1037. Under Grace: Forgive Others Because God Has Forgiven You
Have you lived in fear of wondering whether God has forgiven you because you've had struggles forgiving others? This is often related to a "scary" statement Jesus made to His disciples during the "Sermon on the Mount." But we need to consider why Jesus said what He said and to whom He was speaking. In the previous chapter during His talk with these Jewish disciples who were still under an impossible law, He explained their righteousness will need to exceed that of the Pharisees—the assumed pinnacle of dedication to God at that time. Ultimately, Jesus summed it up by saying they would need to be perfect in all that they did when it came to the law.
What Jesus said after providing them with instructions for praying was not a threat for us who live in a different covenant of grace. "Forgive others or God won't forgive you." This was based on the law they were under at that time ... a completely different system. But without the knowledge of differentiating between two different covenants, Bible verses will be misapplied. Now, in order for us to forgive others—which is important—we begin to grow in our understanding of how God *has* already and completely forgiven us through Jesus Christ and His blood. With the help of God's Spirit from within, we have been empowered to forgive in the same way God has forgiven us. But let's not allow religion to burden people by getting this backwards. It's not a *have-to* or a requirement, but a response out of love and grace.
--Available on Amazon - "Clash of The Covenants: Escaping Religious Bondage Through the Grace Guarantee" https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0713ZSKY7
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19:38
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19:38
1036. Will God Forgive You if You Don't Forgive Others?
Jesus made a statement to His disciples after giving them what is commonly referred to as The Lord's Prayer in Matthew Chapter 6.
"For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."
As we compare this to some things Paul said about forgiveness in Ephesians chapters 1 and 4 (for example), we'll see a contrast. Did Paul and Jesus have a theological disagreement? Of course, this is not the case. But something changed from the time Jesus said what He said to His disciples before the cross, and when Paul was writing to believers after the cross. Forgiving others is important ... but it is not required as some sort of quid pro quo in order to be forgiven by God. But the power of God abiding in us will help us to forgive when we think it seems too difficult.
--Available on Amazon - "Clash of The Covenants: Escaping Religious Bondage Through the Grace Guarantee" https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0713ZSKY7
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20:46
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1035. Like the Apostles, We Don't Know Everything
It's easy to look at "Bible characters" such as the apostles and assume they were some type of spiritual super-humans who understood everything there is to know about God.
In their writings, there are references to growing in various ways when it comes to Jesus, our knowledge of the truth, His grace and love, etc. We'll always be learning, otherwise, eternity might get rather dull.
Regardless of how God chooses to use people in extraordinary ways, it doesn't change the fact that we're all humans who depend upon God to reveal truth and enlighten us to grow in our spiritual understanding. This week, we'll look at just one example which left many Jewish believers and apostles divided due to a lack of understanding when it came to the first covenant and the new one that replaced it.
--Available on Amazon - "Clash of The Covenants: Escaping Religious Bondage Through the Grace Guarantee" https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0713ZSKY7
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19:16
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19:16
1034. "Even His Brothers Did Not Believe in Him"
Our conversation this week takes a different approach on avoiding the judgment of others when it comes to trying to identify whether or not they are saved or considered as believers in Christ. We find passages in the Bible where it's easy to jump to the wrong conclusions and allow human speculation and misdirected theology of the written pages to put God in a box, which limits His love and grace.
The brothers who shared the same mother with Jesus did not believe in Him. The disciples saw Him after His resurrection and worshipped Him—but some still doubted. Others who came to believe after the resurrection were also zealous for a law of works, considered as part of an ongoing formula that had been wiped out and abolished without them realizing it.
We're providing some food for thought for all of us to consider. But Jesus promised something even better that can bring people to a place where they will never hunger or thirst again. That's the ball we should keep our eyes upon.
--Available on Amazon - "Clash of The Covenants: Escaping Religious Bondage Through the Grace Guarantee" https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0713ZSKY7
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17:43
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17:43
1033. Jesus: "Who Do You Say That I Am?"
"So Jesus said to them, 'Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you'" (John 6:53).
This was one small piece of a passage that had people trying to figure out just exactly what Jesus was saying. This not only included those opposed to Jesus but also those who had been following Him. In fact, many of the disciples left at that point.
Jesus asked the twelve who were left if they also wanted to depart. There are things Jesus said that contained words of truth where the understanding with the mind was unfruitful ... but something within their hearts that had been revealed about Jesus caused them to realize that He was their only hope for eternal life.
The same is true today with people who lack understanding about spiritual things, statements from Jesus, and Bible writings. But this will not prevent God from revealing truth to us when it comes to Jesus. Believing doesn't require intellectual comprehension.
--Available on Amazon - "Clash of The Covenants: Escaping Religious Bondage Through the Grace Guarantee" https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0713ZSKY7
Growing in Grace is a weekly program featuring informal conversation to help with growth in understanding the gospel, and to live in the freedom that comes through Jesus Christ.
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