Perfect justice is exact and impartial in the adjusting of wrong commited. It restores to the offended and requires a just penalty of the offender. Perfect justice rewards both good and evil; good with restoration or recompense for any losses it suffered wrongfully, while evil is punished and suffers a loss equal to the loss he has caused to another or others. Justice always means that a just penalty has been exacted upon an violator of the law in perfect proportion to the losses he has inflicted on others. The penalty will be equivalent to the violation committed. If the penalty is too little then it is mercy. If the penalty be too great then it is cruelty. With God there is neither mercy nor cruelty in the dispensing of perfect justice. Please don't get excited when we say "no mercy" and note that we have carefully qualified "no mercy." We are speaking of mercy as it relates to "perfect justice" of God and not the total nature of God. In perfect justice there is no mercy because there is no feeling, no favoritism, no bias. Perfect justice is done when the punishment is perfectly equivolent with the seriousness of the offense. No other factors enter into perfect justice. He is merciful and He is accused of being cruel but in God's perfect justice Now, how can the perfect love of God and the perfect justice of God be compatible? It is only in the depth of the meaning of the cross that this is understood.
Let us make a point here that should be clarified when speaking of divine justice. God does reverse His judgments but He does not violate perfect justice! It is true that God's mercy can change judgments He has pronounced. But mercy never, never violates justice. We must be sure to make the distinction between justice and judgment when we speak of how mercy can effect it.
The Paradox Is This - That God can justify the sinner and yet remain just. To declare, I say, at this time HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS: that he might be JUST, AND THE JUSTIFIER of him which believeth in Jesus. Romans 3:26 How can He be the God of perfect justice and the Saviour that justifies, releasing the wicked from the guilt of sin? Isaiah 45:21
Paul Explains The Paradox - (Romans 3:25-26)
GIn the first dimenaion of Grace we see the power of the cross in behalf of the sinner, God's great mercy toward the sinner! In Romans 3:25-26
Paul repeated the words to declare the righteosuness of God at this time. So, while God has no mercy upon sin (for that would be a violation of the excellence of His moral nature), HE SHOWS GREAT AND EXCEEDING MERCY TOWARD THE SINNER!
This is why Paul goes on to say
in these verses, that he might
be JUST (maintaining His attribute of perfect justice), and at
the same time, the JUSTIFIER (graciously providing a
legal
release from the penalties of sin for the sinner) of him which
believeth
in Jesus. (verse 26)
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THE GRACE OF GOD AT THE CROSS forgave my past sin which I had already committed and which separated me from God. But then there comes another Grace AFTER THE CROSS that teaches me how to live a life pleasing to the Lord; how to use the power He has given me. This is the Grace of God AFTER THE CROSS. These are two distinct operations of Grace.
The first Grace saves me
from sin. That is Christ as my redeemer.
The second Grace keeps me saved from sin. That is Christ as my
teacher
and Sovereign Lord.
Where Redeeming Grace Begins - Redeeming Grace begins AT THE CROSS. Grace starts when I repent of my rebellion against God and His authority. Salvation continues as I remain IN HIM and UNDER HIM as Christ was. If I have His Spirit within, then He is living His life out through me and will be obedient to the Father through me as He was in the days of His flesh. If His Spirit is indeed living out through me then I will be obedient to the Father as Jesus was obedient to the Father. Here is another purpose of the cross and what the cross achieves in the Christian: For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Romans 8:29 How can I know I am walking in Christ? You will live out the life He lived out as revealed in Scripture.
Direct From The Life And Lips Of Jesus, What His Life Was Like
Daily Self Denial - And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. Luke 9:23
The Fear Of God - Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; Hebrews 5:7
Submission To The Will Of God - Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. Luke 22:42
Doing Always What Pleases God - And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him. John 8:29
To Be Tested And Tried - For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted. (See, suffered, below.) Hebrews 2:18. This word tempted is is just what it says. It the the Greek word peirazo meaning to test, to scrutinize, to entice, to discipline; to examine, prove or try. The lexicon says, to try, make trial of, test: for the purpose of ascertaining his quantity, or what he thinks, or how he will behave himself in a good sense).
Learning Through Painful Experiences - Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; Hebrews 5:8. He what? He learned obedience through suffering? To become human was not pleasant for the Son of God - but He had to become flesh, becoming one of us to accomplish our redemption. This suffering of a magnitude we know nothing of. If we could only begin to comprehend what it meant for this omnipotent diety to leave the realm of eternity and live in the darkness and squalor of sin and desease, we would serve Him without a whimper and receive the truth of holiness without reservation! This word, suffered, is the Greek word pascho meaning literally sensations of pain or painful feelings, vexation.
To Love Righteousness And Hate Sin - But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. Hebrews 1:8-9 There are two directions for the moral life to move in if we are to holy. To love righteousness is dedication Godward, because He hated niniquity He was separated from the world and its systems of religion. These represent the two parts of sanctification.
Set On The Destruction Of Sin - For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. Hebrews 9:26 What did He appear for? TO PUT AWAY SIN!
