Give Me That Old Time Gospel

[islandboy]

I've found that when life's brush obscures my view
With gloomy strokes that mar the scene,
God's hand appears and gives to sunless hue
And dreary skies a more majestic sheen.         Gustufson

[Soldier4Christ]

The Goodness of God

In Luke 16:1-9, Jesus told us a parable of the Unrighteous Steward.  In short, the steward was squandering the possessions of the landowner.  This is discovered and the landowner demands an accounting.  Before the unrighteous steward gets fired, he goes to the people who owe the landowner money and has them reduce their bills by substantial amounts.  The end of the parable has Jesus saying this:  "And his master praised the unrighteous steward because he had acted shrewdly; for the sons of this age are more shrewd in relation to their own kind than the sons of light" (Luke 16:9, NASB).

Why did Jesus say this?  Is He condoning deceit?  Is Jesus approving of this unrighteous steward's misrepresentation of the facts and the debt owed his master?

The most probable cultural setting for the parable is that of a large estate consisting of land divided into portions, where the steward is entrusted with carrying the business of that estate. The debtors are most likely renters who had agreed to pay a fixed amount of produce for the yearly rent. The steward was no doubt making extras "under the table," but these amounts were not reflected in the signed bills. He was a salaried official who, in addition, was paid a specific fee by the renter for each contract. The master was a man of noble character respected in the community who cared enough about his own wealth to fire a wasteful manager, and this is the key to understanding this parable.

The debtors will assume that the steward is acting on behalf of the orders of the landowner.  This means that the landowner will be looked upon as being kindhearted and noble.   The steward knows that when the landowner finds out, he will have two alternatives: First, he could gather the renters and tell them that the reductions were unauthorized and thereby showing his stinginess and risking ridicule from them and the community. Second, he can keep silent, accept the praise that is even now being showered on him, and allow the clever steward to get away with the scheme. Obviously, the steward knew the master was a generous person, otherwise he would not have taken such a risk; after all, he wasn't jailed to begin with.

Therefore, in verse 9 Jesus is not praising the dishonesty, but the ability of the steward to recognize the generosity of his master, see what was coming, and use what he had at the time to obtain something far greater: self preservation. This is significant. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. God can condemn you to eternal damnation. It is wise to seek a way out of that. In fact, the judgment of damnation is so terrible, that praise is offered to the one who, in desperation, seeks a way out of it. If the unrighteous steward was praised for trusting in the goodness of the master.

So, how much more will you be rewarded if you trust the true and holy Master, the Lord Himself?  Abiding faith in God is the action of continuous trust in Him.  Count on His goodness and trust Him. 

[Def]

good night Pastor Roger

[Soldier4Christ]

Good night, sister.

[Soldier4Christ]

Grace

Rom. 6:14 says, "For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law, but under grace."  Eph. 1:7 says, "In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace."  Eph. 2:8 says, "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves..."

We Christians are saved by grace (Eph. 2:, justified by grace (Rom. 3:24), and given grace (Rom. 12:6).  Grace abounds (2 Cor. 9:, is surpassing (2 Cor. 9:14), and is granted (2 Tim. 1:9).  We have the riches of grace (Eph. 1:7), are strengthened by grace (Heb. 13:9), and grow in grace (2 Pet. 3:18).  We experience the grace of God (1 Pet. 4:10), know the grace of the Lord Jesus (Rev. 22:21), and are indwelt by the Spirit of grace (Heb. 10:29). Grace is the wonderful truth of God's character through Jesus which is shown to us, comes upon us, and is manifested in us.

But, what is grace?  As you have seen above, grace is multifaceted.  But, briefly spoken, grace is that unmerited, unearned favor of God upon a sinner.  On other words, grace is the favor that God shows to someone who in no way deserves to be shown any mercy, any kindness, or anything good at all.  As hard as that may be for some people to take, before an infinite and holy God, we are finite and sinful and rightfully should be judged to damnation (Eph. 2:3).  But, God is gracious to us. He does not give us what we deserve (justice).  In fact, He does NOT give us what we deserve (mercy).  Instead, He gives us what we do NOT deserve (grace).

