Searching Out the Matter
I don't have the following matter completely clear-do you?
I was reading in Ecclesiastes this morning and came upon the Scipture," Now all has been heard, here is the conclusion of the matter; Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgement, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil" Eccl.12: 13, 14.
Here's the question: If the above is true, and I believe it is, and if we are "under grace, and not law," (which is also true) how do we coincide the two truths? Another aspect of the question is, do statements in Old Testament, which speak of judgement, (and I know there are also some in the New Testament) still hold under the grace covering and status we are given in Christ, and how does that work?
To not complicate the matter further, I will stop there, and let you all answer and comment. I think alot of Christians are confused on these points.
I was reading in Ecclesiastes this morning and came upon the Scipture," Now all has been heard, here is the conclusion of the matter; Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgement, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil" Eccl.12: 13, 14.
Here's the question: If the above is true, and I believe it is, and if we are "under grace, and not law," (which is also true) how do we coincide the two truths? Another aspect of the question is, do statements in Old Testament, which speak of judgement, (and I know there are also some in the New Testament) still hold under the grace covering and status we are given in Christ, and how does that work?
To not complicate the matter further, I will stop there, and let you all answer and comment. I think alot of Christians are confused on these points.
posted by Patti Blount @ 8:34 AM
10 Comments:
At 7/05/2010 10:13 AM ,
Court Wood said...
We are not appointed to wrath, but we will as believers stand before Christ to receive rewards, and unfortunately for some saints, "to be saved as by fire." For some our lives will be examples of "gold, silver, and precious stones" for some "wood, hay, and stubble." We all will have elements of both in our lives.
We are not under law, but rather under a higher law, the law of Christ. And under this banner of love, we are called each day to "cloth ourselves with Christ" to "have the mind of Christ" to be "transformed into His image" to "know Him" the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His suffering.
We are objects of His grace and mercy. We are accepted in Him (the Beloved). We have the Righteousness of Christ. These are gifts imputed to us. Yet we are called in this life to be yoked to Him, to die daily, to be crucified with Christ, to run the race, to aim for the goal of the high calling of God in Christ. This is the "living way of the Spirit" not possible under the "letter of the law." The law carries with principles to learn by, but the goal is Christ.
At 7/05/2010 11:20 AM ,
artnelson said...
First we need to remember that Ecclesiastes is written from the natural viepoint--the "things done under the sun"--and not the spiritual viewpoint. After all, it tells us "to eat, drink, and be merry for tomorrow we die." It presents a logical view of the world from the natural mind. It needs to be balanced with the Song of Soloman which presents the spiritual view.
Having said that, we need to concentrate on the New Testament. Being "under grace" does not relieve us of the responsibility of obedience. Jesus gave us a new commandment and said that if we love Him we will keep His commandments. We can't keep commandments without obedience. Jesus, Himself, learned obedience by the things He suffered (Heb. 5:8). We too must learn obedience.
Revelation 19:8 tells us that the Bride is clothed by the righteous acts or deeds of the saints. Deeds not beliefs. Being under grace does not relieve us of the responsibility of doing righeous deeds; it simply relieves us of the deeds as the basis of our acceptance.
You might want to read my article "Law, Life and Inheritance" available on my website: www.lifestreamteaching.com
--
Art Nelson
At 7/05/2010 8:05 PM ,
im.undone said...
i conquer with what Art Nelson said.
At 7/06/2010 7:48 PM ,
Candy said...
This is a truth that is never taught of in the modern church " AS A BELIEVER YOU WILL BE JUDGED ACCORDING TO THE DEEDS DONE IN THE BODY". many preachers wrongly assert that "when christ looks at a man or woman who has been converted than all he sees is Christ. yet this is certainly not what is taught in scripture. think about the book of revelation. What does the Lords exhortation to each of the churches start out with " I know your works". "every deed truly shall be judged" thus it is written in revelation as well "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". This is a truth which people refuse to teach " you will be judged according to your works. "But the confusion comes in when people link this to salvation. This is not a manner of salvation it is one of reward. Look at the words of brother Paul " 12If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man’s work. 14If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. 15If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames. Again someone here is being judged according to the works but "they themselves will be Saved". So why was the one rewarded and the other was not. Because of there works. People think that once you except christ that works are irrelevent and nothing we recieve from God is based on works" Ok, if this is the case than this would mean that works are not profitable. again lets see what scripture says " [This is] a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men. So clearly our good works are profitable. For one there is a incompletness to faith that is not mixed with works. Look what brother James said "Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? ... 24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. .... for so long we've heard things like " God is no respecter of persons". but what was this is reference to "SALVATION" . But God is a respecter of person in regards to reward. thus "ephesian 8 says because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does . and paul says ' If I preach voluntarily, I have a reward" So does this violate the principle of Grace No. Because Grace is what gives us the power to do these works in a way and in a spirit that is exceptable to the Lord. This is where many Pastors have failed. they have not taught that grace is not passive it is Power. thus paul say " I laboured more than they all so that the grace gioven me would not be taken in vain". there is a way that you can have grace and take it in vain. So grace is Power and your reward ( not you rightous standing for salvation) is based on you using the Power he gives. and by the grace of God I will not be one of those who are saved " only as one escaping through the flames"
At 7/06/2010 7:50 PM ,
Candy said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
At 7/06/2010 7:52 PM ,
Candy said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
At 7/06/2010 7:52 PM ,
Candy said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
At 7/06/2010 7:52 PM ,
Candy said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
At 7/06/2010 7:52 PM ,
Candy said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
At 7/06/2010 7:52 PM ,
Candy said...
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