THE INNER ROOM - "Learn and Grow - to Maturity". Please read the 1st Post.
- Thread starter Bondman
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I get the idea, and He certainly does!! This was all quite a time ago now, and I've profited so much since then from the awful time we had! GOD IS SO GOOD!!
Okay, so I'd finished working on the Message (which WAS completed), but it was still onscreen. However, HOW it could ever have been "clicked" to actually put it up on the thread is a complete and total mystery to me!!!!
Maybe I can "blame" the fact that in just a couple of days I've managed to put the Indexes for both Reaching Higher and Gems onto the thread here, and connected the links to all 56 of the Message posts! *hee!* (Actually that complicated task IS probably how it somehow did happen...)
- BM
Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
I then have to trust the Lord "for good" concerning that Message, which was certainly not yet due to be posted!! How I work on The Inner Room is that I trust the Lord for WHAT and for WHEN. Sometimes a Message I've written NEVER gets posted cos He never says to! This could have been possible for this one, for example.
Okay, so I'd finished working on the Message (which WAS completed), but it was still onscreen. However, HOW it could ever have been "clicked" to actually put it up on the thread is a complete and total mystery to me!!!!
Maybe I can "blame" the fact that in just a couple of days I've managed to put the Indexes for both Reaching Higher and Gems onto the thread here, and connected the links to all 56 of the Message posts! *hee!* (Actually that complicated task IS probably how it somehow did happen...)
- BM
INDEX NOW DONE FOR GEMS ALSO
Clicking on "Index" at bottom of Reaching Higher and Gems will now display a list of all the Messages in each of these, so you can go to other Messages if you wish.
Again, not too many mistakes - I HOPE!!
The The Inner Room Messages Index (200 Messages) is completed also, but I still have work to do on the Index graphic of 100 of these. Inner Room Messages start at Post #3.
Anyway, that's got it all DISCONNECTED from our website, which was that aim (as our website was not being used), and so my hope is that the Indexes will be of some value to some of you.
With love,
- BM
Clicking on "Index" at bottom of Reaching Higher and Gems will now display a list of all the Messages in each of these, so you can go to other Messages if you wish.
Again, not too many mistakes - I HOPE!!
The The Inner Room Messages Index (200 Messages) is completed also, but I still have work to do on the Index graphic of 100 of these. Inner Room Messages start at Post #3.
Anyway, that's got it all DISCONNECTED from our website, which was that aim (as our website was not being used), and so my hope is that the Indexes will be of some value to some of you.
With love,
- BM
I loved this !
Wow what a two weeks it has been. I have had a roommate for 2 weeks. A girlfriend of mine who was homeless has been staying with me. This is the same woman Bondman that I shared the emails with you a w hile back. The same one who did not want to get my Care-A-Van newsletters because she felt like I was preaching to her. The same one who struggled with my "preaching" to her. Yes looking back, I did preach to her. There were ways that I was not with her quite like she needed back then.
But God is good. Events happened in her life and life found her staying with me. When the I gave the offer to her, even with all the hurt we had been through, she had texted me and said "remember the rule", I knew she meant no preaching. So we started our two week journey and it has been amazing! I remembered her "rule" and I just walked it out. She commented the other night how much she has learned from me. She is saved but years ago, was very hurt by the church, they basically turned their back on her. This was a woman who's father put her on a plane at the age of 6 months to go stay with her uncle. Then she came back to her parents, her father abused her the whole time she was there. She got beaten for crying, she was put in a foster home for her senior year. She was out living on her own at the age of 17. Has been married twice and so many things happened to her. I did not know all of this before. She did not see her mom until the funeral and then started a relationship back up with her dad. He died about a year ago.. their relationship had been kindled, but when he died, he left everything including his home to the neighbors. She has no family whatsoever..
We have had the opporutunity to share our sorrows, our grief and our burdens. She has helped me in regards to my faith and the difference of preaching it and walking it out.. We have had several girls day outs getting our nails done, shopping at a thrift shop, having a picnic together at the local park, things that at the age of 54 she never experienced. She told me how she could never share her emotions because of being beaten. I got to say the whole experience has been heart warming. We both believe this time was ordained by God. It has brought us back together.
She has been able to help me with some creative ideas for my writing and the ministry. There has been no outloud prayers with her while she has been here, but I silently pray as I would go to bed every night.
I have helped her in seeing the importance of having friends and just being ourself. She has seen it is ok to leave your clothes laying on your bedroom floor.. lol!
