This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!

Sunday, January 16, 2011

Why is faith needed?

I have seen many people get into Grace and the fall into universalism. From there the following question. Why is faith needed and why did Paul and Jesus talk so much about it?

about a week ago · · Comment ·

Glenn Steinmo, Cheryl Lauer, Alvina Branchaud and 25 others like this.
- Peter Sze tell me more...
  January 8 at 4:54pm ·
- Michael Kaminski I have seen many people get into grace & get set on fire for Jesus - and feel a weight of trying to please God finally released from them!
  January 8 at 4:59pm · · 6 people
- Richard Gamel I never had a better understanding of faith until I listened to Bertie Brits series on Effortless Faith, if any of you have not heard it, I highly recommend it, its powerful, also, I touch on that by video entitled The Weight of Faith, be blessed & empowered!
  January 8 at 5:01pm · · 6 people
- Leopoldo Paul Solis Universalism is the belief that all are saved because of grace alone. Salvation is by grace through faith. If we take out faith in salvation, we fall into universalism, which is not biblical.
  January 8 at 5:23pm · · 12 people
- Michael Kaminski I like what John Crowder says about Universalism:
  January 8 at 5:41pm ·
- Vivian Chan Michael, so now we no need to please God bcos we r under grace?
  January 8 at 5:45pm ·
- Michael Kaminski ‎"If you say I am a Universalist in that Jesus died for the sins of the whole world, you are correct. If you say that I am a Universalist in that everybody is going to heaven because of this, you are dead wrong. You must still receive this forgiveness personally for it to save you. It's like if they found a pill to cure cancer. It would cure cancer for everybody in the world, but wouldn't do you one bit of good if you didn't take it personally. You would still die from cancer. And so it is with sins."
  January 8 at 5:45pm · · 7 people
- Richard Gamel Believing/faith in the consequences of what Jesus did for you personally is receiving what grace has provided for you.
  January 8 at 5:52pm · · 8 people
- Ronald Pacatang ‎@richard - amen!
  January 8 at 6:01pm ·
- Michael Kaminski Vivian - we are pleasing to God because of the blood of Jesus and not our own self works, I.e., trying to please Him..... God sees us as righteous because of Jesus. We are the righteousness of God in Him (Christ Jesus) 2 Cor 5:21......As for our own righteousness, well God calls them 'filthy rags' Isaiah 64:6 - actually, that's a watered down translation. I won't insult you with the real words in Hebrew, but it's as filthy as filthy can get - disgusting. I didn't say it, GOD did.
  January 8 at 6:03pm · · 4 people
- Vivian Chan We try to please someone bcos we love him/her, not bcos you want him/her to see you as good. I agree wat you said abt self righteousness, no one can be righteous by their works, but when you love someone, like your wife, dont you want to please her?
  January 8 at 6:57pm ·
- Vivian Chan i know some preach abt God sees Jesus in us, therefore even when we sin, God does not see the sin, bcos He only sees Jesus! i find that a little "weird", cos i feel im kinda invisible, or i dont exist, and it's just Jesus n God! So, how wd i come into a real relationship with Father God if i'm kinda "out" of the picture??
  January 8 at 7:01pm ·
- Jonathan van der Waard
  My thoughts on this:
  I think the righteousness of Jesus is the key to this.
  Universalism is a process of extrapolation that started with a truth taken out of context. (All that's left is a con).
  Paul warns the Corinthians to take heed HOW to build on the foundation he laid. That foundation is Jesus as our righteousness.
  
  Grace is available for everyone. Jesus paid the price for all people who will ever live. It's like tv and radio waves. It's there for everyone. Only those who turn on their tv or radio enjoy the programs which are on.
  
  Having your sins paid for doesn´t make you righteous. Righteousness needs to be received! To receive (lambano) is taking hold of something.
  How? By faith!
  To mention only one of the many verses in the Bible on this, Romans 3:22 says:
  Even the righteousness of God WHICH IS BY FAITH OF JESUS CHRIST unto all and upon all them THAT BELIEVE.
  
  Believing is done in the heart. It is not faith in a doctrine (even if it's called grace). Grace isn't a doctrine. Grace is a Person, called Jesus! Believing in Jesus is accepting Him as your righteousness.
  
  I personally think that universalists accepted grace as a doctrine without accepting Jesus as their righteousness in their own life.
  God did not give us just a thick book so that we would have a little more head-knowledge. God wants a living relationship. He loves us so much that He wants us to enjoy life to the fullest. He wants us to be free from sin and condemnation (here on this earth!!!!).
  Nobody who accepted Gods righteousness and started to experience life in abundance on this earth can just say everybody is saved... There will be a desire to tell others and to share what it is to live in Jesus.
  
  God is reconciling the world.
  2Cor 5:19 needs to be read in the context of verse 20: "We beseech you: be reconciled to God". How? again read the context: Jesus was
  made sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.
  That's the message God beseeched us to receive by faith!
  As Paul we have the ministry of reconciliation. If universalism is true... there would be no need for this.
  
  The key to seeing the error in something is knowing the real thing. Knowing Jesus personally and experience Him daily makes it easy to see the error in universalism.
  
