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SUBJECT: Relationship to God
QUESTIONS: Is there such a thing as being more acceptable to
God? Does keeping the Sabbath make me more acceptable to
God?
ANSWER:
You ask a good question and I have the answer but you should
be aware that this is a TRAP question used by those who
believe they need do nothing; absolutely nothing to be saved
or to enter into the Kingdom of God.
Wouldn't it be neat to just go through life and be lucky
enough to stumble across the name of Jesus Christ, tell
yourself (if not others)
that you "believe on him" or "believe in him" and presto,
you live out your life your own way and then at the return
of Christ you are turned into Spirit and enter the Kingdom
of God for all eternity? Sounds good but there is NO
BIBLICAL foundation for this belief. The belief begs
several questions.
1) If I am a career criminal, robbing banks for a living but
believe on Jesus Christ, will I enter the Kingdom?
2) If I am a Satanist and sacrifice kidnapped babies but
believe on Jesus Christ, will I enter the Kingdom? By the
way, Satan believes in Jesus Christ (James 2:19).
3) Does God call specific people or does just anybody who
finds out about this name, "Jesus Christ" get saved?
4) What is repentance and how does it work? Does anyone in
the New Testament command that I repent? Repent of what?
Is repentance considered a requirement?
5) There are many, many different Christian religions which
have vastly different doctrines, ceremonies, beliefs and
missions yet they all say they believe on Jesus Christ.
Will they all simply enter into the Kingdom even though
there is so much difference? Will they enter the Kingdom as
Spirit beings holding on to these differing beliefs?
6) Does God demand obedience? If so, to what? What does
repentance have to do with obedience?
7) Was the Law done away? If so, why? Why would God first
have Laws then take them away? Would not this be tantamount
to God saying "Opps"? Is that possible?
And now, your question
8) If there is some obligation to obedience, to repentance
and/or to Law, does doing any of those things or keeping
those things make me MORE acceptable to God?
Let us see what we can find out from the Bible. I will
address each of these questions:
Questions 1 and 2:
These are clearly rhetorical questions. If we can enter the
Kingdom by not doing anything good like repentance or Law
keeping or obedience to God it would follow that I could
break those Laws and not be obedient to God. I could rob,
lie, murder, rape, and pillage for it would have no meaning
because Jesus after all loves me. How could He judge me?
What would He judge me against? Apparently there is no Law
to keep, no principles to invoke and no obligation to be
like Jesus Christ who does not sin, who overcame sin, who
kept the Law and who invoked Godly principle (Galatians
5:22-23).
Question 3: John
6:44 says that God calls us:
John 6:44
No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me
draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
Add to this the following scriptures about our calling:
Romans 8:30
Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and
whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he
justified, them he also glorified.
1 Corinthians 1:2
Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are
sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all
that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our
Lord, both theirs and ours:
Note: This verse
says that we (those He
called) are called to be saints. How does one
become a saint? Does he or she do something? If so, what?
The verse continues that we call upon the name of Jesus
Christ. Why would a saint do that? The verse is clearly
talking about calling upon Him for power and guidance as the
head shepherd of the church.
Begs another question: If nothing is required of us, why
did Christ establish a church? Seems strange to do that
when nothing is required of its members. Also, if Jesus
Christ established a church, what happened? Where is it
today? Are all the churches the church He established?
Sure would not seem so.
1 Corinthians 1:9
God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship
of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
1 Corinthians 1:24-27
24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks,
Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.
25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the
weakness of God is stronger than men.
26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise
men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are
called:
27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to
confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of
the world to confound the things which are mighty;
Note: So, we see
that God called some (not
all) to confound the wise. How could a saint,
who supposedly does not have to do anything confound the
wise? What is God and Christ doing through us that would
confound the wise? As we will find out, we are to become
like Christ. It is our becoming like Christ and invoking
Godly principles (Galatians 5:22-23) that confounds the
wise. When we invoke a principle of God (which
are spirit), people see Christ. What they see is
imprinted on their memory cells for all time. This is
important whether that person is called now or is
resurrected at the 2nd resurrection (all
that have ever lived will be one or the other).