I leave today to go to see my family in NJ. She will stay here until Sunday, then she moves into her new home and starts her new job in a week. She will be about an hour away. Here is a woman that I thought I knew but really did not until we got to have this time together.
Even though she may have a different way of expressing her faith, through her spiritiuality.. very earthy and such,, she made the comment we all have the same God.
Talk about lesssons! but I will say before leaving today .. her thought about the "rule".. well I will have one whopping prayer with her thanking our Lord for this time and showing us both so much!
Please pray for my safe travels and my time with with my family
Hugs
Faithwoman
Yes, I do remember about this friend - and just loved what you shared about you and her! Lots of lessons learnt by the sound of it. How wonderful!! (Lessons are GOOD!!!)
True, it's usually easier to 'talk the talk' than to 'walk the walk' - something we all need to remember and aim to live out.
I simply cannot BELIEVE the life she has had though. Put on a plane at 6 months to go to her uncle!!! Come on.... And then her Dad leaving everything to the neighbours on his death. THAT is UNBELIEVABLE....
It's a great reminder that no matter how tough things may be for us, there are so many others - even in our Western societies, let alone in 3rd World countries - who are much worse off!!
Thankyou SO MUCH for sharing this, sweetie. Enjoy your weekend!!
- BM
True, it's usually easier to 'talk the talk' than to 'walk the walk' - something we all need to remember and aim to live out.
I simply cannot BELIEVE the life she has had though. Put on a plane at 6 months to go to her uncle!!! Come on.... And then her Dad leaving everything to the neighbours on his death. THAT is UNBELIEVABLE....
It's a great reminder that no matter how tough things may be for us, there are so many others - even in our Western societies, let alone in 3rd World countries - who are much worse off!!
Thankyou SO MUCH for sharing this, sweetie. Enjoy your weekend!!
- BM
Reaching Higher #42
Recognising the Two Parts to Our Sin
THE FIRST PART
You are: 1) a serious Christian man or woman. You 2) totally believe in Jesus, and have 3) made Him Lord of your life. You've 4) confessed and repented of all of your sin and wickedness against God - and gratefully accepted full pardon from God, by the blood of Jesus. You've been 5) baptised in water, and daily pray to be 6) filled with the Holy Spirit. Ephesians Ch 5:18b Be being filled with the Spirit.
You wish to be 7) growing - by trusting God at all times, and 8) learning obedience to Him, so you can 9) grow in righteousness, and thus 10) make Him pleased!! And you're fully aware that sin is 11) failure to follow His commands in the New Testament, and your aim is 12) to sin less and less. If this is you, I applaud who you are in Christ!!!
THE SECOND PART
There's a little verse we could say is almost tucked away in Romans Ch 3:23 For all have sinned and are (continually) falling short of the glory of God. Just when we thought we had a handle of what sin is, and how we may deal with it, God suddenly says that we're continually FALLING SHORT of HIS GLORY!!! That is, sin is not only what we DO wrong, or even what we FAIL to do that He commands - it's also the TOTALITY of the FAILURE of us all to meet the STANDARD of God's glory!!!
So no matter how righteous we may become - which we MUST continually seek with all our heart! - we're still missing the mark of reaching up to GOD'S GLORY: every time we throw the ball, it falls short, landing nowhere near its target!! His glory is what the perfection of His angels get TO LOOK UPON - yet we cannot: a glory such that in the Old Testament, men knew that while on earth to ever SEE God was to DIE. Such is the BRILLIANCE of His Spiritual GLORY!!!
This is the SECOND PART of our sin: continually FALLING SHORT of the Glory of God!!! If ever we've seen how DESPERATE is our need of the blood shed by our Lord Jesus on our behalf, then IT'S SEEING: our DISHONOUR of God, our GUILT and how we deserve PUNISHMENT, how CORRUPT we are, how we GLORY in ourselves and our WORLDLY lives, and how we FALL SHORT of the mark, continually FALLING SHORT of GOD'S GLORY!!!
"Lord, save us from ALL our SIN - and from OURSELVES!!!"
- BM, with His Lady
INDEX EXTRAS
1. At the bottom of each Message I've just started adding "Previous" and "Next" graphics for easier navigation. Only two done in RH so far... (Then I'll do Gems next.)
Naturally the LATEST Message will always be "missing" the "Next" graphic (that all others have)!!
2. Because of these extras, tomorrow I will be renumbering Reaching Higher from #40 to #42, so it all works properly. Hope this doesn't cause any confusion.
