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I_Believe
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« Reply #2 on: May 24, 2004, 09:11:35 AM » |
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AV,
I think it goes back to the pride issue. This is what kept me away from the truth (saving faith) for 20 years. I was convinced that I had to do something to be good enough for God. Some would rather feel like they are in control, working for their own salvation than accept the gift as the tax collector did when he said 'God, be merciful to me, a sinner!'.
Scripture says "work out your own salvation" NOT "work for your own salvation"
So then, my beloved, even as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God who works in you both to will and to work, for his good pleasure. (Phi 2:12-13)
"Two men went up into the temple to pray; one was a Pharisee, and the other was a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed to himself like this: 'God, I thank you, that I am not like the rest of men, extortioners, unrighteous, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week. I give tithes of all that I get.' But the tax collector, standing far away, wouldn't even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me, a sinner!' (Luk 18:10-13)
I fast twice a week. I give tithes of all that I get. I perform all the sacraments of my church traditions.
So much a man's traditions focus on the outside of the vessel because that is what they can measure and control. This is just the opposite of what Jesus gave us.
"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and unrighteousness. You blind Pharisee, first clean the inside of the cup and of the platter, that its outside may become clean also. "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitened tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but inwardly are full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness. Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and iniquity. (Mat 23:25-28)
Let no man therefore judge you in eating, or in drinking, or with respect to a feast day or a new moon or a Sabbath day, which are a shadow of the things to come; but the body is Christ's. Let no one rob you of your prize by a voluntary humility and worshipping of the angels, dwelling in the things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, and not holding firmly to the Head, from whom all the body, being supplied and knit together through the joints and ligaments, grows with God's growth. If you died with Christ from the elements of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to ordinances, "Don't handle, nor taste, nor touch" (all of which perish with use), according to the precepts and doctrines of men? Which things indeed appear like wisdom in self-imposed worship, and humility, and severity to the body; but aren't of any value against the indulgence of the flesh. (Col 2:16-23)
voluntary humility and worshipping of the angels - praying to dead saints - vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, and not holding firmly to the Head
Which things indeed appear like wisdom in self-imposed worship, and humility...but aren't of any value against the indulgence of the flesh
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