1Thessalonians 2:11-12
11 As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged
every one of you, as a father doth his children,
12 That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you
unto his kingdom and glory.
Note: Wait a
minute, hold the phone; these verses say that the called
are:
"exhorted"...to do what?
"charged"...to do what?
"walk worthy:...how do we (the
called) do that?
Clearly we are exhorted and charged to be like Christ. This
means following His example, invoking the principles of God
and allowing Jesus to live and act through us by means of
the Holy Spirit (the power
of God).
2 Thessalonians 2:13-14
13 But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you,
brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the
beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of
the Spirit and belief of the truth:
14 Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining
of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Note: First, God
knew He was going to call us from the beginning, long before
creation. Here we see that this is done by the Spirit of
God. It also says we obtain the glory of Jesus Christ which
means we become like Him.
1 Peter 5:10
But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his
eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a
while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.
Note: We are
called NOT to personal glory but to His glory; He through us
and not us through Him. God makes us perfect (a
process), and He strengthens us through His Holy
Spirit.
It should be clear that He is not doing this through
everyone right now. Clearly, most of the world is not even
Christian. They do not know the real Jesus Christ much less
"call upon His name" or "believe on Him". Witness all the
Hindus, Buddhist, and those of the Islam faith.
2 Peter 1:3
According as his divine power hath given unto us all things
that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge
of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
Note:
Confirmation that God gives us all things that pertain to
godliness (a principle),
meaning God like or Christ like; being like them. It also
says that He called us to virtue. What does virtue mean?
The following from Websters Unabridged 1913:
Active quality or power; capacity or power adequate to the
production of a given effect; energy; strength; potency;
efficacy; as, the virtue of a medicine.
Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had
gone out of him, turned him about. –Mark 5:30
We see then that God has called us, given us His power for
the production of some effect (letting
the world see Christ in us, by what we do).
2 Peter 1:10
Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your
calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye
shall never fall:
Note: How does
one make their calling and election sure? What does it
mean, "for if you do these things"...WHAT THINGS? Well
let's look at a few scriptures back...
2 Peter 1:3-8
3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all
things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the
knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious
promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine
nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world
through lust.
5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith
virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience;
and to patience godliness;
7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly
kindness charity.
8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you
that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the
knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Note: Wow; heavy
things here. Verse 4--by His power we can be partakers of
the divine nature (His)
and overcome sin. Then beginning in verse 5 God shows us a
process of learning and invoking GODLY PRINCIPLES:
diligence
faith
knowledge (Godly knowledge)
temperance
patience
godliness
brotherly kindness
love (charity)
These things are principles of God and made of Spirit
(Galatians 5:22-23). Verse 8 says that if these Spiritual
things be in us and ABOUND (grow and get invoked) then we
will not be barren or unfruitful. Since I have be quoting
Galatians 5:22-23 so much, let us look at it. It answers
the question about whether a Christian should be doing
something. For if we are invoking principle are we also
KEEPING THE LAW?
Galatians 5:22-23
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,
longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Note: Things of
the Spirit are made of Spirit, thus the principles of love,
joy, peace, etc. ARE SPIRIT and if these things are being
invoked by us and reside in us we are what? (see
last 6 words of the verse) ABOVE THE LAW.
This is the all important, life saving truth: The laws of
God are there for one purpose, to direct us to Principle.
The laws that say “Do not Lie” and “Do not Steal” are
pointing us to the Spiritual principle of Honesty. If you
are being Honest all the time, you are ABOVE THE LAW. This
does NOT mean we do away with the Law because, as humans we
sin. When we slip and fall (sin),
the Law is there, as a signpost to direct us back to
Honesty. Note what earlier verses in Galatians 5 say:
Galatians 5:16-18
16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not
fulfil the lust of the flesh.
17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit
against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the
other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.
Note:
Astounding!!! IF WE ARE LED BY THE SPIRIT (invoking
the Spiritual principles of God) then, WE ARE NOT
UNDER THE LAW!!!!!!! I say again, astounding!!