"Unmerited Favor" And Perfect Justice - All of God's dealings with man are based on the perfect justice of God. If This attribute of God is ever violated then you know immediately a doctrine or teaching is false! The God who never changes will not and cannot deviate from this attribute. We must drive a stake on certain absolutes regarding the nature of God before making conclusions on other doctrines. God's doctrine does not conflict with His nature. The nature of God reflects the nature of His truth. Psalm 50 declares that God will call all His people before Him from all the Earth and judge them. Can unconditional Grace teachers accept this? These things hast thou done, and I kept silence; thou thoughtest that I was altogether such an one as thyself: but I will reprove thee, and set them in order before thine eyes. Now consider this, ye that forget God, lest I tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver. Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: and to him that ordereth his conversation [conduct] aright will I shew the salvation of God. Psalms 50:21-23 Hebrews 10:31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. Hebrews 10:31; Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in {his} goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off. Romans 11:22. These truths concerning God's nature apply in this very age of Grace! Modern gospel freethinkers teach that we are living a wonderful new age of Grace that frees us from the wrath of God. They have believed their own lies, teaching that there is no connection between God's moral nature and the commandments and grace. But there are many passages in the New Testamewnt that make it very clear that God will deal the same with apostates and those who pervert the gospel in this dispensation, the same as He dealt with the false prophets and backsliders in Israel's day.
If a Christian openly lives contrary to the Grace that is according to godliness with no regret or shame, they are not covered by Grace. God's Grace requires respectful response in the form of obedience to His teaching. There is no excuse for us not to respond. At new birth we received His Spirit and were adopted into the Family of God whereby we cry, Abba, Father. Grace does not mean I am exempt from penalty or chastisement for my disobedience to the will of the Father; Grace does not mean I am released from moral responsibility; Grace does not mean mercy winning over justice; Grace does not mean unconditional pardon; Grace does mean I am excused from, absolved or spared from the consequences of sin past! Grace teaches me to live the holy life God's power enables me to live above sin in my future! (2 Timothy 3:16-17; Jude 24)
With All Being Said By False Teachers - With all that's being said about conditionless FAITH in Christ and conditionless GRACE without any works; with all that is being said about serving God without any peer pressure (fear of God), leaving the impression that there are no stresses in the Christian life that has learned to simply "rest in faith in Christ." Jesus said, Strive (agonazomai, from whence we get our English word "agonize," to struggle, strain every nerve) to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. Luke 13:24 Why isn't this verse being explained to the christians today as to what its meaning is. It is not a description of the normal Christian life! but rather speaking of the effort we may have to put forth in "entering" the Kingdom of God. But even this fact has been distorted by the teachers of conditionless grace. They have so distorted the doctrine of God that the fear of God has been all but abolished.
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Paul said he had fought the good fight - but not according to the free grace teaching! The Bible says there is a conflict between the spiritual and carnal natures. Where is this message in the new rhinestone gospel of the celebrity preachers? They teach there are no stresses in the life of faith in Christ. That may be true for the spiritual man but in the flesh there are stresses! Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. Philippians 2:12
The book entitled The Grace Awakening by Chuck Swindall is a classic example of the wrong emphasis that applies the meaning of Grace AT THE CROSS to Grace in the Christian's life AFTER THE CROSS. An add for Swindall's book reads;
"Everyone wants to experience God's grace ... or do they? There are plenty of self-appointed judges and self-righteous bullies who love to criticize and condemn; Swindall calls them 'grace killers.' He draws you back to the exciting spontaneous freedom that comes from intimately experiencing God's grace - freedom to forgive and be forgiven, to be ourselves and let others be themselves, to think and disagree,to serve and give. To a generation weary of sanctimonious killjoys, THE GRACE AWAKENING is very good news indeed."
Mr. Swindall says some very good things, but unfortunately good teaching by suave and fluent preachers presents a laced message. They cannot disprove what the Bible really teaches about Grace, so they revert to calling those who disagree with them self righteous bullies who love to criticize and condemn ... grace killers... sanctimonious killjoys. Of course he says that one of the traits of real grace is the freedom to disagree,...to forgive...and let others be themselves. I don't know who writes such promotion material for Mr. Swindall, but the hypocrisy of the statement is so obvious - there is certainly no indication of a willingness to "forgive" when he calls those who "disagree" in their attempt to express the "freedom to be themselves" all kinds of intimidating names. To use strong adjectives against the apostates it is for teaching falsley against good morals, convictions and separation from the world is justified and Scriptural. But when men call those who hold to pure doctrine and holiness self righteous bullies who love to criticise and condemn . . . grace killers . . . sanctimonious killjoys is a pretty wel proves that intellegence is not always right. We are being called names if believe in good works AFTER THE CROSS. James 2:20.