  It's all about Jesus!
  January 8 at 7:03pm · · 8 people
- Ronald Pacatang
  ‎@Vivian, yes you are definitely right, we all, really love to please our Father, and that is the good news or the gospel is all about, Jesus did all the WORK so we can be PLEASING to the Father, accepted and beloved through the finished work of Jesus Christ, Praise the Lord, for now, we dont struggle nor stressed, to do things to please Him, because In Christ, we became God's pleasure, beloved and owned. Oh that's glorious! That is why in Hebrews 11:6- it says "without faith, it is impossible to PLEASE GOD..." and that is faith in the finished work of Jesus...and not in our own works to please him. By grace, we do good things by" nature"(Spirit of Life that is in us) not because for merits, to earn God's favor and goodness...We are already favored in Christ! grace and blessings to you sister!:)
  January 8 at 7:14pm · · 3 people
- Jimmy S. T. Tan Grace prepares people's heart to understand God's heart of love. The question of faith and salvation is important, and perhaps cannot be explained in a few words. This article may help as an introduction - I don't have all the answers, as I'm still on a journey of discovering God's heart of immense love. http://www.gospelofgraceandpeace.com/2010/12/15/salvation-is-for-the-here-and-now/
  January 8 at 8:29pm · · 2 people
- Vivian Chan hi Ronald, so you are saying the way to please God is faith in Jesus, right? Then can you explain The bible also tells us not to grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor n evil speaking be put away from you with all malice. (eph 4:30) Why, if we are already so pleasing to the Father bcos of Jesus, why the HS can be grieved??
  January 9 at 12:03am ·
- Ronald Pacatang
  The way to please The Father is to have Jesus in our lives, no one is pleasing to the Father except Jesus Himself. And Him in us, makes us pleasing to the Father...it is not our good deeds that pleases Him, it is Jesus and His sacrifice that pleased Him...with regards to the passage you just quoted, first lets just see what did Jesus said about the Holy Spirit, [John 14:26] - " But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will "teach" you all things and will "remind" you of everything I have said to you" -[John 16:13 ] - But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will "guide you into all the truth" - THE HOLY SPIRIT's work in us is to remind us all about Jesus(TRUTH), and to guide us in ALL TRUTH(Jesus). It grieves Him when we return to those things from which we have "been set free" [our old self bound by the law], and it is not us anymore, we DIED already with Christ, and the NEW us, is what PAUL, is saying in [Galatians 2:19-21] - “For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God. I have been crucified with Christ and "I no longer live, but Christ lives in me." The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing. Grieving the Spirit is when we are not living the TRUTH about our BEING...the truth of us is in [2Corinthians 5:21]- God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that "in him"(Christ) we might become the RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD...WE are the RIGHTEOUSNESS of God, now, how can HE not be pleased with us in Christ? PLEASING GOD IS NOT ABOUT our DOING...IT IS ABOUT our BEING. "Being always defines the doing & not the other way around." God blessed you so much Vivian!:)
  January 9 at 12:43am · · 3 people
- Jonia Kostiuk
  Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please God: for he that comes to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. God is love. He loves everyone. According to the Bible, not everyone however has entered into a covenant relationship with Him. God is not a man that he sould lie... whatsoever a man sows, that will he also reap. What I sow into my marriage with my husband, I will reap. What I sow into my marriage with Jesus I will reap. Jesus is constant. If the bennefits of this life are not based on what I do, then why am I healthier when I exercise and eat properly? Why when I apply biblical principles to my finances do I experiance more blessing? Jesus did not change, but my actions or works did. From what I've studied a bit in the Greek, grace is the empowerment to do, not the empowerment to not.
  January 9 at 12:53am ·
- Becky Gaunt Abraham believed by faith and it was accredited to him as rightiuoness....now GOD hates lieing, and yet Abraham lied about Sarah being his wife, to save his own skin.....Abraham ended up walking away from each situation with more than he had going in...why???? i believe even though he lied, GOD did not see the sin, because Abraham had the rightioness of GOD upon him....just like we have the rightiouness of JESUS 'S blood upon us...........amen and amen
  January 9 at 12:57am · · 3 people
- Ronald Pacatang
  Grace is the Person of Jesus Christ, He personified the Grace of GOD! it is not just a teaching, sermon nor a doctrine. Out of that revelation of the person of grace, is a brand new paradigm that sees all scriptures always through the lens of God's unfailing love. It makes life with God so fun and exciting. Without the pressure of tryin to keep up with the standards of the law to be pleasing to Him and gain His favor, but with the assurance of having the "righteousness" apart from the do's and don'ts of the law which is JESUS CHRIST himself in me.
  January 9 at 1:04am ·
- Ronald Pacatang Amen Becky!
  January 9 at 1:07am · · 1 person
- Ulf Tornert
  Response to Bertie's original text (above):
  
  Eph 2:8 For by grace you have been saved *through faith*, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God
  
  Heb 4:2 For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed *with faith* in those who heard it.
  
  I'm with you, Bertie! The gospel has to be received by (active) faith. Without faith, no one can please God (Heb 11:6), and if you're not pleasing to God will you be saved? No way! But thank God, He has made us acceptable in the Beloved (Eph 1:6)!
  January 9 at 1:40am · · 4 people
- Pang William
  Grace and Faith is One! We cannot receive His Grace without His Faith, likewise we cannot please God without His Faith. It is His Faith that pleased God. By His Faith we believed and received His Grace!
  
  Now Grace and Faith lives in us... to produce the fruit of the Spirit which is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control which is pleasing to God.
  
  We don't live by wanting to please God but by His Faith which is pleasing to God even if you don't see the fruit in you as yet... We live by Faith and not by sight. You are already pleasing to God in Christ. The fruit doesn't come by self effort but by the Spirit. Keep on believing... you'll see the manifestation. Amen.
  January 9 at 4:13am · · 8 people
- Vivian Chan William, i agree as we abide in the Vine, our fruits shd be produced effortlessly. But as you know, in life, we also have decisions to make, or choices. Eg, longsuffering, i know many drivers hv v short tempers on the road. Just say, a car overtakes you, n almost bang u in the course of it, u can choose either to keep cool, or overtake him n scare him. So, how is this going to come effortlessly? There must still a choice to make, rite?
  January 10 at 12:51pm ·
- Vivian Chan How about a believer living in sin? say homosexual or lesbian. Is God going to overlook tat just bcos God can only see Jesus in him/her, therefore cant see the sin? How do you help these ppl to come out of their sins?
  January 10 at 12:54pm ·
- Jonathan Yeong Ephesians 2:8
  January 10 at 1:21pm ·
- Ronald Pacatang Vivian - what can you say to this? - Hebrews 10:15-18 - The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First he says: “This is the covenant I will make with them, after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds.” Then he adds:“Their sins and lawless acts, I will remember no more." And where these have been forgiven, sacrifice for sin is no longer necessary...
  January 10 at 2:15pm · · 2 people
- Jonathan Yeong God looks at us in the spirit vivian (John 4:24) and see us as righteous (2 Corinthians 5:17, Galatians 6:15).
  January 10 at 2:16pm · · 1 person
- Jonathan Yeong The power to overcome sin is to know His Grace and knowing who u r in the spirit
  January 10 at 2:16pm · · 1 person
- Pang William Dear sister... It is His Faith that said "It Is Finished!". Trust Him and rest in His finished work... we all have our time and season, we will bear fruit in the right time and season... on the third day. Now to us is two thousand years but to God is only two days... and on the third day He will rise again and so are we. He is still in control.
  January 10 at 2:22pm · · 3 people
- Donna Tremblay
  ‎@Jonia, I am going to attempt to address some of what you wrote but preface. The word does have principles in it that work for the believer as well as the unbeliever, so putting these principles to work is not necessarily the believer living in grace now that the believer is redeemed from the law (law gives rules, orders and prescriptions of do's and don'ts to get God's approval, Jesus got approved and made us approved, so there is NOTHING left for us to do IN ORDER TO GET APPROVED. The methods that you described are following principles that work for anyone, like I said, so following those can make a way for you, but, you don't have to do, for God's grace to flow. If you go beyond the principals, and I think that I am just now thinking this through or getting this now, there is yet another way, a way that is easy and light. God hates our works, so he died to release us from the law of doings/works.
  Looking at your post, Hebrews 11:6 are for the unbeliever not the believer. Going back to the post, the universalism believes that men are all saved, no matter if they apply faith or not, so this verse you chose clarifies that, that a person who comes to him in faith is rewarded with Him, but they need the faith to be put in Christ (be saved). The rest of what you are saying is just applying prinicples that work for anyone. The Secret is applying biblical principles to make things in their lives change, however, many of these may be told, "I never knew you" by Jesus when they get face to face with him. The word of God works, but we need the spirit and the word working together, or else the word is a letter that killeth, it is the letter of the law without the Holy Spirit. So is the word working for you? Well, maybe the more important question is, are you being led to do the things that you are doing with confirmations from God that you are on the path of life? When we finally give up on our efforts to get production going, and we depend on grace alone, (this means that anything that we do is never to get results from God's hand, but is a result of God's hand working through us. This doesn't mean that we don't lead decent orderly and productive lives that are improving our lives. But our lives productivity are not indicators of our flowing in Him but a result of flowing in Him/Grace. The replacement for the law was not new laws or new principles, the replacement for the law was Jesus, and in His person and person alone is everything. It takes faith to receive that, courage to risk believing that, humility to live in it, but it is fun to see it when it is working for us. Jesus is delighted to do it all for us, He gets happy when we throw in the towel on "doings to get" and rely totally on grace. When we do, IT FLOWS right on down from the throne. His burden just got easy and light.
  January 10 at 2:42pm ·
- Donna Tremblay ‎@ Jonia, The bible is read by many different people for different purposes, those who read it for principles, just get principles, those who read it for life, get life and get it more abundantly. Ask Jesus to show you this.
  January 10 at 2:44pm · · 3 people
- Bertie Brits What I actually wanted to get to in my discussion is WHY we need faith, not if we need faith but WHY we need faith. Scripture is clear on the fact that faith is needed but WHY?
  January 10 at 2:50pm ·
- Donna Tremblay Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence (title deed) of things not seen.
  January 10 at 2:56pm · · 2 people
- Donna Tremblay He wants us to see the unseen that we hope for. When we do have faith, it is a title deed, that is the substance of it. Faith says, it will manifest and I am resting in that.
  January 10 at 3:02pm · · 3 people
- Ronald Pacatang
  Here is my simple thoughts on why we need faith..We need faith basically, because this is the meeting point between the natural and the supernatural, the seen and the unseen, the physical and the spiritual. We need it because the things of God is BEYOND our thoughts and imagination...for if not, we'll just need logic and human intelligence to perceive the things of God, but because it isn't, that is where faith takes over, faith,for me is not of human origin, it is a fruit of our growing knowledge of God, and for us, it is by beholding Christ.
  January 10 at 3:04pm · · 4 people
- Leopoldo Paul Solis Just a brief thought on WHY. Because human beings are created in the likeness and image of God. One of the attributes of this likeness and image is our free-will, we are not programmed like robots. Without me having to define faith, faith involves choice or free-will. Adam and Eve had choices - eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, or not.
  January 10 at 3:10pm · · 1 person
- Pang William The answer is indeed simple... Faith is key to Grace!
  January 10 at 3:12pm · · 2 people
- Vivian Chan So. Jonathan, does God only sees us in our spirits? Can He also see our souls n physical body? If God cant see my sins, means He also cant see my sufferings or sickness, or even when i do good, He cant see! Since He only sees our spirits, then where is the relationship with me personally, if He only sees Jesus??
  January 10 at 3:15pm ·
- Bertie Brits Pang that I agree with 100% but WHY is FAITH the Key. I believe if people can understand this it will benefit them greatly in their relationship with God.
  January 10 at 3:18pm · · 3 people
- Pang William Bertie, because Faith is of God and not of man. The Faith is His Faith... The Faith of the Father that sent His Son for redemption of the world. And the Faith stays in His Son bring forth to us... Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is (Christ is His Faith), and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
  January 10 at 3:37pm · · 4 people
- Jonathan Yeong
  I agree with Pang William.
  
