Either Jesus died to save his church or he didn�t. There isn�t a third option.
Either he gave himself up for his bride, as Ephesians 5:25 tells us, or he died to create the possibility of her salvation that depends upon the skills of human decision-making.
Are we dead in our sins, as Ephesians 2:1�3 says, or are we slightly impaired? Are we �far from the peaceful shore� or are we gone, sunken to the bottom of the ocean with no chance of resuscitation? Does God toss us a floatation device, or does he raise us from the dead?
Was the cross of Christ a triumph over sin and evil, as Colossians 2:14�15 says, or was it just a nice first-move? Is Jesus victorious for the sake of his church, or did he spot us a few points? Did he suffer at Golgotha to demonstrate God�s grace to sinners, or was it a presentation of sorta-kinda-maybe hope for those smart enough to understand?
Did Jesus drain the dregs of God�s wrath meant for his people, or did he merely mute original sin and leave the destiny of our eternal souls in our own hands?
How we answer these questions has everything to do with what we think about our sin and the glory of Jesus, and therefore, it gets at the heart of the gospel.
What makes the gospel good news? Is it only the potential to be saved, which would grossly miscalculate human ability and undermine the blood of Jesus, or is it the declaration, �It is finished!� � that Jesus has demolished every obstacle that keeps his people from everlasting joy in God?
The Bible is clear. The gospel is God�s work, God�s victory. �He does everything, first to last, that is involved in bringing man from death in sin to life in glory: he plans, achieves and communicates redemption, calls and keeps, justifies, sanctifies, glorifies� (Packer, Quest for Godliness, 130). And here is where we see his love � the kind that breaks through the sternest soul in sovereign power to save. The love of Jesus is sin-crushing, serpent-stomping, death-defying, people-purchasing love.
Softly and tenderly tip-toeing around the doors of our heart, giving his life to give us a chance, crossing his fingers that we will invite him into our lives . . .
Revelation 4:11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.
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Romans 14:11-12 For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.
12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.
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Mark 1:14 Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,�
15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.
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Luke 13:2 And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things?
3 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.�
4 Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem?
5 �I tell you, Nay:but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
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Acts 2:37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?�
38 Then Peter said unto them, 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.
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2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
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Romans 10:8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: �that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
v9 That if thou shalt CONFESS with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt BELIEVE in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be SAVED.
v10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
v11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
v12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto ALL that call upon him.
v13 For WHOSOEVER shall CALL upon the name of the Lord shall be SAVED.
[v10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.]
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John 3:16 For God so LOVED the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosever BELIEVETH in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
The Bible is clear. The gospel is God�s work, God�s victory. �He does everything, first to last, that is involved in bringing man from death in sin to life in glory: he plans, achieves and communicates redemption, calls and keeps, justifies, sanctifies, glorifies�
This implies that every saint can not *EARN* anything in cluding eternal rewards. However God's Word completely contradicts this Satanic Hyper-Calvinistic belief.
Hyper-Calvinists talk of the perseverance and total sanctification of the saints and never talk about the many eternal rewards a saint can **EARN** and they believe that all our good works are all predestined for the glory of God.
2 Peter 1:5-11: Make every effort to add to you faith {A FREE GIFT} goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness and **LOVE**. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective...and will make your calling and election sure...and you will receive a *RICH WELCOME* into our Eternal Kingdom of Jesus Christ!
By saying REWARDS are not *EARNED* by the saints contradicts over 50 passages from the inspired Words of God and removes one of the most important incentives for obeying all of the NT commands with love with the hope countless eternal *REWARDS* for faithful and loving service!!
Daniel 12:3: Those who impart wisdom {NIV} will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness. like the stars for ever and ever!
Revelation 2:18; 3:21: Jesus says, "To him who overcomes I will give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it....And I will give the right to sit with Me on My throne, just as I overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne."
Jesus says, "At the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on His glorious throne...Everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for My sake will receive 100 times as much !!" Matthew 19:28,29
SALVATION IS 100% FREE BUT HEAVENLY REWARDS ARE 100% EARNED:
Hebrews 11:1,6: Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see....And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He **REWARDS** those who earnestly seek Him!!
Ephesians 6:8: Serve wholeheartedly , as if you were serving the Lord, not men, because you know that the Lord will **REWARD** everyone for what ever good he does!.
Revelation 22:12 Jesus says, �Behold I am coming soon! My **REWARD** is with Me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done!�
Matthew 16:27: Jesus says, �The Son of Man is going to come in His Father's glory with His angels and THEN He will **REWARD** each person according to what he has done!�
2 Corinthians 5:9,10: We make it our goal to please Him... for we must all appear before the Judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.
1 Corinthians 3:13-15: His work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. If what he has built survives , he will receive his **REWARD**. If it is burned up he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.
Colossians 3:23-25: Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, siince you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a **REWARD**. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for his wrong, and there is no favoritism.
