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To me works are just as important as faith in finding salvation. The act of pure and true repentance helps cover impure works or sin. These two things are a big part of the lifelong walk of the path to godliness. With only faith you will be faithful but godless.

Specifically, I see works as any mental or physical action you do in regards to God’s instructions for righteousness. You try to fulfill God’s commandments and expectations for you. Doing what God tells you to do. Not doing what God tells you not to do. This is breaking down works to its purest form.

Repentance is showing remorse for wrong doing. It is asking God for forgiveness of your wickedness. Pure repentance to me is when you are sorry in your heart that you have come up short and truly wish you hadn’t done whatever you did. The opposite of repentance to me is any form of justification or rationalization of sin which is extremely dangerous and counterproductive to the process of finding forgiveness.

-----Work toward salvation-----

(Matthew 7:17-24 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree can not bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. Not every one that saith unto Me, ‘Lord, Lord’ shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of My Father Which is in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have not we prophesied in Thy name? and in Thy name have cast out devils? And in Thy name have done many wonderful works?’ And then will I profess unto them, ‘I never knew you: depart from Me, ye that work iniquity.’ Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of Mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of Mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell :)

Whatever you are deep inside will come to fruition through your actions. If you truly love God more than the things of this world, your actions will bear this out over time. If you put your own self will and the things of this world first, this will manifest through sinful actions. This will play out over the course of your life, and more appropriately your life once exposed to the word and will of God.

If you serve wickedness more so than God you will be a corrupt tree with a string of wicked acts defining your life. If this ultimately defines you, you are not one of God’s children or a worthwhile tree in this example. An unfruitful tree will get hewn down as it serves no good purpose to its owner or master. A wicked servant serves no purpose to God and will be destroyed in the end.

Knowledge and belief in Christ and God or even in their plan isn’t enough. You have to work the plan. It sounds as though many who know Christ’s name and believe enough to go around preaching are in for a rude awakening when they actually see Christ. He will tell them to depart because they work iniquity. He doesn’t even know them because he wasn’t put first in their life beyond some basic knowledge of who he is. In their mind they did great works but in his mind they are workers of iniquity.

I will get more into obedience and what works are later but notice for now what you are to be obedient to. Jesus speaks of “he that doeth the will of my Father” and whoever does his sayings. God’s will for you is strewn out throughout the whole New Testament and Christ’s sayings are throughout the books of the gospel. You must try your level best to live up to whatever God says through Christ and the apostles. If you are not doing this you are not putting up good fruit for them to see and recognize you.

In the final example Christ separates two groups. Both groups hear his message. He distinguishes between those who actually do his sayings and those who don’t.

It is great to read the Bible and believe in Christ. Plenty of people in that time heard him and must have had some level of belief in at least his power. However, if you don’t follow through with your actions you won’t be in it for the long haul. You will get washed away. Your actions will show that you not only hear Christ but affirm and agree with what is right in your life.

This message is built on further by Christ later in Matthew. In the 13 th chapter he gives the parable of the sower of seed. It is an example of how people can take several paths after hearing the good word. Pay particular attention at this time to the one who received seed among thorns. Christ explains this example in verse 22.

(He also that received the seed among thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.)

Notice the word “unfruitful.” Also notice the context or greater point in which it is used. Nowhere does it say that this person doesn’t believe the word. The idea is that they put the cares of this world above the right way. Their faith is then unfruitful.

In 21:19 Christ curses the fig tree for having no fruit and it withers away completely. An apple tree with no apples is an apple tree in name only. It fulfills no useful function in terms of growing fruit for its owner or a passer by for that matter. A Christian or believer who hasn’t good works is in name only as well. I’m not sure what other point you could get out of all this.

(Matthew 16:27 For the Son of man shall come in the glory of His Father with His angels; and then He shall reward every man according to his works.)

This verse tells me that works are most certainly a part of salvation. What else could you get out of this?

In the fifth chapter of Acts you can read about Ananias and Sapphira. They kept back part of what they had dedicated to the church. They were killed for it as an example. Their actions lead directly to punishment. Don’t play around with sin. It didn’t say anything about them not believing.

(Acts 10:34, 35 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, “Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth Him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with Him.)

Here Peter is explaining to the gentile Cornelius what it takes to get saved right before he preaches the gospel to him. Fear of God can lead you to working righteousness. Righteous works can help lead to being accepted of God no matter what race or nationality you are.

In this story they tie in perfectly with belief in the gospel and baptism which take you to the end of the chapter. In the beginning of the chapter, Peter was sent to Cornelius because of the type of person he was to begin with. Can you see in this story how a willing heart, works, faith, and baptism all come together?

(Romans 2:13 For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.)

I could spend a week reading and thinking about the directions on how to put something together. However, if I decide just to slap it together any old way when it comes time to actually assemble it: all my knowledge of the instructions have served me no meaning at all. I will have an unholy mess in front of me instead of an organized entertainment center. Spending time reading scripture or hearing someone preach what is proper is a good idea. This is just the first step though. The second and more important step is following through with your decisions and actions based on this knowledge once it is time and as things come up. In this way your knowledge will be fruitful and meaningful.

The first 12 verses of the 10 th chapter of 1 st Corinthians show the importance of works given the example of Israel. The first 4 verses show they were on the chosen path of faith. They were called out of the world, symbolically baptized, spiritually fed, and even had a picture of Christ in their midst. It would be hard to believe many didn’t believe in the true God as he talked to them and lead them by a pillar of fire.

However, verse 5 shows that God was ill pleased with a number of them. Verse 6 shows that this was a direct example to us as it says “now these things were our examples.” Even though some of the rules may have changed from Israel to the church, the example and point here are still quite valid. God wants you to live up to his commandments to you as much as he wanted Israel to live up to expectations then.

Verses 6-8 warn about falling into lusting after evil things, idolatry, and fornication. Verse 9 shows that by doing such things it is tempting God to destroy you as he destroyed them. Verse 10 shows the importance of your attitude in living up to your Godly walk. Israel was also in trouble for whining, complaining, and murmuring. They liked it better in Egypt and looked back toward being in the world instead of looking forward to what God had promised them.

Verse 11 again shows that you can and should look to stories in the Old Testament as useful ensamples. If Paul is saying this, who are you to say the Old Testament is over and doesn’t matter? The same theme still exists in regards to obedience and attitude. Otherwise, why would Paul bring this up? You can’t strip the OT of its function.

(Proverbs 28:9 He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, Even his prayer shall be abomination.)

(Ecclesiastes 12:13, 14 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep His commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.)

Because he was around during the Old Testament: should we not all benefit from the wisdom of Solomon? I’m not sure how you could read these and find keeping God’s rules unimportant for any time you live in. He says “fear God, and keep His commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.” How is the “whole duty of man” some optional and insignificant add on to being saved?

There are really countless stories in the Old Testament of how works lead to a positive or negative end. The Earth was flooded for wickedness. Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed for their ungodly acts. As noted before, many in Israel were directly killed for their actions. That and many didn’t get to see the promised land which is directly symbolic of the coming kingdom of God.

As Israel became a nation their acts and the acts of their king lead to how they would do as a nation. Under David and Solomon they built an empire. As time went on they worshiped high places, got away from commandments, and found unworthy kings. This lead to great downfalls. God would let their enemies conquer them due to their wickedness.

This disobedience eventually lead to God taking away their chosen and preferred status and lead to the church age. If you can’t find examples for yourself in the Old Testament of how works bring you favor or disfavor from God, I’m not sure which Old Testament you are reading. I read the one in the King James Bible.

In the beginning of the 5 th chapter of 1 st Corinthians Paul speaks of a man who is fornicating with his father’s wife. He makes it clear that he wants this man out of the church. This man’s belief in the gospel is not in question here. His works are what are being judged in this instance.

(1 st Timothy 5:8 But if any provide not for his own, and specially those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.)

The commandment here is to take care of your own, and especially those of your own house. If you don’t do this you have denied the faith no matter how loud you claim it. Those who do this are “worse than an infidel.” Do you see how even ignoring one particular work can put you in bad standing with God despite having faith?

(Titus 2:7, 14 In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, Who gave himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.)

When it says “in all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works” does that mean do a few things if you get around to them? Will you be saved just by faith but do these if you feel like it? Why are there so many instructions on how to conduct yourself throughout the letters in the New Testament if this has nothing to do with salvation? I guess Paul and the others were just wasting their time with all this because really you should just follow and do whatever you please. Just say “Jesus Christ” ten times and you will be saved.