So much for those that would say the Law is done away or
that we do not have to keep the Law. How can one lie and be
honest? How can one be honest without also keeping from
lying and stealing? Clearly when you are being Honest you
ARE KEEPING THE LAW. You have gone beyond that Law; beyond
without letting it loose.
Revelation 17:14
These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall
overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings:
and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and
faithful.
Note: This verse
is talking about the return of Christ and how man will
actually try to kill Him as He descends toward earth from
the sky. It says that those that He called NOW (before
that return) will be with Him (having
just ascended) and that He describes us as
"faithful". Faithful to His word and His Law.
Now of course, if we do not have to acknowledge or keep the
Law of God, just take an exacto knife and slice all these
scriptures out of the Bible for they clearly do not support
the idea of forgetting or not keeping the Law or not doing
anything.
Question 4) What
is repentance and how does it work? Does anyone in the New
Testament command that I repent?
Repent of what? Is repentance considered a requirement?
First to the dictionary again:
Repentance
Re*pent"ance (r?-p?nt"ans), n. [F. repentance.] The act of
repenting, or the state of being penitent; sorrow for what
one has done or omitted to do; especially, contrition for
sin. Chaucer.
Godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation. 2. Cor.
vii. 20.
Repentance is a change of mind, or a conversion from
sin to God. Hammond.
Repentance is the relinquishment of any practice from
the conviction that it has offended God. Sorrow, fear,
and anxiety are properly not parts, but adjuncts, of
repentance; yet they are too closely connected with it to be
easily separated. Rambler.
Note: It says
repentance is turning from sin to God. Both are actions.
Required actions. Now a Bible dictionary:
REPENTANCE
A turning away from sin, disobedience, or rebellion and a
turning back to God <Matt. 9:13; Luke 5:32>. In a more
general sense, repentance means a change of mind <Gen.
6:6-7> or a feeling of remorse or regret for past conduct
<Matt. 27:3>. True repentance is a "godly sorrow" for sin,
an act of turning around and going in the opposite
direction. This type of repentance leads to a fundamental
change in a person's relationship to God.
In the Old Testament the classic case of repentance is that
of King David, after Nathan the prophet accused him of
killing Uriah the Hittite and committing adultery with
Uriah's wife, Bathsheba. David's prayer of repentance for
this sin is found in <Psalm 51>.
In the New Testament the keynote of John the Baptist's
preaching was, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at
hand" <Matt. 3:2>. To the multitudes he declared, "Bear
fruits worthy of repentance" <Matt. 3:8; Luke 3:8>. When
Jesus began His ministry, He took up John's preaching of the
message of repentance, expanding the message to include the
good news of salvation: "The time is fulfilled, and the
kingdom of God is at hand. Repent and believe in the gospel"
<Matt. 4:17; Mark 1:15>.
In Jesus' preaching of the kingdom of God is seen the truth
that repentance and faith are two sides of the same coin: by
repentance, one turns away from sin; by faith, one turns
toward God in accepting the Lord Jesus Christ. Such a
twofold turning, or conversion, is necessary for entrance
into the kingdom <Matt. 18:3>. "Unless you repent," said
Jesus, "you will all likewise perish" <Luke 13:3,5>. This is
the negative, or judgmental, side of Jesus' message. The
positive, or merciful, side is seen in these words: "There
is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner
who repents" <Luke 15:10>.
After Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection, His disciples
continued His message of repentance and faith <Acts 2:38;
3:19; 20:21; 26:20>. Repentance is a turning from wickedness
and dead works <Acts 8:22; Heb. 6:1> toward God and His
glory <Acts 20:21; Rev. 16:9>, eternal life <Acts 11:18>,
and a knowledge of the truth <2 Tim. 2:25>.
Repentance is associated with prayer <1 Kin. 8:47>, belief
<Mark 1:15>, baptism <Acts 2:38>, and conversion <Acts 3:19>
and is accompanied by humility <Matt. 11:21>. Repentance is
God's will and pleasure <Luke 15:7-10; 2 Pet. 3:9>, as well
as His command <Mark 6:12; Acts 17:30>. It is a gift of His
sovereign love <Acts 5:31; 11:18; Rom. 2:4; 2 Tim. 2:25>,
without which we cannot be saved <Luke 13:3>.
