A very important aspect of our cross is also the following. We must see and understand that GOD WILL NOT DO EVERYTHING FOR US! GOD HAD DONE EVERYTHING FOR US WHAT WAS HIS PART TO DO and He does not have to add to it or subtract from it.
But we must start SEEING, understanding and believing in our heart and spirit what GOD decided to do Himself and what GOD decided to be OUR PART TO DO IN HIS COVENANT, WHAT MAN MUST DO FOR HIS OWN SALVATION!
THERE ARE VERY IMPORTANT THINGS IN OUR SALVATION WHICH ARE CLEARLY OUR PART TO DO AND WHICH GOD WILL NEVER DO FOR US! THEY MUST BE DONE BY US! AND IF THEY ARE NOT DONE BY US, THEY ARE NOT DONE! PERIOD. AND THE HOLY SPIRIT IS GUIDING US TO THIS TRUTH AND TO THESE THINGS FIRST. THIS IS NOT MY PERSONAL STATEMENT TO THE CHURCH, THIS IS THE WORD OF GOD TO THE CHURCH AND IT IS WRITTEN IN HIS WORD VERY, VERY CLEARLY (see also nine clear examples from the Word of God below).
NO BELIEVER, IRRESPECTIVE OF PERSONS, WILL HAVE ANY EXCUSE BEFORE THE JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST WITH REGARD TO THE SPIRITUAL TRUTHS AND FACTS IN HIS WORD. (Rom. 2:11; 14:12// Col. 3:25)
Read the WORD and consider IT in your heart and mind very carefully… your LIFE depends on IT.
It is entirely possible that we might have missed some truly vital truths in the Word or misinterpreted them very, very badly. You see, there is a great power in this Universe that “helped us” and keeps helping us very effectively to do these misinterpretations. It is in his interest and it is his job! The Spirit desires to give us some important examples from the Word of God which He inspired to be written and where the action is on US and NOT on GOD. When you do not perform your part, you judge what may happen to you.
1) 2COR. 7:1b – “…let US cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” It is not written: “and God will cleanse us from all filthiness of our flesh and will perfect our holiness while we do nothing, just believe”. Oh NO! WE HAVE TO DO IT with His power and guidance. The main work of our faith in this, and in all the other points below, is CONFESSION and a TRUE REPENTANCE which will deliver us from our filthiness and will bring forth in us a different fruit, acceptable and pleasing to God, the fruit that shall REMAIN.
2) EPH. 4:22 – “That YOU put off concerning the former conversation the OLD man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts.” It is not written: “since God had crucified your old man on the Cross of Christ, therefore, now you need to do nothing more”. OH NO! WE HAVE TO DO IT with His power and guidance now that we and our old man exist and we live in our old man. (Col. 3:9)
3) EPH. 4:23 – “And (YOU) BE renewed in the spirit of your mind”. It is not written: “and God will renew your mind while you do nothing”. Oh NO! IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO DO IT as He gives the necessary light for us to SEE our old mind, its unrighteous or foolish thoughts, imaginations, darkness or other evil therein.
Do you really believe that God would gladly welcome to Heaven a believer who has a dark mind, full of unrighteous and foolish thoughts (which are sins – Pr. 24:9) just because he was redeemed and baptized in water? Really? And if you do not believe it, then how and when will that believer get rid of that dark, foolish and unrighteous mind? Please, be specific and Scriptural! And if you are honest and do not know the answer, then at least believe these nine examples from the Lord.
4) EPH. 4:24 – “And that YOU put on the NEW man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.” It is not written: “and God will put on you your new man while you do nothing… so, just sit at your church services and believe and wait”. NO! God had created our New Man and put him into Christ before we were born. But WE HAVE TO PUT HIM ON NOW THAT WE LIVE, (Col. 3:10) and that, by growing up into Christ in all things. (Eph. 4:15) Growing up into Christ in all things is our transformation process, which we have already defined and it is our work of faith; it is definitely NOT an easy work… that’s why the majority of believers are avoiding it; there are easier ways.
5) GAL. 5:24 – “And THEY that are Christ’s HAVE CRUCIFIED the flesh with the affections and lusts.” It is not written: “and God had crucified our flesh in Christ so we do not have to do it again”. NO! WE HAVE TO DO IT with His power and guidance on our own cross NOW THAT WE HAVE OUR FLESH AND LIVE IN IT, which flesh is the enemy of God and the field of Satan’s activities, evil plots and deceptions in our soul. Is it really so difficult to understand this simple truth and then believe it and do it?
6) PHIL. 2:12b – “…(YOU) work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” It is not written: “God has already saved you and you have nothing more to do in the Salvation of your soul …just wait on the Lord, you are saved for ever”. This “doctrine” is straight from hell as it squarely opposes the Word of God which clearly says that THE SALVATION WHICH WE OBTAINED AS A FREE GIFT, WE HAVE TO WORK OUT (OR “INTO” OUR SOUL) NOW WHEN OUR SOUL EXISTS and when we have the power of the Spirit given to us by God for that purpose. (Jn. 1:12) God is waiting for our choices and decisions and cooperation with Him.
7) 1COR. 3:9 – “FOR WE ARE LABOURERS TOGETHER WITH GOD;” This Word of God applies to our work in both Lord’s vineyards: FIRST IN OUR OWN SOUL (S. Sol. 1:6) AND THEN IN THE SOULS OF OTHERS – in that order! It is our part and responsibility to labour with God. In 1Cor. 3:1–4 Paul speaks to the church in Corinth of their carnality and childishness that were the problems in the Salvation of their souls, not in their redemption as believers.
8) HEB. 6:1 – “Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, LET US GO ON unto perfection…”.It is not written “Let us stay where we are and repeat the basic doctrines of Christianity and the promises of God for ever.” NO! God says clearly that there must come the time in our Christian life when we ought to leave the principles of the doctrines of Christ, which are a “theory” for our souls and go on and learn to live and apply them in our life! If we do not go on, the Spirit is expressing clearly the danger whereby we may FALL AWAY from our faith in those theoretical doctrines with tragic consequences that may include the loss of our Salvation, as shown previously. (Heb. 6:4-6)
9) REV. 3:5 – “He that OVERCOMES, the same shall be clothed in white raiment and I WILL NOT BLOT OUT HIS NAME OUT OF THE BOOK OF LIFE;” It is not written: “He that believes and is baptized shall be clothed in white raiment”. NO! Overcoming is one word that may be considered as conclusive of all the works of our faith (stated also in the above examples) which works are ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY for our Full Salvation. They are OUR PART to do and God has been waiting for us to do our parts. Ever since the devil had deceived believers, they are doing nothing!
Let me say immediately that the above nine examples do not exhaust this truth of the Scripture. They have been chosen as the most typical and clear examples to see and comprehend even with our natural eyes, understanding and common sense.
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To be continued next week in chapter 4 – part 3
brother Hanola
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