I just wish people would follow the faith saves and works doesn’t to its logical endpoint. By this people should just believe and then literally and actually do whatever they want and still expect salvation. They needn’t ever attend church. They needn’t ever read scripture. Just do whatever you want and believe, right? Or if you can’t, then works are a part of the equation.

In the quote from the 14 th verse you see who is being purified. They are “a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” The passion and attitude you have toward your works can put you in a different light in the eyes of God. Through this, you can be chosen. Once chosen, Christ can extend the grace of his sacrifice to you.

(Titus 3:8, 14 This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men. And let ours learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful.)

Paul refers back to Christ’s example of a lack of works meaning you are unfruitful. Your faith is unfruitful if it doesn’t bear some works. He also brings up works twice in the same chapter. He tells them “I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works.” This must be important.

The second chapter of James is also extremely enlightening as to the importance of works. Much like I can’t believe people can’t see the importance of baptism after reading the sixth chapter of Romans: I can’t see for the life of me how someone could miss the importance of works after even glancing at the second chapter of James. I’ll here people say “it’s all about faith,” or “I was saved that there day when I heard someone preach on that there Jesus fella.” I just want to scream “what about the second chapter of James.”

I invite you to read the chapter for yourself as I don’t feel like typing the whole thing. The chapter starts with an admonition on the importance of not being a respecter of persons. James asks a key question in verse 14. Can faith alone save you?

The answer becomes more than obvious as you keep reading. I love the example he gives in 15 and 16. It is the ultimate example of lip service with no personal sacrifice or practical action behind it. You can’t just substitute a few feel good words for actually taking care of the problem and giving up some food or clothes for the good of someone else. These feel good words “be ye warm and filled” are totally hollow, empty, and meaningless.

This is the example he gives leading into 17 which is the concrete answer to 14. He says “Even so” referring to 15 and 16 “faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.” Faith means nothing without works just like telling someone be warm and filled means nothing unless you clothe and feed them. Your faith is so empty it is almost comical, as this example is when you think about it. Is it just all about faith?

Verse 18 shows how faith and works walk hand in hand together. Without faith, people just do whatever is ultimately best for them in some kind of self serving manor. They might occasionally help someone out, have love for certain others, or even fulfill righteousness in spots. In general though, they don’t feel a need to keep God’s rules.

If you do believe in God, his word in the Bible, and his having some basic expectations for you, then you should feel the need to keep his rules. Otherwise, other than in name, how does your faith really make you any different than those who have none? Your faith should be causing some kind of noticeable change in your actions. If it isn’t, how deep and important is it within you?

Verse 19 follows this idea up perfectly. I think the devils know God and what his plan is. The problem is that they work against his plan and don’t love or respect God. Will their knowledge of God ultimately save them? They are evil and will be punished regardless of whatever they know because of their actions. If you have faith without some real works I don’t see where your claim to salvation is in any better standing.

In 20 he plainly reiterates that faith without works is dead. What words should have been used to make this more than abundantly clear? It isn’t just all about faith. If this were true, the devils would be fine.

To me, verses 21-24 bring a balance to the lesson from the end of the third chapter and the beginning of the fourth of Romans. If you just read that you might think Abraham was in good standing with God only because of faith. Romans 11:6 also speaks of faith and not works saving you.

I believe these are referring to the fact that you can’t earn your salvation by your acts alone. Since we are all sinners and sin is punishable by death, only God’s mercy and grace and your belief in the sacrifice of Christ can ultimately put you in a sinless position to obtain salvation. You don’t earn your way in by being good because none of us are good. God doesn’t owe us anything. Salvation is a gift.

None of this changes the fact that God can choose who to give the gift to. He can also choose to withhold this great gift of mercy. Let’s go back to James.

Verse 21 refers to Abraham being totally committed to sacrificing his son because God told him to. Abraham didn’t just say “I truly believe with all my heart that God wants me to take Isaac out to sacrifice him” and then sit around and not do it. He journeyed three days and took Isaac up the mountain and only stopped because God stayed his hand.

Verse 22 again shows how faith and works fuse together to form something great. Out of faith Abraham journeyed from his homeland and offered Isaac upon the altar. These proved his faith and “by works was faith made perfect.” Had Abraham claimed faith and not done these things his faith would have been questionable at best and totally futile at worst.

Say a scientist shows up at Fred’s house and says he has charted a large meteor headed right for it in the next couple of hours. Fred says I believe you completely. Unless Fred has a severe death wish the only logical action he could take would be to get out if he believes the scientist. If he doesn’t get out then he mustn’t believe the guy regardless of what Fred said. Say Fred stays in house watching the idiot box when the meteor hits. The only difference his knowledge would make in his last split second would be the regret that he didn’t act.

Often, people from other countries slam the United States, only to try and move here upon any chance they get. They vote with their feet and not their mouths. If something jumps out of the dark and someone’s eyes become wide as baseballs and they jump ten feet back they were scared even if they say they weren’t. The point in all this is the old saying that actions speak louder than words do. This is true in terms of general obedience as well as core faith.

Abraham couldn’t believe that God had a plan for something better for him and then stay at home. He couldn’t believe in God’s power and righteousness and then balk when asked to sacrifice his son. His outward actions showed what he believed deep down inside. Your outward actions do as well. This is again illuminated in verse 24.

In 25 Rahab could have claimed she believed in the God of Israel and then turned over the spies to her countrymen out of fear. By definition, would she have had faith in this instance? Her actions left no doubt of her faith.

“For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.” How much more an extreme and decisive example could be given to show that faith without works won’t save you? It’s not just all about faith.

The second and third chapters of Revelations are also quite instructive as to the importance of works. Works are under constant scrutiny throughout these chapters as the churches are being analyzed. If it were all about faith shouldn’t it just say these churches believe or they don’t and that’s the end of it? It repeatedly says “he that overcometh” won’t be hurt of the second death or will get eternal life in the kingdom.

In chapter 2, verse 23 says “I am He Which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.” Verse 26 says “And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations.” Where can you get that works don’t matter out of any of this?

-----To love God-----

(1 st Corinthians 2:9 But as it is written, “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him.”)

(James 1:12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord has promised to them that love Him.)

(James 2:5 Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which He hath promised to them that love Him?)

God is looking to give his kingdom and eternal life to those who love him. I’m not sure where people get the old “God loves everyone” line. God loves those who love him. These are the only ones who will inherit the kingdom. Those who don’t love God aren’t promised anything.

Of course anyone who has any belief in God or any level of religion will tell you they do love God. It is very easy to say the three words “I love God.” What’s not so easy is to put this alleged love into practice in a meaningful way in the long run. This is what God wants.

Does true love stop at just words? Isn’t talk cheap? Don’t people often lie and misrepresent their real feelings?

If someone talks mad trash about you behind yo back and then cheats you out of all your money and then says they are your best friend would you believe them? If a husband cheats on his wife with anyone he can find and then beats the hell out of her whenever he pleases do the words “I love you” ring true? If you can see through this thin style of verbal only love, do you really think God can’t????

Life isn’t just a question of whether you hypothetically and theoretically might feel something for God and are willing to say so. It is how much you love him and at what personal cost. It is how you put it into action and show him with your decisions and moral code.

(Matthew 22:36-40 “Master, which is the great commandment in the law?” Jesus said unto him, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God, with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”)

Israel was commanded to love God. This commandment stood out above all to Christ. Notice that it wasn’t one of the Ten Commandments and yet Christ saw it as most important. So how do all the commandments and words of the prophets hang on these two?

In loving thy neighbor you won’t want to have negative actions or feelings toward them. Love works no ill toward another. You will be less inclined to steal, cheat, speak evil, hurt or kill, or harbor hatred for any reason with love guiding you.

By loving God you keep his other commandments as a sign of this respectful love. This is how all the other commandments and instructions hang on these two commandments. Do you see how keeping God’s word is perfectly linked to loving God here? If not, here are some more examples where this idea is stated directly.

(Exodus 20:6 and Deuteronomy 5:10 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love Me, and keep my commandments.)

(John 14:15 If ye love Me, keep My commandments.)

(John 14:21 He that hath My commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth Me: and he that loveth Me shall be loved of My Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.)