~from Nelson's Illustrated
Bible Dictionary
Now we will look at some of the verses quoted in this
definition:
Matthew 9:13
But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy,
and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous,
but sinners to repentance.
Note: Christ has
called us to repentance. Notice that it says He came to
call the righteous. Hmmm, sounds like that means some sort
of action on my part.
Matthew 3:8
Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:
Note: Fruits?
You mean like fruits of the Spirit? Answer: YES. Made
possible by the Spirit that you receive after repentance and
baptism.
Luke 3:8
Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin
not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father:
for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to
raise up children unto Abraham.
Note: Again,
actions needed.
Matthew 4:17
From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent:
for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Note: Again,
Jesus commanding us to repent and since the kingdom has not
actually arrive, this command must still be valid.
Mark 1:15
And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is
at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.
Note: Here we
add a command to believe (and
put into practice) the gospel message which
includes the commands to produce fruits of the Spirit and to
be like Christ who is all Godly principles.
Matthew 18:3
And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and
become as little children, ye shall not enter into the
kingdom of heaven.
Note: What does
conversion mean? Is this not a process of action. Does
conversion involve or include THE SABBATH. Seems so. It is
part of the Law that HAS NOT BEEN DONE AWAY OR CHANGED.
Luke 13:3
I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all
likewise perish.
Note: Action
commanded or you perish.
Luke 15:10
Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of
the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.
One of the only places in the Bible where we angels
rejoicing. Based on this and the definition of repentance
we can see that action is required by all firstfruits in the
Salvation Process.
Acts 2:38
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.
Note: If nothing
is needed on our part, why the Holy Spirit from which humans
can produce fruit (Gal 5:22-23)?
Acts 8:22
Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if
perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.
Note: A clear
indication that we must stop the breaking of the Law, thus
Questions 1 and 2 are answered for you.
Think I would consider robbing banks and butchering
kidnapped babies somewhat wicked.
Hebrews 6:1-2
1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of
Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the
foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith
toward God,
2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands,
and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
Note: A key
verse: HOW DOES ONE GO UNTO PERFECTION? Another process of
God built upon the basic
doctrines of :
repentance
faith
baptism
laying on of hands (to
receive the Holy Spirit)
resurrection of the dead
eternal judgment (judgment
of what?---Answer: character)
Acts 3:19
Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be
blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from
the presence of the Lord;
Note: Again, the
action of conversion and repenting.
Mark 6:12
And they went out, and preached that men should repent.
Note: Call
people to action including the keeping of the Sabbath which
these people He preached too were keeping and continued to
keep after Christ returned to heaven and is kept to this day
by His called out ones.
Question 5) There
are many, many different Christian religions which have
vastly different doctrines, ceremonies, beliefs and missions
yet they all say they believe on Jesus Christ. Will they
all simply enter into the Kingdom even though there is so
much difference? Will they enter the Kingdom as Spirit
beings holding on to these differing beliefs?
Answer: Clearly it would be absurd to believe that
all these different and conflicting, not to mention
doctrines without Biblical foundation are all okay in the
sight of God. At this point you might want to ask, "Why
have a 2nd resurrection if nothing is needed on my part?"
Why have this physical life at all? End the death, war,
famine and pestilence now and get us into this freely given
kingdom.
Could it be that the second resurrection will include the
billions that never knew or never really knew who Jesus was
or what it is He requires (including
the Sabbath). See if any of the following verses
fit into idea that all Christian churches are right and
acceptable unto God the Father:
Ephesians 4:4-6
4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called
in one hope of your calling;
5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through
all, and in you all.
Note: One body?
One hope? One faith? One baptism? (some
sprinkle, some baptize babies, some baptize the dead, some
few baptize by full immersion).
Matthew 16:18
And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this
rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not
prevail against it.
