CHRISTIAN JUDAISM

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(Deu 30:19-20 KJV) "I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live: {20} That thou mayest love the LORD thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them." (Mark 12:30 KJV) "And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment." (Rom 3:31 KJV) "Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law."

Jesus Christ clearly establishes that the all the Laws of the Old Testament are still in effect in the New Covenant except for the ones that were fulfilled in Jesus as the Christ. The First Law could not be changed as it to was Sealed with His Blood. It all has to be fulfilled in the Kingdom of God. (Mat 5:17 KJV) "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil." To do away with the Covenant containing the Ten Commandments, is to do away with everything the Prophets wrote in the Bible.

(Deu 11:26-28 KJV) "Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse; {27} A blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you this day: {28} And a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of the LORD your God, but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day, to go after other gods, which ye have not known."

In the above scripture, we see that The God of the Jewish Nation has set forth a Curse on all them who will not obey His Commandments contained in the New Covenant He made with His People Israel and the Gentiles who believe through the Preaching of the Gospel. (Heb 8:10-11 KJV) "For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people: {11} And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest."

In His Covenant, God said that if one should turn aside and live a way of life apart from God's Righteous Way of Living, after one had joined themselves to Him, to serve Him, and than again serve other gods of the lands that they would dwell in, He would curse them. (See 2 Pet 2:20-22) The physical Nation of Israel was cut off from being God's Special People because they worshipped the Pagans gods and Him at the same time. The gods Molech and Baal were the gods of the lands that the Israelite dwelt in and they worshipped them also. They are still gods in this country. (2 Ki 21:5 TLB) "Heathen altars to the sun god, moon god, and the gods of the stars were placed even in the Temple of the Lord--in the very city and building that the Lord had selected to honour his own name." The Gentiles who were converted to the Jewish Christian Faith in Europe, turned again and adopted the Roman gods of the land and worshipped them as one God. We have Sun Day worship, Easter Sun Day worship and the worship of the Pagan gods of ice and snow on DEC 25, from Northern Europe in the Christian Churches along with the Christ of Israel still to this day.

Can we who call ourselves Christians, who claim to be the followers the God of Israel, Jesus Christ, still participate in the Pagan ceremonies and keep there Pagan Holy Days, that the Pagans worship their gods through? Does the Christian Church as we know it today, which is composed of people converted from the Pagans Nations, have a special "unmerited favour" that is given only to Gentile people? A special statue in the eyes of their gods that allows them to continue to worship their former Pagan gods. The very gods that the God of Israel cursed and distorted His people Israel for serving? Does God show dis-respect for the Jew that worshipped other gods and give special favour to the Gentiles who do? Does the God of Israel who pronounce His curse on Israel and destroyed Israel every time they did it, now have mercy on those who count His Holy Covenant of no importance by their participation in the Roman Religion?

The question that we must ask here is; can a person worship the Devils of Paganism and the Holy God of Israel at the same time and still receive the Salvation of the God of Israel who sent His Son, Jesus to deliver us from our sins of Idolatry? (1 Cor 10:13-14 KJV) "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. {14} Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry." (Gal 5:18-20 KJV) "But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. {19} Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, {20} Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,"

The Bible teaches that no man can be saved by doing his own works. Can a man be saved when he is doing the works of the Devil? The God of Israel did not create man to do his own works or the works of the Devil. He created man to do God's Works. However, if one does not do the works that he was created to do by God, he is Useless and he is Unprofitable to His Master. By living a stubborn and rebellious life that goes against God's will, makes God your enemy . If one is not living right before his Creator, how can he please Christ His Master? (Psa 103:21 KJV) "Bless ye the LORD, all ye his hosts; ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure."

If one does not please Christ, will he not be cast away? (Luke 9:25 KJV) "For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?" We ourselves cast away our things that don't work. As long as we are pleased with the work they are doing, we will keep them. (Mat 24:48-51 KJV) "But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; {49} And shall begin to smite his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; {50} The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, {51} And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth."

Here in these teachings of Jesus Christ Himself, under His New Covenant that He Sealed with His own Blood, He said His unprofitable servant would receive their portion with the hypocrites. All the people who call themselves by the name Christian, and don't do the will of the Father of Jesus Christ, that is written in His New Covenant, are hypocrites. hy·poc·ri·sies. 1. The practice of professing beliefs, feelings, or virtues that one does not hold or possess; falseness. 2. An act or instance of such falseness.