(John 14:23, 24 Jesus answered and said unto him, “If a man love Me, he will keep my words: and My Father will love him, and We will come unto him, and make our abode with him. He that loveth Me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not Mine, but the Father’s which sent Me.”)

(John 5:10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in My love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in His love.)

Here you can see Christ repeating himself to show the importance of keeping commandments. He also demonstrates the unbreakable link between love of God and keeping his commandments. I know it is more fun to just say “I love God” and do whatever you want. However, if you just follow your own will you may as well not even bother with the “I love God part” because in reality you just don’t love him.

(Ephesians 6:6 Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart ;)

(1 st John 2:3-5 And hereby we do know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He that saith “I know Him,” and keepeth not His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth His word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in Him.)

(1 st John 3:24 And he that keepeth His commandments dwelleth in Him, and he in him. And hereby we know that He abideth in us, by the spirit which He hath given us.)

(1 st John 5:2, 3 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments: and His commandments are not grievous.)

John doesn’t tell you to keep one commandment. He doesn’t tell you to keep just the commandments that you wish to. He is saying that if you love God you will do whatever God tells you to. This is the love of God. Just saying you love him isn’t.

This love of God is so important because I showed above how you need to love God to be saved. If you love God, he will love you. If you don’t keep his word then you don’t love him and he doesn’t love you.

God isn’t an irrational stalker who loves despite being rejected over and over again. He isn’t a Genie in a bottle who is there to serve you. He is your almighty master who wants respect and submission to his will. He wants you to strive to be like him no matter how hard your sinful flesh strives in opposition.

People want to put almost nothing in and get everything out of their relationship with God. This just isn’t how he works. He would that all men would follow but in the end he doesn’t truly need you. I guarantee you do truly need him and your actions had better reflect this.

You also need to consider the word commandment for just a few minutes. A command is not a request or God or Christ begging you to do something. A command isn’t doing something if you agree or if you feel up to it and when you get around to it. As a matter of general practice, a command is expected to be followed by whoever gives it. This is especially true when it is the almighty God telling you to do something.

Whatever the New Testament tells you to do should be followed to the best of your ability and capability. These are the commandments given to the church. None of the things laid down in the gospels or by Paul or others in letters are mere suggestions. They were laying down what is expected of you in terms of your behavior as a member of the church.

I have heard people downplay the importance of following instructions in the New Testament as though these aren’t commands. I also think people get caught up on only the Ten Commandments which were given to Israel under the law. Even under the law Israel was instructed to do many other things outside of the Ten Commandments. The idea is to show obedience to whatever God instructs you to do. These instructions are given throughout books Matthew through Revelations.

-----Obedience-----

(Acts 5:32 And we are His witnesses of these things; and so is the Holy Ghost, Whom God hath given to them that obey Him.)

Who does God give the Holy Ghost to? Is it to those who just believe in him? Is it to those who say they love him? Obedience is a very important word in your relationship with God.

(Romans 6:16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey: whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?)

Do you see how sin is the opposite of obedience here? Disobedience leads to death. Obedience leads to righteousness and life. You can only truly be God’s servant if you serve God through obedience. If you serve sin more than God you can say you believe in him and love him all you want but you are what you are.

(2 nd Corinthians 10:3-6 For we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:<For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds;> Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.)

Obedience to God is easier said than done. It is a great struggle compared to a war. Are you fighting this war? How hard are you fighting? Are you looking deep inside your own intentions and addressing what needs to be changed in service to God? These are questions that need to be answered. “I love God” doesn’t mask or veil this.

(Titus 1:16 They profess that they know God; but in works they deny Him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.)

Do you see how faith can be left irrelevant by a lack of works? Do you see how obedience is at the heart of works? Can’t you agree that saying you believe in God and love God needs to get backed up with some action?

(Hebrews 5:8, 9 Though He were a Son, yet learned He obedience by the things which He suffered; And being made perfect, He became the Author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey Him;)

Even Christ had to be obedient. He proved himself through perfect obedience. He even followed God’s will unto death. Who is he authoring salvation to here? If obedience was a vital part of Christ’s journey why isn’t it important to you exactly?

(1 st Peter 1:2 Elect, according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.)

The elect are elect through sanctification of the spirit, obedience, and the blood of Christ. I don’t see how you can ignore any of these and hope to be saved. You can’t just pay attention to two out of three here. Obedience is part of the deal whether you want to obey or no.

I would now like to go into the fifteenth chapter of first Samuel. I feel this chapter is so telling in regards to the importance of obedience and what to be obedient to. Saul, the king of Israel, was instructed by Samuel to kill all the people and animals of Amalek. He spared the king and the best of the animals. God talks to Samuel in verse 11 saying:

(It repenteth Me that I have set up Saul to be king: for he is turned back from following Me, and hath not performed My commandments.)

Saul didn’t break one of the Ten Commandments here. There was no well established tenet that all the Amalekites and their animals were always to be killed. He simply didn’t do what God told him to do here. Commandments are whatever God tells you to do through whoever he appoints to give the message. If he tells you to do it, it is a command.

The next thing that amuses me is that in verse 13 Saul actually thinks his actions pleased God and he has fulfilled the commandment given to him. Along with this he gives a good old fashioned well intentioned excuse in verse 15. He says he was saving the animals for a sacrifice. Whether he was or wasn’t the point is that he didn’t do what he was told to do. I love Samuel’s response in verses 22 and 23.

(And Samuel said, “Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, He hath also rejected thee from being king.”)

God doesn’t need or want well intentioned excuses. He wants you to do whatever he tells you. I feel this example is so indicative of so many things I have heard these days. People don’t actually want to follow what the good book says in their actions but they have good hearted reasons why they don’t: so this is permissible. Saul wanted to do a sacrifice. Wasn’t that a good intention that God speaks of elsewhere in terms of what Israel was to do?

If your heart really is pure with God then you try and obey God. Disobeying God or rebelling his commandments is sin. Why you do it doesn’t somehow cancel this out. Good intentions are the ones that lead to following God’s word. Any intentions or reasons that lead you away from following God’s instructions are automatically bad.

Saul could have even tried to use love and mercy for a reason not to kill this poor man who was king of Amalek. This wouldn’t have changed the fact that he didn’t do what he was told to by Samuel. The only way to please God is to do what he says. It isn’t a matter of not doing it and coming up with a kind hearted story as to why. Either Saul would kill everyone and every animal here or he wouldn’t. Once he didn’t, he was in a state of sin no matter his explanation.

There can also be a great gulf between how you regard your actions and how God sees them. Saul thought his actions were fine in this chapter. God didn’t. This is why direct obedience to his word is so important. Making up your own rules to follow might sound good to you but I really don’t think it pleases God.

Along with the commandment given to Saul, individual commandments were given to others. Long before the Law of Moses Adam and Eve were told not to eat of a tree. When they did, it was counted as sin to them. Lot’s wife was killed for looking back when she was told not to.

In the 19 th chapter of Matthew the young rich man was told to sell what he had and give to the poor. Christ did this because the man had a lot of material wealth and Christ wanted to see what he would put first. This was not a general commandment to the whole church but a specific command to this man. When it wasn’t followed Christ severely downplayed the man’s chances of obtaining the kingdom.

Jonah was severely punished when he didn’t preach to Nineveh after being told to by God. Balaam was almost killed by an angel after angering God by leaving when he wasn’t supposed to in Numbers 22. God just doesn’t wink at disobedience. It is extremely important to him that you follow his word.

On the flip side, Abraham was told to leave his homeland and sacrifice his son. Moses was told to return to Egypt and lead Israel out. Peter was told to preach to a gentile in Acts. These instructions were followed via faith. Abraham’s actions in particular were counted very high in God’s eyes.

The point is to not only be obedient but obedient to all God’s directions. Even if you don’t find them to be important, he does. If an action or state of mind wasn’t important to God, why would he have it addressed through the apostles or by Christ at all? Is it left up to the individual to decide what is a command from God and what is just a piece of advice to be acted on or discarded on a whim?

Good works involve following all directions to the best of your ability. This could be action, not taking a wicked action when tempted, or mental self control and thought pattern action. Let’s take a deeper look into works and obedience in Galatians 5:19-23.

(Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.)

Notice hatred and envy noted in the works of the flesh and things like faith and joy listed in the fruits of the spirit. This goes along with my contention that works include states of mind and mental exercises. Also just notice the wide array of things listed in general. Negative or sinful works and positive or Godly works include all kinds of things just from this list.

