The goodness and Severity of the Lord!

[shammah]

Greeetings in the Lord;

There are two gospels being preached in the world; the broad Gospels which speaks only of the goodness and basic salvation message; like God is Love, John .3:16, and Romans.9:10! And all the other loving words our Lord has provided for His beloved!

But that is only a gospel of Love, or His goodness! The whole gospel is the Word (Christ manifested) and needs to be obeyed to continue in the faith!

The part of the gospel which keeps people from true faith and obedience is the severity of the Lord! The fear of the Lord is the begining of wisdom, and to the understanding of the severity, necessity of obedience, and knowledge of Christ's (whole word)!

People say, I'm saved, I've said the sinners prayer! And they are asked some question about following, fighting against the enemy, or obedience, and they call it legalism; and that they read the last chapter and we win! But in and in between the new testimemt, from front to end, are the principles we MUST learn, and OBEY, to follow Christ to the end , to maturity!

Is not this overlooked in most churches? Don't they avoid the severity of the Lord, the very words that test and prove who will really follow Him at all cost!

Romans.11:22

22Then note and appreciate the gracious kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God's gracious kindness to you--provided you continue in His grace and abide in His kindness; otherwise you too will be cut off (pruned away)!

Every person who truely reads and tests himself by going through the whole book, and deciding whether He can really deny himself, and follow the Lord even unto death, must make many hard decisions! Because if you read a hard truth, like you must Love God more than your family, or even your own life, even unto death; and to refuse in your heart to be willing to do so ; is pretending to be a believer!

Yes pretending, because even the devils believe, and tremble; BUT THEY DO NOT DO HIS WILL !

What makes a Christian any differant from a Devil, if he knows the word but picks and chooses the scriptures he will follow! I'm sure there are even a few scriptures the devils will follow, the Devil loves to quote scripture to his own advantage! He would say something like " would God really deny you if you kept doing just these few sins; or you don't have to repent ,He loves you, and accepts you just the way you are!"

At one time in reading the book of James, I came across many scriptures that indicate you must really do Gods Will to be a true Christian! Faith without the doing of the word is dead!

This shocked me to my core, and at this point many who are truthful with what they read and believe, must make the choice to deny himself to be obedient to the word! Or deny some of the truth that you have just read, choosing not to be obedient or believe (ALL) the word.

Many who are truthful to themselves will say,"If this is 100% the word of God, I can't or won't do it, if I have to do it (ALL)"! Or I don't believe this is the infalable word of God, so I'll just follow what I believe as good teaching, and reject what must have been just for then. Or they really didn't hear correctly, or it wasn't translated correctly ! Some even say that this book really shouldn't have been included as scripture, since men decided to accept some and reject other books.

To retain atleast some of their own way of life, they refuse to follow (ALL) what Christianity teaches, each one making some justification!

But if God is able to preserve His word, and He means everything He says, then by my understanding, to be a true Christian, eventually a believer is (genuine) when he comes to the point of obedience to the (Word=Christ) which has been revealed, and writen on his heart! It's a life long walk with Him, following His example to the end!

Some really try for years and years; repenting of the same sins over and over! But at some point they must realize that they just love themselves too much to really turn away from that sin, and their heart becomes hard, and either rationalize it away, or fall away!

Really God is able to keep you and preserve you,and not let one be taken from His hand! But He also gives you free will, He wont force you to be obedient! Even though He sends you the Holy Spirit to make you able to overcome any obsticle if you truely Love Him more than yourself! You still have a choice; thats why your choosing Him over yourself is so prescious to Him, and the reward is so glorious!

Many wise men will not enter, and many rich also ,because it cost them to much to deny themselves to be a true Christian!

Something to think about! Love Ephraim.

Edited October 15, 2004 by shammah

[tsth]

That would be considering the cost.

Luke 14:25 And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them, 26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. 27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. 28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? 29 Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, 30 Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish. 31 Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand? 32 Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace. 33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple. 34 Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned? 35 It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill; but men cast it out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

In His Love,

Suzanne

[shammah]

Praise God for you Suzanne:

Not because you agree with me, but because you confirm the Word; and in doing so you are (prescious in His sight)!

Here are a few more scriptures that are hard, but confirm.

1 John. 2:3-6;

3 And hereby we do know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments.

4 He that saith, I know Him, and keepeth not His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

5 But whoso keepeth His word, in him verily is the Love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in Him.

6 He that saith he abideth in Him ought himself also so to walk, even as He walked.

1 John.3:24

24 And he that keepeth His commandments dwelleth in Him, and He in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which He hath given us.

And I know that the Body needs each other , and all the gifts are meant to complete the body, and not to avoid the gathering together; but in these last days true fellowship of those who are truely on that narrow way is difficult!

So I included this last verse for those who feel like they're standing alone, and many times only have the Spirit and the Word to follow, in these difficult days!

1 John.2:26-28;

26I write this to you with reference to those who would deceive you [seduce and lead you astray].

27But as for you, the anointing (the sacred appointment, the unction) which you received from Him abides [[15] permanently] in you; [so] then you have no need that anyone should instruct you. But just as His anointing teaches you concerning everything and is true and is no falsehood, so you must abide in (live in, never depart from) Him [being [16] rooted in Him, knit to Him], just as [His anointing] has taught you [to do].

28And now, little children, abide (live, remain [17] permanently) in Him, so that when He is made visible, we may have and enjoy perfect confidence (boldness, assurance) and not be ashamed and shrink from Him at His coming.