For now it's time for me to hit the sack!
Love n blessings from me and the Father!!
- BM
1. At the bottom of each Message I've just started adding "Previous" and "Next" graphics for easier navigation. Only two done in RH so far... (Then I'll do Gems next.)
Naturally the LATEST Message will always be "missing" the "Next" graphic (that all others have)!!
2. Because of these extras, tomorrow I will be renumbering Reaching Higher from #40 to #42, so it all works properly. Hope this doesn't cause any confusion.
For now it's time for me to hit the sack!
Love n blessings from me and the Father!!
- BM
I liked the last message, BM. I know you have told me you think I must be filled with the Holy Spirit because of the way He is working in my life, but, not being sure what it is exactly . . . how you know for sure, should I be praying for it still? I don't think I have ever prayed for the Holy Spirit because I knew I received Him inside me when I surrendered to Christ. I still don't know about praying to Him. Do you think it is wrong to pray (or talk) to the Holy Spirit for some reason? I guess if it was, God would show me.
Anyway, things are still going so so. Sherri and little Jessie are still living with us and it's been tense, but I am being sustained through it all. I will invite Sherri to church tomorrow again. Thanx for the prayers. It's been awhile since I've showed my face, eh?
Anyway, things are still going so so. Sherri and little Jessie are still living with us and it's been tense, but I am being sustained through it all. I will invite Sherri to church tomorrow again. Thanx for the prayers. It's been awhile since I've showed my face, eh?
Sweets, I will respond to your questions in a Message, because a lot of quite IMPORTANT matterss have been raised by what you wrote (All things being equal, the Message should be up by tomorrow, your time - I've already started it!)
I'm so THRILLED that the Lord is sustaining you in your constant testing by Sherri. GOD is testing you at the same time of course - to see if you will stay close to Him, stay TRUSTING HIM, and so on. This is part of His WORKMANSHIP that is going on in ALL of us all the time - as He seeks to make us ALL more and more like Jesus!! Whoo-hoo!! Those who "pass" His tests, He will take on to even "greater" things (I've been under test for decades - but look at the end result of His workmanship in my life!!! "I praise Your Blessed Name, my Lord and my God!!")
Much love, and prayers for you!
- BM
I'm so THRILLED that the Lord is sustaining you in your constant testing by Sherri. GOD is testing you at the same time of course - to see if you will stay close to Him, stay TRUSTING HIM, and so on. This is part of His WORKMANSHIP that is going on in ALL of us all the time - as He seeks to make us ALL more and more like Jesus!! Whoo-hoo!! Those who "pass" His tests, He will take on to even "greater" things (I've been under test for decades - but look at the end result of His workmanship in my life!!! "I praise Your Blessed Name, my Lord and my God!!")
Much love, and prayers for you!
- BM
Reaching Higher #43
Good Helps About the Holy Spirit in Our Lives
1. Many aren't sure if they are filled (or baptised) with the Spirit, so God gives the Gift of Tongues as a SIGN that you ARE filled! And you certainly can pray for this Gift. In Paul's WONDERFUL Chapter abiout TONGUES he says: 1 Corinthians Ch 14:5 I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied. He wishes all to speak in tongues, but MORESO that all prophesy - a person with this gift is inspired to preach and interpret God's will and purpose to us (not so much to foretell the future).
2. God wrote a COMMAND for us concerning the Holy Spirit: Ephesians Ch 5:18b But (always) be being filled with the Spirit. This filling, EVERYONE should be praying for!!!
3. The Holy Spirit is not an "it" but a "He"(a common misconception of new Believers.) An "it" cannot speak to you telling you what to do. An "it" cannot be Jesus' Representative on earth. Could an "it" do all of THESE things: Romans Ch 8:26 Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. I sincerely doubt that an "it" will GROAN, OR intercede for us before the Throne!!
You indeed DID receive the Holy Spirit when you surrendered to Christ and probably were filled with the Spirit at that very moment!!! (exciting thought!!) Every born again Christian has the Spirit within them. Not ALL, however, are FILLED with the SPIRIT - yet we all NEED to be!! So He commanded us to (always) be being filled with the Spirit. Giving this command means we can become NOT filled!! SINS take away our filling. SO: get your wrongs SORTED, then ask God to FILL YOU AGAIN!!!
4. I don't think it's all that bad to pray to the Spirit, but I NEVER DO!!! - simply because I've not come across an instance of anyone praying TO the Spirit in the Scriptures!! - and if it's not there, you know how I am not interested!! My suggestion would be not to do this.
