still applies. He is not raising a family of transgressors. But in the gospel God has worked a way that it can be of grace, as He moves into our life and changes the nature and then living in us, without force, works in our heart that which is pleasing to Him.
So to the redeemed, the exhortations in the New Testament, that appear to be conditions, are seen to be fences of grace that keep us in the right areas, like fences around a play ground. Not only that, but God’s grace moves through those exhortations and provides the faith in the heart of the redeemed to respond and to live by them. “I will cause you to walk in My statutes and to keep them.” (Ezek 36:27). He speaks them into our heart and quickens us to follow them.
When we hear exhortations we hear with faith, not as it if it were by law. And we respond to them, not as by the works of law, but works or fruit of faith. So Jeremiah said God would write His law upon our heart. This means He puts His nature within us so that we walk in His ways. And John said we do not sin because His seed (nature) remains in us (1 John 3:9). The warnings, exhortations and conditions still exist, but they are fulfilled by the blood of Christ and by His life within us.
Here are a few examples:
By which also you are saved, if you keep in memory what I preached to you, unless you have believed in vain. (1 Cor 15:2).
Stand fast in the liberty where with Christ has made you free and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. (Gal 5:1).
If you continue in the faith grounded and settled and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel… (Col 1:23).
Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. (Heb 2:1).
For if we sin wilfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there remains no more sacrifice for sins. (Heb 10:26).
There are many other scriptures similar to these. Grace does not mean that these should not be preached vehemently. In fact, grace means that we should preach these all the more, knowing that God’s power works through them to change the hearts of the slothful and to bring us back to the Father’s way. We know that God’s people will respond to these and allow God to correct their ways. Therefore, we should preach these boldly to all people.
Exhortations are precious and they should be strongly used in preaching, but people should be made to understand that we do not respond to them by law through our own efforts and works, but that we should allow God space to work in us and to change our heart and attitude when needed. We should allow the revelation of that word within to move us on in grace.
God uses these exhortations to correct and guide His people in His ways. The word of God is profitable for correction, exhortation and reproof (2 Tim 3:16). A child of God has the nature in Christ that causes him to hear, understand and respond. The credit is not to us, but to the grace of God that works in us, by the Spirit of Christ whom God freely gave to us. Exhortations can do nothing unless God moves in us through them (Heb 6:3).
The exhortations of Christ only cause real change when they are used on the foundation of grace. Grace brings down the pride of man and enables us to hear what God is saying. When man is shown that he has no part in his salvation he is ready to hear God with humility. Only grace can produce the fruit that God is looking for, because only this allows God to do it in us. Only this produces love. Love is agape – meaning unconditional. The preaching of the law kills, but the rebuke of grace awakens the soul.
We must be diligent with regards to our faith and we must watch with regard to sin. We must walk in the fear of the Lord and watch not to give the enemy an opportunity. We must work out our salvation with fear and trembling, not taking it for granted, diligently living out the plan that the Lord has for us, knowing that He is leading us and working in us.
We grow in grace. Paul said that he laboured more than all the apostles, yet not him but the grace of God that worked in him (1 Cor 15:10). Grace does not mean that we do less. It means that Christ and His work get the glory and not a humanistic faith.
So to the redeemed, the exhortations in the New Testament, that appear to be conditions, are seen to be fences of grace that keep us in the right areas, like fences around a play ground. Not only that, but God’s grace moves through those exhortations and provides the faith in the heart of the redeemed to respond and to live by them. “I will cause you to walk in My statutes and to keep them.” (Ezek 36:27). He speaks them into our heart and quickens us to follow them.
When we hear exhortations we hear with faith, not as it if it were by law. And we respond to them, not as by the works of law, but works or fruit of faith. So Jeremiah said God would write His law upon our heart. This means He puts His nature within us so that we walk in His ways. And John said we do not sin because His seed (nature) remains in us (1 John 3:9). The warnings, exhortations and conditions still exist, but they are fulfilled by the blood of Christ and by His life within us.
Here are a few examples:
By which also you are saved, if you keep in memory what I preached to you, unless you have believed in vain. (1 Cor 15:2).
Stand fast in the liberty where with Christ has made you free and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. (Gal 5:1).
If you continue in the faith grounded and settled and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel… (Col 1:23).
Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. (Heb 2:1).
For if we sin wilfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there remains no more sacrifice for sins. (Heb 10:26).
There are many other scriptures similar to these. Grace does not mean that these should not be preached vehemently. In fact, grace means that we should preach these all the more, knowing that God’s power works through them to change the hearts of the slothful and to bring us back to the Father’s way. We know that God’s people will respond to these and allow God to correct their ways. Therefore, we should preach these boldly to all people.
Exhortations are precious and they should be strongly used in preaching, but people should be made to understand that we do not respond to them by law through our own efforts and works, but that we should allow God space to work in us and to change our heart and attitude when needed. We should allow the revelation of that word within to move us on in grace.
God uses these exhortations to correct and guide His people in His ways. The word of God is profitable for correction, exhortation and reproof (2 Tim 3:16). A child of God has the nature in Christ that causes him to hear, understand and respond. The credit is not to us, but to the grace of God that works in us, by the Spirit of Christ whom God freely gave to us. Exhortations can do nothing unless God moves in us through them (Heb 6:3).
The exhortations of Christ only cause real change when they are used on the foundation of grace. Grace brings down the pride of man and enables us to hear what God is saying. When man is shown that he has no part in his salvation he is ready to hear God with humility. Only grace can produce the fruit that God is looking for, because only this allows God to do it in us. Only this produces love. Love is agape – meaning unconditional. The preaching of the law kills, but the rebuke of grace awakens the soul.
We must be diligent with regards to our faith and we must watch with regard to sin. We must walk in the fear of the Lord and watch not to give the enemy an opportunity. We must work out our salvation with fear and trembling, not taking it for granted, diligently living out the plan that the Lord has for us, knowing that He is leading us and working in us.
We grow in grace. Paul said that he laboured more than all the apostles, yet not him but the grace of God that worked in him (1 Cor 15:10). Grace does not mean that we do less. It means that Christ and His work get the glory and not a humanistic faith.
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