(Eph 2:7-12 KJV) "That in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. {8} For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: {9} Not of works, lest any man should boast. {10} For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. {11} Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Un circumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; {12} That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:"

A Gentile is a carnal man who lives his life apart from the will of God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. (Rom 8:7-8 KJV) "Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. {8} So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God." The Carnal man must accept Jesus Christ and accept His Covenant He made for His people Israel to come back into a relationship that will Please the Father once again. We must understand that a person who says He believes in Jesus Christ and accepts the Blood of Jesus Christ, is a person who is then under the Blood Covenant God made with Israel. As you can see, it was the people who accepted the Covenant, that was sprinkled with the Blood of the Sacrifice.

 (Exo 24:4-8 KJV) "And Moses wrote all the words of the LORD, and rose up early in the morning, and builded an altar under the hill, and twelve pillars, according to the twelve tribes of Israel. {5} And he sent young men of the children of Israel, which offered burnt offerings, and sacrificed peace offerings of oxen unto the LORD. {6} And Moses took half of the blood, and put it in basins; and half of the blood he sprinkled on the altar. {7} And he took the book of the covenant, and read in the audience of the people: and they said, All that the LORD hath said will we do, and be obedient. {8} And Moses took the blood, and sprinkled it on the people, and said, Behold the blood of the covenant, which the LORD hath made with you concerning all these words." (Heb 12:24 KJV) "And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel." (Mark 14:24 KJV) "And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many."

There is a more fearful thing waiting for them who call themselves by the Name of Christ and do not keep the Laws of the New Covenant, given by Jesus Christ. The Carnal Christians say that the Laws were for physical Nation of Israel and do not apply to the Gentile Christians that came from the Gentile world. (Heb 10:28-31 KJV) "He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: {29} Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? {30} For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. {31} It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God."

If the person that calls himself a Christian, that is not keeping the Covenant Sealed with the Blood of Jesus Christ, whom the scripture says is despising "the Spirit of Grace", how can Grace be "unmerited favour" that allows one to live in sin and be saved? If one cannot be saved just by keeping the Laws, and the keeping of the Law is the Works (Duty) of man that he was created to do, can a man be saved when he dis-please God by despising (not keeping) them? The Spirit of Grace was said to be "trodden under foot" by rejecting the teaching of the Son of God, by not hearing and doing them? Jesus Christ was saved because He kept the Laws of Moses. And in so doing, He never bowed His knee to Baal.

He was saved into the Spiritual Kingdom of God, because He pleased the Father with the life He lived as a Jewish man, and He received the Election of Grace from His Father, to receive the Christ within.

How did He please God above all other men on earth? (Mat 12:18 KJV) "Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my spirit upon him,"--. (Heb 1:9 KJV) "Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows." Jesus Christ was saved as a man on earth only when He received the Renewing of the Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ did not have to be regenerated by the washing of the Word, as He was the Living Word that came down from heaven as a man. We do, because we were born with sin in us from our earthly father's from Adam. Now, to enter into the Kingdom of God, we must repent of living apart from the New Covenant and be born again into God's Kingdom by pleasing Him.

(Titus 3:5-8 KJV) "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; {6} Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; {7} That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. {8}This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men."

Here we have the regenerating or rebuilding of the man's life back into a person that would be acceptable to and pleasing to God the Creator. Only when God is pleased with the way a man lives his life as a servant to God, will God renew the Holy Ghost back into the man by the Anointing, making the man once again the Son of God. The man gets on credit for the righteous work Christ is doing in him. Man was created to do the Righteous Works of God as a Son of God at creation. It was man who failed to fulfil the main purpose for which he was created for in the first place.

If you make a piece of equipment for a special purpose and it brakes down and you repair it to make it WORK, would you give the equipment the glory for doing the work you intended for it to do. The answer is no. The equipment was made to show forth your Glory. All the Glory must go to the person who made it, and to Him that repaired it. After a man has been regenerated back to working condition that he was created in, he must "be careful to maintain good works" in order to please the creator. (Psa 21:5 KJV) "His glory is great in thy salvation: honour and majesty hast thou laid upon him." (Psa 79:9 KJV) "Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of thy name: and deliver us, and purge away our sins, for thy name's sake." Even when we have done everything that we servants were created to do, we are still unprofitable servants.