The conditionless grace teachers often misquote and intentionally ignore certain verses of the Bible that conflict with their ideas. Liberalism that deviates from the Word of God is dishonest. He says he loves God and that he is speaking for the truth and then in an obvious manner avoids certain Scriptures that conflict with the philosophy he is teaching. Sometimes it may be an oversight but many times it is obvious that it is not oversight. I was listening to a famous Bible teacher with Calvinist leanings treating the subject of predestination. I was especially interested in his presentation because I have such a high regard for his insights into the Word of God. I thought his observations on the subject would be very scholarly and correct. For two hours of tape he repeatedly quoted Ephesians 2:8-9 (the work of Christ AT THE CROSS) but never went on to quote verse 10 (the works of the believer AFTER THE CROSS) which is a part of verses 8 and 9.
I hold in my hand a publication with an article entitled, God's Selective Grace. His subject is predestination. He quoted from Ephesians 2:8-9 because these two verses speak of salvation by faith AT THE CROSS with no mention of works. Verse 10 is joined to verse 9 with the conjunction, "But," and verse 9 ends with a coma. It is deceptive to quote verses 8 and 9 and stop without going on and reading verse 10. These verses are all part of a complete statement by the inspired writer. Why do the conditionless grace people avoid verse 10? Because it links good works with the atonement of Christ. It makes the good works of the believer AFTER THE CROSS a result of Christ's finished work of blood atoement AT THE CROSS. So do many Scriptures speak of good works and some of them in the context of salvation. Matthew 5:16; John 10:32; Acts 9:36; Ephesians 2:10; 1 Timothy 2:10; 5:10, 25, 6:18; 2 Timothy 3:17; Titus 2:7, 14; 3:8, 14; James 2:17-26; Hebrews 10:24; 1 Peter 2:12.
After ignoring verse 10, this gentleman, the author of the article in hand, began his discourse with the words, "According to these Scriptures..." It is NOT according to the Scriptures when we pull certain verses out of a complete context and alter the meaning by doing so.
TV preachers often quote John 15:5 (He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.) and John 15:7 (If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.) but for some reason they never mention verse 6 right smack dab in between these two famous verses quoted so often. (If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.) Why? Because verse 6 deals with the consequences of being unfruitful for Christ. One well known radio evangelist even had the audacity to say to a national radio audience that "these branches, Jesus speaks of, are not men but rather the dead works of men." Look again (YE are the branches). These are branches that were once alive in Christ, became unfruitful, were purged by the husbandman and cast aside to be burned.
Conditionless grace as many modern preachers are preaching it, conflicts horribly with the Biblical facts.
For ages Christendom has confused "unmerited favor" with unconditional grace. We have made the mistake of making a term we invent the basis of our beliefs. Unmerited favor is just one of the many features of God's Grace but falls far short of being a correct meaning of Biblical Grace.
Conditionless grace as invented by man effects every other doctrine that it touches or relates to; such as the nature of God, the efficacy of the cross, justification and Christian obedience to moral commandments. It follows that if Satan can distort the doctrine of Grace, he has also effected other vital doctrines. If I have a wrong concept of Grace, It will result in other twisted doctrines.
The term unmerited favor has become so popul;ar with modern preachers that the whole Biblical doctrine of Grace has been transposed into conditionless nonsense! Grace is unmerited and it is free but it is not conditionless as we will see.
If Satan succeeds to distort Grace in our thinking he has succeeded in distorting the true meaning of the cross. All Christians know that Grace and atonement are inseperable when viewing the cross. The Word of God simply does not teach the Grace of God as being free (costing nothing) or as being conditionless.
Once we become Christians there
are certain doctrines and truths about
Christ that are fulfilled in us and we have no more need of them. There
comes a time when we leave the first dimension of Grace AT THE CROSS
and
step over onto the highway of holiness and join the godly band in their
pilgrimage to heaven. It is then we enter the second dimension of Grace
AFTER THE CROSS. Or in the words of God, Therefore leaving the
principles
of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying
again
the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,
Hebrews 6:1
THE SECOND DIMENSION OF GRACE
The Grace That Keeps Us Saved
GRACE AFTER THE CROSS
The Christian's Cross
For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, [THE EFFICACY OF THE CROSS!] and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. Titus 2:11-14
For the grace of God that bringeth salvation (Titus 2:11a) - Paul begins the subject of Grace by carefully describing for us just what kind of Grace he is talking about. He says he is speaking of Grace that brings salvation. The healing gifts were given to the church (1 Corinthians 12 - 14) as part of our dominion over the Prince of this world. (Mark 16:17-19) There are many such docuemented miracles. It is the Grace of God! but it is not the Grace that saves. It is God doing something for man that man cannot do for Himself. Healing is one of many manifestations of God's Grace. You may have been physically healed by the power of God, but this is not salvation. Paul is making it clear that he is speaking specifically of the Grace that promises salvation of our soul. This includes dominion over sin, death and hell now, and eternal life in the Kingdom with Him. So he is speaking of the Grace that saves. We must emphasize that all Paul speaks of here regarding Grace AFTER THE CROSS is what it takes to be saved! How does Grace operate and function in the life of the disciple AFTER THE CROSS?
Hath appeared to all men (Titus 2:11b) - It is the same Grace to all men. The same kind of salvation applies to all universally. There are no special groups exempt from Grace within ghr church. What is salvation through Grace unto one, is salvation by Graca unto all.