  @Vivian - All our sins have been paid for by Jesus (1 John 2:2) and even for the unbelievers. What pleases God is the faith in His atonement and His Grace.
  
  In Your spirit, you have salvation, healing, peace, joy and deliverance. 1 Peter 2:24 says by His wounds you have been healed means Jesus has paid the price for both sins, sicknesses and sufferings and He has borne them on ur behalf (isaiah 53).
  
  A Christian should release those things by exercising his/her faith.
  
  When one keeps looking on the external, sure there will be many problems. But when one looks on the internal and renew his/her mind to God's Word, that;s when God's power manifests physically in that person
  
  God does see Jesus in you. 1 John 4:17 says as Jesus is so are we in this world.
  January 10 at 3:44pm · · 1 person
- Vivian Chan Yes, Jonathan i agree wat you said, but u havent really answered my question. Im asking whether God can also see our sufferings and the sins we commit? I have a problem that no matter what we do, God only sees Jesus, then where do i come in? Is it a relationship with Jesus n God, or us and Jesus/God?
  January 10 at 4:32pm ·
- Vivian Chan No doubt we have all thgs in Christ, He has provided us healing, blessings, everthg we ever need,n we only can appropriate them by faith. But while in the process of our growth, can GOD see what we are going thru? Does God know? I'm sure He does, if not the Holy Spirit can never be grieved.
  January 10 at 4:34pm ·
- Vivian Chan When i read the bible, the 2nd half of the epistles teach a lot on holy living, how we shd live our lives. We cant just put everythg on Christ n shirk responsibility. Eg. we hv the healing, but can a person get healed just by resting, n doing nothing? No, we hv to cast the disease out! That's our responsibility as sons of God!
  January 10 at 4:38pm ·
- Vivian Chan The danger of preaching extreme grace to the point of passiveness, results in NO RESULTS! Grace is not just undeserved favor but empowerment to do what God commands us to do. (n i dont mean to earn favor)
  January 10 at 4:40pm ·
- Leopoldo Paul Solis Vivian, I am not if this is the answer to your question, but why don't you take a look, not too long.http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=158695190815718
  January 10 at 4:52pm · · 2 people
- Jonathan van der Waard
  ‎@ Vivian
  Please let me show you my interpretation of Ephesians 4:30 (about grieving the HS).
  
  I believe we both agree that we are made holy and righteous in Jesus. He is our righteousness, our holiness! That's what Paul starts with in Eph 4 verse 24. Only if you see that and reckon yourself righteous and holy, you'll experience the power to overcome sin.
  (see also Rom 6:11).
  
  Knowing WHO you are is so important and that's why Paul puts so much emphasis on this. Knowing this, you are enabled to deal with 'the stuff' that tries to rob you of a good life. Encouragement to deal with these issues is there to help you. So when Paul says we are to put away lying or tells us to steal no more, this is not because God will be angry if you do this. God loves you the same. You will be still as righteous as Jesus. Without spot, without wrinkle. That can never be undone.
  
  Your experience of life (living with other people here on earth) will be so much better if you let go of lying, stealing, etc. And the great news is: through Jesus you can! Knowing you're righteous enables you to deal with it!
  Conclusion: because Jesus took all your sins and you accepted Him as your righteousness, God will ALWAYS see you as Jesus!
  
  Now let's go to the part where it says "Grieve not the Holy Spirit". As I have said before 'taking a text out of context leaves you with a con'....
  So let's start with verse 29! It says:
  "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."
  What's the point Paul is making here: edify each other, speak GRACE. Let me repeat this loud and clear: speak GRACE!
  Why? Because that is what you're enabled to do because you're righteous. That is what the Holy Spirit will do through you. He will give you words in your mouth. Words of grace to edify.
  Not corrupt words that will tear people down. No words of law and mixture.
  So you can only read verse 30 after reading verse 29.
  Not speaking grace will hinder (that is another possible translation of the Greek word here, and I believe it's a better one) the work of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit can only flow through words of grace.
  