I bring this up because I think people get a physical and menial job infused idea of what works are. They get the idea that someone working for a recognized charity, helping the elderly lady across the street, or preaching the word to whoever they can find are what real works are. All these things would be fine and are good works but there are plenty of other examples too numerous to name.

Say Mark doesn’t join his friends out at the party to drink, drug, thug, and fornicate with whomever they can or will because he knows it will bring the worst out of him. Say Hector knows Felipe has wronged him and stays home to fight the urge to go to his house and confront him which could lead to a fight or a murder. Say Sara knows that Heather just bought and got the hot new car and house and feels happy for her instead of entertaining the thoughts of jealousy and envy. To me these are all works even though Mark, Hector, and Sara didn’t outwardly do much of anything in any of these examples.

The daily battle you fight for God is often as internal as it is external. The work the people above all worked was the work of a decision and obedience. They would all probably have to use and enlist one or more of the fruits of the spirit to overcome a potentially bad work of the flesh. Putting these things into practice in your daily life is a work in and of itself. This is why these lists are given. They are guideposts and beacons for what is right and wrong in terms of action and thought.

The more you apply the fruits of the spirit, the less you will work sinful actions of the flesh. Turning yourself over to sin is to drown out the positive spirit in you. In situations of temptation you will work one or the other of these ways. The idea is to try to follow the right way as much as possible. This is pleasing to God. Sin is displeasing to him.

The first part of this list is also useful in terms of the seriousness of disobedience. I have heard people downplay sexual sins like fornication because it is a victimless wrong. Or I love the idea that entertaining thoughts of hatred, envy, or lust are all right as long as you don’t act on them. It says “they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” How much more serious can retribution for actions be? Not inheriting the kingdom means facing the flames.

This goes against the narrow and weighted views of sin I often here. People like to see sin as disobeying just a few really heavy things you are instructed to do in the Bible. It is wrong to murder, rape, or steal but fornication, idolatry, and hatred aren’t so bad because no one is really hurt by these. If things are keeping you out of the kingdom they must be sinful and quite important to God for you to follow. Someone will be hurt by not taking any of God’s rules seriously: namely you.

(1 st Corinthians 6:9, 10 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.)

Again we have a list of things to avoid in staying on the path which leads to salvation. These aren’t all well established laws with a “thou shalt not” in front of them. They are just things you are told not to do. If you give yourself over to these things you put yourself under sin and in danger of facing destruction.

(Matthew 23:3, 4 All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not. For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.)

Works are observing and doing what you know to be right based on proper doctrine. Works must go beyond words. You must follow through on what you are told to observe. When the scribes and Pharisees didn’t, Christ was unimpressed by them.

(John 7:7 The world cannot hate you; but Me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil.)

Notice again that works aren’t always referring to good works like helping your neighbor build a deck or helping the elderly man up if he falls. Christ is speaking of the evil works at play in the world. There are only just so many murderers, thieves, and rapists out there. Also, most people would have acknowledged these works as evil long before Christ.

This sounds more like a general observation of sinful action throughout the world. This would again show works as living up to basic instructions from God and conscience. When you don’t do these; your works are evil. Works are just what you do and don’t do in relation to moral rules and instructions.

-----Effort-----

One thing that life has taught me beyond all doubt is that it is way too easy to fall short of God’s expectations. I find that most days I sin or come up short in some way. Many who go to Bible study with me and who are quite committed agree with me on this observation from their own experience. If I had a very narrow and self appointed definition of sin I would probably do great.

However, when you think about all the rules set down, I’m sure you also fall short. Avoiding negative thoughts of people that manifest in some form of hatred or envy can be difficult in some situations. Whenever you speak you have to be very careful not to speak ill of others, proudly lift yourself up, use improper language or subject matter, tell anything less than the truth, or pledge something you won’t live up to. Being a talebearer and a busybody and telling people’s business isn’t acceptable. Money can be a motivation for all kinds of shady sorts of actions.

Avoiding sex or sexual fantasy and lust is just downright impossible to do forever. Even if married, adultery or at least lust of adultery will probably come into your mind at some point. To me, you shouldn’t do anything with pagan origins which clearly pointed to another religion or another God. Christ tells you to love your enemy and always offer forgiveness. Don’t try and tell me you don’t do at least some of the things on the list of works of the flesh from time to time.

If you can really say you don’t fall into any of this most days or for weeks at a time: you are better than me. If so, I truly am happy for you and commend you. I won’t contradict the first part of my paper now. The idea is to live up to what God expects.

However, in the end, I think the best anyone other than Christ can give is a game effort. I think God respects it when someone puts their level best into adhering to his word. Even though those who are his and those who aren’t both fall short: I really believe God can distinguish between those who are trying and those who are just trying to please themselves.

Forgive my using too many sports related examples. I have watched and played sports all my life. I realize that games and living up to the almighty God’s plan are different and there is a huge gulf between the levels of importance in them. After being on a number of basketball teams I can tell you that effort in your teammates is tangible and important.

Basketball also taught me to put up a constant effort and to believe in myself despite coming up short at times. When you are in a game for any amount of time you will probably make some kind of mistake or fall short of helping your team. You will miss a shot, commit a foul, commit a turnover, allow the player you are defending to score, not be where you are supposed to be on offense or defense, or do something really stupid like get a technical or get thrown out of the game. You could look at this and say that since all players come up short, there is no difference between them in helping their team win.

You couldn’t be more wrong. I have seen players like Lebron James and Michael Jordan miss easy shots or dribble the ball off their foot out of bounds. These mistakes don’t stop them from being about one hundred times better than the guy at the local park who makes mistakes on the court.

Also, beyond talent, there is really something to be said about players giving maximum effort and hustle. Coaches will usually say that they can’t be tough on any player who does this. As a player, what frustrated me wasn’t a guy on my team missing a shot or not being tall enough to get a rebound. What annoys you is when someone on your team watches a loose ball while someone on the other team dives for it and gets it. This or when your teammate won’t run back on defense since you can’t score points or get much glory on defense and it makes you tired to run back.

You could look at this and think that even though I run back on defense or hustle for a loose ball it might not lead to results. Then you could say the player who hustles and the one who didn’t were exactly the same. Most players and basically all coaches see the difference. Fans usually have respect for the player who consistently dives for the loose ball or breaks his back for a rebound.

Let’s get back to the point of this paper. You could look at all men as sinners and say that that makes all men’s works the same. Being a sinner does leave all in the same boat in terms of needing Christ. But I do see a huge difference between the person who just does what they want and the one who tries to do God’s will while still coming up short at times. Do you really think God can’t read your heart and intentions in the long run? Do you really think these things don’t matter along with results?

(Romans 6:1, 2 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?)

To me this isn’t speaking of just pure results. It is speaking of your attitude toward sin. The first line is “what shall we say then.” It’s not speaking of what you do but how you address sin.

If your attitude is that you should just do what you want and mindfully and purposely continue in sin, you are in trouble. The idea is not to abuse and frustrate the grace which God has offered you. As you read the rest of the chapter, the idea is to follow righteousness after your baptism. This shows the proper mindset.

The seventh chapter in Romans is also quite instructive on my current subject. Verses 14-25 make a great point which I need to discuss. Verse 14 shows that God’s rules are good and perfect. Unfortunately, as flesh and blood humans, we are not.

I love verse 15: “For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that I do.” This along with 18 and 19 show that Paul doesn’t just occasionally make a mistake. This is an honest admission of someone who is falling on a regular basis. This always makes me feel good to know that I am not alone in my constant sins. If you say you don’t sin on some kind of regular basis, you are better than the apostle Paul after his conversion.

There is also a deeper point here than constantly finding yourself falling short. In 16 Paul says “If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good.” Paul would to do the right thing. His will is to follow God’s word. Unfortunately, his will power just isn’t strong enough to win every time.

Because of his will, he is consenting to the goodness of God’s way inside. He has conformed his heart and conscience to the righteous goodness of God. This despite the fact that his outward actions won’t always reflect this. Even though sin always involves choice, Paul is doing that which he ultimately doesn’t want to do in the long run upon further reflection.

In 17 Paul identifies why he keeps messing up despite turning his will over to God. When he says “I” I take that to mean the innermost part of his conscious thought. I’m not taking this like the guy in prison saying “it wasn’t me” trying to beat the rap or get out of something. The better part of Paul doesn’t wish to sin.