This first sentence introducing the subject of Grace has some very interesting features. If you replace the word Grace with the word Christ the sentence really reads the same. For the "Christ" of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Jesus and Grace are synonymous! Note the coma after "all men." It goes on to say that Grace has appeared to all men, teaching us. He was full of Grace and truth. John 1:14. We have a Teacher that teaches only truth - absolute truth!
Teaching us (Titus 2:12a) - How can I become a real disciple of Jesus? By being morally transformed by His Grace! (Titus 2:14) But how does Grace transform? By teaching me to live a holy life. (Titus 2:12) What was Jesus when He was with us on Earth? What did men call Him? They called Him Rabbi, Master, and Lord - all meaning Teacher! Jesus has always been a teacher of righteousness. He is still teaching and transforming lives to live holy. (John 1:12) Transformation is the work of Grace. How is a new Christian transformed? (a) By new birth (2 Corinthians 5;17),by (b) a Holy Ghost baptism of fire, (Acts 2:4) and by (c) a renewed mind. (Romans 12:2) A renewed (anakainosis) mind is a renovated mind. Jesus restores and repairs the dilapidated brains of sinners! This restoration takes place as the desire to be pure and holy has been placed in the heart. If you do not have that desire then get to the alters until you have it. If you did not have a total surrender experience at the alter when you repented, then you are a threat to the order and purity of the church. Call it a warmed heart, a crisis of total surrender, a second definite work of Grace ... or whatever you want to call it, but we will not be teachable until we make a total surrender to Jesus as Master, Lord, and Teacher!
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The University of The Holy Ghost - Christ is our headmaster and the Holy Ghost is our teacher. The Word of God is our textbook. There is no other University on the face of this Earth with a faculty and library as these! But, with this access to the knowledge of God and and His knowledge, it means nothing if the disciple is not teachable! The apostate movement within the church today is not teachable. They do not want to hear the Lord's teachings on holiness, they do not want to learn about godliness and the separation from the world - the sign of the falling away. (2 Timothy 3:5) Oh, they are learning, but Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. 2 Timothy 3:7 (The Bible teaches that the true disciple of Jesus pursues godliness - holiness of the personal life. Listen to what the disciples taught; But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. 1 Timothy 6:11; According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that {pertain} unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: 1 Timothy 6:3; Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness; Titus 1:1 {Seeing} then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner {of persons} ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness. 2 Peter 3:11 Does your church emphasize this teaching or does your church teach against good works and that you are saved only by the righteosuness of Christ? If your church teaches against good works in the Christian's life and that the only righteousness you have is the righteosuness of Christ (half true), you are attending an apostate church. These are only a few Scriptures that make the moral transformation of the disciple the chief work of Grace.
Our teacher heads the great University of the Holy Ghost. One of the first things that makes a university prestigeous such as Harvard or Cambridge is the noted and achieved professors on their faculties.
At these universities they have renowned astronomers, but we sit at the feet of the Bright and Morning Star who Himself flung the planets into space and hung the stars!
Isaac Assimov, a great intellectual who has written many books from a knowledge of many of the sciences, teaches and lectures in the universities of the world. But our teacher was there in the beginning, standing at the edge of eternity speaking the worlds into space with a voice of thunder causing the universe to quake. Hebrews 11:1-3.
These universities boast of the world's greatest surgeons and specialists in medicine, but our Christ designed the anatomy of every living creature including man, beasts, flying fowl, the fish of the waters and swarming insects!
The learned men of the world are still wondering at the miracle of how a child is conceived and brought to birth. Our Christ is the author of the DNA and designed the chromosomes that bring forth after their kind whether it be leviathan or the tiniest sprig of grass.
Historians study the world's history, but our great Teacher, Jesus created time and predetermined the ages.
Great philosophers have agred that the highest kind of life is is the ultruistic life, to live ones life completely for others. This Great Mast teaching us both lived for others, died for others and lives again for others!
We have for our Teacher the Ancient of Days, the Prince of Peace, the Mighty God, Wonderful Counselor, Holy One, Lamb of God, the Lord God Almighty, Lion of the Tribe of Judah, the Word of Life, the Author and Finisher of our faith, the Lord of all, the Son of God, the Shepherd and Bishop of our souls, the Way the Truth the Life, the Chief Cornerstone, the King of Kings, the Righteous Judge,the Light of the World, the Head of the church, Morning Star, the Sun of Righteousness, the Resurrection and the Life, Governor and the Alpha and Omega.
Who would dare question His credentials?
The word Teacher indicates immediately that we are His disciples. A disciple is a learner, or one under the discipline of a master. Jesus said, He that cometh to me, and heareth my sayings and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like. He is like a wise man that built his house upon a rock. (Matthew 7:24) Remember, we are speaking of Grace as the Bible teaches it! Today the church is cursed with multitudes of people who dress well, live in nice homes and enjoy the air connditioned comforts of the modern work place, and who believe in the person of Jesus but have no stomach for His teaching that transforms us morally. Throughout scripture it is proven that to be teachable is a basic prerequisite to discipleship (Matthew 18:1-4). Grace cannot teach the unteachable. Grace can only teach those who become as children.