(Luke 17:7-10 KJV) "But which of you, having a servant plowing or feeding cattle, will say unto him by and by, when he is come from the field, Go and sit down to meat? {8} And will not rather say unto him, Make ready wherewith I may sup, and gird thyself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken; and afterward thou shalt eat and drink? {9} Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I trow not. {10} So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do."

We cannot be the representative of a Perfect God, if we are imperfect as the results of a carnal nature within us. (Mat 5:48 KJV) "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." (1 Pet 1:15-17 KJV) "But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; {16} Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. {17} And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear". There is a warning here to make sure that your works are perfect before you call upon the Father in heaven.

Why should we care what kind of works we are doing when the Grace of God, that the Protestant Churches define as "unmerited favour" covers all our sins? (John 9:31 KJV) "Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth." (1 Tim 1:9 KJV) "Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers," Sin is defined in the Words of God, as not keeping the Laws God wrote in the Two New Covenant that He Sealed with His Sons Blood. (1 John 3:4) (James 5:16 KJV) "Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much."

Here again, man is being restored through his obedience to do what the Word of God tells him to do. He gets no credit for being obedient. He was created to be obedient when he was created as the Son of God. Man was create to Glorify God by doing the Works of God in this earth. (Eph 2:10 KJV) "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." It was man who sinned by his own free will. Man committed the sin, not God, that caused him to come short of the Glory of God. (Rom 3:23 KJV) "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;"

It was man who had to repent of doing his own works to do the Father's Will once again. Jesus Christ came to help man repair the Life of God that was Perfect when God breathed it into man at creation. Man became in-perfect through man's disobedience to do only the Works of God. (Rom 2:10 KJV) "But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile:"

Only by becoming obedient once again to do the will of the father, can a man fulfil the purpose he was created to fulfil. He was created to be obedient to do the Father's will as we see in the life of His Son Jesus Christ. Here again man gets no credit for being obedient. He gets counted as a sinner for not doing the Father's will. Adam as a Son of God was not obligated to do the father's will. He was warned what would happen if he disobeyed the will of God.

Why is it important to obey God and live the life He lives? Only the way God lives His own Life is the Way of Eternal Life. "And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:" Every man will be judged by the life he lived. God has no respect for a man who lives his life apart from the life he was created to live as God's Son. "a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of the LORD your God." God only has respect for the man who lives His Life in them,His Way. A blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the LORD your God,

(Mat 5:15-20 TLB) "Don't hide your light! {16} Let it shine for all; let your good deeds (Works) glow for all to see, so that they will praise your heavenly Father. {17} "Don't misunderstand why I have come--it isn't to cancel the laws of Moses and the warnings of the prophets. No, I came to fulfill them and to make them all come true. {18} With all the earnestness I have I say: Every law in the Book will continue until its purpose is achieved. {19} And so if anyone breaks the least commandment and teaches others to, he shall be the least in the Kingdom of Heaven. But those who teach God's laws and obey them shall be great in the Kingdom of Heaven. {20} "But I warn you--unless your goodness is greater than that of the Pharisees and other Jewish leaders, you can't get into the Kingdom of Heaven at all!"

Here we have warnings to all who do not think that they have to obey God and do the works He demands of us as His Sons. "Let it shine for all; let your good deeds glow for all to see, so that they will praise your heavenly Father." God cannot be Glorified through the life that lives in a carnal man even thought he may believe in the God of Israel also. When a carnal man claims to be Christians, his carnal works will always disgrace the Name of God the Father. People who do this "can't get into the Kingdom of Heaven at all!"

Good Works As Found In The Bible.

(Mat 19:17 KJV) "And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments." All the Good works that a man does is ordained of God. If we do not do the Work of God that God Commended man to do, we cannot enter the Kingdom of God. What is the Work of God that He told Man to do if it is not the Works of keeping His Commandment? Keeping them is the Work God told us to do. He gave us the things He Wants us to do in Commandment. (John 4:34 KJV) "Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work." If an officer in the Army gave you as a soldier, a command in the time of war, would he expect you to do it? Yes. If you did not do it, you would be put to death.

(Rom 13:3 KJV) "For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:"

(1 Tim 2:10 KJV) "But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works."

(1 Tim 5:10 KJV) "Well reported of for good works; if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints' feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work."

