Works or Grace

 

“And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.” (Rev 20:11).

This pivotal moment in eternity occasioned the “final” resurrection and “final” judgement – a judgement predicated on “works” (cf. Joh 5:28-29, Rev 20:12-13).

“And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works” (Rev 20:12-13, emphasis added).

“All” standing before that great white throne will be judged “according to their works”!

However, according to what Paul refers to as “my gospel,” i.e., “the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began” (cf. Rom 16:25) ─ we are “not” saved by works!

“Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified” (Gal 2:16).

“For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them” (Gal 3:10).

“Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began” (2Ti 1:9).

“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Spirit” (Tit 3:5).

“Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.” (Rom 11:5-6).

However, “works” are quintessential for the Body of Christ ─ but “not” for salvation:

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them” (Eph_2:10).

“Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works” (Tit 2:14).

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God… That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works” (2Ti 3:16-17).

We are not saved “by” good works we are saved “for” good works!

 

©2020 Christopher. All rights reserved.

BSF and the Gospel

BSF Last Night

During last night’s discussion, it was observed that although the BSF Notes concede that “many” interpreters identify the “woman” of Revelation chapter 12 as the “nation of Israel.” It assures us that there are “some” scholars who suggest the woman is the Church, i.e., “the people of God.” And if it represents the “unity of God’s people” in the Scriptures and “across all time,” then the “woman” is “both” Israel and also the Church

So what does this suggest regarding BSF’s once “sacrosanct” distinction between Israel and the Church? Each BSF installment answers that question with the “the people of God” amalgamation.

BSF Tonight

Accounts

God doesn’t settle accounts on Friday.

The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2Peter 3:9).

Yet, there will be a DAY when all opportunity will have passed, for He has set a singular DAY in all eternity when He will settle accounts, i.e., “that DAY.”

And the songs of the temple shall be howlings in that day, saith the Lord GOD: there shall be many dead bodies in every place; they shall cast them forth with silence…. And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord GOD, that I will cause the sun to go down at noon, and I will darken the earth in the clear day (Amos_8:3-9)

How can I be saved?

The Best of Times, The Worst of Times

“It was the time of unraveling. Long afterward, in the ruins, people asked: How could it happen?… It was a time of disorientation. Nobody connected the dots or read Kipling on life’s few certainties: “The Dog returns to his Vomit and the Sow returns to her Mire / And the burnt Fool’s bandaged finger goes wabbling back to the Fire.” Until it was too late and people could see the Great Unraveling for what it was and what it had wrought.” (Roger Cohen,The Great Unraveling, The New York Times, SEPT. 15, 2014).

"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way....” So begins A Tale of Two Cities in “the year of Our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy-five.” A tale of nations and souls when it was "the best of times, it was the worst of times.”

There is yet coming a day, unlike any other day, a final day, when the Judge of all the earth will judge. For some "the best of times." For some "the worst of times."

Black Liberation Theology

That young man from Ferguson was lamentably the "consummation” of the tenants of Black Liberation Theology: arrogance, rage, anarchy, and death. He was dead long before the first shot was fired!

“My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not. If they say, Come with us, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause… Let us swallow them up alive as the grave;… We shall find all precious substance, we shall fill our houses with spoil… My son, walk not thou in the way with them… For their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood…. they lay wait for their own blood; they lurk privily for their own lives” (Proverbs 1:10-18).

Der Übermensch

A conservative writer recently raised the question: "Should the President be impeached?" The question is not IF but CAN!

The President has ingratiated himself to every nation of the world at the expense of his own. He has succoured media collaboration, consolidated a consensual military by purge, and amalgamated what is essentially a single party system. In addition he has been uncontested in superseding the constitution, and at discretion has constitutionally endowed emergency powers i.e., a legal form of martial law. And the "Snowden factor" i.e., the ultimate power that comes from knowing the thoughts and intents of the heart of every cyber-connected soul on earth. Something a "Watergate" world could never imagine in it wildest dream.

He has amassed a political infrastructure eclipsing "der Übermensch" and will retain the presidency until such a time that he distains it, or God ordains otherwise.

"Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God" (Romans 13:1).

Pathetic!

Pathetic! The only spiritually appropriate advice we get today is from a “Duck Commander.” Where have all the “pastors” gone?

”Then began he [Jesus] to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not. Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida!...thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee” (Matthew 11:20-24).

Appears that the flames will be more tolerable for the Sodomites of Sodom in the day of judgment than for the “silent” pastors of today?

The "Spiritually" Correct Choice

The Eschaton

Does it really matter anymore what happens in those once hallowed halls of Congress?

Only a matter of time until America collapses into chaos from within, disintegrates in the ashes of a nuclear conflagration, or is consumed by the long overdue Wrath of God.

Many wonder why there is no Eschaton (End times) allusion to America in Scripture. The obvious answer is "there is NO America"!