Grace AT THE CROSS is Jesus
redeeming me. Grace AFTER THE CROSS is Jesus
teaching me. Grace AT THE CROSS has no element of teaching in it
whatsoever.
AT THE CROSS Grace brings me to contrition for my sins and then
forgives
the past when I surrender to the Lordship of Christ by confessing sin.
Grace AT THE CROSS is Christ resolving the dilemmas of my past life of
sin. Once the past is wiped out, then I face a whole life ahead of me
having
to deal with the matter of relationship to sin in my future and how to
cope with it. What is it? How does it function and what can I do to
conquor
it? That is precisely the work of God's grace after the cross.
_______________________________________________________________
At the cross we see Grace forigiving
After the cross we see Grace
for living
_______________________________________________________________
Grace not only provides a legal
release from the life of sin we lived
in the past but provides His divine presence and power that we have
dominion
over sin AFTER THE CROSS.
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What does Grace teach us and what is the power of Grace, I need
it and want it! The first thing Grace teaches us, is how to use the
most
positive, the most glorious and sublime word in the Christian
vocabulary
. . . NO! Now we will proceed to prove that no in spiritual language is
not negative at all, and that it is indeed the most beautiful and
sublime
word to drop from the lios of any saint when spoken by Grace. In fact,
it is in this word, no, that the power of Grace is found. According to
the Scriptures we will now study it will be discovered that No! is the
destiny word throughout Scripture. This is the most spiritual and
powerful
word the Christian can use against Satan, temptation and the
enticements
of the world!
That denying (Titus 2:12b) - This is a very strong negative word (arneomai). It means to reject, deny, refuse. Or literally, "To say NO"! The very first thing God's Grace teaches us after the cross, is to say NO! This is the first thing we must learn if we are going to have the power of Grace operating in my life.
Many great men and women of the Bible started their spiritual careers in the ministry with a No! including Jesus.
Eve cursed the human race and brought the Prince of Heaven down to Earth to make a bloody redemption for fallen man because she failed to be negative with the Devil. If only she had said, NO! Grace teaches us to deny! Grace teaches us to say NO! Adam and Eve threw God's creation into the oblivion of a burning hell all because a woman would disregarded what God (Grace) had taught her. Oh, the eternal value of that one word, NO!
Daniel was told he could not pray to His God for thirty days by the decree of the Medes and the Persians. (Daniel 6:7-10) But he went to his chamber, opened the windows of his chamber and prayed toward Jerusalem. He said NO! to the decree that was contrary to God. Daniel had been taught well. Out of that ordeal Daniel was delivered from the lions and the King became a believer in the God of Daniel. This whole event that shook an empire revolved around Daniel's "No!"
Shadrach, Meshach; and Abednego - When they were ordered to bow down to the image of their king in a pagen land, they refused! Three men, three times said it, No! No! No! We will not bow.
The king said, "You will burn if you do not bow!"
They said, "We will burn but we will not bow!"
Jesus came into the fiery furnace with a message for them from the throne - "You did not bow and you will not burn!"
The King of the Medes and the Persians said they would burn, but the King of Kings came and cancelled the irreversible decree of the Medes and the Persians!
There are times in life when it is more positive to say No! than to say yes.
By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; (Hebrews 11:24) This word, refused (arneomai) is the word used telling us "denying" in our Grace text (Titus 2:12). Moses said no to the possibility of becoming Phareoh of Egypt to become God's leader of a nation of slaves. His name is immortal today, but had he not said no to the temptation of settling for power and pomp in Egypt, he would have been just another mummie dug from the tombs of ancient Egypt, but because he uttered that little word of power, No! he became one of the greatest names in the history of the nations!
Three times Satan came to Jesus in the wilderness as He was ending a 40 day fast. Three times he tempted the Lord! Three times Jesus answered with the Word of God! Three times He said, No! No! No! Jesus conquored Satan with the Word weapon of Grace which many Christians have not learned to use. After three negative responses the temptor had to flee in defeat and the angels came and ministered to Him. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. James 4:7
"NO" IS A SPIRITUAL WORD WEAPON - USE IT!
Grace teaches us to wield this verbal weapon
Nancy Reagan taught the youth of America a very simple but powerful thing. She told the young people, "Say No! to drugs." Many commentators made light of Mrs. Reagan's slogan, but she was right. Was she teaching young people to be negative? Of course she was, but teaching them to be negative toward the evils in society - and that sir, is positive.
Recently a group of journalists were brought together to
make a study of the usage of the English language. In one
of the panel studies many questions were asked relative to
the use and abuse of language. They were asked among other questions the word we use most carelessly and also the most important word in the use of language. The panel handed in their written answers which revealed unanimously that "yes" is the most carelessly used word; "no" cited as the most important word in language usage. May this help us to see how correct Scripture is by revealing to the Christian that the first thing God's Grace teaches us is to appreciate the importance of this sublime and powerful word, No!
