GateKeeper
March 15th, 2009, 02:29 PM
First comes a Hope for righteousness, or rather a hope to become as God wishes us to be. I say (A hope for righteousness) because God desires our complete dedication to Him, our complete dedication to His son, and to know “them” through His word, and through the Spirit He has given us. He desires to create us into His vessels. He wants us to be filled with His grace. What is grace again? Grace is the love and influence He places in those who love and have faith in Him.
Our “Hope” to be made righteous through Christ (If sincere) creates a desire to submit to Gods will, and to follow His Son. It is God that leads us to Christ. Christ then helps establish faith in those who hope for righteousness, and who cloth themselves in humility. Our hope in Christ in turn produces substance, which is “grace”. Grace naturally produces the evidence of our faith, which are the works and fruits of the Spirit.
The fruits of Gods Spirit begin with Love. “Love” then develops in us Joy, and Peace, and Kindness, and Gentleness, meekness, long suffering, patience, and self control. These are the gifts of God, and not fruits that we can produce in ourselves. They come only by hope, and by faith working through love.
When we utilize these fruits in our daily walk, our deeds become pleasing to God, as they ultimately stem from the gifts He has given us.
Many people give little thought about the fruits they are producing. I believe this is largely due to the "We are saved by grace alone" doctrine. In my mind, we are not “experiencing” righteousness until our faith produces the works of Grace.
We are saved by Grace, but some people pervert the meaning of this reality. When true Grace is perverted, it seems to gives a free pass for others to do as they please, and act anyway they like. They come to reject the concept of works altogether, relying solely on their version of grace to save them.
Many of them never humble themselves at all. Therefore they cannot know the Grace of God, (God resists the proud) nor do they know the fruits that His Grace develops in those who truly follow, and have faith in His son.
They become bitter in disposition, holding animosity towards others, and are not well meaning at all. Their fruits are worldly, as they do not seek the things from above, but are lax in their walk with God.
I tell you this because the fruits we produce are important. They establish, and let others know whether or not we are children of the most high. All our deeds need to come from the heart, and stem from the love and grace of God, and not from a selfish, prideful, and worldly mind.
I want to speak about people who are false to the truth, and how to identify those who are not of God. We have to be careful who we listen to, and who we allow to influence our daily walk. There are many people false to the truth, who come in the name of Christ (as sheep), but who are ravening wolves inwardly.
Lets examine Matthew chapter 7 starting with verse 13.
Mat 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly
they are ravening wolves.
Mat 7:16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of
thistles?
Mat 7:17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth
forth evil fruit.
Mat 7:18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth
good fruit.
Mat 7:19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the
fire.
Mat 7:20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
James expands on Jesus' words in Chapter 3.
Jas 3:7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind,
Jas 3:8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly
poison.
Jas 3:9 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made
in the likeness of God.
Jas 3:10 From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things
ought not to be so.
Jas 3:11 Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water?
Jas 3:12 Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither
can a salt pond yield fresh water.
Jas 3:13 Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show
his works in the meekness of wisdom.
Jas 3:14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not
boast and be false to the truth.
Jas 3:15 This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual,
demonic.
Jas 3:16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every
vile practice.
Jas 3:17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to
reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.
Jas 3:18 And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
Those who are truly in the faith naturally produce the fruits of the Spirit, and resist producing fruits that are unspiritual. James tells us the the Wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy, and good fruits. Whereas worldly wisdom is unspiritual, and demonic. We produce the fruits that stem from either Gods Wisdom, or of the Worlds wisdom. Gods Wisdom being Spiritual, and from above. The worlds wisdom being unspiritual, and earthly.
A person who walks in the faith will not bless God, then turn around and curse His neighbor. We do not gather figs from thistles, or grapes from thorns, so be mindful and cautious who you allow to influence your daily walk.
Continued ....
Our “Hope” to be made righteous through Christ (If sincere) creates a desire to submit to Gods will, and to follow His Son. It is God that leads us to Christ. Christ then helps establish faith in those who hope for righteousness, and who cloth themselves in humility. Our hope in Christ in turn produces substance, which is “grace”. Grace naturally produces the evidence of our faith, which are the works and fruits of the Spirit.
The fruits of Gods Spirit begin with Love. “Love” then develops in us Joy, and Peace, and Kindness, and Gentleness, meekness, long suffering, patience, and self control. These are the gifts of God, and not fruits that we can produce in ourselves. They come only by hope, and by faith working through love.
When we utilize these fruits in our daily walk, our deeds become pleasing to God, as they ultimately stem from the gifts He has given us.
Many people give little thought about the fruits they are producing. I believe this is largely due to the "We are saved by grace alone" doctrine. In my mind, we are not “experiencing” righteousness until our faith produces the works of Grace.
We are saved by Grace, but some people pervert the meaning of this reality. When true Grace is perverted, it seems to gives a free pass for others to do as they please, and act anyway they like. They come to reject the concept of works altogether, relying solely on their version of grace to save them.
Many of them never humble themselves at all. Therefore they cannot know the Grace of God, (God resists the proud) nor do they know the fruits that His Grace develops in those who truly follow, and have faith in His son.
They become bitter in disposition, holding animosity towards others, and are not well meaning at all. Their fruits are worldly, as they do not seek the things from above, but are lax in their walk with God.
I tell you this because the fruits we produce are important. They establish, and let others know whether or not we are children of the most high. All our deeds need to come from the heart, and stem from the love and grace of God, and not from a selfish, prideful, and worldly mind.
I want to speak about people who are false to the truth, and how to identify those who are not of God. We have to be careful who we listen to, and who we allow to influence our daily walk. There are many people false to the truth, who come in the name of Christ (as sheep), but who are ravening wolves inwardly.
Lets examine Matthew chapter 7 starting with verse 13.
Mat 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly
they are ravening wolves.
Mat 7:16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of
thistles?
Mat 7:17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth
forth evil fruit.
Mat 7:18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth
good fruit.
Mat 7:19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the
fire.
Mat 7:20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
James expands on Jesus' words in Chapter 3.
Jas 3:7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind,
Jas 3:8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly
poison.
Jas 3:9 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made
in the likeness of God.
Jas 3:10 From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things
ought not to be so.
Jas 3:11 Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water?
Jas 3:12 Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither
can a salt pond yield fresh water.
Jas 3:13 Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show
his works in the meekness of wisdom.
Jas 3:14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not
boast and be false to the truth.
Jas 3:15 This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual,
demonic.
Jas 3:16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every
vile practice.
Jas 3:17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to
reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.
Jas 3:18 And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
Those who are truly in the faith naturally produce the fruits of the Spirit, and resist producing fruits that are unspiritual. James tells us the the Wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy, and good fruits. Whereas worldly wisdom is unspiritual, and demonic. We produce the fruits that stem from either Gods Wisdom, or of the Worlds wisdom. Gods Wisdom being Spiritual, and from above. The worlds wisdom being unspiritual, and earthly.
A person who walks in the faith will not bless God, then turn around and curse His neighbor. We do not gather figs from thistles, or grapes from thorns, so be mindful and cautious who you allow to influence your daily walk.
Continued ....