(1 Tim 6:17-19 KJV) "Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; {18} That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; {19} Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life."

(2 Tim 3:15-17 KJV) "And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. {16} All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: {17} That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works."

(Titus 2:6-8 KJV) "Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded. {7} In all things showing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine showing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, {8} Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you."

(Titus 2:13-14 KJV) "Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; {14} Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works."

(Heb 10:23-24 KJV) "Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) {24} And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:"

(1 Pet 2:11-12 KJV) "Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; {12} Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation."

(Eccl 12:13-14 KJV) "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. {14}

For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil."

(Rom 2:12-16 KJV) "For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law; {13} (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. {14} For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: {15} Which show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;) {16} In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel." In verse 13, it said only the one who doeth the works of the Law will be justified. What is it that causes God to justify the man that doeth (worketh) the Law? He is showing forth his love for God by keeping (working) the Commandments. (1 John 5:3 KJV) "For this is the love of God, that we keep (work) his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous."

(James 2:11-12 KJV) "For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law. {12} So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty." Here again, not to do something that God told you not to do, is doing work. If Your Working of God, would you will not do what God told you not to do? We are His servants.

(Mat 7:22-24 KJV) "Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? {23} And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. {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:" Building ones houses based on the word of God is work. So is doing the works of the Devil, works.

(Mat 21:28-31 KJV) "But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard. {29} He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went. {30} And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not. {31} Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you." Here again works is involved with both sons. One did the work of his Master. The other did the works of the Devil, that is the work of disobedience.

(Mark 13:33-37 KJV) "Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is. {34} For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch. {35} Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: {36} Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. {37} And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch." Here the servant that was doing his Master work, when He came back, received the Master reward. The servant that stopped working and went to sleep, was caught without the works of his Master, and was destroyed.

(John 6:27-29 KJV) "Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed. {28} Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? {29} Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent." Here believing on Jesus Christ is described as work. By this statement of Jesus Christ, we can see what James meant when he said: (James 2:18 KJV) "Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works." (James 2:18 TLB) "But someone may well argue, "You say the way to God is by faith alone, plus nothing; well, I say that good works are important too, for without good works you can't prove whether you have faith or not; but anyone can see that I have faith by the way I act."

(Rom 11:4-5 TLB) "And do you remember how God replied? God said, "No, you are not the only one left. I have seven thousand others besides you who still love me and have not bowed down to idols!" {5} It is the same today. Not all the Jews have turned away from God; there are a few being saved as a result of God's kindness in choosing them." Here the works that justified the Jews that were saved, was that they had not bowed down to worship Idols. If one does the works that are involved in keeping the Pagans Holy Days and celebrations, will they not be judged by their works as sinners and not saved? In this scripture, all that had bowed down to Baal, by participating in the Idolatry of the Nations around them, was cut off from God's People. They did not receive God's Eternal Life.

(1 Cor 3:12-17 KJV) "Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; {13} Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. {14} If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. {15} If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. {16} Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? {17} If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are."

In this passage alone, the works of the man it is talking about is mentioned six times. Each time the work being mentioned, it is being judge by God to see if the work is going to stand fall before God. The last work mentioned is the work of the mans defiling his own body. To do the work of defiling ones own body with sin brings destruction from God. "If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy." (1 Cor 15:58 KJV) "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord."

(2 Cor 9:8-9 KJV) "And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work: {9} (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever." The Grace of God towards one, makes that person prosperous so he can abound to every good work. When he has prosperity from the Grace of God, he will do the work of sending out missionaries and giving to the poor. The one who does this type of work has righteousness for ever.

(Gal 6:2-5 KJV) "Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. {3} For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. {4} But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. {5} For every man shall bear his own burden."

(Phil 2:12-13 KJV) "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. {13} For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure." In this passage, it is said that when you do God's will, you are working out your own salvation. It not only says that you are working out your salvation, but that it is the Spirit of God in you that is doing all the works to work out your salvation. Can a man be saved without God's Works coming out from within him? How can he be saved, if the works in him is not the works of God, working out his salvation. If the works are not God's Works, than they must be the works of the Devil. (Col 1:27 KJV) "To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:"

(Col 1:9-10 KJV) "For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; {10} That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;" Here we have it said that "being fruitful in every good work" is the way, if not the only way to please God. Salvation comes to us when we please God by living the Life He wants us to live. (Rom 11:5 KJV) "Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace."