  I believe this hindering (or grieving) cannot refer to verse 31, because it says so clearly that we are sealed! So nothing, no bitterness, no wrath, no anger, nothing can un-seal us. The Holy Spirit will always be there. He always wants to work through us because Jesus' work is finished. But to do what? To convince you you're righteous!!!
  (see joh 16:8-10. Just to clarify this portion right away: The holy spirit convicts the world (sinners) of sin, not believing in Jesus. He convicts the believers (because YE see me no more, talking to the disciples) of righteousness!)
  
  So I see so much love of God in Eph 4. Paul is encouraging us to see WHO we are in Christ and also shows us that we ARE enabled to deal with all the issues of life through our righteousness in Jesus! Wow, glory to Jesus! Thank you Lord, you will do it for us, you will do through us!
  
  About the question does God see our troubles? Yes, He does! But I personally believe He wants us to believe we are righteous in Jesus, that we are the head and not the tail, that we are more than overcomers in Christ Jesus. So: speak grace in those times!!
  And at the same time: run BOLDLY to the throne of graced to find grace (GRACE again!) which rests you and focuses you on Jesus, through whom you are more than a conquerer.
  
  Hope this helps in answering your question.
  
  You're love by Jesus!!!
  January 10 at 6:16pm · · 3 people
- Mie Mie Primne
  ‎@Bertie Brits :) yeah let's go back to your main question: WHY we need FAITH? FAITH got to do with Jesus-- the Author, Finisher and Perfecter of our faith. Everything we receive from God is by faith. Faith is what pleases God. For without faith it is impossible to please God. For many of us believers, it is easy to confess the Word of God--the Word of Christ when everything is doing/going well. But what about the times when we are faced with challenges/crisis? What about when we have failed and made a mistake, when we are sick, depressed and tempted? When the accuser of the brethren come against us? That is the time to start speaking what we belief in. And the accuser will lose his power over us. Because when we are in faith the devil is defeated.
  January 10 at 6:37pm · · 3 people
- Ronald Pacatang
  ‎@Vivian - beloved,being holy is actually not the issue,we are definitely called and destined to be holy, the issue is,the source of holiness as what you are implying in your previous post...Are we considered holy because of the actions that we perform or do, or is it because of THE ONE LIVING IN US? who sanctified us and MADE us holy...our holiness is a PERSON, and not a "series of doing the do's and not doing the don'ts"...[1 Corinthians 1:30 - It is because of him that you are in "Christ Jesus", WHO HAS BECOME FOR US wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, "HOLINESS" and redemption.] Jesus Christ is our holiness...He is the reason why we are called HOLY. blessed are you sis!!
  January 10 at 6:38pm · · 2 people
- Jimmy S. T. Tan Great responses. Wanted to add that our believing or not believing doesn't change God's view of us - He still sees us righteous, holy, blameless, above reproach.
  January 10 at 6:45pm · · 1 person
- Jimmy S. T. Tan The benefit of believing the gospel is that we learn to see ourselves the way God sees us - as His beloved and precious children. Right believing will lead to right living, but right living isn't our focus (or else it becomes another religion or law about dos and donts) - our part is to keep on believing, keep on hearing the good news of who we are, and we will keep on receiving abundance of grace and gift of righteousness and reign in life (over every evil, lack, bondage, etc). :)
  January 10 at 6:49pm · · 3 people
- Ronald Pacatang ‎@bertie brits - as of your question, "WHY IS FAITH THE KEY?" --- because faith is the enabling factor, wherein, us(natural man) are made capable to receive the grace(supernatural gift) of God, The grace of God(gospel) is foolishness to the world "without" faith, and when faith comes to us, that is the only time we acknowledge and appreciate the unfailing love of the Father...
  January 10 at 6:49pm · · 1 person
- Bertie Brits
  Thanks. I have been thinking about this a lot and came to the conclusion that faith is the foundation from where we live as humans. Let's take God out of the picture for a moment. Every thing we do, feel and judge is from the basis of what we believe. Nothing. no matter what it is can have effect in our lives unless we believe it. The HEART of man is his belief system and the place where anything finds its power. If no person would ever have believed in communism it would never have materialized. It seems to me that FAITH (persuasion)is the ability given to man by being created in the likeness of God to manifest the spiritual. Nothing done to us can have any effect on our being outside of us believing in it. Something spiritual or representative of nature can have no effect in our lives whatsoever out side of believing it. I have seen people in SA that still is not believing in the NEW South Africa making the work done by the ANC and the old NP of no effect in their life. God was not looking for another work to give man to do by saying he should have faith. I believe Paul was preaching what Jesus has done and then he saw people believe it and the next thing he saw was the change of life and manifestation of God in them. I think he then came to the conclusion that faith is the access unto grace. This, I believe is the reason why people need to believe - it is not a law to obey and then God will save!! It is the way man accesses anything. Paul wanted people to believe, God wants people to believe for without it HIS wour will have no effect.
  January 10 at 7:49pm · · 9 people
- Pang William
  Vivian, I see your problem... you wrote: "I have a problem that no matter what we do, God only sees Jesus, then where do i come in? Is it a relationship with Jesus n God, or us and Jesus/God?"
  
  Do you believe in the divine exchange? I believe you do. Then ask these... If God doesn't see us in Christ, then all that Christ did on the cross was in vain. We are still in our sin, we will still die. But NO... God only see us in Christ because Christ become the firstfruit of the Spirit that rose from the death. As we abide in Him we also became alive in the Spirit but we are alive in Christ. Our self is dead, our sin has been paid on the cross. It is no longer we live but Christ lives!
  
  On the relationship part... it is not our relationship with God alone but a relationship of us in Christ with God. If you pray for healing, prosperity, wisdom... God see your prayers answered in Christ. If you can believe what I say... God has given you the Faith in Christ! Do you believed?
  January 10 at 8:10pm · · 3 people
- Ronald Pacatang ‎@Pang - amen - Our identity and position is always founded in these two words - "IN CHRIST".
  January 10 at 8:23pm · · 2 people
- Jonathan van der Waard ‎@ Bertie Brits
  Wow I think you gave words to it very, very well! I agree 100%!
  January 10 at 8:23pm ·
- Jonathan Yeong
  ‎@Vivian - God doesnt see our sins. He sees our sins as all been paid for by the blood of Jesus. Hebrews 8:12 makes a clear statement that our lawless deeds and wickedness he will remember no more. In 2 Cor.5 :19, the verse even goes to say that our sins are NO longer imputed.
  
  I'm not preaching "extreme" grace here. I do believe there has to be faith in the grace of God as well.
  
  Let me give u an illistration:
  is God holy because of His holy actions or because He is Holy and by nature Holy?
  
  It's the same with us. We do holy acts not because its a requirement but rather because we recognize that we have been made holy by Jesus and we are holy.
  
