How much change can one make in their life, to be accepted and approved by God?

[Friend of I AM]

I ask this question because it seems as if many individuals are walking around, already doing what's right in God's eyes..and they seem to be thinking that there is something more they should be doing with in their Christ walk so that God will praise them more, give them more worldly gifts..etc.

It seems like this mentality has creeped up a lot in the Church today..kind of leaving people in a "never doing enough" mentality when walking this walk, leaving them in constant bondage to doing various rituals and ordinances in order to keep them "approved" by God. So my question to you all is, do you think that once one has accepted God's salvific grace through his son within their life..do they need to do any more to receive this gift of salvation? My other question would be does the freedom of God's gift keep allow us to do anything we please and not be held accountable unto God's judgement?

[fuzzi]

I ask this question because it seems as if many individuals are walking around, already doing what's right in God's eyes..and they seem to be thinking that there is something more they should be doing with in their Christ walk so that God will praise them more, give them more worldly gifts..etc.

It seems like this mentality has creeped up a lot in the Church today..kind of leaving people in a "never doing enough" mentality when walking this walk, leaving them in constant bondage to doing various rituals and ordinances in order to keep them "approved" by God. So my question to you all is, do you think that once one has accepted God's salvific grace through his son within their life..do they need to do any more to receive this gift of salvation?

No. They do not need to do anything in order to receive the free gift of salvation.

My other question would be does the freedom of God's gift keep allow us to do anything we please and not be held accountable unto God's judgement?

We can do anything we please, but we will be chastened here on earth, or taken 'home' early (sin unto death) if we do what we please and not what pleases Him.

"But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world." (1 Corinthians 11:32)

The judgment seat of Christ is where our works will be judged, and those that were not worthy (wrong reasons, selfish motives, etc.) will be burned up as hay and stubble, but those that we did with the right motive, according to His will, will remain (gold, silver, precious stuff).

See 1 Corinthians 3:11 onward, and Hebrews 12.

[reformedct]

I ask this question because it seems as if many individuals are walking around, already doing what's right in God's eyes..and they seem to be thinking that there is something more they should be doing with in their Christ walk so that God will praise them more, give them more worldly gifts..etc.

It seems like this mentality has creeped up a lot in the Church today..kind of leaving people in a "never doing enough" mentality when walking this walk, leaving them in constant bondage to doing various rituals and ordinances in order to keep them "approved" by God. So my question to you all is, do you think that once one has accepted God's salvific grace through his son within their life..do they need to do any more to receive this gift of salvation? My other question would be does the freedom of God's gift keep allow us to do anything we please and not be held accountable unto God's judgement?

john 6:
27 Do not labor for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.” 28 Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” 29 Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.


romans 5
5:1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we [1] have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith [2] into this grace in which we stand, and we [3] rejoice [4] in hope of the glory of God.


that doesnt mean God is not pleased by our acts of obedience(holiness), or that he is not displeased with our disobedience,, but we already have peace with Him upon justification. Even His chastisment and discipline is according to His love for us. all things work for our good. Where there is justification there is peace with God.

our relationship to God is not performance based it is faith based

the righteous will live by faith

Key words: free gift.

[Tomlane]

Wow everyone, you all have given some very good truths here that I have read and all are right on.

God's grace certainly is amazing isn't it? I find the more I get to know the Lord the more I see His loving kindness in my life and how his love is so patient and a love we will never tire of as it fresh and new everyday that we allow it to be so. I'm sure after we have been with the Lord for a million earth years, we will still be at the beginning of fathoming his endless depths of love and never will we completely empty the river of life and the love that goes with it. We are so blessed and the more I know of Him the more I'm am awed by him.

Thank you folks for your truth from you all rightly divided his word, Tomlane

[Big Jake]

I ask this question because it seems as if many individuals are walking around, already doing what's right in God's eyes..and they seem to be thinking that there is something more they should be doing with in their Christ walk so that God will praise them more, give them more worldly gifts..etc.

It seems like this mentality has creeped up a lot in the Church today..kind of leaving people in a "never doing enough" mentality when walking this walk, leaving them in constant bondage to doing various rituals and ordinances in order to keep them "approved" by God. So my question to you all is, do you think that once one has accepted God's salvific grace through his son within their life..do they need to do any more to receive this gift of salvation?

No. And thank God for that. I keep on hearing people tell me each day I need to change this, and do more of that and I've been doing just about the same darn thing I've been doing for the past 10 years!! THis includes working..taking care of my child..etc..etc. It's good to get out of comfort zone sometimes, and try new things. Problem being is that we do need to kind of be careful not to overdue it, and go completely depraved and worldly with the gift God has imparted upon us..which leads us to our next question.

