The BASICS. Pt2

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“We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who they are. For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty of our sins. For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. The sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past, for he was looking ahead and including them in what he would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate his righteousness, for he himself is fair and just, and he declares sinners to be right in his sight when they believe in Jesus. Can we boast, then, that we have done anything to be accepted by God? No, because our acquittal is not based on obeying the law. It is based on faith.” Romans 3:22-27

I cover the basics because I am afraid we all to easily forget the assurance and confidence we only have in Jesus Christ. We will forget about God’s kindness and mercy and we do not do good out of the peace and hope we have in Christ but do out of some kind of human rational of obligation to prove ourselves.   In this type of thinking we go from being moved and directed by Spirit to moved and directed by the flesh.  This is no good!  This is us depending on us.  Can you earn Salvation?  No!  So why don't we just surrender to this fact?  God is to be the author and finisher of our faith not us.  Religion is all we have if we lean and depend on ourselves and our understanding. 

“But when God our Savior revealed his kindness and love, he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit. He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior. Because of his grace he declared us righteous and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life. This is a trustworthy saying and I want you to insist on these teachings so that all who trust in God will devote themselves to doing good. These teaching are good and beneficial for everyone. Do not get involved in foolish discussions about spiritual pedigrees or in quarrels and fights about obedience to Jew laws. These things are useless and a waste of time.” Titus 3:4-9