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Christian blog devotionals encouraging Christian living and spiritual growth. An open bible study and interpretation of the life and teachings of Jesus Christ.

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Are we saved by works (faithful obedience) or faith alone…

Are we saved by works (faithful obedience) or faith alone…

Faithful is the saying, and concerning these things I desire that thou affirm confidently, to the end that they who have believed God may be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men: but shun foolish questionings, and genealogies, and strifes, and fightings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain. A factious man after a first and second admonition refuse; knowing that such a one is perverted, and sinneth, being self-condemned...Titus 3:8-11.

Let us rejoice and be exceeding glad, and let us give the glory unto him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And it was given unto her that she should array herself in fine linen, bright and pure: for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints...Revelation 19:7-8.

Ye see that by works a man is justified, and not only by faith. And in like manner was not also Rahab the harlot justified by works, in that she received the messengers, and sent them out another way? For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, even so faith apart from works is dead...James 2:24-26.


After we become Christians we are to maintain good works…righteous deeds. This is how we exercise our faith by doing what Jesus said do…which result in works of righteousness. Many believe that works do not save us but without works we have no faithful obedience. I think it should be said we are saved by faithful obedience which result in doing good deeds. How can a man say I believe Jesus said to feed the hungry and never do so? His faith would be in vain or empty. I believe faith is an action not a feeling many think other wise…what do you think?


Prayer

Father please forgive us and meet our soul’s deepest needs and heal our soul wounds and grant us repentance from anything you deem inappropriate in Jesus of Nazareth’s name amen.


Try…A…Pause for Prayer and Devotional a Wellsaid Christian Devotional about the teachings of Jesus… https://www.anopenbiblestudy.com/blog-by-ben-the-friend

Who do you love most…Jesus our some other…

Who do you love most…Jesus our some other…

Now there went with him great multitudes: and he turned, and said unto them, If any man cometh unto me, and hates not his own father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. Whosoever doth not bear his own cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. For which of you, desiring to build a tower, doth not first sit down and count the cost, whether he have wherewith to complete it? Lest haply, when he hath laid a foundation, and is not able to finish, all that behold begin to mock him, saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish. Or what king, as he goes to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and take counsel whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends an ambassage, and asks conditions of peace. So therefore whosoever he be of you that renounces not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple. Salt therefore is good: but if even the salt have lost its savor, wherewith shall it be seasoned? It is fit neither for the land nor for the dunghill: men cast it out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear...Luke 14:25-35.

 

Jesus is saying He does not want to be just in your heart but wants to own and rule it. He says we have to hate anyone that would come between Jesus and ourself. Does anyone in your life come between your relationship and Jesus…yes or no? Will you renounce all in the name of Jesus of Nazareth…yes or no? Consider what are the costs of a Good Shepherd to lead you to heaven and give you eternal life not eternal destruction in hell.

 

Prayer

Father we ask that you would remove us from anyone who is not You and renounce anything and everything from other sources and we renounce satan and his kingdom…please cover us in mercy, grace, peace, joy, and love in Jesus of Nazareth’s name amen.

 

Try…A…Pause for Prayer and Devotional a Wellsaid Christian Devotional about the teachings of Jesus… https://www.anopenbiblestudy.com/blog-by-ben-the-friend



Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance…

Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance…

 

Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. And even now the axe also lieth at the root of the trees: every tree therefore that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. And the multitudes asked him, saying, What then must we do?...Luke 3:8-10.

 

Put to death therefore your members which are upon the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry; for which things' sake cometh the wrath of God upon the sons of disobedience: wherein ye also once walked, when ye lived in these things; but now do ye also put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, railing, shameful speaking out of your mouth: lie not one to another; seeing that ye have put off the old man with his doings, and have put on the new man, that is being renewed unto knowledge after the image of him that created him: where there cannot be Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, bondman, freeman; but Christ is all, and in all. Put on therefore, as God's elect, holy and beloved, a heart of compassion, kindness, lowliness, meekness, longsuffering; forbearing one another, and forgiving each other, if any man have a complaint against any; even as the Lord forgave you, so also do ye: and above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfectness. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to the which also ye were called in one body; and be ye thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts unto God. And whatsoever ye do, in word or in deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him...Colossians 3:5-17.

 

But I say, Walk by the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are contrary the one to the other; that ye may not do the things that ye would. But if ye are led by the Spirit, ye are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these: fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousies, wraths, factions, divisions, parties, envyings, drunkenness, revellings, and such like; of which I forewarn you, even as I did forewarn you, that they who practise such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness, self-control; against such there is no law. And they that are of Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with the passions and the lusts thereof. If we live by the Spirit, by the Spirit let us also walk...Galatians 5:16-25.

 

We are to bring forth fruits worthy of God’s approval…when you read through these passages how many of the things you are doing good or evil? Is there love joy peace longsuffering kindness goodness faithfulness obedience (meekness) and self control or are in the flesh following fleshly lusts such as listed?

 

Prayer

Father empower us to not follow the flesh and to repent from our lusts and help us to lusts after the things of the Spirit…in Jesus of Nazareth’s name amen.

 

Try…A…Pause for Prayer and Devotional a Wellsaid Christian Devotional about the teachings of Jesus… https://www.anopenbiblestudy.com/blog-by-ben-the-friend



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