Homosexual Love Quiz

Six Question “Love Quiz” For Homosexuals

Recently, when Chik-Fil-A founder and president Dan Cathy exercised his First Amendment right to free speech by making remarks simply affirming that he believed in the biblical definition of marriage – that defined as being that one sacred and intimate union specifically between only a man and a woman – well, ever so sadly the self-deceived and unloving homosexual lobby along with their approving and ungodly counterparts which make up so much of the so-called ‘mainstream media,’ went to work to once again prove beyond any shadow of a doubt, the main point of this article – which is that true love is a apparently a completely foreign concept and/or experience to them. As they caterwauled and carried on with their usual, predictable, and biblically-ignorant cacophony of cries about how hateful, bigoted, homophobic, judgmental, and unloving he and all who believe as he does were, they, in their unbelievably hypocritical, hate-filled, prejudiced, bibliophobic, judgmental and unloving responses did what they always do and apparently always will do whenever faced with such: prove beyond any shadow of a doubt, their absolute lack of any understanding whatsoever of exactly what true love is, what it does, or how it acts.

Now if anyone reading this is offended by that, then I beg of you to please just finish the article and then determine whether or not the point is true. I must also say before continuing, how deeply saddened and sincerely sorry I am in some ways for the those who practice this abhorrent sin; not only for their eternal destiny (obviously), but also for the fact that the vast majority of them apparently do not have any idea whatsoever about what real love is, or how to react to it when ultimately faced with it. It seems that for the most part, many of them simply do not possess the capacity to either understand, receive, return, or properly respond to, real and sincere, genuine true love. And again, if anyone thinks that that is an unfair or factually unfounded statement, I would only ask that you simply and honestly consider the following, multiple choice, “Six Question Love Quiz For Homosexuals.”

Question #1: Let’s say you live in residential ‘row housing’ within the city limits. In front of your house there are two lanes of traffic going in each direction with cars parked along the curb in a continuous line. You are sitting on your small front porch watching the traffic fly by when suddenly you see your three year old child’s ball that they have been playing with roll off the porch, down the steps, along the walk, between the parked cars and into the two lanes of traffic. Now, which of the following is the most loving? Do you:

A). Shout out a warning at the top of your lungs to stop them from their deadly and destructive pursuit as you sprint out of your chair and down over the steps to do whatever it takes to stop their headlong rush into certain death in pursuit of that which they most treasure – this despite their probable piercing protestations to the contrary regarding your unwelcome and unwanted intervention?

B). Say nothing at all but just watch what happens next with very little interest in interceding to prevent the impending disaster, because you’re the type of person who believes that everyone has the “right to choose” and to do as they please no matter the lives it costs? (After all, it isn’t like they’ve insisted that you join them in their fatal pursuit anyway.)

C). Encourage and support their decision of certain death and self-destruction by purposefully throwing their ball towards the street, telling them it’s okay to chase it and that nothing will hurt them in their pursuit, even going so far as to seek to shame and silence any concerned neighbor who might possibly become aware of what is happening and suddenly seek to intervene and shout out a warning to stop that very action which will surely lead to their sudden death?

Which of the above answers, A, B, or C, is the most loving?

Question #2: You live in the suburbs. It’s one of those nicer, newer developments where the homes are perhaps only separated by a row of shrubs. You are out casually conversing with your neighbor one morning while her husband is working on the family car and your two families’ children are playing peacefully together in the driveway. All of the sudden, over your neighbor’s shoulder, you see one of the children go to pick up and drink from the open can of deadly poison brake fluid, just out of the peripheral vision of her husband. Now, which of the following is the most loving? Do you:

A). Scream out a blood-curdling warning at the very top of your lungs to stop them from their deadly and destructive pursuit?

B). Say nothing at all even though you know what they’re doing will destroy them in a very painful and horrific way, because after all, they haven’t insisted that you drink from it?

C) Encourage their decision of self-destruction by purposefully seeking to make sure you distract your friend by drawing her attention to another irrelevant and biblically-ignorant discussion in the meantime, meanwhile ensuring that the child engages in the deadly action that will surely destroy them?

Which of the above answers, A, B, or C, is the most loving?

Question 3: You go to visit your best friend of many years who lives on the 16th floor of an apartment building in the city. You arrive only to find the door ajar and your friend across the room with one foot out the window in their imminent and determined attempt to commit suicide by leaping to their death on the pavement below. Now, which of the following is the most loving? Do you:

A). Do everything possible in your love and power to prevent the approaching disaster that they would incur upon themselves if they continued in their deadly pursuit?