However, locked in all of us is a strong and powerful sinful nature. It rages and kicks and explodes in a way that can’t always be contained despite your best efforts. Sometimes it feels like trying to tackle and hold down a big wild horse that is fully determined to get past you. The strength of man is only so much. This is why Paul can’t always contain himself.

In 18 Paul further recognizes the limitations of the flesh. When you think about the human body, we are all nasty and limited underneath the skin. The body is frail and can be broken or killed in any number of ways. Physical and mental illnesses can haunt people. Most people wouldn’t want to be in the room and take an up close and personal look at a brain surgery or getting into someone’s organs through their ribcage. But this is what we all are underneath.

More specifically here though, Paul is looking at our severe limitations in terms of living up to God’s goodness. Our flesh just can’t perform goodness like God can. This is why God reads your will and your heart. This is why I am discussing effort here.

In 20 Paul reiterates his point from 17. God knows the limitations of our bodies. He made them. What he wants is for you to struggle against your sinful nature and strive to be like him. If you do this, he will change you to literally be like him on the day of the Lord.

Also, when you struggle and strive to be like him despite what you are it is as though he overlooks your fleshly shortcomings. These can’t be completely shut off. God sees who and what you really want to be through everything else. He can look right down inside your inner mind and gauge intentions. If you are not consenting deep inside to your sins it is counted as your sinful flesh being too much to handle.

This is especially true in the long run of your walk as a believer. I say this because sin involves some kind of decision. At times you will knowingly give yourself over to doing what is wrong. Hopefully, you don’t let these interruptions change your inner course and your deepest intention to please God that are ingrained in you. Even though you mess up, you don’t give the consent of your heart that this was all right. This can also lead to honest repentance which I will get to.

In 22 Paul says “For I delight in the law of God after the inward man.” If deep inside you delight after the sinful works of the flesh, you have a problem. You should repent these acts. Paul consents to the goodness of God’s instruction and strives to fulfill it. In that he does wrong it repents him when he says “O wretched man that I am” in 24. He is clearly frustrated with his sin and sinful nature.

In 7:25 it says “So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.” Your goal should be to perfectly obey God’s word. You should try and set this course and do your best to stay the course. But you must do this knowing you will fall off course.

What you end up with is a constant battle inside you. Part of you will want to work the will of God. Another part of you will pull you towards doing whatever is pleasing to your flesh in that instant. The idea is to fight the good fight.

Also, consistent with my first section on obedience, hopefully you are winning at least some of these battles. You can’t win a war without winning at least some of the battles. It’s hard to believe you really want to do God’s will if you almost never do it.

Paul’s point is that you will take losses no matter how hard you try. If your will is truly toward God you will find a way to overcome sin and get some wins along the way as well. There is no number or percentage I can give as to how often you must do God’s will when tempted versus how many times you fall.

What you must do is point your direction toward the guidepost of the Bible. This beacon will be like the North Star in that it is bright and there but you can never reach it. Along the way you might get turned completely around or fall way off the path but the idea is to keep going in the right direction over time.

If you keep studying scripture, meditating, analyzing your performance in an honest way, praying, and trying to improve: you will improve as the years go by. I truly think God loves this and counts this as a win despite your losses along the way. Your effort and hopefully some improvement and growth are what will earn you a high mark with him.

(Matthew 26:41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.)

This is when Jesus addressed Peter after he wanted Peter to stay awake to be with him before his crucifixion. Peter loved Christ and probably wanted to stay up but his eyes were heavy. Christ took note of a willing spirit despite actions falling short due to weakness of flesh.

Later, Peter went as far as to deny Christ three times but Christ knew it before and forgave Peter. Even in this instance, Peter did follow Christ to the palace where he was tried before being killed. In his heart he didn’t want to deny Christ and couldn’t believe he would when Christ told him: but self preservation must have kicked in hard like a mule.

(2 nd Corinthians 8:11, 12 Now therefore perform the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to will, so there may be a performance also out of that which ye have. For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.)

Paul really hits both angles here. If you have a readiness of mind to do the right thing, hopefully you will turn that into action. But this also goes deeper into the idea that God reads a “willing mind” and seems to give the benefit of the doubt to those who have it. He will find it easier to credit your good works and overlook the bad ones if underneath your will is to do right according to him.

(1 st Corinthians 4:5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, Who will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.)

(Hebrews 4:12, 13 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in His sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of Him with Whom we have to do.)

God can read deep into your mind. Those who wish to obey his word out of love and respect should take comfort in this. Those who try and fool him should fear this.

I think God can not only see what you do. I think he knows exactly why you do things. Hopefully, the thing you are putting first in your mind is your obedience to his word. I have heard these verses and this idea misused. When people knowingly and constantly disobey they declare that God knows their heart and this makes it all right.

I agree on the first part that God knows their heart. The problem is that when you put anything before God this declares the place of your heart for you loud and clear. As I showed before, those who love God keep his commandments. Or my point in this part of the paper is that you at least set your heart on this goal.

When you stop fighting the fight on anything God tells you, you show that your heart obeys it more than you love God. If you just give your life over to a pattern of sin, God does indeed know your heart. He knows that you love some sin or fleshly gain better than him. God won’t play second fiddle to anything or anyone in your life.

I think intentions can be big in terms of how you treat other people. Sometimes your words can be misconstrued by others. God knows exactly why you said whatever you said. If you truly mean to lift someone up, be positive, or at least mean no harm with your words: God knows it. If you are trying to be sneaky and demean someone, mislead someone, or cause division and strife: God knows it.

There could literally be thousands of examples of this throughout your life. A direct one could be how you address others in terms of their actions toward keeping God’s will. Telling someone’s business and being a busybody aren’t good traits. You also don’t want to be confrontational or attack someone based on their shortcomings. If you do, you better look in the mirror and realize you ain’t perfect either.

However, say you know someone is headed full speed down a dead end path of wickedness and willful sin. I think it would be a very positive thing to inform them with the right spirit. If your intention is to help them by addressing it: God sees this.

I mess up way too much and too often to spend a lot of time worrying about what others do. I openly acknowledge this. This won’t stop me from pointing it out when someone is purposely straying from the path and believing it is totally acceptable.

What is funny is how far people have taken being judged these days. I am in no position to judge anyone to damnation or into the kingdom like a lot of people do. I do have a lot more hope for some than others in my mind but final judgment is up to Christ and God. I also can’t read someone’s heart and intentions anywhere near as well as God can so for the most part I don’t bother trying. This would be amateur night compared to God’s perfect and deep judgment. Everyone will have to square their actions with the man upstairs someday so do whatever you will.

However, I am not such an idiot that I can’t see a willful decision to choose sin as being acceptable. I feel it is extremely dangerous to just choose to go against what God tells you for a lifetime. If I point this out to someone it is because I care. I’m not judging anyone by pointing out what the Bible says.

People take it to the point where you can’t point out anything as being wrong when some things clearly are. They want you to play spiritual blind man so they can feel no inhibitions about doing whatever they do. Don’t read the Bible or show up at church if you don’t want rules or expectations from God because you are just wasting time. Ignoring these rules doesn’t make them go away.

All this brings me back to intentions. Some will look at it as you judging them and playing holier than thou to just say something is wrong from scripture. It couldn’t be any more clear, but don’t say it or you are being mean to them and their lifestyle. I’m sorry but I do judge certain actions as wrong based on scripture. There can be some degrees of grey in some circumstances but there are a lot of things which are quite black and white.

A lot of people these days have itching ears. They seek for a church or spiritual leader who will merely reinforce what they already believe. If they don’t want something in the Bible to be wrong, they will find a church that says this. They might even actually believe this makes it all right.

The example I always use is of someone with cancer visiting two doctors. They visit the first one who tells them they have cancer. He tells them they must endure treatment and change their lifestyle because they will eventually die from it otherwise. The other tells them they are totally fine and to just continue on with whatever they were doing. Which was the good doctor?

The first doctor’s message was harsh and not what anyone would wish to hear. The second doctor was pleasing to the ear and said exactly what I wanted him to. However, whatever he says, if you ignore your condition it will kill you. His words don’t alter reality. No man’s words can change God’s expectations for you so don’t bother running to them to try.

