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Saturday, August 8, 2015

FAITH; NOT OF WORKS...

        Now  faith is the substance of things hoped for,
the evidence of things not seen, for by it the elders
obtained a good testimony.  By faith we understand
that the worlds were framed by the Word of God, so
that  the things  which  are seen were  not made  of 
things which are visible."  Hebrews 11: 1-3...

      As we read Hebrews 11, we find a description of
the way our Lord  has dealt with his people through-
out the ages.  I had not heard this addressed, speci-
fically, and  find something  to be  learned  from this
passage, giving works of  faith proper consideration.
   "But God who is rich in mercy for His great love
wherewith He loved us, even when we were dead in
sins, hath he quickened us together with Christ, (by
grace, are ye saved:) and made us to sit together
in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:  That in the ages
to come He might shew the exceeding riches of his
grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
 
     "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and
   that not of yourselves:  It is the gift of God, not
   of works lest any man should boast, for we are  
   his workmanship created in Christ Jesus which
   God hath ordained that we should walk in them.   
                                                Ephesians 2:4-10

     You and I must consider works along with our
faith  before the Lord God.  They are not  our we
perform, but works in which the Lord would have
us  engaged, in his name,  (power) and ability.  It 
is His work  we do in faith.  Without  faith, works
of  the flesh are never acceptable to Him.  Works
of  faith must  be a  product of  faith  in our Lord 
and his Word. "For, without faith it is impossible
to please him..."   Hebrews 11:6a
 

       Our Lord  does not  deal with his people on  the basis 
of their works, but according to their faith.  There is much 
stress on  good works, as  described by  pastor/teachers, 
with  little  emphasis on personal holiness, absolute faith 
in God and his Word through his Son.  The emphasis we 
see in this chapter is the Lord God dealing severely  with 
his  people because of  their unbelief.  This  is the same, 
whether  the  people  are  of  Israel, or  the church  today.  
Since we live in the final age of  the Church,  Laodicean
era,  as recorded in the book of  the Revelation of Jesus
Christ, our redemption is near  at  hand.  In order for the 
Church  of  our  Lord Jesus Christ to  flourish, Israel was  
blinded  for  a   time  until  the  fullness  of  the  Gentiles.  
Israel is still the root and  gentiles  were grafted into the 
"Tree of  Life.   As  we see the Church of  today become  
apostate, (have lost faith) the time is  right for  the Jews,
to be grafted into the tree, and gentiles, or the apostate
church broken from the tree. 
     
   Romans 11: 20-21,  "Well;  because of  unbelief 
   they were broken off, and thou standest by faith.
   Be  thou  not high minded,  but fear: for if  God
   spared not  the natural branches, take heed lest
   he also spare not  thee."  Read  the Hebrews 11
   for a clear understanding of this matter.   

     There is one other element  of  the gospel  that  
seems to  be neglected these days, and that is 
recorded in I Thessalonians 4: 13-17.  "But I
would not have you to be ignorant, brethren,
concerning them which are asleep, that ye sor-
row not, even as other which have no hope. 
For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again.
even so them also which sleep in Jesus, will
God bring with him.  For this we say unto you
by the Word of the Lord, that we which are alive
and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall
not prevent (precede) them which are asleep.
For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven
with a shout, with the voice of the archangel,
with the trump of God:  And the dead in Christ
shall rise first:  Then we which are alive and
remain shall be caught up together with them
in the clouds; to meet the Lord in the air: And
so shall we ever be with the Lord."
Conservative Bible scholars, of which we are
aware, seem in agreement that this Snatching
away, is most likely the event for which we 
should be watching.  In verse 18 of chapter 4
of I Thessalonians, we see; "Wherefore com-
fort one another with these words..."n,
Read 1 Thess. 4: 13-18 

   
We also find in  Chapter 5 how we must con-
duct  ourselves during  these last days, and in 
Titus 2:13-14 we see: Looking for that blessed
hope, and the glorious appearing of the great 
God  and our  Savior Jesus Christ;  Who gave 
himself for us that he might redeem us from all
iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar peo-
ple, zealous of good works."  We believe in the
Lord God, Jehovah, and we follow Jesus Christ,
God the Son, because of his great love with
which He has loved us."  His command:   
     "Jesus said  unto him,  'Thou shalt love the
Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy
soul, and with all thy mind.  This is the first and 
great  commandment.  And  the second  is like  
unto it, thou shalt love thy  neighbor  as  thyself.   
On  these  two  commandments hang all the law 
and the prophets."

Our relationship with our Lord is not based on 

fear  of  retribution,  but on  our  love  for him,  
because He first loved us... Who would want to  
disappoint one who paid  such  a price for our 
redemption  from sin that  has ruined so many 
lives over the centuries? 
 
(Scripture references taken from kjv)

Thanks for looking, donporter,sr                         8.08.15        

     



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