The Power locked Up In Two Words of Destiny - Salvation is not just for those who are rich or intelligent. Salvation with all the glories of Kingdom of God is reserved for those who have learned the simple secret of Grace - to just know when to say YES to God and when to say no to sin. Heaven is full of souls who said yes to God and no to the temptations of an evil world. Hell is full of souls who said no to God and yes to sin.
Grace teaches the inner man secret and then the Holy Ghost gives us the power to speak it! As you read the Scriptures you will discover that destiny is in the way men used these two little words. Cain, Baalam, Korah and Saul failed God and brought blood, shame and calamity upon themselves because they could not say "No."
To be an overcomer and stay saved in an evil world, learn the word of destiny - the weapon word of Grace - No!
Joseph The Classic Example Of Saving Grace - With his back against the wall of Potiphar's hall staring into the lustful eyes of a wicked woman, Joseph teaches us how positive and sublime this word really is. Her voice is in his ears. The hall is dark and he sees not even a servant as his eyes look about in desparation. If only there was someone here to hear what she is saying to me, to see what she is doing - but here was no one but the woman who now had ahold of his coat, pleading in cooing tones pulling him toward the open door of her chamber, "Come with me Joseph, Pleeease come with meeeee." NO! I cannot! She pulled on his coat the harder. Joseph gave a cry, "NO!" and pulled his arms from the coat fleeing down the hall of Potiphars house out onto the collinaded porch disappearing in the sunlight of the garden outside.
She screamed! Her spurned passion had turned to hatred and revenge. Servants ran from every direction gathering around her. "See what this Hebrew has tried to do to me," she cried! as she held up the very familiar coat of Joseph.
Please allow me just a little
freedom to use my imagination to make
a very important point. I will make every effort not to violate
Scripture.
The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and
delivereth
them. Psalm 34:7
But also standing in the halls of Potiphar's mansion that day there stood another unseen figure in streaming white standing above the heads of all the others. He could only be seen by others like him - his fellow angels. He was Joseph's gaurdian angel that had been with him since Joseph's birth. As Joseph ran from the hall, and from sin, saying, NO! NO! I will not do this thing," the tall angels opened his arms and embraced Joseph's "NO"! in his bosom. He looked forlornly toward Joseph fleeing through the garden and the looking back upon the scene of excitement in the hall he frowned. He closed his eyes and with the flick of speeding light the angels was translated to the Kingdom standing on the sea of glass! Other angels were walking there. In the distance at one end of the sea of glass the throne of God was flashing and thundering. The worshipping creatures were wheeling round and around mingling their trumpetlike voices with the symphonic sounds of an unseen heavenly orchestra and the voices of vast clouds of angels all around the throne. "HOLY, HOLY, HOLY, LORD GOD ALMIGHTY, WHICH WAS AND IS AND IS TO COME, HOLY, HOLY, HOLY." The angel of Joseph started walking toward the throne in the distance still holding something in his bosom. But distance means nothing in the Kingdom. As he strode across the sea of glass, suddenly the voice of God thundred forth from the Shekinah bringing an instant stillness to all of heaven! "Angel of my servant Joseph, you have brought me a word from Joseph"? Joseph's angel halted and bowed toward the throne still a great distance away. In low and deliberate tomes he spoke as he raised his head again, "Oh God who rules among men and angels, I have just come from the dark halls of Potiphars house where your servant Joseph was once again tempted to sin against you." The voice of God quickly retorted, "And now let all of heaven hear his answer!" With that the angel stepped back and opened his arms toward the throne. Out from the bosom came the voice of Joseph amplified so greatly that it echoed down the golden avenues until all heaven heard his voice, "YES! YES! YES! Yes! Yes! Yes! yes! yes! yes! ye. . . " The throne of God was flashing, the angels started singing in loud crecendos of praise and thanksgiving, the beasts whirled filling heaven with their "HOLY, HOLY, HOLY." All of heaven was rejoicing - Joseph had said YES!
But didn't Joseph say NO to the temptation of Potiphar's wife? Well, actually he did you see, but when the angel carried into heaven it became a YES!
When we say NO! to temptation,
we are saying YES! to Grace!
When we say NO! to the darkness,
we are saying YES! to the light!
Whe we say NO! to sin,
we are saying YES! to righteousness!
When we say NO! to the Devil,
we are saying YES! to Jesus!
When we say NO! to demons,
we are saying YES! to the angels!
When we say NO! to hell,
we are saying YES! to heaven!
When we say NO! to lust,
we are saying YES! to godliness.
When we say NO! lying spirits,
we are saying YES! to the truth!
When we say NO! to worldliness,
we are saying YES! to holiness!
When we say NO! in this world,
it becomes a YES! on the sea of glass!