Hope some of that helped!
- BM, with his Lady
Gems #17
AND OTHER MATTERS OF INTEREST - 17
A. I think we are! If this is so, then what could possibly be the reason for this? Could it be that: a) We of all people KNOW the difference between right and wrong - so we can most easily SEE wrong in others! b) One of our most common human problems is: we can ALWAYS see the sin in others - when we cannot see it in ourselves!! AMAZING and HELPFUL TRUTH: if you can see the SIN in another person it's almost certain that you have the very same sin!! I urge you most earnestly to really keep watch for this one - and profit by it!!!
B. THE TRAP: as we seek to GROW in our Christian life:
1. It will become more and more easy to SEE where others are going wrong, including their SIN!
2. It will become more and more easy to think they are on the WRONG TRACK, and so..
3. It will become more and more easy to be JUDGING them about - shall we call it the "level", or the "standard" of their Christian life!!
But you know that we're commanded NOT to judge, as the TRIPLE warning in: Luke Ch 6:37 Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.
What can best OVERCOME judgmentaism? LOVE (agape) - because you're NOT going to judge those who you love with God's Own love!!
- BM and his Mrs
ARE WE CHRISTIANS THE MOST JUDGMENTAL PEOPLE AROUND?
A. I think we are! If this is so, then what could possibly be the reason for this? Could it be that: a) We of all people KNOW the difference between right and wrong - so we can most easily SEE wrong in others! b) One of our most common human problems is: we can ALWAYS see the sin in others - when we cannot see it in ourselves!! AMAZING and HELPFUL TRUTH: if you can see the SIN in another person it's almost certain that you have the very same sin!! I urge you most earnestly to really keep watch for this one - and profit by it!!!
B. THE TRAP: as we seek to GROW in our Christian life:
1. It will become more and more easy to SEE where others are going wrong, including their SIN!
2. It will become more and more easy to think they are on the WRONG TRACK, and so..
3. It will become more and more easy to be JUDGING them about - shall we call it the "level", or the "standard" of their Christian life!!
But you know that we're commanded NOT to judge, as the TRIPLE warning in: Luke Ch 6:37 Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.
What can best OVERCOME judgmentaism? LOVE (agape) - because you're NOT going to judge those who you love with God's Own love!!
- BM and his Mrs
Oh man, did I have to learn this one the hard way.. Thanks for sharing Bondman. I am back from the family get together had a super time! Great posts while I was gone!
Faithwoman
Gems #18
AND OTHER MATTERS OF INTEREST - 18
There are no spirits, either good or bad, that are an "it". All are persons. An "it" cannot THINK and DO THINGS, right!!
On the GOOD side we have God (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) and His angels. On the BAD side we have the devil and his demons. You may have heard it said that he or she (acting dreadfully) has a "spirit". Well that would be VERY serious, for it means they are indwelt by a demon!! Please take GREAT CARE not to put this upon anyone without you are 100% certain they are demonic: as I've said before there are nowhere NEAR as many like this in our Societies as many would have us believe - and such people are mostly NOT acting in God's best interest in so saying!!
Then finally, a very important part of us is spirit. But as to our spirit, it seems to show forth as a 'mixture' of good and bad! Would that it could ALL be GOOD! But once we reach heaven then IT WILL BE ALL GOOD - forever!!
- BM, with his Lady
SPIRITS (GOOD AND BAD)
There are no spirits, either good or bad, that are an "it". All are persons. An "it" cannot THINK and DO THINGS, right!!
On the GOOD side we have God (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) and His angels. On the BAD side we have the devil and his demons. You may have heard it said that he or she (acting dreadfully) has a "spirit". Well that would be VERY serious, for it means they are indwelt by a demon!! Please take GREAT CARE not to put this upon anyone without you are 100% certain they are demonic: as I've said before there are nowhere NEAR as many like this in our Societies as many would have us believe - and such people are mostly NOT acting in God's best interest in so saying!!
Then finally, a very important part of us is spirit. But as to our spirit, it seems to show forth as a 'mixture' of good and bad! Would that it could ALL be GOOD! But once we reach heaven then IT WILL BE ALL GOOD - forever!!
- BM, with his Lady
Thanks for the great gem on spirits. Boy we just keep on learning!
Please pray for me today as I go to see the neurologist today as my left leg has been giving me problems .. numbness, tingling, pain in my knee,
I have history of 2 bulging discs in my back and believe they may be pressing on nerves.