This grace is found in Jesus (John 1:17), and only because of what Jesus did on the cross.  The cross is the ONLY reason that God is kind to us and does not instantly give us justice -- which would be eternal damnation.  No.  Instead, because of Jesus, because of the shed blood, because of the grace of God in Christ, we are able to be saved, delivered, indwelt, loved, cleansed, uplifted, strengthened, and so much more.  Jesus is the living expression of the grace of God.  Jesus is the perfect manifestation of grace and truth.  Jesus is the example of grace.

Therefore, all that is good in you, all that is right, all that you have done for the glory of God, all that you have confessed, all the sins of which you have repented, all the love you have shown, all the kindness you've given, all the mercy you have bestowed, all the humility you've exemplified, all the growth you've experienced, all the hope you've held, all the faith you've kept, all the fruit of the Spirit you've lived have all been by the grace of God through Jesus Christ because of the Cross.

Knowing this, you can then say with Paul in 1 Cor. 15:10, "...by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me."

[islandboy]

The sinful flesh in which we dwell
Makes living righteously
Impossible without the Lord,
Who died to set us free.         Sper

[islandboy]

Don't judge too quickly what you see;
Treat lightly first impression;
Misunderstandings multiply
Without communication.      Sper

[Soldier4Christ]

Have you died?

We will all die one day physically.  But, have you died before then?  If you are a Christian, then you have already died.  "What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace might increase? 2May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it?" (Rom. 6:1-2)  Christians have died to sin.  The Greek aorist tense (past tense) suggests that this death happened and was completed in the past.  When did it happen?  It happened at your salvation.  So what is Paul saying here, especially since if we have died to sin, we still struggle with it?  Why is it that sin seems so pervasive, so powerful, and so persistent?  Haven't we repented of countless sins countless times, some of them the same ones over and over again?  Absolutely.  So, if we have died to sin, why is it still alive in us?

The truth is that if you are a Christian, if you have trusted in Jesus who is God in flesh as your Savior and reject any of your own works as a contribution to your salvation, but you rely completely and totally on Christ's sacrifice, then you have died to sin.  You have died through the identification with Christ on the Cross because as a Christian, you are "in Christ." "Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus," (Rom. 6:11).  Also, see Rom. 8:1-2, "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death."

Death in the Bible is not the cessation of existence.  It is separation.  Physical death does not mean we stop existing; we continue on in the next life.  Spiritual death means separation from God, eternally.  Therefore, your death to sin is your separation from it.  It is the separation from the power it has to damn you and to rule over you.  It also means that because you are in Christ and Christ is in you, you have the power to resist sin where before you did not.

Yes, we still sin.  Yes, we still struggle.  But our struggle against sin proves that we are not dead in our sins.  Instead we are alive in Christ.  Only those who are alive struggle for life, and we Christians certainly struggle for our life in Christ apart from sin.  So, take courage and consolation by knowing that your struggle for holiness is pleasing to God and is also a sign of your salvation, something bought for by Jesus did on the cross.

Therefore, you are not to live in sin.  You are not to live in fornication.  You are not to live in compromise.  You are not to live as though the grace of God will take care of your sins in such a way as to say that it is okay to sin just a little, or just a little more.  No.  You are dead to sin and are not to live after the ways of the flesh.  You are not to compromise our Christian walk.  You are to stand for righteousness.  If you are a Christian and you claim the name of Christ, then walk in righteousness.  Walk in the manner that Jesus walked.  Stand for truth and stand against sin. "As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, 15 but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; 16 because it is written, 'You shall be holy, for I am holy'" (1 Pet. 1:14-16).

[Def]

Have you died?