B). Say nothing at all but instead just simply stand in the doorway and watch disinterestedly what happens next without seeking in any way to intercede to prevent the impending disaster, because you’re the type of person who believes that everyone has the “right to choose” and do as they please? (After all, it isn’t like they’ve insisted that you join them in jumping anyway.)

C). Encourage and support their decision of self-destruction and certain death by insisting that it’s okay to jump, and in fact, that anyone who says any different whatsoever is simply a bigoted hatemonger who doesn’t love and support them like you do (maybe even going over to them at that point as a ‘friend’ and giving them a little ‘love’ shove in the destructive direction they have chosen, in order to show your ‘open-minded’ and overall support and approval of their decision of self-destruction)?

Which of the above answers, A, B, or C, is the most loving?

Question #4: You are a firefighter/EMT who has been called to assist on a disaster relief team called up into a recently tornado-struck and devastated area. While working to clear downed trees, you see a local resident who is about to stoop down and seek to remove a downed power line from his front walk. You know that the local power grid is still on and active. Please choose from the following, which of these three courses of action would be the most loving. Do you:

A). Do everything humanly possible to get his attention and prevent the deadly disaster that he is about to incur upon himself before your very eyes?

B). Say nothing, because after all, you’d hate to be so ‘unloving’ and ‘judgmental’ as to try to tell someone that the behavior they were engaging in would ultimately destroy them – and so, you stand by and say and do nothing in your ‘tolerant’ and ‘open-minded’ attitude… while you watch them fry?

C). Encourage their behavior, by shouting out to them when you see them stop and hesitate, to “…trust [you], it’s okay, [you] support their decision to do as they please; it’s their front walk, no one else’s, so go ahead, the grid is off, it’s okay, and that anyone who says otherwise hates them and just doesn’t want them to get their walk cleaned off anyway?”

Which of the above answers, A, B, or C, is the most loving?

Question #5: You live in the Midwestern southern states where the drought-driven wildfires have wreaked havoc on homes and farmlands this summer. Your elderly parents live therein, somewhat nearby as well, and at this point in their lives usually sleep in until around 9 A.M. You however, rising early at 5 A.M. and seeing the latest news report, learn that the wildfires are rapidly being wind-driven in the very direction of your elderly parents’ home. Please choose from the following, which of these three courses of action would be the most loving. Do you:

A). Get on the phone, and getting no answer, get in your car as fast as you possibly can and drive over to wake, warn, and get them out of harm’s way at all personal cost?

B). Not bother to warn them because you don’t want to interrupt their sleep and inconvenience them with what might seem to some to be an unloving and hateful course of action? (How is that even possible; that someone who even considers themselves remotely sane would actually have such a warped and sinful misconception of love and hate?!?)

C). Drive up near their house, quietly and stealthfully block their driveway to make sure that no one interrupts, disturbs, wakes or warns them because you support their “right to fry?” And if anyone dares to try to get by you to help them to escape the flames, you accuse those ‘unloving’ and ‘judgmental’ rescuers of being bigots and sleepaphobes?

Which of the above answers, A, B, or C, is the most loving?

And finally, ‘The Biggie’: Question #6: You have a friend or loved one who practices what God considers the abomination of homosexuality (See: Genesis 18:20, 19:1-7; Leviticus 18:22-30, 20:13; Jude 6-8).  You KNOW from even your most casual recent reading of God’s holy word, that He said time and again that those who choose to continue to impenitently practice this sinful abomination simply WILL NOT, EVER inherit the kingdom of God (See: Romans 1:18-22; I Corinthians 6:9-11; Ephesians 5:3-11; Revelation 21:8 and 22:14-15). Please very carefully consider and then choose which of the three following courses of action would honestly therefore, be the most loving. Do you:

A). Constantly and continually shout out a warning at each and every opportunity, and to do whatever you possibly, humanly can, to let those in this dire danger of fire and eternal damnation know where their destructive and deadly choice of lifestyle and course of action will undoubtedly, unquestionably, and undeniably take them?

B). Say nothing in your ‘open minded,’ ‘non-judgmental,’ and ‘to each his own’ attitude, because after all, you are a ‘live and let live’ kind of guy (or in this case, to quote an old Bond movie title, a “Live and Let Die” kind of guy)?

