Faith

see Romans 3, 4 and 5.

 

Here's an interesting perspective, psa109 -- "tracking" right along with belief, then counted for righteousness, comes the next step, Col 1:13. "Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness [into righteousness], and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son."
Everyone who has faith will be translated into Christ's kingdom -- the kingdom which, at the end, He will deliver up to His Father, 1Cor 15:28.

So Abraham received God's righteousness by believing God enough to obey Him. God gave Abraham faith in Himself. What happens next to Abraham? "translated into the kingdom of [God's] dear Son." When? At the "resurrection of the just" -- of those who have the righteousness of God postrib, Mt 25:14-30 and 13:44 (etal.).

But the church is "translated" IMMEDIATELY into Christ's kingdom. Do you see it? Because Christ now HAS a kingdom to be "translated" into!! We are resurrected by the baptism of the Spirit and, spiritually, are seated with Christ in the heavenlies already!!

Does that make sense to you?

skypair

 

Hi Psalms 109:31

By submission to Him and His righteousness.
MB

 

Not with me. I can recall trudging many a lonely bitter cold morning carrying papers as a kid and when things would go wrong out there, I used to get mad at God for it. But this got me thinking --- how unfair it is that people that lived in Jesus time could hear from the Lord's lips in person. We had no such advantage.

So when I heard the preaching of the word finally (instead of just the platitudes that the Methodist, Presby, and Congregational church pastors preached) I ABSOLUTELY knew that God was speaking to us in our time just as He did to Abraham or Moses or Paul!! And, not the first time -- I had to absorb it all first, but shortly I obeyed what God wanted me to do. I received Christ as Lord and Savior! What a day!!

No, not fear -- love!

skypair

 

Hi Psalms109:31;

Being convicted of our sins by the Holy Spirit and being convinced of the Son of God.
MB

 

Hi psalms109:31;

The results of Hell fire preaching, "fear" Self preservation is part of the appeal to Salvation. If we have no fear of hell fire we are fools. Nothing like a roasting party to get someone's attention.

Fear is what reverance is all about. The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom Psalm 111:10, Prov 1:7,Prov 9:10. Certainly fear for our well being is good motivation to listen to the gospel intently.

No one has reverance for God with out fear for their very lives. There are 178 verses that speak of the fear of God. Some find it offensive that fear should motivate men toward Salvation. This fear isn't of God but of hell fire. Our fear of God is that He might not save us from hell fire for some reason. Our fear of God is His majesty. His infinite power.

I knew about hell fire before I was saved but, it wasn't the reason I first believed. What convinced me was Jesus laid down His life for the world that we might be saved. A perfectly selfless act for His concerning Love for His creation. The whole world.
MB

 

God did a lot with me to bring me to saving faith, but fear was part of it. I was haunted by the verse that he who is not with me is against me. I wasn't yet convinced God even existed, but I speculated that if God did exist, and Jesus was who He said He was, and this statement was true, then I wasn't free. I was a servant, and I was serving the wrong master. THAT, and the implied consequence, was scary.

 

Hi Psalms 109:31

I disagree; I understood the teaching of the Bible but I wasn't willing to let go of the world when I first heard it. I was so affraid there would be no more fun in life. I would say that I believed first before I submitted. Even though I didn't submit until quite awhile later.
MB

 

When I was 10 years old, the man who raised me (my step dad) died very unexpectedly.

The youth minister preached the funeral (it was his first). Afterwards, he really reached out to us kids. I wanted a Father, but the Bible revealed to me that I was separated from God the Father by my sins. I knew I was a sinner even at the age of 10. But I wanted to know my Heavenly Father and I knew from the Bible that He would never die and that He would always be there for me.

And if I wanted Him as my Father, I needed to be forgiven by the blood of His own Son Jesus Christ. So at the age of 12, I felt a great burden in my heart. I knew I was a sinner and I had not asked Jesus into my life and I knew if I had died that I would wake up in Hell. It was in June 88 that I asked Jesus to forgive me and to be my Lord and to save me.

So I guess that it took a lot of caring and Bible teaching.

My point: Reach out to children in your congregation that hurt. Be a friend to the fatherless. Pray for kids.

Was it fear? Was it the Holy Spirit revealing to me my lost condition thru the preaching of God's Word? Was it people praying for my family and for me? Was it a longing for an undying Father?

Yes.

 

Praise God; A really good testimony.
A men
MB