First of all, we are all sinners, and “All our righteousness are as filthy rags.” “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”
“There is none righteous – no not one, but God has laid upon Him (Jesus) the iniquity of us all.”
Leo Tolstoy, the great Russian writer of “War and Peace,” grappled with not being able to live up to what he considered to be “Christian requirements.” Although he knew right from wrong, he somehow failed to understand that we are saved by grace and grace alone. I can only conclude that this famous man didn’t read or understand the following Bible verses.
How did this man miss the following? Surely he must have read that it was his duty to study the word of God. “Study to show yourselves approved, rightly dividing (disseminating) the Word of God.” He may have fallen for the trap of tradition, repetition and humanistic thinking. It is such a pity.
Learn these verses. Let them become a part of who you are. Please read carefully, as the following verses will dispel fear, dread and doubt.
First, we must believe that God is and that He rewards those who diligently seek Him.
“Faith comes by hearing (learning) and hearing (learning) by the word of God.”
“For by GRACE are you saved and that not of yourselves, it is a GIFT of God lest any man should boast.”
“But to him that worketh not, (trying to win God’s favor and forgiveness) but believes on Him who justifies the Godly, to him it is counted for righteousness.”
“There is now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus.”
“If the Son shall set you free you shall be free indeed.”
“The just shall live by faith.”
Knowing the Word of God is the only way to be able to discern both right from wrong and have assurance of salvation. It is imperative to being all that God intends for you to be. However, we should never stop striving to please God for His grace and love toward us undeserving sinners. Needless to say, no one will ever achieve perfection while on this earth, and anyone who says they are perfect is a liar.
We may have to suffer at the beginning of the tribulation period (which may already be upon us) to cleanse us and make us ready for the hereafter, but God promises to strengthen us and enlighten us to be able to have spiritual discernment, assurance of salvation and boldness.
In these end times we should be TAKING A STAND for the Gospel of Jesus Christ by putting on the whole armor of God. “We are more than conquerors through him who died for us.”
Now that we are assured of salvation we can wear what the scriptures refer to as the Helmet of Salvation. That is that our mind is made up as to the veracity of the Bible and we can rely on the word of God for salvation having met the only requirement, which is to trust God for salvation through Christ.
Granted, we being human can at times falter and doubt, but that’s only natural as the apostle Paul found out, saying, “That which I would do, I do not; that which I wouldn’t do I find myself doing,….Oh God who shall deliver me from this cycle of sin and death. I thank God it has been accomplished by Christ Jesus.”
We are to wear the Breastplate of truth. Pilot asked Jesus, “What is Truth?” and he was staring at truth right in the face. Jesus Christ is the embodiment of truth; truth in the flesh. To know truth we must know what (truth) Jesus Christ said by reading His Words.
We take the Sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God, and are able to do things that can’t be done in our own human strength or wisdom which is sorely lacking. Ergo, we can’t rely on manmade philosophies to deal with life and the lost. We must use the Word. “The word of God is sharp and powerful and cuts through all the defenses and foolishness (joints and marrow) soul and spirit, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” It is essential to know the Word of God.
We then take the Shield of faith which is the faith garnered from the Word of God; the more we know of it the easier it is to counter the fiery darts of the devil.
Our feet should be shod with the Gospel. That is to take the Gospel everywhere we go, even to the ends of the earth fearlessly. As Paul said, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” He also said, “If God be for us, who can be against us?”
By the way –
The movie “Little Boy” is out and received 88% favorability by one of the prominent critics; critics who are usually atheistic, extremely bias and pretentious. I saw it and joined in the applause at the end with many others. The movie is a period piece about a little boy who wants his father to come home from the Second World War. It is about love for God, love for one another and love for country.
YBIC
Jim Torres “Towers”