Myth, 126

 ~ God Will Grade On The Curve ~

 

Myth  ~  God will grade me on a curve – just like some of my school teachers.

 

Reality  ~  Righteousness is the standard everyone is unrighteous in God’s eyes.   

 

“The Lord looks down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there are any who understand, who seek God.  They have all turned aside, they have together become corrupt; there is none who does good, no, not one” (Psalm 14:2-3).

 

“But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe.  For there is no difference; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus” (Romans 3:21-26).

 

Comment  ~  The only way we can become righteous in the eyes of God is by being born again through salvation obtained by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the Cross of Calvary. 

 

“‘Come now, and let us reason together,’ says the Lord, ‘though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool” (Isaiah 1:18).

 

When that happens then from that point forward The Father sees us covered with the righteousness of His Son.

 

Scripture  ~  “I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments, and as a bride [the Christian Church) adorns herself with her jewels” (Isaiah 61:10).

 

Quotes  ~  Heaven is not an earned reward but rather a gift to the guilty.”

 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.

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Is Christ God? 3of12

 ~ Jeremiah Called Jesus Christ God! ~

 

Scripture  ~  “‘Behold, the days are coming,’ says the Lord, ‘that I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness; a King shall reign and prosper, and execute judgment and righteousness in the earth.  In His days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell safely; now this is His name by which He will be called: THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS” (Jeremiah 23:5-6). 

 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.

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Binary, 6

 ~ Binary Natures: Old or New ~

 

Series Comment  ~  When it comes to spiritual paths it is strictly a binary choice. 

(1)   It is a choice between the True or False.  “Jesus said to him [Thomas], ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through Me’” (John 14:6).  [See Post #1 in this series.]

(2)   It is a choice between Do or Done.  Jesus said, “It [the work of salvation] is finished!” (John 19:30).  Your Doing can add nothing to what Christ has Done for you.  [See Post #2 in this series.]

(3)   It is your choice between Religion or Relationship.  Religions are geared toward self-effort whereas Christianity is an intimacy with the only One who can save.  Jesus said, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock.  If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me” (Revelation 3:20).  [See Post #3 in this series.}

 

The Old Nature  ~   “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells” (Romans 7:18a).

 

“That you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness” (Ephesians 4:22-24).  …

 

The New Nature  ~  … “Therefore, putting away lying, ‘Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,’ for we are members of one another.  ‘Be angry, and do not sin’: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil.  Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need.  Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.  And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.  Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice.  And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you” (Ephesians 4:25-32).

“By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us.  And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.  But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?  My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.  And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him” (1 John 3:16-19).

 

Comment  ~  These passage contrast the sinful nature we were all born with and the new nature we have received at the time of second birth into the family of God.  As a believer we have both natures and have multiple binary choices as to which nature we will follow.

 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW  

 

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