C). Encourage and support their deadly and self-destructive decision to pursue and practice this abomination like the biblically ignorant and ungodly politicians and entertainers who show their real hatred for homosexuals’ self destructive actions by pushing for the passage of more ‘hate crimes’ and same-sex marriage laws (like those accomplices and supporters of said sin mentioned in Romans 1:28-32)? This, sort of like the soldier I recently saw on the nightly news outside of Tulsa who was holding up a sign saying “I support Gays.” His sad sign of sin and self-deception could have just as readily and easily have read (and did indeed to those who know the bible): “I support the actions of those who wish to continue their souls’ trips into eternal destruction in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone. I do not love them enough to want to warn them of their impending doom, or to see anyone else warn them so that their souls may be saved on the day of judgment.”  In actuality it is pretty easy to see that it is all of those who thus favor, promote, approve, support, and encourage homosexuals’ self destructive actions that are the ones truly guilty of hate crimes of the worst kinds against homosexuals.

I must say that I certainly would not want anyone who would be as truly unloving as to choose anything other than “A” to ANY of the above questions ever babysitting my grandchildren. Would you yours? They would be (at the very least) indifferent and silent in the face of deadly danger, if not downright supportive and encouraging of them engaging in such self-destructive actions as: playing in traffic, drinking deadly poison, jumping out 16th story windows, playing with downed power lines, being incinerated alive, or far worse than any of the first five, choosing to engage in an abominable action that God promises will force Him to deliver those who continue to practice it over to burning and suffering forever in the “…everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels” (Matthew 25:41), where “they will be tormented day and night forever and ever” (Revelation 20:10).

Surely most anyone can agree that it is pretty easy to see when couched in these simple, common sense, and Scriptural terms, what true love both is – and isn’t. And this is why the point of this article, that we who love the Lord and the lost must continue to proclaim and defend, is that those who continue to practice, promote, and defend this heinous sin, apparently have no idea what true love is; because they refuse to warn those who are headed for eternal fire, according to God, of the danger that awaits them if they refuse to repent.

True love does not rejoice in sin but rejoices with the truth (I Corinthians 13:6). True love for Jesus obeys His commandments (John 14:6). And understanding and possessing true love for another would then mean that instead of continuing in these “same-sex” unions, if these partners truly loved one another as they claim they do, then they would want to set the pace, repent of their sin, and see their partner do the same so as to be saved, just like those in Corinth did (I Corinthians 6:11) – because they love them – instead of continuing down the road of deception, death and destruction. Isn’t that what true love truly does? Yes, it is. And if anyone who might possibly read this article thinks that it is either hateful, harsh, or unloving, I am truly sorry; sorry because you’ve apparently totally missed the whole point… but continue to completely make mine. God bless.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Love Jesus but Hate Religion?

Is The Church Important?

Over the years there have been a variety of statements (or mottos) expressing an ideology espoused by those who want Jesus “but not the church.” The newest of these is that one can love Jesus but hate religion.

In my experience those who profess such views are in reality just looking for an easy way out of what they see as an oppressive way of life. They want the grace of God that has been extended unto all men (Titus 2:11) but don’t want to be told what to do…by God or anyone else.

Now, if by religion or “church” one means a denomination or man-made organization or institution I am in full agreement. The problem is two-fold created by those who have perverted the gospel and religion and those who are tired of the hypocrisy, ignorant of the truth, or just simply rebellious and self-serving (Romans 16:18).

So the question is, “Is the church important?” “Can we hope to go to heaven without the church or religion?” Well let’s not suppose we know what God say, let’s listen to His Word.

1. Jesus didn’t come to destroy religion but to build His church and establish a one true religion for all mankind. Read and study Ephesians 2:11-22. In order to accomplish his mission to reconcile all men to himself he promised, “…I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18). Is the church important? It was important enough for Jesus to die on the cross and purchase it with his own blood (Acts 20:28).

2. In giving His life for us, and establishing the church, the Father gave Jesus all authority (Matthew 28:18), placing “all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church” (Ephesians 1:22). “He is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent” (Colossians 1:18). For us it means that we must do what He says. In fact He said that if we truly love Him we would do what He says (John 14:15). Is the church important? If we want the head of the church to be the head of our lives it will be.