My other question would be does the freedom of God's gift keep allow us to do anything we please and not be held accountable unto God's judgement?

I think mercy triumphs judgement. And thank God for that. Now that being said...God can judge us at anytime at his discretion. So I do think one inherently has to be careful with thinking that they can do anything they want to. So I don't think that God having extended the gift of salvation to us, creates an environment that is conducive to anarchic behavior. It creates one of orderly behavior..slow to anger, slow to judge and take offense, etc.

Now another example..if you are by nature a fairly kind person, and someone keeps provoking you to anger..what do you think that you will do. Will you at some point lose your patience with them, and take some action against them? I would say, yes..yes you will. But all things in do time.

Another thing. I don't think mercy necessarily denotes one hitting someone upside the head with a stick, and then extending there hand to the one they have stricken..and saying "I still love you, you are my brother." Mercy is something I think that is demonstrated when one receives very harmful things for things they have not done, and then still decides to "turn the other cheek."

The former mercy is not really mercy at all, it's just a tactic used by those with weak wills..to intimidate, and bring about a spirit of fear and control of those people they are usually intimidated by. We realize through scripture though, that if we have control over ourselves..we don't need to induce a spirit of fear in all of those around us, and that ultimately..what we are projecting onto others when we do such things, is usually the same lack of control we feel inside ourselves. Don't get me wrong, we should be in awe and respect of authority that is imposed upon us, but at the same time..it's important for those who are in authority over us to realize that winning over the heart of an individual..isn't usually done through fear and intimidation, but through grace and selflessness. God bless. Hope this makes things clear to you.

[Just_Another_Guy]

I ask this question because it seems as if many individuals are walking around, already doing what's right in God's eyes..and they seem to be thinking that there is something more they should be doing with in their Christ walk so that God will praise them more, give them more worldly gifts..etc.

It seems like this mentality has creeped up a lot in the Church today..kind of leaving people in a "never doing enough" mentality when walking this walk, leaving them in constant bondage to doing various rituals and ordinances in order to keep them "approved" by God. So my question to you all is, do you think that once one has accepted God's salvific grace through his son within their life..do they need to do any more to receive this gift of salvation? My other question would be does the freedom of God's gift keep allow us to do anything we please and not be held accountable unto God's judgement?

Aside from doing what we know is right and foundational..we do not have to change every minute our way of life. We need to be careful with every new doctrine that comes forth nowadays..telling us that there is some sort of new lifestyle we need to lead or ordinance we need to follow in order to be approved by God.

The simplicity of the gospel is based on "love one another." If we are following the basic tenants which lead to this basic principal, then we are walking in the right direction. I find that when we get too accustomed to any way of lifestyle...and forcefully try to impose this lifestyle on others..we start stating that it's the only way that equates to righteous living. This doesn't mean that there is no difference between righteous living, and unrighteous living..but it does mean that we need to be careful not to create a new form of bondage under whichever principles we ourselves are confident are bringing us into "freedom"

Remember the synogogue of the "freedmen" and Stephen. Sometimes we can think that we are truly free, but in essence..we've just created another system of control and bondage..which unfortunately may be used to enslave and corrupt individuals who are walking on the right path to righteousnous, peace, and good will towards all men as well as God.

God bless,

Matthew

[keck553]

I ask this question because it seems as if many individuals are walking around, already doing what's right in God's eyes..and they seem to be thinking that there is something more they should be doing with in their Christ walk so that God will praise them more, give them more worldly gifts..etc.

I know exactly what you are saying; I remember thinking I would never get to be 'like those holy people' I saw at church, etc. I remember I used to pretend to be in some altered state of piety, thinking if I just acted that way a little longer, or gave one more dime, I would be holy.

Nothing. It didn't even feel good being a fake.

It seems like this mentality has creeped up a lot in the Church today..kind of leaving people in a "never doing enough" mentality when walking this walk, leaving them in constant bondage to doing various rituals and ordinances in order to keep them "approved" by God. So my question to you all is, do you think that once one has accepted God's salvific grace through his son within their life..do they need to do any more to receive this gift of salvation? My other question would be does the freedom of God's gift keep allow us to do anything we please and not be held accountable unto God's judgement?

Many congregations feed off guilt. Run from them, and never look back.

There are two types of believers:

1. Those who know about God
2. Those who know God.

Ultimately the path to God is not knowing a lot of stuff about righteousness, or living a performance based life. These things come in time, but only have value to you, God or anyone if they come from loving God.

The purpose of Good Works is to glorify God. Not because we are told that, but because we are in madly love with Him, and we want to lift up His Son, in every circumstance we find ourselves in.

If we do stuff that just point to man, or a church, or a good feeling of rightousness, they are meaningless to all parties.