I also please pray that the Lord will continue to show me his path.
I am at a crossroads right now.. still waiting to see if I am to remain in this apartment, if I should be going back to college this fall, and so much more. Also for wisdom, as I have been given the job of trying to update our website for Care-A-Van.. I have no clue as to what I am doing.. but God does. I am learing how to use Microsoft front page and it is not easy.
Ok got to scoot to work! Hugs to you all !
Faithwoman
Please pray for me today as I go to see the neurologist today as my left leg has been giving me problems .. numbness, tingling, pain in my knee,
I have history of 2 bulging discs in my back and believe they may be pressing on nerves.
I also please pray that the Lord will continue to show me his path.
I am at a crossroads right now.. still waiting to see if I am to remain in this apartment, if I should be going back to college this fall, and so much more. Also for wisdom, as I have been given the job of trying to update our website for Care-A-Van.. I have no clue as to what I am doing.. but God does. I am learing how to use Microsoft front page and it is not easy.
Ok got to scoot to work! Hugs to you all !
Faithwoman
If you 'just keep on learning' then I guess I must be doing my job of just keepin' on teachin'!! *hehe* Wow, you do have some crossroads in your life, more than I realised - and we have to go one way or the other or the other (3 roads to choose from at crossroads)! I will be praying for each of the things you've written, with the assurance that He will give you the guidance you need.
I use Microsoft Frontpage to write ALL messages these days. It's been the HTML program I've used over the years, and you're right, it certainly is not easy!! But it's very popular even though they released the last Version in 2003 I believe! Put it this way mine is 2003 and I don't know of any since. May I ask why you are learning HTML and doing the website? I simply hope that 'the willing worker' is not being overloaded with tasks (as happens lots in the Western church, and can be quite bad).
Both of us have MUCH trouble with our backs, and understand how many problems and pain the back can directly cause. I have to keep the middle vertibrae (plural) of my back "in" (not an easy task!) or this can affect my health quite badly.
HUGS hereby returned!!!
- BM
I use Microsoft Frontpage to write ALL messages these days. It's been the HTML program I've used over the years, and you're right, it certainly is not easy!! But it's very popular even though they released the last Version in 2003 I believe! Put it this way mine is 2003 and I don't know of any since. May I ask why you are learning HTML and doing the website? I simply hope that 'the willing worker' is not being overloaded with tasks (as happens lots in the Western church, and can be quite bad).
Both of us have MUCH trouble with our backs, and understand how many problems and pain the back can directly cause. I have to keep the middle vertibrae (plural) of my back "in" (not an easy task!) or this can affect my health quite badly.
HUGS hereby returned!!!
- BM
Wow. The message on being judgemental sure hit home for me. I had wondered at one time, why I was suddenly so much more judgemental than usual. And you hit it on the head, Bondman, when you said that we become more aware of what is right and what is wrong and that what we see in others is in us!
I struggled with this for a while, and I still have some problems with it today. But God gently reminds me that the person I am looking at is usually a 'baby' Christian and they havent been dealt with about that particular issue yet. And that I have had to be dealt with about worse, so give them a break. And that usually rises up compassion in me for the other person. God is so wise, and so gentle with us when we stumble.
I struggled with this for a while, and I still have some problems with it today. But God gently reminds me that the person I am looking at is usually a 'baby' Christian and they havent been dealt with about that particular issue yet. And that I have had to be dealt with about worse, so give them a break. And that usually rises up compassion in me for the other person. God is so wise, and so gentle with us when we stumble.
Oh, man, I'm so glad the judgment message was pertinent. I've seen enough judgmentalism in Christians to last me a lifetime!! (oh, it has been a lifetime! lol) We know NOT to, yet do it worse than unbelievers. For many years I preferred unbelievers as friends cos they were piles more accepting and unjudgmental.
I just LOVE that the Lord gives you compassion for the stumbling Christian. Sounds like Jesus, doesn't it!!
What I think is that our churches do not teach us enough about living lives that are growing and growing in RIGHTEOUSNESS!! As part of that we'd get to see that judgmentalism is simply NOT ON, else we're living unrighteously rather than holy, godly, righteous lives - TO PLEASE OUR GOD!!
Thanks for a sharing and helpful post as always! Love and blessings, hon!!