The point is that God can see all the angles in all situations. He is quite aware if you are trying to get out of doing his instructions by finding a church which says it is all right to do so. He also knows the intentions behind addressing where someone may be coming short. If you are trying to teach them God’s path and bring the best out of them: this is good and acceptable. If you are trying to take them down a notch to feel better about yourself: this is a problem.

-----Repentance-----

From pure obedience I scaled the discussion down to effort toward obedience. In that section I declared that even with effort: sin is inevitable. This leaves the last phase available, which is repentance. It is a valuable step given the imperfection of mankind. To error is human, to forgive divine.

(Mark 1:15 And saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.”)

(Luke 5:31, 32 And Jesus answering said unto them, “They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”)

Repentance was one of the first things Christ preached.

(Mark 6:12 And they went out, and preached that men should repent.)

Repentance was one of the first things the apostles taught.

(Mark 1:4 John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.)

Can you see how baptism and repentance join to lead to remission of your sins in the eyes of God? Baptism is also directly linked to repentance in these verses (Luke 3:3, Acts 13:24, Acts 19:4). John paved the way on the message of repentance even before Christ.

These along with Mark 1:15 also force me to broaden my scope and say that belief and baptism are the primary reasons you can be forgiven of sins. Without these essential elements, you can repent with tears as Esau did and never be forgiven. But repentance was a key part of reconciliation with God. It was important enough to be brought up in the context of initial conversion. This message continues through the apostles into Acts.

(Acts 3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord ;)

(Acts 11:18 When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, “Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.”)

(Acts 17:30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but know commandeth all men every where to repent)

(Acts 26:20 But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judea, and then to the Gentiles that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.)

Believing the gospel, accepting Christ as your savior, and being baptized in accordance with this are good things to do. To me, repentance runs hand in hand with these. You realize you need Christ by admitting you are an unworthy sinner. The idea is to want to get out of this position and strive for something better. Through repentance; Christ’s perfection and his death, burial, and resurrection take on a much greater meaning to you inside.

Also, once baptized, you should then strive to be a new person. This should be a given if you truly repent who you were and where you were before. It is like the new age cliché that you must first admit you have a problem in order to properly address it. If you go around thinking you are righteous and perfect, why would you need Christ? This is why I believe repentance was cited so much in terms of basic conversion.

(Luke 11:4 And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.)

Part of the Lord’s prayer is to ask God forgiveness of sins. I have rarely spoken the Lord’s prayer word for word. I see it as more of an example of a good prayer and I don’t want the repetition to drown out the meaning. However, this does indicate to me that this asking of forgiveness of sins probably should come up in at least some prayers. Repenting and asking forgiveness aren’t something just to be done at conversion.

(Luke 18:10-14 “Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank Thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all I possess.’ And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, ‘God be merciful to me a sinner.’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.”)

The act of admitting your sin in a very simple and primal way must be pleasing to God. It is this act that kind of outwardly defines repentance to me. The Pharisee was an example of those who justify and find themselves to be righteous.

If you see yourself as ultimately righteous by your own actions, God will see you as unrighteous. If you plainly admit your sins and repent, God can overlook your misdeeds and see you as righteous.

In your own life can’t you see the difference when dealing with others? If someone plainly admits they were wrong and asks your forgiveness isn’t it a lot easier to give? If you can read true contrition under their words and into their heart, doesn’t it become easier still?

What is annoying is when someone has clearly done you wrong. Then they find every reason on God’s green earth to try and show you they have done nothing wrong. Or the old semi-apology where you kind of brought it on yourself is not much fun either. Even our court system tries to reward people who at least admit guilt and show remorse. Of course this can be abused by those who really just want a lighter sentence but I understand the guiding principles in play.

Also look back to the example of Peter denying Christ at the end of the 26 th chapter of Matthew. He wasn’t just a little sorry. He didn’t just weep. It says he “wept bitterly.”

To me the publican and Peter are just examples. I am not saying you have to hit yourself in the chest or cry in order to be repentant. However, repentance should mean something to you inside.

Hopefully your goal is to do God’s will. Coming short of goals is always frustrating to me at least. It also sticks my heart to know I have let down people I love or care for. The idea is to love God above everyone and everything. This is why some real emotion should have at least something to do with repentance in my mind.

In the eighth chapter of Acts a man named Simon believed and was baptized. He wished to buy the power of the Holy Ghost with money. Peter was disgusted with what this revealed about his heart. Peter instructs him in verse 22.

(Repent therefore, of thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.)

Hopefully you can again see how internal sin can be. Also, Peter found it important for Simon to repent and ask God for forgiveness. This process must have been important in Peter’s mind. And of course Peter had the spirit of God working in him.

I don’t think it is good to just assume forgiveness. As much as possible, it is probably good to repent any individual sin as in this example. I try to do this but also like to include “please forgive me in all my sins” in prayer. Something might have slipped by in all the moments of my life.

I am not as dogmatic as some I have heard on this matter. I have heard the idea that if you don’t ask God’s forgiveness for each sin after commission, you are doomed. By this way of thinking, asking forgiveness can only reach backward.

With this, many conclude that a suicide is automatically unforgivable. I disagree with this train of thought. Say a man on his death bed entertains a thought of lust for a nurse in a hospital just before his death. If he doesn’t have time to stop and pray to God first, is he doomed as well? I guess I just don’t feel as comfortable in making a final judgment on someone as many seem to.

I do see the wisdom in asking forgiveness after a sin as this can be thought about with sorrow being a part of it. I also see self evaluation and asking forgiveness as a constant process. If I knew I were on my death bed; I would like to beg forgiveness of God one last time. I just don’t want to take this process too far where you do it the way I think or you are damned.

(Romans 2:3, 4 And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? Or despisest thou the riches of His goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?)

The first couple verses in this chapter dealt with harshly judging others based on their actions. Since every one is a sinner, you would be a lot better harshly judging yourself like the publican of the last example. This is part of the good plan of God. This is consistent with Paul speaking on communion in 1 st Corinthians 28 and 31.

(But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For if we judge ourselves, we should not be judged.)

Self examination is an important part of covering your sins. You must take stock of not only your actions but your innermost thoughts. Then you can try to escalate the positive and tone down the negative. Your actions will then tend to follow where you put your mind.

I believe “judge not, that ye be not judged” in Matthew 7:1 and Luke 6:37 was referring to judging others. From verse 31 above I believe that it is positive to honestly judge yourself. Communion is a picture of partaking of the broken body and blood of Christ. Christ on the cross can only be seen as important to you if you first acknowledge that this is what you deserved. He took your place and died for you.

(2 nd Corinthians 7:8-11 For though I made you sorry with a letter, I do not repent, though I did repent: for I perceive that the same epistle hath made you sorry, though it were but for a season. Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death. For behold the selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.)

Hopefully you can see the importance of sorrowful repentance in Paul’s words. He didn’t want to attack those in Corinth he was writing to. He didn’t wish to make them feel bad like a trash talker.

Paul wanted to make them feel bad about their mistakes. Feeling sorry about coming up short leads to repentance unto salvation. This was the chain of events Paul wished to create with his words.

If sorrow and repentance weren’t important, I don’t believe Paul would have felt good about making those in Corinth fall into it. Godly repentance of prior deeds can help lead you in the future as verse 11 makes clear. Godly sorrow brought about carefulness, fear, zeal, passion and a clearing of those involved. The more you feel bad about making mistakes, the less you will want to make them. This leads to not only repentance but correction and absolution.

So now my discussion has gone full circle. Pure obedience to God’s word is always best. Over the course of life hopefully you will strive to this. When you fall short, you should repent. Along with forgiveness, hopefully this will lead you back toward obedience. The idea is to not give yourself over to something which truly makes you feel bad inside.

This idea of repentance for those already in the church is again reconfirmed in the second and third chapters of Revelations. Church’s works are weighed in the balance. Verse 2:5 reads as follows.

(Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.)

I feel this verse kind of sums up the importance of repentance. It is given to the church to repent in an “or else” statement. It also makes the point again of how repentance can lead you back to your first objective: which is obedience.

(Revelation 2:21 And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.)

Severe penalties are listed after this statement. God gives us all space to repent our misdeeds. It is up to you to take advantage of this opportunity. If you don’t, you will face serious consequences in the long run. This is a perfect link to my next topic.

