MANY UNDERESTIMATE THE CONTINUOUS FORGIVING GRACE OF GOD – 1
April 2, 2012
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The mercy and forgiveness of God
s grace is so amazingly continuous, that once many have received it, and had their souls eternally sealed by the Spirit of God, they drift back under the works of the Law to add to God’s grace by the works of the flesh in order to keep what is both given and maintained by grace. Many of the saved are God’s children who are never converted. The 11 disciples were not converted as they walked with the Lord during his earthly ministry. They began to be converted after his resurrection.
Luke 22:28-34 – Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations. [29] And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me; [30] That ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel. [31] And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: [32] But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren. [33] And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death. [34] And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me.
Matthew 26:35 – Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples.
Jesus called out the first local visible church during the first year of his ministry after his baptism. His ministry lasted more than three plus years (My guess is about 1185 days, leaving about 1335 days of Daniel’s 70 weeks of years left to be fulfilled). He formed and organized the first church during his earthly ministry, and empowered it on the day of Pentecost at Jerusalem. Many of the things he had to teach them, by which they were converted, they learned from the Spirit of truth as recorded in the Book of Acts and the Epistles which follow them. (“He shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.”)
John 16:12-15 – I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. [13] Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. [14] He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. [15] All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
Eternal Salvation of our lost soul occurs instantly by grace at the split second of our new birth as we repent toward God and put our faith in the works of Christ Jesus. We do not complete the work he began in us by his Spirit – He completes it by grace as the soul submits to his Spirit through his Word – This is the process of its “conversion.” which works in us as long as we live in sinful flesh. (“Having begun in the Spirit are ye now made perfect by the flesh?”)
John 6:62,63 – What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before? [63] It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
Galatians 2:11 to 3:9 – But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed. [12] For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision. [13] And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation.
[14] But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews? [15] We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles, [16] Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. [17] But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid. [18] For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. [19] For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God. [20] I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. [21] I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if right-eousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain. [1] O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? [2] This only would I learn of you, Re-ceived ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? [3] Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? [4] Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain. [5] He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? [6] Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. [7] Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. [8And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. [9] So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.
The references in Matthew 18:20-22 and Luke 17:3-5 refer to one of the Lord’s churches and specifically to “brethren” (a church member). Neither Scripture indicates it is fine to not forgive the church member on the 491st time you are offended. Only Jesus, in whom all the fullness of the Godhead dwells bodily, is able to forgive in this manner. As a saved soul lives in sinful flesh, God has provided I John 1:8,9 to cover this condition after the soul has been saved..
Matthew 18:20-22 – For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am
I in the midst of them. [21] Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? [22] Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.
Luke 17:3-5 – Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. [4] And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him. [5] And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.
I John 1:8,9 – If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. [9] If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.