Whether it be in times of incredible material prosperity, or horrendous destitution, the first thought of the one in love with God is "What can I do in this moment to lift up Messiah?" Even if he is facing famine and sword, he still has a tongue to lift up the Holy One, or a hug, or a smile to give in the name of Yeshua the Messiah.

The only thing we can do more is dwell on His presence, to become a living prayer, so to speak.

What pleases God is that we make Him the center of our everything - our heart, soul and mind. Once God has all of our attention, He will write His Laws on our hearts, and through Him in us, we become willing vessels to serve Him.

[Izdaari]

Are you completely Christ-like yet? No? I'm not either. Then we both still have room for improvement. That's called sanctification, and it may take a lifetime... or more. I think when we get our glorified, resurrected bodies that's when the real advanced studies in it begin.

Justification, OTOH, is what we need to be accepted and approved by God, and that's a free gift -- by grace, through faith -- that comes when we believe in the resurrected Christ and confess Him as our Lord. (Romans 10:9-11)

[theBelovedDisciple]

So my question to you all is, do you think that once one has accepted God's salvific grace through his son within their life..do they need to do any more to receive this gift of salvation?
-------------------------------------------------------------------

If one recieves a Gift.. why would someone try to do more to 'recieve' it? unless one was believing that is what 'they can do' .. and how good they can do it.. or maybe there is 'more' I can do .. to merit that Gift....

Its not what we can do...

Its what God has already Done..............."It Is Finished"........

Those three words are more of a a stumbling block to so many because it tells people thru the Work of the Cross..

' you can't do enough or do it good enough to 'merit' my Salvation or Grace...' and points it towards>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

I've done it for You... and If you 'BELIEVE' On and IN what My Son Has Done for you.. dying on that bloody Tree....for you.... Belief in that .. thru Faith.. then I will call you My Friend...

Sanctification is what God does in you..... for you.. Renewing that Mind and strengthening that 'inner man'.. daily..... thru the Holy Ghost... so you are being transformed into His Image...having the Mind of Christ... walking in Humility with a Servant's Heart, walking in the Authority of Christ and the Power of the Holy Ghost.. pressing forward to the High Calling of Christ Jesus.. as He works in you and thru you.. those Works of Righteousness which He afore predetermined before you were even a Christian.. those you are suppose to walk in.. and if your not walking in them... He WILL DIRECT you into them and into the Will of God for your life.. but not only that.. He will direct you into the Full and Complete Love of God.. and the Patient Waiting for Christ's Return from Heaven... Those works that were not 'grounded in Him'.. and those works that were 'grounded in Him' thru His will... will be Judged by Him.. and you as a Born Again Christian will recieve a reward for them.. or you will not... but your Salvation is in tact.. because you have been Saved by His Grace...thru FAITH, this not of yourselves or what you can do to merit It... but it is the Gift of God... given Freely.. the Free Gift of Righteousness.. who is Jesus the Christ.. God manifested in the flesh... He was manifested in these last days for YOU ... so that YOU can Inherit Eternal Life.. He is the Grace of God ...
He has Aleady done it..... 'It is Finished'

and Truly He has.. and inside those Word of His.. Coming from God Himself...................... " It is Finished'...

is.....

Eternal Life

Rest

and Peace........which supasseth all understanding.....

[livingwaters]

God said we are created in HIS image...once Jesus scooped me up, I find that ALL I want to do and continue doing is tell others about Jesus, help the poor, see where I can bless someone since God has blessed me. That's how I feel. Once I knew in my heart that Jesus is the truth, the way and the life...my actions and my life reveal that knowledge. It will be a continuous growth in the Lord until HE comes to get me. Also, we must be in the Word constantly to get our spiritual feeding and revelations about Jesus through the Holy Spirit!!!!

But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve... But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.
Joshua 24:15

Lord, I want You to have the great joy of hearing others talk about my faithfulness to the truth and how I continue to walk in the truth. 3 John 3

God bless

[Just_Another_Guy]

I ask this question because it seems as if many individuals are walking around, already doing what's right in God's eyes..and they seem to be thinking that there is something more they should be doing with in their Christ walk so that God will praise them more, give them more worldly gifts..etc.

It seems like this mentality has creeped up a lot in the Church today..kind of leaving people in a "never doing enough" mentality when walking this walk, leaving them in constant bondage to doing various rituals and ordinances in order to keep them "approved" by God. So my question to you all is, do you think that once one has accepted God's salvific grace through his son within their life..do they need to do any more to receive this gift of salvation? My other question would be does the freedom of God's gift keep allow us to do anything we please and not be held accountable unto God's judgement?