Note: Clearly
Jesus established only One church (not
speaking of organizations here or buildings but ONE SET OF
BELIEVERS WHO OBEY HIM AND TAKE ACTION ON HIS COMMANDS.)
This includes doing what Jesus did including keeping the
Sabbath and becoming like Him and producing fruits of the
Spirit and overcoming sin. This includes an attitude of
constant repentance. Repentance is not something you do
once in a lifetime but every minute for the rest of your
life.
Ephesians 1:22-23
22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to
be the head over all things to the church,
23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in
all.
Note: Key
verse: Would the Head of the Church (Christ)
allow all this confusion of different doctrines, ceremonies,
practices, attitudes, self made laws and rules and symbols?
Doubt it. Verse says He is head over ALL THINGS.
Mark 1:21-22
21 And they went into Capernaum; and straightway on the
sabbath day he entered into the synagogue, and taught.
22 And they were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught
them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes.
Note: Jesus kept
the Sabbath. Did this make Him more acceptable to God, the
Father? IS NO SUCH THING!!! You
are only acceptable or unacceptable to God. There are no
degrees of acceptance. We do not get A-B-C-D-F grades.
We are not rated on a 5-star system.
Jesus kept the Sabbath. That is acceptable. If He did not;
that would be UNACCEPTABLE. Keeping it did NOT make Him
more acceptable to God, the Father.
By the way, if He came to do away with the Sabbath, why
didn't He state it clearly RIGHT HERE AND NOW??? Why did
the disciples continue to keep the Sabbath after Christ was
gone from the earth after the resurrection? Why didn't they
(Like Paul)
preach that the Sabbath was not needed or mandatory?
Mark 2:27-28
27 And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and
not man for the sabbath:
28 Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.
Note: This
should be good enough for anybody. Jesus is the Lord of the
Sabbath. Seem like if one wanted to be like Him and follow
His example would keep the thing He was Lord of.
Acts 13:14
But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in
Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and
sat down.
Note: Here is
Paul keeping the Sabbath day and Jesus is in heaven. If
Jesus was saying that the Sabbath was not needed, or changed
then Paul, who wrote most of the New Testament, missed the
point...OR DID HE??? He kept the Sabbath OUT OF OBEDIENCE
TO GOD.
Acts 13:44
And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together
to hear the word of God.
Note: The reason
you do not see Jesus or Peter or Paul stating much about the
command to keep the Sabbath was because the people were
already keeping the Sabbath. Why tell all these people to
keep a Sabbath that was already being kept. Sort of a neat
turn of events because it now requires faith on our part to
clearly understand that this Sabbath is still in effect.
Some people like to use the argument that because Jesus did
not recite the 4th commandment, it was not in effect
anymore. Problem is we do not see Him or anyone else God
called (Peter, Paul, etc.)
rebuking or doing away with the Sabbath. Paul does not keep
Sunday. No Easter service, no Christmas celebration, no
Halloween.
Acts 17:2
And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three
sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures,
Note: Paul
keeping 3 Sabbaths in a row. Plenty of opportunity to tell
them that the Sabbath was not needed. Strange, if one
believes the Sabbath done away. He reasoned with them out
of the scriptures which talk about obedience and Sabbath
keeping (taught out of what
we call the Old Testament; the same book Christ taught from).
Acts 18:4
And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and
persuaded the Jews and the Greeks.
Note: EVERY
Sabbath. Says he persuaded them but WHAT, never taking the
time to tell them the Sabbath not needed? Hmmm...must still
be commanded. Repentance is about OBEYING GOD. You obey
Him or fail to obey Him. Cannot find anything about doing
something to be MORE ACCEPTABLE. It is commanded, therefore
I keep it.
Sort of another trap. Sabbath keeping does not get me the
kingdom. Law keeping does not get me the kingdom.
Principle Invoking does not get me the kingdom but OBEDIENCE
DOES!!!!! And this Obedience just happens to include...
Sabbath keeping
Law keeping
Principle Invoking
Repentance (constant)
Overcoming
Character building
Being like Christ
Going on to perfection
...among others.
Question 6) Does
God demand obedience? If so, to what? What does repentance
have to do with obedience?