  The reason why we live holy is not because we want to earn God;s favour but rather because it is part of our born again nature to be holy.
  
  and like what Jonathan van der Waard says...grieving the HS is when we fail to administer grace in our speech. (if u look at its context).
  
  Your relationship with God is secure and complete solely based on the finished work of Jesus. Under the NC, He clothed you with his righteousness not ours. According to isaiah, all our self-righteousness are as filthy rags and if we are going to base our position with God with our performance, then we are going back to the Old Covenant
  January 11 at 12:44am · · 2 people
- Carol L Robinson We have Christ in us as our Life, our direction and His Life will flow through us as we access the grace by faith. BUT, we are ALL unique with different personalties, different likes, etc. and those will not disappear. We will always be a special person just like our children are to us.
  January 11 at 12:58am · · 1 person
- Alejandro Grace Ararat Bertie, I believe when you say this:::I believe Paul was preaching what Jesus has done and then he saw people believe it and the next thing he saw was the change of life and manifestation of God in them. I think he then came to the conclusion that faith is the access unto grace.
  January 11 at 3:41am ·
- Alejandro Grace Ararat Therefore, the PERFECT UNBLEMISH WORK OF JESUS is the WAY. My father almighty provides [His Gift of Faith] what HE requires!
  January 11 at 3:44am · · 5 people
- Bertie Brits For those of you that are not friends with me on FB I would like to post something here that I placed on my profile page
  January 11 at 3:49am · · 1 person
- Bertie Brits God does not look at your faith to give you something. Your faith allows you to make use of all He has given you by HIS FAITH. THERE IS NO FAITH METER IN HEAVEN and when it hits the magic GREEN (wherever that might be?) then God releases blessing. NO! The FAITH METER is situated in our subconscious mind. When our persuasion of HIS LOVE supersedes our persuasion of other things we allow ourselves to make USE of HIM.
  January 11 at 3:50am · · 7 people
- Pang William Yes... Faith is a gift! It can't be reasoned, it can only be seek... in Christ! Indeed nothing is of us... not even the decision we made to receive Him, not even the love we extend to our brothers and sisters, not even our passionate heart that desire Him... and also not our submission to Him.
  January 11 at 4:01am · · 4 people
- Carol L Robinson Mankind certainly does desire to be in the equation however.....
  January 11 at 4:02am ·
- Pang William The just shall live by Faith... Faith is our only meter indicator. When Faith comes, we will speak boldly and our words will touch the soul. When Faith comes, you will lay hand and sickness flee. All these works we do are not of us but His Faith empowered us to do.
  January 11 at 4:24am ·
- Donna Tremblay
  Wow, Bertie, the faith meter that turns green does not exist, BUT our subconscious mind houses the faith meter. Now that subconscious cancels the questions: "what do we do, what is the turning point, what does God want, what is God expecting from me, what should I do?" Many of us are searching for the golden key, in the form of "what to do"... but it's not a thing that we do, other than our heart is become fully persuaded of His love and the purchase deed that he purchased for us to own the land that is ours, (Jeremiah and the purchase deed). When we "realize", and I think this word is key, when we realize all that we have and that is done already for us, healing etc,. then faith accesses all we have by grace, not works or doings, and that realization is what conquers every challenge, one at a time, by grace. In each and every situation, there is no other key than that realizing what is there/here for us now.
  January 11 at 5:21am ·
- Donna Tremblay ‎"We allow ourselves to make use of him" "Your faith allows you to make use of all He has given you by HIS FAITH" powerful, very very powerful
  January 11 at 5:25am · · 4 people
- Kevin Leithead
  Bertie, let us not mesure your "many seen people" get into Grace and then in short 'fall'. Let us realize that The Christ established the New Covenant wherein He has become High Priest offering up Himself Once For All. The Gospel is herein established! It is not about Law for law looks to see, and then fails those seen. Who is wrong? Who? Let him who is without sin cast that first stone at Grace! This is the very power of God unto salvation - that one bends their knee and speaks with their tongue that Chirst is Lord. He loved us first that we might love. Choose therefore to observe in this new covenant of Grace and Mercy offered that the devil will play with even that. If you see your brother falling, be sure that you don't have that log in your own eye to take out their splinter. Hummmm! I think that if you retire right now, let alone and allow God to enlighten you, Grace "through Jesus Christ" alone shall shine in your heart. We ARE our brother's keepers! We ARE our sister's keepers! We who are called of The Christ. I do not seek offense; God willing there will be none! Kevin Ray.
  January 11 at 6:22am ·
- Jeremy Penwarden Faith accepts that what God says is true. It opposite, unbelief, essentially calls God an untrustworthy liar.
  January 11 at 6:27am · · 2 people
- Carol L Robinson Kevin, I see your point, belief in Christ is required for one to receive the Holy Spirit which is our access into new Life. We are forgiven through Christ, but the promise of the Holy Spirit is when the new Life is given wings.
  January 11 at 6:27am ·
- Carol L Robinson Those that do not have the Holy Spirit are still in their sins because they are "forgiven" dead people.
  January 11 at 6:28am ·
- Jeremy Penwarden
  Carol - forgive - aphiemi means to send away. If the world's sins are sent away, then they cannot still be in them.
  The problem isn't sins any more. That's been fully dealt with by Jesus. The only problem - see John 16:8-9 is unbelief. John 3:16 doesn't mention sin in terms of being lost. Just believe in Jesus. Same with John 1:12.
  January 11 at 6:31am ·
- Carol L Robinson Perhaps I didn't use the right terminology Jeremy, what I was meaning was that Christ is no effect to those that don't believe.
  January 11 at 6:33am · · 1 person
- Carol L Robinson Although there is forgiveness, I don't see non-believers as appropriating that. Hopefully that is more clear.
  January 11 at 6:34am ·
- Jeremy Penwarden True enough. More importantly, it's those who believe, but then seek to be justified by lifestyle for whom Christ is of no benefit.
  January 11 at 6:39am · · 2 people
- Kevin Leithead
  I've only a few comments to call to question: Law and Grace are "repelling opposites" and not "cylical opposities". Grace cannot be justified for it is Undeserved Favor of Annointing. Let's not forget that in bestowing Grace, it
  is Christ that Annoints. The forgiveness that we itch about... is actually
  'I shall blot out their lawless deeds and rememeber them no more'. It is
  Logos herein. The Word/Logos.... what God blots out, who shall recount and
  bring to judgment? I'd like to see that one on my day in court. Recall this: sheep to the right and goats to the left. God on the throne and Jesus to His Right Side. Sheep to the right... in facing God's throne, who is divided?
  Some will say "But Lord.... when...?" Others will say "I just had to shine
  the Grace that I received to them but Lord this that you have done is a vast overpayment for me!". And For NOW has the Kingdome of OUR GOD come...! Kids, let's not beat each other on the strength of our insights on doom, doom,
  doom but NOW if you hear His Voice, do not hearden any portion of
  thyself.... but extend Grace to your fellow human being as the come, as the approach, as they run, LET'S CHOOSE to offer consecrated Grace of Our Lord Christ Jesus. The world will reject for it is in it's nature BUT... in
  holding off human judgment - It is God how calls His Chosen. Let us choose
  to place Grace therein replacing Law and make it a Grace/Grace equation that
  is our first and ONLY stance... This is Christ Jesus. Let's cease to Judge
  in ALL THINGS. God is great enough to act upon your stance and this will do
  more for depraved humanity than someone suggesting that they have "seen such
  and such and it didn't work"! So get the clue: God is pouring out Grace
  through the very storehouses of Heaven ONLY FOR THE GLORIFICATION OF HIS
  SON. Cease to judge and open your arms wide. Don't miss this Work of Our God
  at all. Make straight that way of The Christ. He has done the work in "it is finished" now stand in awe of Our God and let God cause Him to shine.
  Therein, i am reminded of a song: i don't shine if YOU DON'T SHINE - put
  your back on me! He took strips for you - stop being whipped for there is no more need in this creation. He has done it all in "It is Finished". Maybe
  just do this now to follow His lead: Father God, into your hands I commend
  my soul. Therein is Trust!
  No offense to anyone- ears do hear, Spirit does speak! Let it occur.
  January 11 at 7:12am via ·
- Carol L Robinson Kevin, sorry I'm just a very simple speaker....and your meaning escapes me.....what is it you are saying to us here?
  January 11 at 7:18am · · 1 person
- Kevin Leithead This message of Grace does not mingle with Law. Law mingles with judgment and back again. No offense but it is a concept at the time of Chirst that oil and water do not mix. Other things mix like spring to summer to fall to winter to spring. Grace shall resist Law and Law shall resist Grace.
  January 11 at 7:24am ·
- Carol L Robinson I agree with that completely......and if I'm not mistaken the rest of the group does also. Unfortunately as much as we have learned of grace and Christ......we have a distance to go to walk totally free of any legalism.......the sense we must "do" something for God.
  January 11 at 7:26am ·
- Kevin Leithead
  On immediate thing you can do for 'translation's sake' is this: go ahead and prove to me that each and every Scripture is NOT Love based. Open to any page and ask: where is the love of the Father to the Child. No satan/advarsary... how does that fit into Grace. It is about Jesus' redemption of HIS people. Put forth that everone stumbles but those without Christ stumble for they are blind. There is no distance between another and you seeing the need and touching it. That will do to resolve that 'distance to go to walk totally free of... YOU ARE FREE in this: It is FINISHED. Done! Sealed by Heaven's Will. That is the will of God in Thy Kingdom Come. More in a bit. Time to go see what Grace is doing in the world. Meeting a friend. I'll post when back. Christ - Master of the Kings of the Earth.
  January 11 at 7:35am ·
- Kevin Leithead He is truly the Master of all.
  January 11 at 7:35am ·
- Kevin Leithead Hi Carol. I'll explain more as well as pass it by Bob. Yeah! Just know and
  trust that grace and mercy surpassed all efforts in law. Christ's design
  shines! Truth shines!
  January 11 at 10:22am via ·
- Carol L Robinson Kevin, I do know that it is all by grace...that it's all Him and none of me.
  January 11 at 10:31am ·
- Donna Tremblay ‎@ Pang William: You said..."When Faith comes, we will speak boldly and our words will touch the soul. When Faith comes, you will lay hand and sickness flee."... What do you mean by "when"? Faith has come. Do you mean the Holy Spirit, when he comes in manifestation? Faith has come to us all, has it not?
  January 11 at 11:56am · · 2 people
- Pang William Grace has been given and Faith is the only way to it! It is as simple as that even my Mom who is nearly eighty and never been to school can understand it... Please don't complicate it.
  January 11 at 12:43pm · · 1 person
- Donna Tremblay ‎"Grace has been given and faith is the only way to it." Is there a particular verse that comes to your mind for that? Sorry, don't mean to complicate it, not trying to do that. I am just not understanding that "faith comes". If faith is our part, we bring it on by making use of it, is that what you mean when you say "faith comes..."?
  January 11 at 12:55pm ·
- Donna Tremblay I came out of a Word of Faith church, I saw too much working for faith, and no connection of it with grace there.
  January 11 at 12:56pm ·
- Pang William Donna, I knew this question would come... This is my personal experience and i'm not sure it will be for anyone else. No doubt Faith is already in us but have you ever try to get it and it is not there? That's why I said when Faith comes... It comes in the right time right place. It happened to me many times. I believe and spoke to the situations but it didn't happen but it comes when I least expected. We can't get it, we just need to rest in it. Shalom.
  January 11 at 12:59pm · · 2 people
- Pang William
  Donna, I wasn't referring you when I said don't complicate it... it is a general statement. Faith is not of us... we will never get it if it is not given to us. But when it comes, God see it as your Faith. Isn't He awesome?
  