Changing ideas is not always a good thing. There are some ideals that are foundational to living a righteous life. We sometimes do need to change the direction we are walking in though, when things don't necessarily seem as if they are working out the way in which we've intended. Still, I understand where you are coming from..there are those out there who will inherently make you think you need to change something..so that they can keep you in consistent bondage to their ideals and standards of living.

Examples: You must have more faith..you must eat this kind of food..you must be more clean..you must be more righteous or consciencetous in this area..

When things are generally prefaced by..."you must have more" regarding concepts which are inherently impossible to change outside of God's mercy and will..that's when you know that the system you are under is one that is trying to enslave you to it. This doesn't mean that the system unto itself is necessarily a bad one..it can at times allow people a source of enlightenment..but I find that any ideal that is consistantly telling individuals they have to do more in areas they're already doing their best in..is one that is meant to enslave and/or control people.

[Big Jake]

Changing ideas is not always a good thing. There are some ideals that are foundational to living a righteous life. We sometimes do need to change the direction we are walking in though, when things don't necessarily seem as if they are working out the way in which we've intended. Still, I understand where you are coming from..there are those out there who will inherently make you think you need to change something..so that they can keep you in consistent bondage to their ideals and standards of living.

This is quite true. We often times find that the worst forms of bondage are often times found within the Church of God itself. I have had to break from the church a bit myself, to get away from what I feel would be dire consequences..specifically..bondage to man made ordinances that I've been informed of would "lead me to salvation." This is not to say that everyone should just up and leave church..for me though, it was a personal choice..which I felt would help me get away from some of the prior bondages to ritualistic practices in my Christian walk. I figured..why not go out on a limb, and really test my faith..specifically the faith that enables me to walk in the spirit of peace, rightousnous, good will, and love towards all men. Such a spirit shouldn't have any restrictions or any laws against it..and would be incorruptable..as it is intangible and unable for man to fully comprehend and grasp..correct? So this is my walk as of late..and I find that although it's been a difficult one..it feels good to kind of detox myself from the worldly system of religion..and get to know what spirit driven means on a less restrictive level. I recommend others to do the same within their walks. One can challenge their thinking without letting go of those foundational things that keep us walking in the spirit.


God bless

[Tomlane]

Big Jake God agrees with what you did and in fact that was and is His desire for you as found in the context of these next verses.

2 Corinthians 6:14 *Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
15 *And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
16 *And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
17 *Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
18 *And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

How rich in wisdom is the above. In todays's world Belial for us is the sin of
sectarianism in all forms that seep of tradition, pagan holy days, the revival of physical ordinances such water baptism, Sabbath keeping Tithing, communion so called, just to name a few. Fellowshipping with the unsaved in so called church activities, A dangerous thing as it gives them a false sense of doing the right thing and it drags us down with them.
God says if we remove ourselves from the filth of false religion He will be a God to us and we will be his son's and daughter. In other words we will have a close walk with Him and our blessings I believe will be far greater then our being pleasing to men.

Luke 16:15 *And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.

Colossians 2:20 *Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,

Ephesians 4:14 *That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

Colossians 2:8 *Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.


I bet you already are finding a closer walk with the Lord Big Jake.

May the Lord bless you richly, Tomlane

[Izdaari]

This is quite true. We often times find that the worst forms of bondage are often times found within the Church of God itself. I have had to break from the church a bit myself, to get away from what I feel would be dire consequences..specifically..bondage to man made ordinances that I've been informed of would "lead me to salvation." This is not to say that everyone should just up and leave church..for me though, it was a personal choice..which I felt would help me get away from some of the prior bondages to ritualistic practices in my Christian walk. I figured..why not go out on a limb, and really test my faith..specifically the faith that enables me to walk in the spirit of peace, rightousnous, good will, and love towards all men. Such a spirit shouldn't have any restrictions or any laws against it..and would be incorruptable..as it is intangible and unable for man to fully comprehend and grasp..correct? So this is my walk as of late..and I find that although it's been a difficult one..it feels good to kind of detox myself from the worldly system of religion..and get to know what spirit driven means on a less restrictive level. I recommend others to do the same within their walks. One can challenge their thinking without letting go of those foundational things that keep us walking in the spirit.


God bless

If your church is hindering you in those ways, I'd agree it's wise to leave it, even if you need to be unchurched for a time to detox yourself from legalistic bondage. I'm lucky to have found a church that helps me, not hinders. No, not lucky. I'm pretty sure God led me to it. But I wouldn't stay away for too long. It's hard to be an effective member of the Body of Christ in isolation from other believers. Detox as the Spirit leads you, but then try to find a healthier fellowship, one that will help, not hinder.

[Friend of I AM]

Examples: You must have more faith..you must eat this kind of food..you must be more clean..you must be more righteous or consciencetous in this area..

Yes those sound like commands one would give a dog.. Remember cleansliness is next to Godliness though.