Well, we have discussed above that repentance has everything
to do with obedience so that is answered but let us look at
this thing of obedience. Does it require Sabbath
keeping---Action on your part---commandment keeping? Let us
see:
Matthew 5:19
Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least
commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the
least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and
teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of
heaven.
Note:
Obedience---action---commandments. He had an opportunity to
blow out the Sabbath here but did not.
Matthew 13:8
But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit,
some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.
Matthew 13:23
But he that received seed into the good ground is he that
heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth
fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty,
some thirty.
Note:
Obedience--action---commandment keeping.
Luke 1:6
And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the
commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.
Note:
Obedience--action---commandment keeping.
Luke 6:46-47
46 And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things
which I say?
47 Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth
them, I will shew you to whom he is like:
Note:
Obedience--action---commandment keeping.
Luke 11:28
But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word
of God, and keep it.
Note:
Obedience--action---commandment keeping.
John 15:14
Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
Note:
Obedience--action---commandment keeping.
Acts 5:29
Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We
ought to obey God rather than men.
Note:
Obedience--action---commandment keeping.
Romans 6:17
But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye
have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was
delivered you.
Note:
Obedience--action---commandment keeping---doctrine.
Philippians 2:12
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.
Note:
Obedience--action---commandment keeping. How do you work
out your own salvation by doing NOTHING?
James 2:10-12
10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in
one point, he is guilty of all.
11 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.
Note: Another
opportunity to blow out the Sabbath but NO.
1 John 2:3
And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his
commandments.
Note:
Obedience--action---commandment keeping.
1 John 2:17
And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he
that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
Note:
Obedience--action---commandment keeping.
1 John 3:22
And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep
his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in
his sight.
Note:
Obedience--action---commandment keeping.
1 John 3:24
And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he
in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the
Spirit which he hath given us.
Note:
Obedience--action---commandment keeping. YOU MUST HAVE
GOD'S SPIRIT TO FULLY KEEP THE
LAW, BUILD RIGHTEOUS CHARACTER AND BE LIKE CHRIST.
1 John 5:2
By this we know that we love the children of God, when we
love God, and keep his commandments.
Note:
Obedience--action---commandment keeping.
Revelation 12:17
And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make
war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the
commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
Note:
Obedience--action---commandment keeping. This is talking
about times ahead and Satan is after WHO??? Those which
keep the commandments INCLUDING THE SABBATH. This written
in the last written book of the whole Bible.
Revelation 22:14
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.
Note:
Obedience--action---commandment keeping. Key Scripture:
KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS INCLUDING THE SABBATH AND GET ETERNAL
LIFE. No question or argument here.
Question 7) Was
the Law done away? If so, why? Why would God first have
Laws then take them away? Would not this be tantamount to
God saying "Opps"? Is that possible?
Believe we have answered this. God does not say "Opps". If
He knew He was going to call people before the foundation of
the earth then how could He mess up on the idea of His laws
not working for man?? Christ came to earth to set the Law
of God back to what it was designed for (to
point to Godly Principles). Man had made the Law
the end of religion and failed to see its design. Those are
the unneeded laws...mans laws. The legalism and the
codifying of God's laws.
Question 8) If
there is some obligation to obedience, to repentance and/or
to Law, does doing any of those things or keeping those
things make me MORE acceptable to God.
We answered this question above. There is NO SUCH THING as
being more acceptable. There is only obedience. Believe I
have made this clear. There is no middle of the road with
God. There is no gray with Him. You follow Christ 100% or
0%. No such thing as 50% or 75% or 99.9999999999%, only
100%.
You may want to read the booklet, "Saved by Grace? (Or is
there something we must DO to enter the Kingdom of God?").
Located online at:
http://www.garnertedarmstrong.org/pubs/savedby.htm
Or "God's Seasonal Plan" which talks about the Sabbath and
all of God's Holy Days (which
are also commanded):
http://www.intercontinentalcog.org/seasonal.shtml
Or "Why Keep Saturday for Sunday" located at:
http://www.garnertedarmstrong.org/pubs/whykeep.htm
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