Let us all strive to stand up for the whole truth, to be faithful and Holy to the light we have been given, to run without waivering the race to the end! And always seek fellowship, may the Lord guide you to those who walk in the Spirit!

I who am nothing, encourage you to find His perfect will!

To all of you; Agape in our Lord Christ Jesus ! Ephraim.

Edited October 15, 2004 by shammah

[tsth]

So I included this last verse who feel like they're standing alone, and many times only have the Spirit and the Word to follow, in these difficult days!

1 John.2:26-28;

26I write this to you with reference to those who would deceive you [seduce and lead you astray].

27But as for you, the anointing (the sacred appointment, the unction) which you received from Him abides [[15] permanently] in you; [so] then you have no need that anyone should instruct you. But just as His anointing teaches you concerning everything and is true and is no falsehood, so you must abide in (live in, never depart from) Him [being [16] rooted in Him, knit to Him], just as [His anointing] has taught you [to do].

28And now, little children, abide (live, remain [17] permanently) in Him, so that when He is made visible, we may have and enjoy perfect confidence (boldness, assurance) and not be ashamed and shrink from Him at His coming.

Dear shammah,

So very timely for me today. I always give thanks and praise for God's Word.

In His Love,

Suzanne

[shammah]

Not many wise, rich, or noble, are willing to lose their life in Christ; willing to loose evreything! The lord is that Peril of great price; I prasie God for all the meek and Humble willing to give up this life, for His sake!

Those of the true way will be fought by the enemy, tested and tried , like silver and gold; the way is narrow and few be that really find it!

If the message is popular with many people and the world, it's not the Gospel of Christ!

Agape ; Ephraim.

[Orr v'emet]

What an awesome and refreshing thread...full of Truth from the Word!

There are two gospels being preached in the world; the broad Gospels which speaks only of the goodness and basic salvation message; like God is Love, John .3:16, and Romans.9:10! And all the other loving words our Lord has provided for His beloved!

But that is only a gospel of Love, or His goodness! The whole gospel is the Word (Christ manifested) and needs to be obeyed to continue in the faith!

When I read this I was reminded of a verse someone pointed out to me just last night that goes along with what you are saying:

Jude 1:4 I say this because some godless people have wormed their way in among you, saying that God's forgiveness allows us to live immoral lives. The fate of such people was determined long ago, for they have turned against our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.

We simply cannot twist what the word of God says here. Some take the part of the bible that makes them comfortable (goodness, love, salvation) however the bible clearly shows that is not enough. God's forgiveness does not allow us to live the way that we want to live. We are still to live a life of obedience as you said.

Every person who truely reads and tests himself by going through the whole book, and deciding whether He can really deny himself, and follow the Lord even unto death, must make many hard decisions! Because if you read a hard truth, like you must Love God more than your family, or even your own life, even unto death; and to refuse in your heart to be willing to do so ; is pretending to be a believer!

I couldn't agree more. Frankly this is something that I had to do alot of soul searching on several weeks ago. The bible is quite clear that we are expected to give our all and anything less won't do. (Luke 9: 57-62: Luke 14:25-35; Mark 10:21-31) We cannot enter into a relationship with God that is expected to carry on to maturity if we cannot give our all to Him. What are we going to accomplish if we are trying to look at the Father but we continue to take our eyes off Him to handle different parts of our lives? Obedience and submission are requirements not just guidelines.

Really God is able to keep you and preserve you,and not let one be taken from His hand! But He also gives you free will, He wont force you to be obedient! Even though He sends you the Holy Spirit to make you able to overcome any obsticle if you truely Love Him more than yourself! You still have a choice; thats why your choosing Him over yourself is so prescious to Him, and the reward is so glorious!

Amen and amen! Alot of times we agonize over submitting to God and His will. Somehow we've gotten it in our minds that if we hold on to just a little that it will be okay and that we can do something wonderful. The fact of the matter is that all we can do is mess it up. God's ways are perfect. He can be trusted with every detail of your life. There is so much stress trying to run life on your terms. But oh the peace and contentment giving your all to the Father and having the faith to let Him carry out His purpose which will always be for our good. (Jeremiah 29:11; Romans 8:28)

Thanks for sharing the Truth from the Word! God bless you!

[larryt]

Lu 24:25  Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe ALL that the prophets have spoken:

Just an overlooked verse that this thread reminds me of.

LT

[AnotherTraveler]

Trouble with all the twists and turns is there is only one great white throne, and One sitting on it, and the judgement will be set, the books will be opened, and the spin will truely stop there.

[Orr v'emet]

KBM....your quote

''We simply cannot twist what the word of God says here. Some take the part of the bible that makes them comfortable (goodness, love, salvation) however the bible clearly shows that is not enough. God's forgiveness does not allow us to live the way that we want to live. We are still to live a life of obedience as you said.''

thats so true

but  people in divisional creeds and sects do this, to make it a different gospel, with different rules...as they appear right in their own eyes

You're exactly right. I believe it's called idolatry...Making a god to "suit" our own selves.

[Guest Called]

Shammah, this has to be one of the best posts I have seen in a long time! Simple truth. Obedience is not legalism. Obedience is not basing our salvation on works. Obedience is the natural response to a life that has been changed by Almighty God. Faith without works is dead. I wonder how many Christians really get that!

Thank you for sharing this with us!

God Bless,

Debbie