3. Jesus is not only the head of the church he is “the Savior of the body” (Ephesians 5:23). The church and the body are the same thing. The body is where the blood is and where we are cleansed (1 John 1:7). It was the church to which the Lord added the saved (Acts 2:47). And when one is saved he is translated out of darkness and into the kingdom (Colossians 1:13). Is the church important? If we want to be saved it is!

 4. You cannot go to heaven if your name isn’t written there and if you are not in the kingdom. It is the names of those who are in the church that are written in heaven (Hebrews 12:23). And when Jesus comes again it is those who are in the kingdom that will go to be with Him in His home (John 14:1-3; 1 Corinthians 15:24).

Is the church important? The more pertinent question is, “Is the church important to you?” It will be if we want to be reconciled to God, if we are willing for Jesus to be the head of our lives and truly love Him, and if we want to be saved and go to heaven.

If it is important to us we will not forsake the services of the church (Hebrews 10:25). We will put the church first in our lives (Matthew 6:33). We will let our light shine (Matthew 5:14-16). We will practice pure and undefiled religion (James 1:27). If the church is important to us we will be obedient and faithful!

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Love of Money

Money is a useful commodity, money is essential to us in our society today. Money is used by us to educate ourselves, feed our families, purchase a home, and buy a car, also for clothing, health care, and other things. To suggest that we do not need money is silly. God has no problem with man providing the needs of life or of man working to gain material things for himself and his family, rather he insists upon man providing sustenance for his family — 1 Timothy 5:8, “But if any provideth not for his own, and specially his own household, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an unbeliever.” ASV

God understands that we need to have the things of life necessary to sustain us that is not a problem — the problem defined by God that relates to money is “The LOVE of money” (e.g.  1 Timothy 6:10, “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil: which some reaching after have been led astray from the faith, and have pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” ASV)  The love of money is the inordinate passion for money — the uncontrolled desire followed by implementation of methods to acquire it regardless of the right or wrong of the process.

Christians ought never allow themselves to get caught up in he desire for material things, things which money can buy without examining carefully the method which they are determined to use in getting that desire satisfied. God understands the possibility that we may sin in the process of satisfying a desire (i.e. in this case, “lust”).

The love of money is the root (i.e. first cause) of all kinds of evil.” If we will remember that it is possible for us to want something with too great a passion (i.e. lust), we may be able to control our desire for things that money can purchase. All of us are subject to temptation, all of us are capable of failing in this matter, all of us therefore must be aware of the possibility that we may “LOVE” money too much. In (1 Corinthians 9:27, “but I buffet my body, and bring it into bondage: lest by any means, after that I have preached to others, I myself should be rejected.” ASV)  we are given an example by Paul the apostle on how we must be conscious of the passion within us and control our appetite for things.

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The Glorious Church

In Ephesians 5:25-27, Paul declared, “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.” In this thoughtful text, Paul references the “glorious church,” and we ought to remember that it indeed is glorious! If we are not careful, we may look at all of the negative things that we are facing today, bemoan such with an attitude of “Woe is me!” and fail to remember that despite all of the evil and suffering ongoing in this world, we are still blessed to be a part of the glorious church! Why is the church so glorious?

The church is glorious because we have a glorious Father. The psalmist praised God when he exalted, “Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel, who only doeth wondrous things, and blessed be his glorious name forever: and let the whole earth be filled with his glory; Amen, and Amen” (Psa. 72:18-19). Stephen preached that “the God of glory appeared to our father Abraham” (Acts 7:2). As members of the church of our Lord, all that we do should give the proper glory to our Heavenly Father (cf. John 15:8; Rom. 15:6)! In the superb Sermon on the Mount, Jesus taught that disciples are to display their distinctive lives in such a way that God would receive glory (Matt. 5:16).

The church is glorious because it presents a glorious faith. Hebrews 11 paints such a vivid portrait of the great men and women of faith, and we may meditate and dream upon such for long periods of time. To consider the great faith that they displayed, we realize that they serve as wonderful examples for us, even today. Remember the great statement that Jesus told doubting Thomas: “Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed” (John 20:29). Many of us may know wonderful seasoned saints who truly are the “salt-of-the-earth” people—those whose faith we not only admire, but we also emulate! The church is glorious because as members of the church, we are able to present a glorious faith!