  Mat 9:22 But Jesus turned around, and when He saw her He said, "Be of good cheer, daughter; your faith has made you well." And the woman was made well from that hour.
  January 11 at 1:07pm ·
- Donna Tremblay Wow, Pang, I got such peace from that post, like a river it ran through me. THANK YOU.
  January 11 at 1:09pm · · 1 person
- Donna Tremblay Pang, so do you not declare nor decree according to what you believe? Do you not confess the favor of God in situations?
  January 11 at 1:11pm ·
- Pang William Donna, of cause I do... I speak Faith over every situation everyday and I know it is already done and I just need to be patient and not be troubled. Love you and shalom peace be with you.
  January 11 at 1:18pm · · 1 person
- Donna Tremblay Oh, okay. Faith produces patience, amen. Yes, I do too. Thank you, kind sir. Love you too.
  January 11 at 1:20pm · · 1 person
- Pang William
  I love JP's Daily Devotional today... Believing Is Receiving. A childlike Faith is all we needed. It can only be given by Grace and not be reasoned. We can't have more and we can't have less either, we either have it or we don't, we either believe or we don't...
  
  Mat 21:20 And when the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, "How did the fig tree wither away so soon?" Mat 21:21 So Jesus answered and said to them, "Assuredly, I say to you, [if you have faith and do not doubt], you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' it will be done.
  
  Note that Jesus said... "If you have faith and do not doubt". What is doubt and how we doubt? Faith comes by hearing (always by hearing) but doubt comes by reasoning... How is God gonna move the mountain? How is God gonna clear all my debts? How is God gonna heal my decease? That's reasoning faith, that's to logic faith out... That's is doubt, that's unbelief!
  
  Mar 2:5 When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven you." Mar 2:6 And some of the scribes were sitting there and [reasoning in their hearts], Mar 2:7 "Why does this Man speak blasphemies like this? Who can forgive sins but God alone?"
  
  Luk 5:21 And the scribes and the Pharisees began [to reason], saying, "Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?" Luk 5:22 But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, He answered and said to them, "Why are you [reasoning] in your hearts?
  
  Mat 16:8 But Jesus, being aware of it, said to them, "O you of little faith, why do you [reason] among yourselves because you have brought no bread?
  