How to Win Heavenly CROWNS:
I Corinthians 9:24-27: Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes in to strict training. They do it to get a **CROWN that will not last; but we do it to get a **CROWN THAT WILL LAST FOREVER! Therefore, I do not run like a man running aimlessly. I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize!
2 John 1:8: Watch out that you do not lose what you have worked for, but that you may be **REWARDED** fully!. Revelation 3:11: Jesus says, �I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your **CROWN!�
2 Timothy 4:7,8: I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the **CROWN of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge,will award to me on that day�and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for His appearing!
The **CROWN of Life for those who persevere under trials and persecution:
James 1:12: Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the **CROWN OF LIFE that God has promised to those who **LOVE** Him!
Revelation 2:10 Jesus says, �Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer... Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the **CROWN OF LIFE!�
Matthew 5:11,12: Jesus says, �Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, beacuase great is your **REWARD** in heaven!�
Hebrews 10:32-36: Remember those earlier days after you had received the Light, when you stood your ground in a great contest in the face of sufferin. Sometimes you were publicaly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated. You sympathized with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions. So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly **REWARDED**. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you receive what He has promised!
:zzzz: I do grant to you that there will be rewards for Christians in Heaven. I have no doubt any Calvinist would grant that.
However, in a typical Arminian/Humanist fashion, you promote that as the reason for us to do "good works". As usual, you are seeking glory and honor for yourself rather than God. You want what God can give you like some kind of Celestial Santa Claus. "I did my good works now where are my rewards" Will you go before God with that man-centered attitude demanding your rewards? Didn't you see my "Jesus car" Where is my "golden steering wheel reward"? :devil:
By contrast, a Calvinist would NOT promote the rewards as a reason for us to do "good" the same way a SATANIC Arminian :devil: would. The reason for the Calvinist's obedience to God's commands and our desire to please Him with our "good works" is from a gracious and loving heart that is thankful to God and our Lord Jesus Christ for so great a salvation. It is a salvation that we did not earn nor could we have ever done anything on our own to merit God's grace and mercy to us. We do such acts for the glory of God, and not for self. :angel:
I do grant to you that there will be rewards for Christians in Heaven. I have no doubt any Calvinist would grant that.
:rolleyes:...this statement doesn't "Correlate"...which means...have a mutual relationship or connection, in which one thing affects or depends on another....
"In a typical Arminian/Humanist fashion, you promote that {Eternal Rewards} as the reason for us to do "good works". As usual, you are seeking glory and honor for yourself rather than God."
Actually God's Word says that the reason we do good works is that God realizes our weaknesses and commands that we do good works as an incentive for countless eternal rewards and so that others may see our lights shine for the Glory of God. God did not save us to sit on our behinds and give God the glory.
Matthew 16:27: Jesus says, �The Son of Man is going to come in His Father's glory with His angels and THEN He will **REWARD** each person according to what he has done!�
2 Corinthians 5:9,10: We make it our goal to please Him... for we must all appear before the Judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.
1 Corinthians 3:13-15: His work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. If what he has built survives , he will receive his **REWARD**. If it is burned up he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.
Colossians 3:23-25: Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, ***SINCE YOU KNOW*** that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a **REWARD**. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for his wrong, and there is no favoritism.
Actually God's Word says that the reason we do good works is that God realizes our weaknesses and commands that we do good works as an incentive for countless eternal rewards and so that others may see our lights shine for the Glory of God. God did not save us to sit on our behinds and give God the glory.
*** :excited:..
1 Timothy 6:18-20 (KJV)
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.
20 O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called:
This implies that every saint cannot *EARN* anything in cluding eternal rewards. However God's Word completely contradicts this Satanic Hyper-Calvinistic belief.
I am not Calvinist, I fight against it but this I cannot deny while some people are just naturally good, even the most ungodly, I am not. Something happens to me when I am in his Word, it is like Clark Cent in a phone booth, but changing to selfish and self-centered to actually like my neighbor let alone love him/her. This is not a Calvinist thing it�s a wicked human heart � the heart is wickedly deceitful who can know it.
What makes the gospel good news? Is it only the potential to be saved, which would grossly miscalculate human ability and undermine the blood of Jesus, or is it the declaration, �It is finished!� � that Jesus has demolished every obstacle that keeps his people from everlasting joy in God?
Y-shua Ha-Mashiach is Messiah ben Yosef and Messiah been David. Y-shua is the author and finisher of my faith to deny that is to deny Scripture. The vial has been torn and even today until Y-shua returns the Messiah stands at the right hand of the Father and in intersection for me. Today He interceded for me!!! AMEN!!!! I am assured of one thing and one thing only I am adopted as a son (well, daughter, whatever) because of the Messiah the first frits. Because of the death, barrier and resection of my Y-shua I get to cry out Abba!!!!! I am secure in my salvation because of the bold that saved me. Like Paul said 1 Corin 15:19 If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied.
I do earn my rewards we cannot deny 1 Corn. 12-14 If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person�s work. If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward.
My reward and salvation are two separate issues. This would make for a grate topic.
