Tagged: bible
STUDY THE WORD OF GOD
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WHAT IS GRACE? THE DICTIONARY DEFINES IT AS "Mercy and clemency". I LIKE THE DEFINITION "THE UNMERITED FAVOR OF GOD". THAT IS REALLY WHAT WE HAVE THROUGH SALVATION. BY GRACE ARE WE SAVED THROUGH FAITH. WE DID NOT DESERVE IT AND THERE WAS NOTHING WE COULD DO TO GET IT. I HAVE HEARD SOMEONE SAY THEY DESERVED IT BECAUSE OF THEIR RIGHTEOUSNESS. GIVE ME A BREAK. THE BIBLE TELL US WHAT OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS IS IN ISAIAH 64:6 WHERE IT SAYS "But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away." NO ONE CAN BE RIGHTEOUS ENOUGH TO BE SAVED AND THAT IS WHY WE NEED A SAVIOR.
I WAS READING 1ST JOHN 2:2-3 THIS MORNING AND WONDERED IF ANYONE WAS HAVING PROBLEMS UNDERSTANDING THESE TWO VERSES. THE VERSES READS AS FOLLOWS, "Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who say, "I know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him". I HAD TO REMIND MYSELF THAT JOHN WAS TALKING TO THE JEWS WHO WERE UNDER THE LAW OF MOSES. THERE WERE HUNDREDS OF LAWS THAT PERTAINED TO JUST ABOUT EVERY ASPECT OF THE JEWISH LIFE INCLUDING THE TEN COMMANDMENTS WHICH IS CALLED THE LAW.
Why do people have a tendency to create a false dilemma out of so many issues? Often one side of an issue is so strongly emphasized that the other side becomes lost or is even seen as an opposing idea. Meanwhile, both sides are true and harmonize, so to reject one or the other is presenting a half-truth. This is often more deadly and dividing than a complete and total fabrication.
Let's take the role of the written Word in the life of a Christian. Some so strongly emphasize its role that they make an idol out of the Bible. They exchange a living relationship with the WORD (Christ), for " head knowledge " of the Word (scripture).
Jesus was not implying that Peter and Satan were one-and-the-same, but was referring to the fact that Satan had inspired Peter's statement. This type of metaphor was used elsewhere in scripture such as when God spoke to the serpent in the garden of Eden (Gen. 3:15) as though addressing Satan. The serpent was merely the vehicle of communication Satan used to tempt Adam and Eve, while Peter was the vehicle Satan used to tempt Jesus. Ephesians 6:12 reveals that our warfare isn't with people, but against the spiritual powers who inspire and use people. Jesus recognized that Peter's reaction to His prophecy about His death was motivated by His enemy, Satan, so He went right to...