  Don't reason away our faith... Be like little children... simply believe!
  January 11 at 1:40pm · · 2 people
- Kevin Leithead
  ‎...and what is the mystery of God but this, He loves and we receive this to touch others! It is about you in that he has count of each hair of your
  head. If no count is lost but you don't know his count, how is it that Grace abounds... ? Even we, us, I, you, they, he/she, those called are to be
  called.
  January 11 at 2:17pm via ·
- Kevin Leithead Grace and peace of our lord upon you. Can you tell me what you are in need
  of? In logos, the christ is perfected. He said. Force! Trust!
  January 11 at 3:51pm via ·
- Jeremy Penwarden
  ‎@Joshen - once you've believed you have faith. Continually going to church won't help that. Using your faith to believe that you're righteous, to heal the sick raise the dead cleanse lepers cast out devils or release the oppressed, these will increase your faith.
  
  Renewing your mind to the word will also help. But attending religious meetings will just make you feel good. Meeting up with christians to go into the world is worth doing.
  January 11 at 4:24pm · · 2 people
- Donna Tremblay
  Jeremy, Going to church won't help that???????? Do not neglect the gathering of yourselves together. Faith comes by hearing and hearing the word of God, not reading it, but hearing it. Meeting with your brothers and sisters in Christ and hearing the word is one way to have faith come. Brothers and sisters and yourself share gifts to bless one another in these meetings, we cultivate the presence of God there and if the place is not grace then open your place and preach it and cultivate it there, so we may heal the sick and do miracles that is the gospel of grace. We need each other, encourage each other to meet and teach and share and love one another. Do not go to be religious go to love and be loved. We are the be-loved. How do we know who we are? We love one another.
  January 12 at 1:40pm ·
- Jeremy Penwarden
  Revolutionary idea of your Donna that reading the word doesn't bring faith.
  
  I'm saying that going to church is usually a passive act. Or singing songs. I've been to church for over 40 years of life. Rarely seen anyone changed by it. Faith grown when you use it, not when you sing about using it.
  
  Of course christians should meet together. But the verses that describe what the early church did when it met are not accurate descriptions of what most church I know does when it meets.
  January 12 at 3:20pm ·
- Joshen Zu Xian
  its not the doing of stuff that stirs up faith... its the Hearing and Hearing of the Word of Christ...
  
  reading is fine, good and important.. but at the very least, read out loud... It is written, "Dont let it depart from your mouth Joshua 1:8" and "how shall they believe not having heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?"
  January 12 at 4:13pm · · 2 people
- Joshen Zu Xian I believe there is a time to read, there is a time to listen, there is a time to do good works and not forgetting, a time to relax and rest... all are equally important for growth..
  January 12 at 4:15pm · · 2 people
- Pang William Let's not live by right and wrong, do and don't... but by a hearing heart in Life. God can even speak to us through a donkey if we willing to hear.
  January 12 at 4:54pm ·
- Jeremy Penwarden Strange how in the natural world muscles are strengthened by exercising, not by being instructed on how to exercise. The instruction will make the exercise more productive, but the instruction alone is pointless.
  January 12 at 4:59pm · · 2 people
- Jeremy Penwarden Be not hearers of the word only, but DOERS of the word.
  January 12 at 5:00pm · · 2 people
- Pang William Hear and grow first... the do part shall come by the fruit naturally.
  January 12 at 5:07pm · · 1 person
- Joshen Zu Xian
  it says "be doers of the Word" so that we do not forget who we are after hearing..
  
  The Word shows us who we are in Christ, and once we close the book, we forget who we are. So how to be a doer of the Word?
  
  James says immediately, "the man who looks intently into the perfect law that GIVES FREEDOM, and continues looking,not forgetting what he has heard, but looking, he will be blessed in what he does.
  
  So according to James, being a doer of the word is to meditate upon the Word.
  
  So we cant say that being a doer of the Word is to do good works. We can say however, that being a doer of the Word IS a good work. Not vice versa... =D
  January 12 at 5:21pm ·
- Jeremy Penwarden
  It's a lot easier than that Joshen to be a doer or the word.
  Jesus said heal the sick. We heal the sick. Jesus said preach good news to the poor. We preach to the poor.
  Jesus said freely you have received freely give - so we give freely.
  
  If you really think that sitting around meditating is doing then you are a religious hypocrite. There are many Eastern religions that will give you all the meditation you want. Jesus is rather different.
  
  Acts 10:38 describes the life of Jesus. Going around DOING good. Doning is doing. Naval gazing [meditating] is naval gazing.
  
  You are very very deceived.
  January 12 at 5:50pm · · 2 people
- Jeremy Penwarden ‎@Pang - you will find that doing the word needs some effort and if you don't make effort it won't just happen. Loving people risks rejection. It's far easier to pray and plead for God to move than to roll up your sleeves and go out and love the lost.
  January 12 at 5:51pm · · 1 person
- Joshen Zu Xian
  Ah, by meditation i dont mean sitting around like an ascetic... =)
  
  Meditation is as simple as worrying.. its just the direct opposite..
  Instead of replaying worst case scenarios in your head, replay the Word, and what Jesus has done, and His promises. All this can be done as we go about our daily lives.
  
  Take psalms 23 for example. The Lord is my shepherd.
  
  1) THE LORD is my shepherd. not just anyone, but The Lord. The el-shaddai, the almighty!
  
  2) The Lord IS my shepherd, present tense.. he was, is and always will be.
  
  3) The Lord is MY shepherd, he is my personal shepherd... I belong to Him, and he belongs to me.
  
  4) The Lord is my SHEPHERD. What does a shepherd do? Takes care of sheep. Takes care of me.
  
  With this constantly replaying, faith rises. I get a confidence from the Lord, I'm empowered to reign in life.
  January 12 at 6:00pm · · 1 person
- Jonathan Yeong
  Jeremy is right. You've got to be both hearer and doer of the word like what the book of James say. This is clear in James 1:22.
  
  God told us to go a reach out to the lost, proclaim His Gospel and to heal the sick and set the captives free. That involves our part otherwise how will the lost ever get saved (Romans 10 clarifies this)
  January 12 at 6:03pm ·
- Jonathan Yeong Works dont necessarily mean moral character or good religious behaviour, it means to do the works that Jesus did - healing, preaching the gospel, setting captives free etc.
  January 12 at 6:05pm · · 1 person
- Jeremy Penwarden Being doers of the word and works are two different things. In John 6:29 Jesus says that the work of the Father is to believe in Jesus. In John 9:1-5 esp verse 3 Jesus says that the works of God are healing the sick.
  January 12 at 6:22pm · · 1 person
- Jonathan Yeong Math 10:7,8
  