The church is glorious because we are a part of a glorious family. Indeed, the church is described as a wonderful family—“the house of God” (1 Tim. 3:15). As brethren—sons and daughters of our Heavenly Father (cf. 2 Cor. 6:18)—we shower one another with love and compassion. We provide special attention to those who are “of the household of faith” (Gal. 6:10). Where would we be without our church family? For this reason, is not the church glorious?

The church is glorious because we have a glorious future. The hope of the resurrection inspires us, as well as comforts us (cf. 1 Thess. 4:13-18). Thus, we set our aims, affections and aspirations to the skies above (Col. 3:1-2; Heb. 12:1-2), waiting for heaven to be a reality. Then, we may be able to dream of our future:

And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honor into it. And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there. And they shall bring the glory and honor of the nations into it. [Rev. 21:23-26]

Therefore, when times may get tough, we are able to set such aside and realize the glorious future for the church (1 Cor. 15:22-26, 51-58).

The church is glorious because we are marrying a glorious husband. The context of our beginning text of this article shows the relationship of the church with Jesus providing lessons for the relationship between husbands and wives. As we view the church as the bride of Christ, we see the beautiful imagery of a wedding taking place, emphasized also in Revelation 21:2-9. When we consider the glory of Jesus Christ, it literally may take our breath away and bring tears to our eyes (cf. Rev. 5:4-5). The apostle John declared of Jesus, “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” (1:14). Let those words sink in—“we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father.” He prayed for glory from His Father (John 17:5), and one day, He will be returning in His glory—the same glory of His Father (Luke 9:26; cf. Matt. 16:27; Mark 8:38). The church is glorious because Jesus Christ, the head of the church (Eph. 1:22-23), is glorious!

Therefore, we ought never to lose sight of the fact that no matter how gloomy our future may perceive, we may look through the dark clouds that hover about us to see the many manifestations of the glory associated with the church! This sparks hope—hope that those who are hopeless in the world need to know and hear from us! May we ever be optimistic carriers of good news—we serve a glorious God who rules over a glorious church!

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Salvation by the Law?

Is Salvation by obedience to the Gospel more difficult than Salvation by the Law of Moses?

I would not say that obedience to the Gospel is more difficult than salvation by the law.  First of all, there was no salvation by the law of Moses which is why Christ came, suffered, bled and died on the cross for us (Acts 4:12).  Second, under the New Law, Christ made it possible for us to be redeemed (Galatians 3:13) whereas, under the Old Law, the blood of bulls and goats could never take away sins (Hebrews 10:4).  This is why the Old Law has been abolished and why Jesus made a New Covenant with mankind (Ephesians 2:15; Hebrews 8:13).

Now, I know there are some who believe that Jesus’s law is more strict than the law of Moses and that it is not fair since we are under grace.  Well personally, it is not for me to say if I think that the requirements under Christ are more stringent than those that were proclaimed by Moses.  I mean, you think about an unruly child, under the law of Moses, they were executed, no questions asked.  Imagine if that was carried out today.  Most of America would be without children.  So, I do not reason from my own reasoning.  Jesus said keep my commandments, to do his will and I try to do that.

But as to obedience, are we to assume that we do not need to be obedient to God?  When we further look into the Scriptures, we find that nature obeys God (Matthew 8:27), unclean spirits obey Him (Mark 1:27) and we are told to obey God (Acts 5:29).  So, since we are to obey God, then, how are we to know what exactly to obey?  Because we cannot just say that we believe and obey, or just think that we are saved by grace alone and nothing we do matters.  That would defeat the purpose of the command to obey God.  And so, we find from the Scriptures that it tells us to obey “the faith” (Acts 6:7), obey “that form of doctrine” (Romans 6:17) and therefore we can conclude that if we do not obey “the faith” or “that form of doctrine,” then, we obey unrighteousness (Romans 2:8) and we understand that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 6:9).

Now, as I have already pointed out, both Paul and James, Jesus and many others tell us to serve God.  Thus, we can conclude that if we do not serve him, we will perish.  You see, it comes down to having a servant attitude and a penitent heart.  As James pointed out, just calling yourself a Christian does not mean one is saved.  But, calling yourself a Christian and choosing to live a humbled life in service to God, is the way God demands we live.  And so, to properly understand works mentioned in the Gospel and our own works, we must define grace.

