This isn’t anger directed particularly at people. Rather it is indignation at that which seeks to harm His children. The wrath of judgment is the necessary first step in the eradication of wickedness and evil in all its forms.
When we read “to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life.” We might be tempted to wonder whether our actions are what determine our future destination.
Behaving rightly does not save us. Nor does good behavior earn us greater blessing from Father. However, since we are His kids, it does reflect on Him. We are His ambassadors, and poor behavior makes us ineffective in that role.
I think part of the problem we can have with this is that the Scriptures say that Abraham’s faith was “credited to him as righteousness.” Since Christ had not yet come, from our human/temporal perspective he had not been “made righteous.” Holy Spirit did not dwell in him. In our experience, he had not been justified.
If the dough rises, however, you can be sure there is living yeast in it. Risen dough is evidence that there is life in the yeast. James said something similar; “You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.” (James 2:24, NASB 2020)
I’ve learned that resting in the finished work of Christ is not so much doing nothing as it is simply living my everyday living with my wife, driving around, eating, shopping life and simply not wasting time wondering if I’m doing what God wants me to do.
In places like 1 Corinthians 3:10-15, we read about works that endure and works that are burned up. This seems concerning and a bit frightening. Here is what I have come to see about this.
When you fall back into navigating life like the world and its systems think you should, you’re walking according to the flesh. That never ends well. It results in life on a performance treadmill trying to get closer to God while in truth, you’re getting nowhere.
God spoke into existence everything that exists; except you. You, he “formed”. You, He fashioned. You, He crafted as one works to craft a poem. You are His workmanship, His poem. As amazing as that is, the verse doesn’t stop there. The Craftsman created us; and the venue or context in which this creation took place is “in Christ Jesus.
When we speak of being used by God, we are referring to Him being manifested or made more real to others through us as we live and move and exist in Him.
No Navel Gazing Our new heart, our new spirit, and having the Spirit of God living in us, has practical value for our daily lives. Because of Jesus, we are freed from the need to continually examine ourselves. We no longer have to check every choice, every behavior, to see if it’s sinful or not.We…
Do This or Your House will Fall Jesus closes His great teaching session we call “the Sermon on the Mount,” with this: Matthew 7:24–27 (ESV)24“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25And the rain fell, and the floods…
Justification by Works? In James Chapter 2:21-24 James says, “Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar? You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected; and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “AND ABRAHAM…
Works is not a Dirty Word We know that we are saved by the grace of God through faith and that our salvation and right standing with God is not by works of any kind. We also know that Jesus told us that His yoke is easy and His burden is light. He said that…
Just Relax Jesus said that He would give rest for the souls of those who were weary and weighed down. He said that He is gentle and lowly of heart and that His yoke is easy, and His burden is light. When we find ourselves overwhelmed, loaded down, and worn out from trying to walk…
