Rejoice evermore.
Member
- Joined
- Nov 20, 2022
- Messages
- 45
Many sinners imagine that they are saved by grace through faith when they have never obeyed the gospel of Christ. These people are totally oblivious to the fact that the Lord Jesus Christ will be:
"...Taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power..."
— (2 Thessalonians 1:8-9).
These sinners use Ephesians 2:8-9 to justify their rebellion to the glorious gospel of Christ; convincing themselves that there is somehow no gospel to obey. But what does the word of God say about such behavior?
"But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves."
— (James 1:22).
And what do the holy scriptures say about rebellion and stubbornness? They say that:
"...Rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry..."
— (1 Samuel 15:23).
Where then will such people end up if they do not repent? Sorcerers and idolaters:
"...Shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death."
— (Revelation 21:8).
Nevertheless, here is how that passage is written in the Word of God:
"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast."
— (Ephesians 2:8-9).
But what the children of disobedience who use this verse to justify their rebellion do not understand is that the epistle to the Ephesians is not written to those that are:
"...Dead in trespasses and sins..."
— (Ephesians 2:1).
The epistle is written:
"...To the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus..."
— (Ephesians 1:1).
How did the Ephesians become saints and faithful in Christ Jesus? They became saints when they were:
"...Baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied."
— (Acts 19:5-6).
This is how the Ephesians were saved by grace through faith. They obeyed the gospel of Christ which was first preached on the day of Pentecost:
"...Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost."
— (Acts 2:38).
They obeyed it, for:
"...It is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek."
— (Romans 1:16).
And this is how we christians are saved by grace:
"...Through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them."
— (Ephesians 2:8-10).
Christians have nothing to boast about. Even their faith is not of themselves. It is the gift of God. And also, by the law of faith is boasting excluded. As it is written:
"Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith."
— (Romans 3:27).
And where does the faith of christians come from? It is written:
"...Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."
— (Romans 10:17).
It is therefore God who:
"...Hath dealt to every man the measure of faith."
— (Romans 12:3).
Amen. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
"...Taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power..."
— (2 Thessalonians 1:8-9).
These sinners use Ephesians 2:8-9 to justify their rebellion to the glorious gospel of Christ; convincing themselves that there is somehow no gospel to obey. But what does the word of God say about such behavior?
"But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves."
— (James 1:22).
And what do the holy scriptures say about rebellion and stubbornness? They say that:
"...Rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry..."
— (1 Samuel 15:23).
Where then will such people end up if they do not repent? Sorcerers and idolaters:
"...Shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death."
— (Revelation 21:8).
Nevertheless, here is how that passage is written in the Word of God:
"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast."
— (Ephesians 2:8-9).
But what the children of disobedience who use this verse to justify their rebellion do not understand is that the epistle to the Ephesians is not written to those that are:
"...Dead in trespasses and sins..."
— (Ephesians 2:1).
The epistle is written:
"...To the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus..."
— (Ephesians 1:1).
How did the Ephesians become saints and faithful in Christ Jesus? They became saints when they were:
"...Baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied."
— (Acts 19:5-6).
This is how the Ephesians were saved by grace through faith. They obeyed the gospel of Christ which was first preached on the day of Pentecost:
"...Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost."
— (Acts 2:38).
They obeyed it, for:
"...It is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek."
— (Romans 1:16).
And this is how we christians are saved by grace:
"...Through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them."
— (Ephesians 2:8-10).
Christians have nothing to boast about. Even their faith is not of themselves. It is the gift of God. And also, by the law of faith is boasting excluded. As it is written:
"Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith."
— (Romans 3:27).
And where does the faith of christians come from? It is written:
"...Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."
— (Romans 10:17).
It is therefore God who:
"...Hath dealt to every man the measure of faith."
— (Romans 12:3).
Amen. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