Dictionaries define grace as “the state of one who is under such divine influence, kindness and compassion toward others and the free and unmerited favour of God.”  Truly, grace is God’s mercy to mankind and it is unmerited favour with God, meaning, that we cannot earn grace.  This shows the greatness of God’s love.  In Ephesians 2:5, 8-9, it speaks of how we are saved by grace.  And so, being unable to save ourselves, God sent forth his Son to die in our behalf so as to make our salvation possible and to motivate man to make a willing change from disobedience to obedience of God’s will.  By the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, together with the work of his personal ministry and the message of the gospel, God can look with favor toward mankind; we can be reconciled to God, and thus be at peace with him; Christ paid the debt; he ransomed us; and made it possible for us to be loosed from the guilt and bondage of sin.  The reconciliation which Christ effected is obtained (on our part) by faith in his blood (Col.1:20; 1 Peter 1:18-19).  Jesus willingly gave his life and shed his blood for fallen humanity and, only those who will believe in the significance of his death, loving him for his supreme sacrifice, and earnestly believing the message the Savior gave, can secure the benefits he offers.  But salvation by faith is not salvation by faith only (Jas. 2:24).  And so, only those whose hearts are tender and teachable, through the word of God, can be changed; the death of God’s precious, loving Son is sufficient to touch and change these people, but his death will be scorned by the others.

Now, if we are to say that we are just saved no matter what, then why all the warnings by the Bible writers, why does the apostle John mention to stay faithful until death (Revelation 2:10), why not just have a world where we are all clean and pure?  It is because of a misunderstanding about what grace is.  True, grace is God’s unmerited favor and there is no accountable person who is so good that he merits God’s good favor because sin separates us from God, and every accountable soul has violated God’s will and thus incurred the guilt of sin.  But, while grace is God’s part in the salvation process, personal faith, developed from the “the system of faith” (Rom. 10:17) is the responsibility of man because without faith, it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6; John 5:24), but again, not by faith only (James 2:17).  We are saved by faith when our faith leads us to obey the conditions God has set in the gospel (Acts 2:36-41; 10:34-35).  And, that faith comes by learning God’s word (John 20:30-31; Acts 15:7; Mark 16:15-16).

And so, without faith, our prayers would not be heard (James 1:2-4).  Without personal faith, any outward act of obedience would be meaningless.  Therefore, salvation is not obtained by our own power or merit because salvation by grace is “not of yourselves.”  Now, if we are to say that the only way we could obtain grace was by a direct act on God’s part by which he instills faith in our heart, since we cannot be saved without faith, then God is responsible for anyone who dies lost.  But, that is fallacy and does not hold to the Scriptures.

Now consider also, that the pattern of God’s grace can be seen joined together with man’s obedient faith throughout the Bible.  I mean, do you think Noah would have been saved had he not built the ark (Genesis 6-9)?  Would Naaman been cleansed had he not believed and followed the message (2 Kings 5), or what about Titus 2:11-12, which states, “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.”  If one is blindly saved by grace unconditionally, then why do we need to deny ungodliness and how does the grace of God teach us?

This again is referring to the message.  The salvation they received was not of their own design or doing, but it was God’s gift.  But you know, a gift can still be a gift even if conditions are attached.  I mean, you consider a child at Christmas or his birthday who receives a gift.  Does he not have to receive the gift with his hands, unwrap it, cut the tape, open the box and look inside to grab hold of that gift?  Sure he does.  It I was to offer a 100 dollar bill to anyone, wouldn’t they have to come to me, stretch out their arms and receive the 100 dollar bill?  Sure the do.  Thus, either there is a condition which involves obedient faith or there is no condition and we do not have to do anything to receive salvation.  We would not have to go to church, read our Bibles, be faithful till death and could just live as worldly as we want to live and still be saved.  Thus, while the gift is conditional, we must have faith in God to keep His promises which is the ground upon which man’s relationship with Him stands.  And, based on God’s initiative, a man is reckoned righteous because he is righteous through obedience to the gospel.  And, God set these conditions for one to receive grace.

Now one final point here is that, when we look in the Bible, we find three kinds of works. There is the works of the Mosaical Law and grace was not a provision of that law (John 1:17).  There is the works of man, based upon the authorities of men (Matt. 15:8-9) which is why, when it comes to religion, they cannot save.  And then there is the works of God which God commands (James 2).  Why even faith is a work (John 6:29).  So is baptism (Acts 2:38).  And, it is impossible for anyone to be saved without obeying the works of God (Matthew 7:21-23).

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