  "And as you go, preach, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand.'
  ... "Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.
  January 12 at 6:38pm ·
- Pang William Grace folks please hear this...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZ_ze6m5eI8&feature=player_embedded
  January 12 at 10:03pm · · 4 people
- Donna Tremblay I would love to hear that again, thanks Pang! I want to keep on hearing, keep on hearing, and when I read aloud, I will keep on hearing and hearing the word of God!!! :-)
  Thursday at 11:55am · · 2 people
- Donna Tremblay ‎"Hear and grow first... the do part shall come by the fruit naturally." P. William
  Thursday at 11:56am · · 1 person
- Pang William It Is Finished! What is finished? All thing has been accomplished in Christ... All shall be saved, will be saved! Get out of that work mentality and enter in His Rest... It is He who finished it not us... It is He who lives not you... It is His work not ours... even if it is done through us.
  Thursday at 12:18pm · · 1 person
- Lorenzo Epps Jesus told us that if we believe in what we ask for it would be.....pay attention to the movie matrix which emphasis this point well...we will do what Jesus has done ....and GREATER! THANK YOU JESUS! PRAISE YOU LORD! PRAISE YOU! THANK YOU FOR LOVING ME! THANK YOU!
  Thursday at 12:37pm · · 1 person
- Lorenzo Epps JESUS LOVES ME...LOVE YOU....BELIEVE!
  Thursday at 12:38pm · · 3 people
- Pang William Mar 9:23 Jesus said to him, "If you can believe, all things are possible [to him] who believes." ... It isn't when we believe it is possible to us who believe but it is possible to Him who believes! Jesus is the One that believes, not us. We can't believe anything... it is He who gave us the Faith to believe!... Do you believe?
  Thursday at 7:07pm · · 1 person
- Mark Boyce
  If I understand the question correctly, this is just a small part of an answer:
  
  Hebrews 11:5-6; 5 By FAITH Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death… 6 And without FAITH it is impossible to please God...
  
  Universalism requires no faith. It's delusion.
  
  2 Corinthians 6:15; What harmony is there between Christ and Belial (which is AntiChrist)? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?
  
  Universalism takes Christ Jesus out of the picture as Savior; as God.
  
  John 3:3, 5; 3 Jesus replied, "Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they be born again.", 5 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit.
  
  Jesus is telling Nicodemus he must be born again, or from above, in order to see the kingdom of God. We know that a person can only be born again by believing that Jesus is the beloved Son of God. There is no other name by which a man CAN be saved. This is grace! God's way out! Universalism makes this fact either ambiguous, or erases this fact entirely.
  
  Just a few of my thoughts!
  Thursday at 7:40pm · · 4 people
- Jimmy S. T. Tan
  One of the biggest lies of evangelical christianity is that Jesus came to save people from a fiery place called hell so that they can go to heaven after they die. implying that those (millions of people at least) who haven't heard of Jesus or haven't believed in Jesus will end up in a place called hell where they will be tortured for eternity. This scenario causes the atrocities done by Hitler and Stalin to pale in comparison. Even "grace believers" subscribe to this idea because they have not questioned their traditional church teachings about the gospel. I can say this because I used to come from that background.
  Friday at 2:15pm ·
- Inge Adhipurna Chandra ‎?????Without believing in Jesus, all man are already condemned as stated in John.
  Friday at 5:44pm ·
- Jimmy S. T. Tan
  Jesus spoke those words to Nicodemus the Pharisee. The context is about being saved from condemnation of 'gehenna' when the Romans destroyed the temple in Jerusalem in AD70. This event marked the end of the old covenant age - "Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away". (Hebrews 8:13) Here's a good resource about "condemnation":http://www.tentmaker.org/books/BibleThreateningsExplained.html#125I'm also on a journey of discovery, and I recommend the above website as a starting point.
  Friday at 6:34pm ·
- Inge Adhipurna Chandra ‎....dnt get you?? Jesus spoke to Nic...in John 3 unless one is born again, cant enter the Kingdom of heaven and Jesus is the only Way, Truth and Life , no one can enter?! Are u wht people calls a Universalist??
  Friday at 6:40pm ·
- Jimmy S. T. Tan Inge, I'm a beloved child of God, and so are you. :)
  Friday at 7:02pm ·
- Murphy Zoe Lee ‎@jimmy interesting... so where do we go when we die? and do we need faith to be saved?
  Friday at 8:47pm ·
- Jimmy S. T. Tan Hey Murphy, I'm still finding out the answers as the gospel has so much depth - after all, God is so big that our best attempt to understand Him borders on putting Him in our own box or mindset neatly. :) But we can rejoice in what we do know about the heart of God - that He is love. At this point of time, I understand that when we die, our spirit goes back to Him who gave it. (Ecclesiastes 12:7) Yes, we do need faith to be saved, so the next question would be "What are we saved from?"
  Friday at 10:17pm ·
- Pang William Saved from death to Life!
  Friday at 10:18pm · · 1 person
- Inge Adhipurna Chandra Life is only in Jesus, our faith doesn't save us, only faith in Christ. Christ is the answer!
  Friday at 10:29pm via ·
- Jimmy S. T. Tan
  Yes, William, I am coming to the next point about being saved. :) I am thinking along the line of being saved from sin-consciousness and from having a condemnation mindset. When Adam and Eve ate from the tree of knowledge of good and evil, which is a picture of the law, they felt alienated from God in their own mind (Colossians 1:21) - they became religious and performance-oriented. Human beings feel condemned whenever we live by dos and don'ts. Remember death and condemnation are used interchangeably in 2 Corinthians 3. Jesus came to save us from religion, from having a works mentality, from feeling alienated from Him. At the cross, He identified Himself with our infirmities so that we can identify ourselves with His righteousness and perfection. When we believe the gospel, we discover our original identity in Him as beloved children of God. We will experience peace in our conscience and find rest in our soul. (Romans 5:1, Matthew 11:28) The by-product or fruit of believing the good news of God's love and realising our true identity will be the fruit of the Spirit. (Galatians 5:22-23) Eternal life is knowing who God is, and Jesus is the express image of God in all His goodness and love. I've shared more in this website, so feel free to read here: http://www.gospelofgraceandpeace.com/2010/12/15/salvation-is-for-the-here-and-now/
  Friday at 10:38pm · · 1 person
- Pang William
  Grace is given but it is your faith that save you. Do you know that when you believed, it is His Faith that given to you and He called it your faith?
  
  Mat 9:22 But Jesus turned around, and when He saw her He said, "Be of good cheer, daughter; your faith has made you well." And the woman was made well from that hour.
  Friday at 10:38pm ·
- Murphy Zoe Lee Christ came to change man's view of God... not God's view of man. Amazing!
  Friday at 10:41pm · · 1 person
- Murphy Zoe Lee wanna add this: Salvation is God saving us from our 'evil' view of our self, our lives and of God
  Friday at 10:59pm · · 1 person
- Murphy Zoe Lee Man is really "impossible"! God gave His Son to help us believe that He is inherently good... nothing but good! And yet even then we still struggle to believe...! What else can God do to help us believe that He is nothing but good?
  Friday at 10:59pm ·
- Joshen Zu Xian Interestingly, the message for the youths in the first youth service was on meditation... =) Some treat it as "must-do" some treat it as "want-to-do" doesnt matter, bottom line is... DO! =D
  Friday at 11:31pm ·
- Jimmy S. T. Tan Yes, Murphy - I think you have summed it up succinctly. :) Yes, William, salvation includes healing as well.
  12 hours ago · · 1 person

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