(2 Th 1:11-12 KJV) "Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power: {12} That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ." Here, Paul is praying that we will be counted worthy of God's calling. What is God's calling in each one of our lives? (Titus 2:11-13 KJV) "For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, {12} Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; {13} Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;"

Here, the Grace of God is not unmerited favour to cover our sins, but the appearing of Christ to reveal the knowledge that God has called each one of us, and the purpose for which He Called each one of us to. (Eph 2:10 KJV) "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." If we do not do the Good Works that God called us to, we have failed to accomplish His purpose in our life that God has created us to.

(2 Th 2:16-17 KJV) "Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, {17} Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work."

(2 Tim 2:20-22 KJV) "But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. {21} If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work. {22} Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart."

(Titus 1:15-16 KJV) "Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled. {16} They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate."

(Titus 3:1-6 KJV) "Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work, {2} To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, showing all meekness unto all men. {3} For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. {4} But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, {5} Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; {6} Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;" (Rom 11:5 KJV) "according to the election of grace."

(Heb 6:7-11 KJV) "For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God: {8} But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned. {9} But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak. {10} For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have showed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister. {11} And we desire that every one of you do show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:"

(Heb 13:20-22 KJV) "Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, {21} Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. {22} And I beseech you, brethren, suffer the word of exhortation: for I have written a letter unto you in few words."

(James 1:2-4 KJV) "My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; {3} Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. {4} But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing."

(James 1:25-27 KJV) "But who so looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. {26} If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain. {27} Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world."

(James 3:13-16 KJV) "Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him show out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. {14} But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. {15} This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. {16} For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work."

(Rev 22:11-15 KJV) "He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still. {12} And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. {13} I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. {14} Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. {15} For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie."

(Acts 10:34-35 TLB) "Then Peter replied, "I see very clearly that the Jews are not God's only favorites! {35} In every nation he has those who worship him and do good deeds and are acceptable to him."

(Rom 2:8-13 KJV) "But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, {9} Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; {10} But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: {11} For there is no respect of persons with God. {12} For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law; {13} (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified."

(Col 3:24-25 KJV) "Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. {25} But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons."

(1 Pet 1:16-19 KJV) "Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. {17} And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear: {18} For asmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; {19} But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:"

From all of the above scriptures from the New Covenant that God made and Sealed with the Blood of Jesus Christ, I think it clearly teaches that a man must bring for good works from within his or her life to please God to receive the "Election of Promise". If one brings forth evil works, there is no way that person can please God to receive "The Election of Promise". We must remember at all times that good works by themselves cannot save us. Good works was the very purpose for which we were created. If we don't go beyond Good Works to please God, we are still an unprofitable servant yet. We must please God the Father and God the Son, hoping that we will be found worthily to receive the election of Grace for our Salvation. (Rev 2:7 KJV) "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God." (Rev 3:21 KJV) "To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne."

The Bible tells us to study to show ourselves approved of God's Salvation . The question that one must ask here is, if one cannot earn salvation by his righteous works, and the Bible clearly teaches that one cannot, it is a free gift, then how does God decide whom He will save? God Himself decides who is worthy of His Salvation. It is God who declares one worthy or not worthy. The Bible clearly teaches that if one does not please God with ones way of life, he will not inherit the Kingdom. Below are a few scriptures that backs this up.

God Is Selective Of Whom He Will Be Taken Into The Kingdom of God.

(Mat 10:38 KJV) "And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me." (Luke 20:35 KJV) "But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage:" (Luke 21:36 KJV) "Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man." (2 Tim 2:15 KJV) "Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." (Mat 3:17 KJV) "And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." (John 8:29 KJV) "And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him."

(Rom 8:8 KJV) "So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God." (Rom 15:3 KJV) "For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me." (1 Cor 10:5 KJV) "But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness." (1 Th 4:1 KJV) "Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more." (Heb 11:6 KJV) "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." (Heb 13:16 KJV) "But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased."

From the above scriptures one can see that there is no hard and fast rule for God to save any man. The man's salvation depends upon the fact that God was pleased with how the man lived his life in Christ from within the environment that he lives in. If God does not approve of the way you live your life in Him, you will be a cast away. The words; worthy, accounted, approved, and pleased, all indicate that God is selective in whom He takes into the Kingdom of God. He will take anyone and everyone into His Kingdom that pleases Him. If this is true and it is, what should we who want to see the Kingdom of God do? Please Him.