We will all die one day physically.  But, have you died before then?  If you are a Christian, then you have already died.  "What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace might increase? 2May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it?" (Rom. 6:1-2)  Christians have died to sin.  The Greek aorist tense (past tense) suggests that this death happened and was completed in the past.  When did it happen?  It happened at your salvation.  So what is Paul saying here, especially since if we have died to sin, we still struggle with it?  Why is it that sin seems so pervasive, so powerful, and so persistent?  Haven't we repented of countless sins countless times, some of them the same ones over and over again?  Absolutely.  So, if we have died to sin, why is it still alive in us?

The truth is that if you are a Christian, if you have trusted in Jesus who is God in flesh as your Savior and reject any of your own works as a contribution to your salvation, but you rely completely and totally on Christ's sacrifice, then you have died to sin.  You have died through the identification with Christ on the Cross because as a Christian, you are "in Christ." "Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus," (Rom. 6:11).  Also, see Rom. 8:1-2, "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death."

Death in the Bible is not the cessation of existence.  It is separation.  Physical death does not mean we stop existing; we continue on in the next life.  Spiritual death means separation from God, eternally.  Therefore, your death to sin is your separation from it.  It is the separation from the power it has to damn you and to rule over you.  It also means that because you are in Christ and Christ is in you, you have the power to resist sin where before you did not.

Yes, we still sin.  Yes, we still struggle.  But our struggle against sin proves that we are not dead in our sins.  Instead we are alive in Christ.  Only those who are alive struggle for life, and we Christians certainly struggle for our life in Christ apart from sin.  So, take courage and consolation by knowing that your struggle for holiness is pleasing to God and is also a sign of your salvation, something bought for by Jesus did on the cross.

Therefore, you are not to live in sin.  You are not to live in fornication.  You are not to live in compromise.  You are not to live as though the grace of God will take care of your sins in such a way as to say that it is okay to sin just a little, or just a little more.  No.  You are dead to sin and are not to live after the ways of the flesh.  You are not to compromise our Christian walk.  You are to stand for righteousness.  If you are a Christian and you claim the name of Christ, then walk in righteousness.  Walk in the manner that Jesus walked.  Stand for truth and stand against sin. "As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, 15 but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; 16 because it is written, 'You shall be holy, for I am holy'" (1 Pet. 1:14-16).

Pastor Roger!!! that was a quick answer YES YES i am very dead in Christ Jesus  AMEN!!!!!!!

[islandboy]

O for a faith that will not shrink,
Though pressed by every foe,
That will not tremble on the brink
Of any earthly woe.                       Bathurst

[Def]

Good night, sister.

Pasror Roger i wastrying to get to the administrator or reopen my acc  because  when i want to send a image or picture they only take smily  "this is what they tell me onthe forum site""the reply is....The upload folder is full..please try a smaller file/or contact administrator....that is what i am doing.
It is not on my side cause every thing is normal on my computor ...it has been since the 19 since i upload the little pictuture on the left hand corner under my name  cause i uploded all of them  ..in everyfile"valentine `prayers `cross so on so on and not I can not show them can you pklese empty my file or whatever  I try to register over but somehow because i have the same email they do not accepte..in jesus Def Good morning you all

[Soldier4Christ]

I'll get back with you.

[Soldier4Christ]

Def, could you copy and post the exact notice that you are getting and tell me exactly where you are receiving it. Is it when trying to add to your profile or is it when trying to post in a reply box or what?

[Def]

It is when I am trying to answer a post the message pass but they only accept the smileys,,here is what the message send back in the space of the post.."The upload folder is full pleas try a smaller file and/or contact administrator".........and at the bottom of the page it write ___BACK___ and when I press on back  it takes me back to the original Post that I am answering .... when i press preview and then option  and then attach  and then parcour and then my image comes out the will not take it ...that is when the message come on....

[Soldier4Christ]

I will get with the other Moderators to see what we can come up with. We may contact Admin on this also. We will get back with you on this.