"Oh give thanks unto the Lord, for His mercy endureth forever" This is the words of those like Moses and David, that knew God on the most personal levels.
Our eternal standing with God is and must be based upon His Mercy. When we leave the understanding that we are "wretched" and that none are good, no not one, we are in effect allowing our own hearts to deceive us. Now Paul attempts to explain this to the world in the book of Romans, but especially to those who have been under the self-righteousness of the law of Moses. Our salvation is based upon Gods grace and mercy, and that received by faith. Almost all the scriptures that tell us to continue in faith are based upon the understanding that in faith we are in the place of needing and receiving Gods mercy. In this place of "need" we are secure in Gods grace. When we return to self-righteousness, (the law) we are in effect rejecting that "mercy" that we so desperately need. Almost every warning of the New Testament is not in regards to "sin" against the law, but in leaving Gods mercy for the self-righteousness of the law. I know this is hard to understand because on some level, we have all been put back under the law, through the apostasy that befell the church after Paul and John departed to be with the Lord. The "truth" is that because of Christ and His eternal grace and mercy towards us, we are forever secure in "HIS GRACE". These great promises given to us in the gospel are all based upon remaining in grace.
In grace we cannot be taken from the Hand of God, In grace nothing can separate us from the Love of God etc..
Only when believers return to the law are the warnings of scripture made. "ye are cut-off from Christ"
Joh 15:9 ¶ As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.
Ro 11:22 Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.
Our eternal standing with God is and must be based upon His Mercy. When we leave the understanding that we are "wretched" and that none are good, no not one, we are in effect allowing our own hearts to deceive us. Now Paul attempts to explain this to the world in the book of Romans, but especially to those who have been under the self-righteousness of the law of Moses. Our salvation is based upon Gods grace and mercy, and that received by faith. Almost all the scriptures that tell us to continue in faith are based upon the understanding that in faith we are in the place of needing and receiving Gods mercy. In this place of "need" we are secure in Gods grace. When we return to self-righteousness, (the law) we are in effect rejecting that "mercy" that we so desperately need. Almost every warning of the New Testament is not in regards to "sin" against the law, but in leaving Gods mercy for the self-righteousness of the law. I know this is hard to understand because on some level, we have all been put back under the law, through the apostasy that befell the church after Paul and John departed to be with the Lord. The "truth" is that because of Christ and His eternal grace and mercy towards us, we are forever secure in "HIS GRACE". These great promises given to us in the gospel are all based upon remaining in grace.
In grace we cannot be taken from the Hand of God, In grace nothing can separate us from the Love of God etc..
Only when believers return to the law are the warnings of scripture made. "ye are cut-off from Christ"
Joh 15:9 ¶ As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.
Ro 11:22 Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.