We should try to please God in every action we do and in every thought that we think. (2 Cor 10:5 KJV) "Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;" (Mat 6:25 KJV) "Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?" Remember the Bible said we are saved by Grace through Faith. Thinking wrong thoughts is the sin of un-believe. (Rom 14:23 KJV) "And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin." We see from this scripture that it is important how we approach each day of our life in Christ Jesus. Mat 6:34 "Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof." We are commanded to put UN-believe out of our lives when we live our life in Christ Jesus. We should try with all our heart, soul, and life to please God.

What than is the key to our salvation? If we want to win the approval for ourselves with the person that we want to be married to, we should try in every way to please the Groom and His Father to get Their approval. Always remembering it is Them that selects us for the bride. We must remember also that we are Their bond slave, created to serve Their Righteousness. Righteousness is King, and those who seek the Kingdom of Righteousness, will receive it. We cannot win His Love by just doing what a servant was created and commanded to do. We have the perfect will of the Father written in the New Covenant that Jesus Christ gave to us, and Sealed with His own Blood. (Mat 4:4 KJV) "But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God."

We must go beyond just obedience to what "is written". We must learn to love doing what is written in God's Covenant. We must Love them with our whole life by doing Their will perfectly. He want a bride that is worthy of His status. He wants a bride without spot or wrinkle. He want a Bride that is full of Grace and Truth, just like the Son that the Father is going to marry them to. (John 1:14 KJV) "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth."

Salvation in the Word of God means being freed from a bondage that one fines oneself in when the bow their knee to Baal.. In the case of man, salvation means being freed from the sin of braking the Laws of God that define His Perfect will for mankind. (1 John 3:4-5 TLB) "But those who keep on sinning are against God, for every sin is done against the will of God. {5} And you know that he became a man so that he could take away our sins, and that there is no sin in him, no missing of God's will at any time in any way." This is the Grace of God the Father, He sent His Son Jesus Christ to us, to show us the way out of our life of Baal Worship, by following Him who know no sin. He was obedient to do His Father's will. Not being obedient to do the Father's will was Adam's sin, and its ours sin also, if we are still sinning.

The Grace that the Protestant Churches define as unmerited favour is not found in the Bible, but only in their teaching which they claim to be from the Bible. The Bible teaches that the Grace of God the Father and His Son is Their Divine Nature and Character. The word Grace is only unmerited when we see it as the Father sending His First Son Jesus Christ, down from heaven to earth, to show sinful man the way to be qualified to receive the Free Gift of Grace in Christ Jesus. It is true that a Gift, an it is absolutely free to the receiver. But that does not make it unmerited in the eye of the Gift giver. If the Gift is only given to those who Pleases the Father, the Father Himself will qualifies who will receive His Gift. The question remains, is Salvation restricted to a Chosen few? (Rev 14:12 KJV) "Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus."

If we know who are going to be in the wedding when Christ is married to His Church, we can also know who will not be there. The answer in the scriptures is clear as to who will be qualified. First, they must have on a wedding garment that is without spot or wrinkle. Second, they must be keeping the Commandments of God. Third, they must have and keep the same Faith that Jesus Christ had. If it is true that only those who meet this standard of God's chosen, than we know who will not be in the wedding feast. Those who do not have these qualities.

The Bible teaches that people have to be right with God to receive the Gift of Eternal Life. and so do most churches. (Mat 22:12-14 TLB) "Friend,' he asked, 'how does it happen that you are here without a wedding robe?' And the man had no reply. {13} "Then the king said to his aides, 'Bind him hand and foot and throw him out into the outer darkness where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth.' {14} For many are called, but few are chosen." Many churches are cultic in their teachings, and teach that only the people who right according to their groups teachings, will receive salvation. The man who went to the wedding feast was a believer, but he did not qualify to be married to the Lord Jesus Christ, so they "throw him out". The person without the wedding robe did not get the free unmerited Gift of Eternal Life.

(Eph 5:25-27 TLB) "And you husbands, show the same kind of love to your wives as Christ showed to the Church when he died for her, {26} to make her holy and clean, washed by baptism and God's Word; {27} so that he could give her to himself as a glorious Church without a single spot or wrinkle or any other blemish, being holy and without a single fault."

END

Robert O. Sanford
robert_sanford@hotmail.com