-----Justification of sin-----

Justification is one of the most spiritually dangerous things I see going on these days. When you justify sin, you are not really repenting it. If you say something is really all right, it can’t be wrong to you. If you don’t admit something you do is wrong, it is impossible to truly repent of it.

Justification is the direct opposite of repentance. People often won’t admit they are wrong when they step outside God’s holy rules. Instead of something being wrong with them, they try to act as though there must be something wrong with God’s rules. They need amending to make people feel better about their actions. It is just too uncomfortable to be wrong.

What you get is people intentionally and perpetually committing sin. Then they have the audacity to try and tell God he is wrong in saying their actions are wrong. They know better than God what is right. Talk about a double slap in the face.

Sin is bad enough in terms of putting yourself at odds with God. You only magnify this wrong by trying to convince God it is all right. When you do this you show your opposition to God’s way deep inside. It is no longer a matter of acknowledging God’s perfection but coming up a little short. You have now moved into a completely different area code.

God didn’t create man to teach him the right way. Man needs to learn righteousness from God and not vise versa. If you will at least acknowledge God’s rules deep inside, for the most part he counts this as who you are. Even when your actions betray righteousness, you still have your core declaring who you are to God.

If you give this inner self over to sin what is left to show God anything? Now you don’t have obedience, effort, or repentance. Other than making you feel good about what you do, how is this acceptable to God? Do you actually believe that you can convince God that his definition of sin is wrong? When you try this you are embarking on the ultimate losing argument of all eternity.

There are all kinds of scams and faulty arguments out there. One is “as long as I have hurt no one else, I have done no wrong.” I don’t mind this philosophy in terms of what is legal or illegal. Also, a number of God’s instructions can revolve around this to one degree or another.

However, there is more to keeping God’s word than not hurting someone else. What about when God told Saul to kill all those people in the example above? In that case killing, more than just hurting, was God’s will. Israel was instructed to kill other nations and those in the tribe for violating certain rules.

In the New Testament there are a number of instructions God gives that don’t necessarily involve not hurting someone. There are mean drunks and drunk drivers but drunkenness doesn’t always lead to abuse. Good old fashioned idolatry doesn’t hurt anyone but God abhors it. Things like reveling, fornication, envy, or uncleanness don’t necessarily hurt anyone.

The point isn’t to parse God’s words and try to figure out why he told you to behave a certain way. You aren’t to obey only if you can see the consequences of your actions on someone else. You are to obey because almighty God expects you to. If he wanted to make sin as simple as “do whatever you want but just don’t harm anyone” he would have just said this.

Did Adam somehow hurt Eve, the only other person at the time, when he ate of the tree? Since when has sin ever been so narrowly defined in the Bible as this simple minded notion? God isn’t telling you to avoid only what you think is wrong. He is telling you to put things away which he considers to be wrong. He doesn’t need these things to be filtered through some artificial and manmade test to see if they are worthy to be followed.

If you want to pick and choose when God was right and when his instructions don’t matter, just don’t even bother with them at all. This is not obedience. This is reproof of God’s word which he doesn’t need you to do. You are not God’s seventh grade teacher. The Bible isn’t God’s term paper needing to get torn apart and reviewed for validity. All his instructions are good and perfect.

A compliment to that argument is the “love conquers all” spin. This is where people pit God’s rules against each other as though there is some contradiction which God hadn’t thought of. Love turns into a hammer to smash other rules into oblivion.

Love enables fornication. Everything that everyone does is sanctified as long as it is packaged with the word love. Love love love love love love love. Believe it or not, there is such a thing as misguided love.

To start with, God wants you to love him above anything and anyone. As I showed before, if you love God you will keep his commandments. God isn’t impressed when you love someone or something so much that you disobey him. This is an unhealthy and unfruitful love. I am sure Hitler loved to kill.

To say that you love someone so much that you have to fornicate is to say you love them and that act more than God. If you really love someone that much; marry them. Problem solved.

Lying to someone to make them feel better is putting that person’s feelings above obeying God. You should find better ways to show love than this. Deception doesn’t usually pan out well in the long run anyway. The truth has a funny way of coming out. When it does, your lie can cause even more damage.

Say someone asks your opinion of a ridiculous looking outfit. You tell them it looks great as not to hurt their feelings. On your advice, they wear it to a big get together. Once there, a bunch of strangers snicker at them and someone who doesn’t like them even publicly ridicules them in front of everyone. How much better would it have gone if you just told them in private that you didn’t like the outfit?

Say your wife does something which really annoys you and is quite controllable. When asked, you say it is totally fine. Over time this can lead to a blow up which now turns into you yelling in anger how much it annoys you and twist the knife with it. Why not just address it in the beginning with no hatred?

These are just a couple examples of how following God’s rules can help foster positive love in the long run. Love is great as long as it is not misused. Don’t use love as a wedge between which rules to follow and which ones can be cast aside to serve some form of love. You are always to serve God first. Love was just one instruction he gave you.

I also believe there is such a thing as tough love. If your small child wants to put their hand on the stove, you might slap their wrist out of love. When they get older you might not give them money when they have no money. Maybe you know they will use it for drugs and want them to hit rock bottom so they can find their way back up.

Is love telling someone at church their sinful actions are totally fine? This is being a spiritual enabler. This is not helpful to the person in the long run based on scripture. This kind of short sighted and feel good love is not positive.

I hear this kind of spin all the time. People in churches say it is just all about love. This brand of love then leads them to justify all kinds of sins as not to offend anyone.

(1 st Corinthians 5:9-13 I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators: Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world. But now have I written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.)

(2 nd Thessalonians 3:6 13-15 Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us. But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing. And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed. Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.)

(1 st Timothy 5:20 Them that sin rebuke before all, that others may also fear.)

The first point these verses make to me is to support the general point of this paper. Works are important. If not, why make such a big deal amongst brethren? Why rebuke or part company over actions if the whole thing is just about faith?

Second, did Paul miss the memo that it’s all about an appeasing style of love in the church? What he is instructing the churches to do here doesn’t sound much like the look the other way as not to offend course most churches are on. Love isn’t some kind of trump card for following God’s directions in your own life. It isn’t even to stop admonishment of other’s actions in the church.

Of course tough love should be used sparingly and with great care. I agree with “spare the rod, spoil the child” but this doesn’t give a parent or guardian license to beat down or scream down a child out of anger. Responses should always be tempered. I like the line above, “yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.” This is where the love and respect of your brother should come into play.

(Matthew 8:21, 22 And another of His disciples said unto Him, “Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.” But Jesus said unto him, “Follow Me; and let the dead bury their dead.”)

I don’t know if this man’s family had a funeral in mind as we have today. It would be reasonable to assume the man wanted some contact with family in connection with this. At the least he wanted to pay his father this last respect of burying him. In general, this would be totally fine if not admirable.

However, here Christ set the tone of what should be most important to you. Following Christ and his rules should be more important than any affiliations in your life. It would be easy to hold Christ callous if you look at this with new age sensibilities. I see this as an important scale of judgment.

(Matthew 10:34-38 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household. He that loveth father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth Me, is not worthy of Me.)

In general you are to try and find peace and avoid variance with others. It is also good to love others: especially those of your household. This did not interfere with Christ saying exactly what he said here.

Love of family shouldn’t stop you from doing God’s will. Somewhere in the course of your life you will come into a situation where you will have to either let down someone you care about or let down God with your actions. If you let down God it is a sin regardless of your reason. Saying “but I really love them to the bottom of my heart” doesn’t change this. This is a misleading love you are following. You must love God first.

Another misleading justification is “that’s just how I am” or its brother “I was born this way.” WE ARE ALL BORN CARNAL WITH DESIRE TO SIN. Did you miss the point of the seventh chapter of Romans? Paul can’t quit being flesh which constantly wills him to sin. He struggles against this with the inner man.

If the seventh chapter isn’t enough, read the eighth. Paul continues on the same track. If this isn’t enough, here are some more verses showing this.

(Galatians 5:16, 17 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.) This leads to his discussion of the “works of the flesh.”

(Ephesians 2:3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.)

Everyone is naturally and biologically pulled toward sin. Different people will often struggle more or less with different obstacles based on their situation in life and their individual makeup. But everyone who wants to do God’s will is going to struggle. Doing the goodness of God doesn’t come easy or cheap in at least some situations in your life.

