Hello, John and Doves,There is no short cut to maturity by any reckoning--human or divine.However, it is written [and therefore true],"And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns."Some people stop right there, but brother Robert, you have correctly divided the Word of God.Paul goes on to say,"12Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. 13For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.14Do everything without complaining and arguing, 15so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people. 16Hold firmly to the word of life; then, on the day of Christ’s return, I will be proud that I did not run the race in vain and that my work was not useless. 17But I will rejoice even if I lose my life, pouring it out like a liquid offering to God,e just like your faithful service is an offering to God. And I want all of you to share that joy. 18Yes, you should rejoice, and I will share your joy."
Keep preaching His Word, brother!Baruch HaShem Adonai Roi,Mike C.________________________________________________________Robert Belanger (17 May 2012)
"The Crowns for Works"
Hi Friends,If the following quotes from the Open Door by Lyn Mize are correct, then many Christians will be unprepared and sorely disappointed at the time of the First Fruits rapture on May 27? and at the time of the midnight cry seven days before when the annular eclipse is scheduled on May 20.
The late Mr. Mize believed that the Bride of Christ would be those Christians receiving all five crowns, or rewards, i.e., the crown of life for patiently enduring the trials of life, the incorruptible crown for putting off fleshly desires and appetites, the crown of righteousness for keeping the faith and loving His appearing, the crown of rejoicing for helping Christians to save their souls and the crown of glory for leading and nourishing the body of Christ.
We may have only a few days to find out if the popular Pentecost date for the rapture is correct. If not, then we should press on by working harder to be ready when the actual date happens.
YBIC,
Robert
“Millions of Christians in the Church today have been taught that they are prepared to meet Jesus at His return because of the fact of simple evangelical salvation. These Christians are still babes in Christ and will not be prepared. Growing is not something that can take place over night. It takes time to become a mature Christian. If a Christian is not prepared when he hears the ‘midnight cry’, it will be too late. He will likely be aware of the rapture, but he will be left behind just like Elisha. When this happened to Elisha, he rent his clothes in anguish. Many Christians will do likewise. This will be the beginning of their three and one-half years of spiritual growth during the first half of the tribulation.
“The great majority of the Church today is spiritually ignorant of the truths concerning the appearance of the Bridegroom and his coming kingdom. Those Christians who study, give thought to, and understand these truths represent only a small minority in the Church today. These are the Philadelphia Christians who will be taken out through the open door of Revelation 3:8. They are the First Fruits (i.e., hasty fruit) who have believed the Word and matured early before the hot summer sun. These are the Christians described in the following Scripture:
2 Cor. 6:17-18 (KJV) 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. 7:1 Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.”
“Lordship salvation states that a person must first make Jesus Lord before he can make him Savior. They of ten use verses addressed to believers exhorting faithfulness and obedience, and they preach it to the lost as a salvation message. They avoid calling it works salvation by simply saying that those who do not do these works are not really saved.
“Ultra Grace salvation is on the other extreme. These Christians lump together salvation and rewards on the grace side. They teach that salvation and rewards are by grace at the point of salvation. They teach that all Christians will be the bride of Christ and will be equally rewarded in Heaven. Thus the emphasis on teaching is related to getting saved and getting others saved.
“Both groups tend to make rewards automatic for believers. The parables are a problem for both of these groups since the parables typically illustrate the differences in rewards for both the carnal and faithful Christian…The parables will not become clear until one understands the Biblical teaching that salvation is by grace, and rewards are according to works!”
------------