"No"! means, "I love you, Jesus
Grace teaches Christians to say NO to ungodliness. We are to be holy even as God is holy. We are to be like God. To enter into the mysteries of godliness and become godly, we must know God and love Him in both His goodness and His severity. To become godly I must know what God is like. This is learned only from coming into God's presence in brokennes and submission and waiting in His presence. It is a tryst with God, it is intimacy with Him personally. This is the place of learning God. As we continue in the pursuit of God's presence we become convinced of His perfect hatred of sin, of the pleasures that await us in His presence, and uncosciously take on His nature. Without effort we start hating the things God hates, and loving the things God loves. The man who has been in God's presence will hate sin as God hates sin. Godliness then, is to be like God in the likeness of His moral excellence. Worldly preachers who sit and watch telelvision sporting events and "family entertainment" by the hour have pleasure in sin. Their concept of holiness will not be born out of intimacy with God but their friendship with the world.
The apostate usually does not teach on the subject of godliness. The reasons are obvious. But in these churches the ungodliness of the world is taught and encouraged. Preachers marry their people into adulterous relationships, entertainment is part of the "spiritual" program on a regular basis, sensual externals such as cosmetics, jewelry and an obsession with fashion and expensive clothing are displayed shamelessly in their churches. The preaching and sensual appearance of these people provide sufficient evidence that total apsotasy has gripped their minds making them beleive that worldliness is good and godliness is wrong and outdated.
This spirit of outward adorning and sophistication only indicate to us that they are doctrinally corrupted. They avoid the doctrine of sanctification because it would blow their apostate empire to pieces. They believe their powerful churches are proof of God's approval and blessing on what they preach. These apostate spokesman endorse the salvation and "ministry" of worldly and ungodly role models such as gospel (?) rock stars, Christian athletes and "born again" movie stars who deal in and exploit sensualism, immodesty, sex, luxery, greed and huge salaries. These pseudo Christians trample under foot the simple commands of Jesus and the apostle's. (Matthew 5:28; Mark 4:19; Romans 12:1-2; Galatians 5:16; 1 Timothy 2:9; 6:6-8; 2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1.)
The first objective of Grace is to destroy ungodliness - What is the very first thing on the list of things Grace has for its goals? the ridding of ungodliness! This word (asebeia) means impiety, a direct reference to putting all impious (disrespectful and irreverent things) out of the life.
Note that the first thing Grace teaches the Christian is to put out of our lives whhat is unclean and contrary to God's Word of moral instruction.
Grace works first to put out of my life anything that hinders me from receiving the promises of God. Before godliness can be instilled, ungodliness must be discerned, repented of and pput out of my life by the power of Grace. To enable us to do this God has given us a new nature that abhors unclean things by discerning and judging what is good. This something God provides for us which we could not provude for ourselves. It ispiritual discernment of all that is ungodly. And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and {in} all judgment; That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ; Philippians 1:9-10
We must ask the question, that if a professing Christian is living in adultery, is a TV star depicting a sensuous and evil person on a soap opera, thinks nothing of going to the beaches in a bikini, and proclaim themselves to be Christian, is the Grace of God operating in their life because they acknowledge Him, praise Him, and sing beautiful songs extolling Him? Can a professing Christian take the name of Jesus and be living in open and shameless sin and have the Grace of God teaching them these things? The answer is an unequivacal No! These are deceived and deceiving others also. 1 Corinthians 3:18; 6:9-10; Galatians 6:3; 2 Timothy 3:13.
The denial and purging of ungodliness from the life of the Christian is the first work of the power of Grace. Do we hear the Faith teachers telling us the truth about Grace? Why do they not tell their people what God's Word teaches about Grace? Because they are preaching "another" gospel.
xxx godliness
Godliness is found 14 times in the writing of the apostles.
Godliness
(eusebeia) simply refers to character that is God-like in the life of
the
Christian. Apostates teach that we are not able to achieve or possess
actual
goodness, but that "the only righteosuness we have is the righteosuness
of Christ." The words holiness (hagiasmos) and godliness (eusebeia)
speak
of the Christian posessing moral excellence fashioned after the nature
of God. It is very apparent by a simple inquiry into God's Word that
their
teachings on "the righteosuness of Christ," while flattering to Jesus,
actually contradict His teaching as well as the apostles.
Faith teaching makes our whoe salvation experience a matter of the mind believing in the finished work of Christ. They teach that it is only faith in Christ and not works that play a part in our salvation, that need only put our faith entirely in the work of Christ and depend entirely on the righteosuness of Christ, and that His righteosuness is then imputed to us (Romans 4) as we put our faith in Him. Therefore obedience to the ordinances, the government, the moral commandments of Jesus and the apostles doctrine have nothing to do with being accepted by God and not not essential to salvation. This false teasching goes on to conclude that any obedience to God's moral law is "Righteousness done in our own strength," and "Is nothing but tradition, legalism, bondage and self righteousness." Such teaching is an excuse of apostates to live in luxery and worldliness and adultery contrary to the moral laws of God's Word. This is nothing but carnal theology that will be rejected by Christ in the judgment. (Matthew 7:21-23) Following are only a few of the reasons we must disprove the heresy of "the only righteosuness we have is the righteosuness of Christ" as the apostates teach it;
1. Romans 6:19 I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.
2. 2 Timothy 2:19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.
