On Justification by Faith.

We live in a day where there is a lot of confusion about how one is saved. It’s not that the churches are confused, it’s that we still live in a time period where the church is still divided about Justification by faith. The reformation brought a freedom, but also separated the church, probably right until the second coming of Jesus.

Justification can be a strange doctrine depending where you are coming from. The modern argument is that if it is not by faith alone, then mankind adds to their holiness and possibly their salvation which of course would take the glory away from God, and place it on fallen man. On the other hand, if it is by faith alone, the argument is that a saved man is given too much freedom after he accepts the Lord, and is therefore given a licence to sin. Our consciences don’t want to accept the simplicity of a free gift, because we fear that if it is free, then we don’t have to change after salvation.

The division lies with man in the sense that it is true that if human beings are given too much freedom, they will abuse it. Angels are not human and therefore don’t need to be restricted by the law because they never sinned. Only sinners need access to the free grace of God to go to heaven when they die. Because men are sinners God freely offers us salvation, not because we deserve it, but because of God’s mercy and grace. To be justified freely doesn’t mean we have a license to sin, only God determines the consequences for us breaking the law, and that is why He sent his Son Jesus Christ to die for our sins. When we accept this gift of salvation we are forgiven by God.

Justification is also a part of God’s merciful gift of salvation. For God to treat me as a forgiven sinner, I must be given a righteousness that I didn’t merit. If I didn’t merit it, then it must be God who gave it to me. This is true because Jesus took my sins on the cross and by his merit, I am saved. If I add anything to this merit, it is simply my good works that will be credited to me as a reward in heaven. I never add to what Jesus did, all God asks is that I take it by faith, and keep that faith in what Jesus did for me. This of course doesn’t add to my salvation it just keeps it valid for me.

Walking with God takes faith, and it is this faith that justifies me. Faith is what maintains my relationship with God, and it is strengthened by the church. That is all I’ll say right now. God Bless, this is Mike.

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Some Bible Verses on Money.

Bible verses about money. I bet you didn’t think the bible said that? Proverbs 23:5 When you glance at wealth, it disappears, for it makes wings for itself and flies like an eagle to the sky. 1 Timothy 6:10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. Proverbs 13:11 Wealth quickly gained is quickly wasted — easy come, easy go! But if you gradually gain wealth, you will watch it grow. Psalm 62:10 Don’t make your living by extortion or put your hope in stealing. And if your wealth increases, don’t make it the centre of your life. Luke 6:38 “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Ecclesiastes 11:1 Cast your bread upon the waters, for after many days you will find it again. Malachi 3:10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that

My Story.

In 1999 I suffered a mental health crisis and admitted myself into the hospital where I live, in which I was given a mental health diagnosis. I didn’t want to receive medication at the time, but unwillingly accepted it. I was in the hospital for about two months, when I asked my doctor if I could go home, and he said yes, even though he thought it would have been better if I stayed longer. I was glad to be home though, but at 25, it took some adjusting to feel truly at home. One of the problems I was having at home was it was hard for me to eat the food in the house. I was having a psychosis where I felt the food wasn’t mine, and I literally had to go out to eat, or buy bread from the supermarket and take it home to eat it. Eventually this wore off, but I don’t remember how long. I was now on ODSP and had a check come to me every month in order to have financial support. I would occasionally have a crisis, and ask my mom to drive me to the hospital, but eventually the crisis would

Why has the church lost its capacity and power?

The church has modernized itself and in the process has lost something very valuable. It has lost its capacity to be personable. The way we reach lost souls is by seeing them, by getting to know them, and by recognizing them, but people are getting lost in the church. The church has become a busy place and is also becoming a less holy place. To make disciples we have to get to know people, and technology in the church is depersonalizing souls, and depersonalizing God for them. Faith becomes a marketable commodity, whereas in the past, churches and their leaders nourished and valued personal faith. While faith is still valued, it’s becoming something that is marketable, which reminds me of the story of Jesus in the temple turning over tables (Matthew 21:12-17). The problem isn’t that the church doesn’t work or doesn’t want to share the gospel, it could be how we are doing it. The church is currently being run like a business, and each Christian metaphorically speaking has a profit val

The Super Blogosphere of a parallel word.

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