The Simplicity of the Gospel.

The Motivation-Love Romans 5:6; John 3:16
The Solution-Propitiation 1 John 2:2
The Essence Grace-1 Peter 5:5
Acquisition-Faith Eph 2:9
The Exchange-Our life for His-John 12:23-26
Obedience=Maturity Not Salvation Rom 1:5; Rom 6:16; 2 Cor 10:5

Obedience to Christ is not the same as obedience to the Law. If you failed at one point of the Law, you were guilty of the whole Law.

James 2:10 For whoever shall keep the whole Law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all.

I do not obey Christ to receive His love, to obtain His love, or to get Him to love me more. I obey because He is my Lord and purchased me with His blood. I have been made new in Him. This created a new heart in me for Him and His ways. I threw out my old ways and allowed His word and Spirit to form me. Am I perfect? Absolutely not, but I repent. If I repent, I confess that His way is better, and I sinned. He is faithful and just. 1 John 1:9. Does this make my life easy? Not all the time. But, it does make my life better. He promised us that we would go through trials for His sake. I am okay with that.

He sees me through everything. Do you have to obey, yes? He did not expect His people to be disobedient. Not in the Old or the New. He changed the continued need for sacrifice with a perfect eternal One. Himself! But I am not guilty of breaking everything. I need to correct the mistakes I make and move on. I do not dwell on the past. I ask for forgiveness; then, I receive it to myself.

I do not have a license to sin. On the contrary, those who teach such things err greatly and cause the downfall of many. There should be a conviction for sin. However, rejoicing should come if people repent and rejoice with them. I am restoring them in their place given by God.

Many teach that what we do does not matter; God loves us. This is true, but that does not mean that there is a consequence for our actions. Jesus will judge the living and dead and all of our works.

Acts 10:42 And He commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is He who was ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead.

2 Tim. 4:1 I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom:

1 Pet. 4:5 They will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.

We also have to understand sowing and reaping. He who sows mercy shall receive mercy. Sowing and reaping are highly abused in finances, but it does not mean it is not valid. What we sow matters, so following His ways means I plant what He desires, not my flesh.

Gal. 6:7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.

There is a scripture that scares me about mercy and judgment.

James 2:13 For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

The point being, be merciful. You will face judgment someday, and if you have shown no mercy, that day will be painful.

So let me sum up the verses above. The Father so loved His creation that He sent His Son Jesus to redeem creation. Love was His motivation. Sin had to be paid for, and since we were sinners, we had nothing to offer. The solution was Jesus as our Propitiation. A fancy word that means He took our place in atoning for our sins. This act releases Grace for you to be saved. You obtain this through faith. Faith must be mixed with it to be activated in you. Faith and Grace are like a two-part epoxy. Hebrews 4:2.

This is not a prayer to be prayed but in the heart. Out of the heart, we do our best to confess this in words. Romans 10:8-10. You make this publicly by baptism, which also buries the old man. Romans 6. We become mature by learning His ways. Now, you cannot become mature by following the Law because the Law cannot complete this in you. You become mature by surrendering to Him. The Law is helpful if you know how to use it properly. 1 Tim 1:8 As instruction in righteousness, not as a means to obtain righteousness.

So saint, listen to what I have to say. The Father loves you, even in your mess. He is not angry when you sin. The Father will chastise us, yes, but also cleanse us. He will almost always forgive unless you do some horrible stuff. By loving others, giving, sharing, and being generous, I obtain nothing for this world. I do it for Him. I give all to Him as a sweet-smelling sacrifice. I do not do it because He will be angry. I do it because I love Him and His ways. His ways are inside of the Sanctuary. Not the way to get into His house.

Saying all this, however, remember that He is holy. If you want to experience the Father's presence, there are requirements. He will require repentance and surrender. One of the things I had to surrender was my fear of being unworthy. I am not worthy of anything. That is why it is called Grace. I obey because it pleases Him, not because He will love me more. I leave you with this verse.

Rom. 8:31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
Rom. 8:32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?

He loves us, and this I rejoice. He has given us everything.

Love,
Pastor L.