3. 1 Corinthians 15:34 Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak {this} to your shame.
4. Matthew 7:24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
5. Romans 8:4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
6.Romans 6:1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
Understanding imparted and imputed righteousness.
AT THE CROSS Jesus imparts (shares, passes on to me) His righteousness.
That is imparted righteousness.
AFTER THE CROSS Jesus is teaching me to live out His righteousness and credits me with right doing when I willingly follow His teaching by His Spirit and according to His Word. That is imputed (credited with) righteosuness.
We have always been taught that there is imputed righteousnes which Jesus gives us at the time of our repentance, and that we receive imparted righteousness when we obey Him.
We take exception to the popular use of these words, imputed and imparted. Some say the word imparted is not in the Bible or used in connection with salvation doctrine. That may be true but it doesn't mean that the word can't be used if it rightly defines a Biblical experience.
We also feel that the words imputed and imparted have been used in reverse. Most Bible teachers insist that righteosuness given to us at the time of conversion is imputed righteosuness. They cite Romans chapter 4.
Faith in action
Impute always means to put it on one's account or credit them with doing the right thing. Abraham was credited with righteosuness when he believed the promise of God to make of him a great nation. (Romans 4:11, 22, 23, 24.) Abraham is not being credited with righteousness for merely his mental assent, but for acting on the promise God spoke to him. He moved, he acted, he pulled up stakes and went out into a far country seeking a city who
builderand maker was God! He believed and then acted on what he believed.
James makes this same observation in Abraham's life citing a different experience Abraham had with God when he believed God and took his son Isaac to be offered up as a sacrifice. When God spoke, Abraham called Isaac to his side and ordered the wood and fire to go! It was when Abraham di something that James said made his faith in God valid. It is the same today!
Faith operates in two phases: first I believe God's Word, and secondly I live out the Word in acts of obedience to the thing I believe. First it is received and accepted by the soul, and then I move and act and commit works that prove my faith!
If I believe in Christ then I will act, I will comply, I wil;l move in obedience, I will call for the wood and the fire to go! the action that followed God's word to Abraham that God imputed righteousness was imputed an act, a work that Abraham committed and not just something he believed. James cites Abraham's offering up of Isaac. It was not just believing that imputed righteousness to Abraham, but acting on what he believed when God spoke! So it is the act of righteousness that is imputed in Scripture, not just believing.
When Paul speaks of righteousness being imputed to us when we believe in Christ it's part of the text speaking of Abraham's faith being imputed. So we conclude that when Paul uses Abraham as our example that he is speaking of more than our merely believing Jesus when righteousness is imputed, but he is speaking of acting upon all Christ stands for as Lord and teacher! If you use Abraham as an example of imputed righteousness then you must include that fact that it was imputed when he acted upon what he believed. With that established, then the same applies to the Christian when he believes in Christ. He is not merely accepting Christ by mental consent, but he is accepting Christ with all of His commandments and instruction, with all of the obedience involved in a right relationship to Jesus. Believing on Jesus apart from acts of obedience and works of goodness is the faith of demons. They believe but make no commitment to His lordship. They have no acts of obedience connected to their belief in Christ. So righteousness that is imputed is righteousness that we are credited with when we act upon what God speaks. We regret that this departure from popular teaching may be a slight distraction, but more faithful to what was meant by Paul when he wrote about Abraham having righteousness imputed to him.
For righteousness to be imparted at the cross, God must impart it!
For righteousness to be imputed after the cross, God must impute it.
It is all HIS righteousness , both Grace At the cross and AFTER the cross.
At the cross I experience the instantaneous and legal
aspects of salvation i.e. justification, forgiveness,
regeneration (new birth) and adoption. Romans 5
Understanding imparted and imputed righteousness.
AT THE CROSS Jesus imparts (shares, passes on to me) His righteousness.
That is imparted righteousness.
AFTER THE CROSS Jesus is teaching me to live out His righteousness and credits me with right doing when I willingly follow His teaching by His Spirit and according to His Word. That is imputed (credited with) righteosuness.
We have always been taught that there is imputed righteousnes which Jesus gives us at the time of our repentance, and that we receive imparted righteousness when we obey Him.
We take exception to this use of words. Some say the word imparted is not in the Bible or used in connection with salvation doctrine. That may be true but it doesn't mean that the word can't be used if it rightly defines a Biblical experience.
We also feel that the words
imputed and imparted have been used wrongly,
that is, in reverse. Most Bible teachers insist that righteosuness
given
to us at the time of conversion is imputed righteosuness.
Actually the grace we receive at the cross is imparted to us, given to
us as a gift to possess within ourselves. Imputed righteousness
is righteousness we are credited with when we choose right over wrong
by our own volition. Think about it. Of course, even though we made the
right choice of goodness over selfishness or pleasure, it is still His
righteousness as all righteous is of God - He is the author of
it! So in the truest sense man has no righteousness of his own
but when he chooses to obey God rather than a less noble option that
serves his persoanl interests, he is credited with choosing God over
greed.