This is the common state of all believers. “That’s just the way I am” could be said about everyone. The question is whether you are fighting against these ingrained impulses to try and be something better. “That’s just the way I am” tells me you aren’t striving to change one little bit. This is unacceptable but keep being that way if you want.

In terms of my discussions with people, I really think sex is a personal topic. I don’t ask or want to know what its like with my friends and their wives behind closed doors. Consistent with this, I am not personally worried about what gays do with themselves. I don’t hate gay people. This is inconsistent with what God expects from me.

I do have a major problem with the ever popular, new age argument that “they were born this way so what they do is all right.” I don’t even dispute the first part of the argument. Gays do have something different going on in their mind than I do. Sex with another guy just doesn’t even tempt me. Obviously it is very alluring to them.

However, the flesh willing you to do something does not give you license to do it according to scripture. The flesh often wills you to do the opposite of what you are supposed to do. This is so basic.

Straight men that are unmarried will be tempted beyond belief with sex. Can they say “I was born this way” as well? Pedophiles are obviously drawn toward kids but does this make it acceptable when they act on it? Beyond the gain, kleptomaniacs are drawn toward theft so is stealing permissible to them? If someone insults me and every fiber of my body wants to knock their head off with a closed fist, should I just go ahead because this is where my flesh is guiding me? I was born with a hot temper so this should be all right. If someone is born with an addictive personality, should they just go on being a drunkard? This is just the way they were born so they have zero choice, right?

It just astounds me that people speak of gays like they are in this crazy position where their flesh strives to sin. THIS IS THE BATTLE THAT EVERYONE WHO TRIES TO DO GOD’S WILL FIGHTS FOR THEIR ENTIRE LIFE. Either you fight against the lusts of the flesh or you give yourself over to them and make some excuse.

Sin always involves temptation. The temptation or pull is not sin. Sin is when you give into it. There is always a choice involved. It might not be the most fun, easy, or satisfying choice but you can choose to do the right thing in any given situation.

Let me reiterate that I am most certainly not perfect. I really don’t think God expects anyone save for Christ to be perfect. I don’t see it as the end of the line for anyone who has given into sex. I’m just saying you need to try your best to avoid sin. When you do fall short, repent of it. This is the plan for everyone regardless of what they are being tempted with. No one has the right to willingly go outside this plan for the long run. There are no sacred cows insulated from fulfilling this.

-----The middle road leads to destruction-----

(Matthew 6:19-24, 33 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. But if thine eye be evil, they whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness! No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other: or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.)

If you want to be God’s servant; serve him first. Don’t let anything or anyone get in the way of this. When something has to give; don’t let it be God. If you make him second in your heart with any of his rules; I think you are serving something else. This is especially true when you just give yourself over to something else for the long run.

There is nothing wrong with having goals other than serving God in this life. There is nothing automatically wrong with having money or having a good time. The problem is when you think about or value this more than what should be your main goal. Situations will come up to test where your heart really is. Your actions will more than likely follow where you set your eye to begin with.

It seems that these days a lot of people have “a form of godliness” as it states in 2 nd Timothy 3:5. God is a priority but not the first priority. Serving God is important but not that important. He just needs to fit in wherever and whenever someone can pencil him in. He just needs to be satisfied with whatever anyone has to give because he can be a real inconvenience.

You can’t serve two masters. This is tantamount to hating him. Hating him isn’t getting you any extra credit. If you are going to place God down the list of priorities in your life: you may as well just take him off the list. The in between game just isn’t a winning strategy.

(1 st Corinthians 10:21, 22 Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table, and of the table of devils. Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he?)

Eating at both tables is unacceptable. You don’t want your life to be a pattern of partaking of whichever table looks the most appetizing at the moment. Where is the commitment there? Commitment requires some level of sacrifice. Saying you dabbled at the Lord’s table is unimpressive and unworthy.

The Old Testament made it perfectly clear that God is a jealous God. Read Exodus 20:5, 34:14; Deut. 4:24, 5:9, 6:15; Joshua 24:19; and others. You are supposed to be his servant and not a sin servant. Playing around with idolatry and showing service to pagan Gods is very dangerous as well.

When you call yourself his and then give your actions over to everything else: I believe this makes him even more angry through understandable jealousy. You may as well just admit that you don’t serve God. Try your best to go all in or get gone.

Again I am not talking about slipping up for possibly even a long stretch or falling into sin along the way. I am talking about those who make a habit of picking and choosing which of God’s statutes to follow. Living in sinful justification is to eat at another table to me. There is no half in with God in your inner commitment and feeling toward him. If you think you are half in: you are all the way out and don’t even know it.

(Revelation 3:15, 16 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of My mouth.)

I really think these verses are describing a lot of modern Christians:

Those who do God’s will when they agree with it.

Those who keep his word when it strikes their fancy.

Those who pick and choose which parts of the Bible they want to follow.

Those who will make no real effort to change what is wrong with them.

God just doesn’t appreciate fair-weather friends. If you like to ride the fence between seeing his message and seeing what you want to see you have a problem on your hands. Why? Because the lesson I get from this last quote is that God has more respect for those who reject him outright.

This is not to say that he loves them or that they will inherit his kingdom. It is more like the lesser of two evils. I take those who are cold to be those who won’t lift a finger for God and are pretty clear about it. The lukewarm are those who put a limited effort in when it suits their lifestyle. While they still fall short, those who are hot truly love God and put a true effort in down to their core.

This last group’s credo sounds simple enough but I really don’t think most people follow it. They will follow it only until things become difficult and then slide down into one of the first two. Most likely lukewarm as they don’t want to see themselves as out of it. They will make some effort to feel good about themselves and save some spiritual face. Of course with God they are saving nothing.

(Revelation 4:11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for thou hast created all things, and for Thy pleasure they are and were created.)

It seems like everyone thinks the world revolves around them. The only one who can really say this is God. The only reason anyone is here is because God put them here for his pleasure. You had better get that straight.

You serve God. He doesn’t serve you. While there are good things in life, it is primarily a time of testing. If you please God through obedience, you are going down a path toward eternal life and a coming kingdom. If you primarily serve yourself, you are walking toward destruction.

A lot of people think God wants to call them righteous and give them everything for almost nothing. They should be able to do whatever they want now. They should also get everything they want out of God for all eternity. God gives and they take.

This wouldn’t even be a healthy relationship between two people. Much less is it healthy between God almighty and mankind, who owe every breath and thought to him. God does promise an eternal rest to those who are his. It does take some effort to fall into this category.

Saying “I believe Jesus” and then doing as you wish isn’t good enough. Hitler would be fine under this criteria of just saying “Jesus.” If he just said the name then all else was forgiven, right? I know this makes things easy but it just isn’t realistic.

The whole thing reminds me of something for nothing con men who call or mail you an offer. It sounds great. Actually collecting something for nothing is a whole different animal. I think a lot of people are in for a surprise when Christ tells those who worked iniquity to depart because he doesn’t know them.

God doesn’t ask you to climb a mountain. He doesn’t ask you to swim an ocean. He doesn’t expect perfection. He does want to be first in your scale of importance. He doesn’t play second fiddle. He won’t reside on the back burner.

Along with works, I do believe the belief in the basic gospel and baptism are essential. However, it is my contention that your works are the greatest tell of your heart in the long run. If God doesn’t want you to see the true gospel, you won’t anyway.

I will further establish this in another paper. I don’t think it is an accident when people fall into the lying doctrines out there. A lot of these people are the ones who want something for nothing. No one wants to burn so most will make some little effort to know something of the gospel. Are you willing to work toward salvation afterward?

I just don’t have many trials of faith. It just doesn’t come up that much on a day to day basis. I believe in God and the basic gospel without saying it or thinking on it too much. At some point I think most people either believe in God and the Bible or they don’t.

What is the most telling thing to me is whether you will do what you don’t want to do for the sake of obedience to God. Most won’t do this. It comes natural to love those that love you. People do this and want some credit from God.

Many won’t break laws for fear of the police. Things like murder, rape, assault, or armed robbery don’t come into most human’s minds on a day to day basis. They then want a bunch of credit because they don’t do these things.

What about when you don’t see immediate consequences and you really want to do something? What about when God’s rules are the only thing standing in your way? Do you routinely push them aside with some rationale or do you at least try to get it right? God sees through all this.

God will discover you through your thoughts and actions. If you fall, just admit it and try to do better. Don’t try and fool God. Don’t fool yourself.