Did you know?! You should.

If a person is to be judged for their sin, then none would be saved. We are born into sin, completely depraved from birth. We do not sin because we choose to. We sin because it is who we are. Because we are sinners, haters of God from the moment we are born, God gives us over to the filth in our heart.

Romans 1:21-22, 24-26 NKJV

...because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature.

Habakkuk 1:11 NKJV

"Then his mind changes, and he transgresses; He commits offense, Ascribing this power to his god.”

Ephesians 2:1-2 NKJV

And you He  made  alive,  who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience...

If we could just quit sinning on our own, Jesus never would have had to hang on the cross nor send the Holy Spirit to enable us to do what we cannot. Don't be deceived. Just as it is God who gives us over, it is also Him who works in us once we are filled with His Spirit.

Philippians 2:13 NKJV

...for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.

We can NEVER be "good enough" or "DO" anything to be "better". Without the Holy Spirit, we are SLAVES to sin. We have no say in the matter. Sin dwells in us. Only with the Holy Spirit are we made free from sin, being given a choice, and made bond servants of Christ.

Romans 6:17-18 NKJV

But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.

This is why a person will not go to hell for their sin, but for their unbelief. Without the Holy Spirit we are but the walking dead, destined to die again. Life only comes to those through faith.

Habakkuk 2:4 NKJV

“Behold the proud, His soul is not upright in him; But the just shall live by his faith."

Hebrews 10:38 NKJV

"Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him.”

You cannot be "good" and quit sinning. That is a lie from the pit of Hell. Turn to the Lord in FAITH, and be saved! All else is empty garbage.

Ephesians 2:8-9 NKJV

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it  is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.

BEWARE BELOVED

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.
- James 1:22-25

I have found that church can be a scary place. It is so easy to get caught up in the christianeze, become preachy, and become so pious that we are no longer any good to reach the world. If we make ourselves unapproachable, what good are we?

Church is scary, because it is easy to get caught up into the idea rather than living in reality. The very culture around us, in every sense, tries to draw us into a works based way of living. When our religion becomes more about the external than the internal, the words Jesus spoke to the Pharisees begin to become personal.

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also.
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness."
- Matthew 23:25-28

Then the Lord said to him, “Now you Pharisees make the outside of the cup and dish clean, but your inward part is full of greed and wickedness. Foolish ones! Did not He who made the outside make the inside also? But rather give alms of such things as you have; then indeed all things are clean to you.
“But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass by justice and the love of God. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone. Woe to you Pharisees! For you love the best seats in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like graves which are not seen, and the men who walk over them are not aware of them.”
- Luke 11:39-44

If we get caught up in the cultural ideas of church, letting our religion become superficial, then Isaiah's words come to our ears.

Therefore the Lord said:

“Inasmuch as these people draw near with their mouths
And honor Me with their lips,
But have removed their hearts far from Me,
And their fear toward Me is taught by the commandment of men,
Therefore, behold, I will again do a marvelous work
Among this people,
A marvelous work and a wonder;
For the wisdom of their wise men shall perish,
And the understanding of their prudent men shall be hidden.”

- Isaiah 29:13-14

Let our focus be on our walk with the Lord, in humility of spirit and surrender of heart, and let our outward lives simply be the reflection of the truth that lies within us. Jesus says He will take care of EVERYTHING external for us, if we will but seek the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. The Kingdom of God is within us, so let us allow the Word to have its perfect work in us.

But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
- Matthew 6:33

Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God does not come with observation; nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.”
- Luke 17:20-21

As God has brought conviction and caution to me, I now share the same with you. Let us be sure that the truth in our hearts is our concern, for whatever is on the inside will come out no matter what. Let us be sure also that our lives are louder than our words. Let us not get caught up in some dog and pony show, deceiving ourselves, but rather let us live in the spirit to our Lord in truth. God bless you!

Are We Saved By Our Works?

I know many who believe we must add "works" in order to secure our salvation. This is a lie. Of course our works are an outward showing of what is in our hearts, so they are the proof of a repentant heart, but they add NOTHING to what Jesus did on the cross. When He died He said it was finished. The accounting term literally means "all accounts paid in full". I caution you if you believe your actions add anything to the FINISHED work of Christ.

You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace.
- Galations 5:4

So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.
- John 19:30