Winds Message

The Sisterhood of Death

After President Obama placed the Presidential Medal of Freedom on abortion advocate Gloria Steinem's neck, she commented “I would be crazy.... if I didn’t understand that this was a medal for the entire women’s movement,” i.e. the "Sisterhood of Death" including such eminents as Planned Parenthood founder Margaret Sanger and anarchist-feminist Emma Goldman.

Margaret Sanger inculcated the phrase "birth control" into America's vernacular and advocated it in the June 1914 edition of her yellow-rag The Woman Rebel. The "Sisterhood of Death" was then consummated with Emma Goldman's followup speaking tour that disseminated contraceptive "options."

Goldman, the "consummate" anarchist had frequent confrontations with the law. On June 15, 1917, Federal Agents raided Goldman's office, arrested her and her editor Alexander Berkman, and recovered "a wagon load of anarchist records and propaganda." The New York Times further reported that when Goldman asked to change into a more appropriate outfit, she emerged in a gown of "royal purple." How appropriate to array herself as the "whore" of Babylon (cf. Revelation 17:1-5).

And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication.... drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus... (Revelation 17:4-6).

The Steinem, Sanger, Goldman "Sisterhood of Death" continues unabated today, succoured by roots tapping even earlier days.

On October 29, 1901 Goldman was arrested for complicity in the assassination of President William McKinley by one affirming to be her disciple.

Jonestown

35 years ago, Lenin "incarnate" Jim Jones, the “ultimate socialist,” self-destructed, but not without taking over 900 of his inculcated followers with him.

If it could happen in Jonestown, it could happen in America!

"Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness"
(2 Thessalonians 2:9-12).

The Art of the Strawman

Cursing God

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) is coordinating the latest "charge" to emasculate our military, with a bill that would usurp the Uniform Code of Military Justice, the foundation of military law that every member of the Armed Forces has solemnly sworn (or affirmed) obedience. If enacted, it will further strip the military's chain of command of due authority to accomplish that for which it has been charged!

The "junior" senator seeking, in "Jezebel" fashion, to codify the "unnatural" fraternization of men and women in common barracks has ventured into historically uncharted waters. And "cursed" the heritage of all who ever served as well as their commanders and the God to whom they have sworn.

And David was then in an hold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem. And David longed, and said, Oh that one would give me drink of the water of the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate! And the three mighty men brake through the host of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem, that was by the gate, and took it, and brought it to David: nevertheless he would not drink thereof, but poured it out unto the LORD. And he said, Be it far from me, O LORD, that I should do this: is not this the blood of the men that went in jeopardy of their lives? therefore he would not drink it (2Samuel 23:15-17).

Evil Always Consumes Its Self!

[in process] The Mainstream Media, after a five-year incestuous symbiosis with the White House, now realizes that their continued usefulness as a "propaganda machine" may be short lived.

In a credulous 38-signatory letter addressed to the White House Press Secretary, they belatedly protest that White House is obstructing the media’s "constitutional duty"!

"And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet" (Revelation 16:13).

This is the satanic "trinity," consisting of the dragon, the beast, and the false prophet (whore).

"And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet [the end time apostate religious leader who enabled the ascension of the beast to power] that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image...." (Revelation 19:20).

"And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire" (Revelation 17:16).

Bones of Contention

Pope Francis concluded the so-called Year of Faith at St. Peter's Basilica with an unprecedented exposition, the alleged bones of St. Peter, the Bishop of Rome.

However there is a problem, there is no biblical evidence Peter was ever in Rome, much less the Bishop of Rome....

"But tradition says...."! Yes, but what did Jesus say regarding "tradition"?

"... Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.... in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.... laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men.... Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.... Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye" (Mar 7:5-13).

Such Were Some of You

This past January, a family bakery, constrained by faith, courteously but firmly declined the request for a same-sex affair wedding cake. The bride’s mother countered with the popular but unsubstantiated assertion that homosexually is genetic and alleged biblical references claiming that her daughter was created that way and that the marriage was appropriate.

Are there any such biblical references? To the contrary, Scripture clearly affirms that any lifestyle regardless of sin preference is "alterable":

Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind [G733: arsenokoites (a sodomite)], Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God (1 Corinthians 6:9-11).

"... nor abusers of themselves with mankind.... And such were some of you."

Unfortunately, as a consequence of the initiation of official action, gay intimidation, boycotts, and even death threats, the bakery closed for good.

The Snowden Chronicles

The Snowden chronicles recently revealed that mankind has developed the capability to globally monitor connectivity and store without bandwidth constraint the constituent text, voice, video, and GPS coordinates of virtually every transaction; the archived data to be processed by algorithms yet to be imagined. Such is the propensity of mankind for Omniscience, albeit a synthetic Omniscience.

And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil" (Genesis 3:4-5).

However, Omniscience is more than just knowing, 'Scientia Potentia Est' i.e., “knowledge is power”, the ultimate power that comes from knowing the thoughts and intents of the heart of every cyber-connected soul on earth, a power that even the serpent never had until now!