- BM
Gems #19
PLEASE EXPLAIN "GOOD WORKS"
Ah, someone who knows he must do them!! Good question!!! I'll soon put up a Message about FAITH and WORKS - which saves us? Meantime, at Jesus' Judgment Seat true Christians will have all their works JUGDED. 2 Corinthians Ch 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. NOT checking about Heaven or Hell here. That's His MAIN Judgment. This is judging the WORKS we've DONE HERE ON EARTH of those who will be living with Him forever.
So are you ready? To have your works JUDGED I mean. Most Believers are FAR from ready!! It's coming, guys! More CERTAIN even than the sun coming up tomorrow morning. But I digress. *hee! I've wanted to say that for ages!!* So WHAT ARE OUR WORKS? You know that God wants from us to live right - live righteously! The righteous man or woman will produce GOOD WORKS!! - things we do, and say, and even think probably, which will be GOOD and PLEASING to the Lord God!!! These will stem from (flow out of) our OBEDIENCE TO Him, from our LOVE FOR Him - and for others - and from our innermost DESIRE to PLEASE HIM, i.e., make Him HAPPY!!! (yes, you CAN do that!!)
Specifically, GOOD WORKS (deeds) in the New Testament may be: taking care of those Brothers and Sisters in need, providing money to enable such things, plain straight out loving and caring for other Believers, bringing up your kids to love God, loving your wife or husband really good, living in peace with other Believers to the best of your ability. You get the idea. Paul said to Titus to teach: Titus Ch 3:8b that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men. They sure are!!!
And so what then are BAD WORKS? FAITH will produce good works; UNBELIEF will NOT!! BAD WORKS are mostly a FAILURE to do GOOD WORKS!!! So... any failures in YOUR life at the moment like this? Then that's God's Word to you to get with Him to change! HE WILL HELP!! Blessings to all!
- BM, with his Lady
Reaching Higher #44
Sorting out the Dilemma of Faith and Works!
SALVATION BY FAITH ALONE??
Today we KNOW that we are saved by FAITH when we choose to BELIEVE in Jesus, exactly as Martin Luther realised almost 500 years ago. He sparked the Protestant Reformation which we still profit from today: we all OWE this man, BIG TIME!!! Now Luther started teaching that Salvation is by FAITH ALONE (Sola fide) - in contrast to the church of his day which was teaching piles of dead WORKS if you wanted salvation! We know THAT'S CLEARLY WRONG!! BUT... is 'Sola fide' correct??
Ephesians Ch 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. So here we have FAITH, but not WORKS - pretty clear, right!! But let's now TURN THE COIN OVER and look AT THE OTHER SIDE!!
James Ch 2:17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. 18 But someone will say, "You have faith, and I have works." Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith BY my works.
SUMMARY!
So: Ephesians says FAITH, not WORKS, i.e., same as Luther: "Salvation is by faith alone." But James is saying FAITH plus WORKS. Is the Bible CONTRADICTING itself? NO WAY!! The New Testament says about as clear as you can get: 1) Salvation is NOT BY WORKS, it's by FAITH (not even really GOOD works will save you!!) Let's keep that clearly in our minds, and continue: 2) But if your FAITH FAILS TO PRODUCE (good) WORKS, then your FAITH is useless, it's DEAD, and so is NOT FAITH at all!!
Thus the statement that "Salvation is by faith ALONE" is incorrect, and unscriptural. The statement "Salvation is by FAITH" IS correct - but to give the WHOLE truth we absolutely must say: "We are saved by faith, not by works; but true faith WILL produce good works!!" And this is so IMPORTANT that we can also say that: if any part of that statement is failing in our lives, then it's likely that we are NOT saved!!!
SO WHAT CAN WE DO?
If you feel that your FAITH is weak, FIRST, check your COMMITMENT to the Lord Jesus. He has to not only be your Saviour, but also LORD over all of your life!! SECOND, check how well you've CONFESSED and REPENTED of ALL of your SIN. This is NOT optional! If you've not managed to fully REPENT, this surely will hold up your GROWTH in FAITH. Ask the Lord to HELP you to "fess up" to all of your wrongs.
If you know you are FAILING on WORKS (most of us ARE!!), Jesus says to TAKE CARE OF THE NEEDY!! Find someone to unselfishly HELP (and keep helping), OR regularly GIVE to the SERIOUSLY needy in poorer countries - such as (any amount) to Poverty-stricken Dalit Christian Mums, Dads and their KIDS too - living in SEMI-SLAVERY! They'll LOVE you for it - and so will the Lord!! Bless you heaps!
- BM, with his Lady
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