Questions From A New Friend
I would like all of our Bold Grace contributors to help me answer some questions from a new friend who is reading our post here. He has given me permission to post the question here on Bold Grace and he will be reading your responses. Here is the email………
Geo,
Good morning. My name is ………… I’m from the Huntsville, AL area.
I heard about the Bold Grace website while listening to the Gospel
Revolution webcast (not sure when it was). Thanks for all that you guys
do at BG. It helps guys like me who are still in the process of coming
out of Christian [Southern Baptist] bondage.
I have so many questions, I’d have to sit down with you for hours to ask
them all, and we don’t have that opportunity. So, I’ll ask you a few
that I’ve had on my mind lately. I hope you will have time to respond
soon. Here goes:
1. _*This is the most important question I can think of (for me). WHY*_
do you believe that Jesus has redeemed everybody, when there are verses
in the bible that seem to say that "Jesus will return to punish those
who have not obeyed the gospel of Christ", or something to that effect?
In light of that, how do you defend the position that Christ has
redeemed everyone?
2. Do you ever discuss your belief in the redemption of the world with
any pastors, or anyone else actively involved in Christianity? How do
you answer all of the obvious objections that Christians have to the
Gospel of Grace & Peace?
3. If we are all redeemed (because of Christ) & truly FREE (to do
whatever), why did Paul the Apostle write so many clear instructions of
things that certain groups of people should & should not do? In one case
Paul said "Flee fornication." Why would he say that, if they were free
to do anything they wanted? I’m just throwing that out as one example.
4. What is your position of the book of Revelation as a whole, and the
Lake of Fire in particular?
5. What, in your opinion, did Paul mean when he said that the
Corinthians should give a man over to Satan for the destruction of the
flesh? If Satan was defeated at the cross, what in the world was Paul
talking about?
These are just some of the hundreds of questions I have, that make me
cautious to FULLY embrace the Gospel of Grace & Peace. Any help you
could provide would be appreciated.
Hope to hear from you soon. Have a great day.
Okay Bold Grace help us out here………………..
Peace
Geo
Here’s a simple one, yet so profound.
“It’s not the power of the curse, but the power you give the curse”
To the New Friend,
To answer your question about discussing these types of questions with other pastors: When I was still pastoring I often would put out a challenge to any local pastors who would like to questions me on my beliefs or I would come to their churches. There were no takers.
As far as your other questions: Paul’s mention of the man being handed over to Satan. 1 Cor 5:5-8
5 hand this man over to Satan, so that the sinful nature may be destroyed and his spirit saved on the day of the Lord.
6 Your boasting is not good. Don’t you know that a little yeast works through the whole batch of dough?
7 Get rid of the old yeast that you may be a new batch without yeast — as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.
8 Therefore let us keep the Festival, not with the old yeast, the yeast of malice and wickedness, but with bread without yeast, the bread of sincerity and truth.
Paul clearly says that this man needed his sinful nature to be destroyed. Don’t we all want that? Doesn’t he say that the end result of handing him over to Satan would be the salvation of his spirit? If this is true then doesn’t that now make Satan a vehicle for GOOD rather then evil? It seems to me that it would also mean that Satan was not only soundly defeated by Christ at the Cross but after the cross he became an energy that God would use to help those who are entrinched in destructive behavior to find their way back to grace and peace.
Now back to some of your other questions: To be quite honest, they are far to general. To get good answers you must have specific questions about specific verses, like the one you ask about in 2 Cor 5.
And yes, rest assured every question you ask I have asked and answered over the last 35 years.
Now let me ask our new friend one question?
If something is required of us to be acceptable to God, then what is it?
What you will find from all your Pastors and traditional christians is that they CAN’T answer that very simple question. That’s why there is 33,000 different denominations of christians who do not accept each other. Did God really make it that complicated?
One suggestion: Please don’t try to load us up with a bunch of general questions. Ask a specific question about a specific scripture and we will answer it.
And now let me ask you to consider a simple scripture?
Rom 5:18-19
18 Consequently, just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men. 19 For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.
Please tell me how this one simple scripture doesn’t answer all your questions about the Gospel of Grace & Peace to ALL?
Don’t have time to go into much detail, but I really appreciate your questions, friend. Let me just say this… if Jesus was truly the messiah as foretold by the prophets of old, it doesn’t matter what any of us believe. The mission of reconciliation is complete.
Either Jesus was the Messiah, or he wasn’t. If he was, redemption has come to the world. If he wasn’t, there is nothing to discuss.
Hi friend, you do have a lot of question’s as i did also.a few year’s back. You have to remember and ask yourself, why did Jesus take Paul into the desert for 3 year’s to teach him the gospel of grace and peace? Paul as you know was a very learned man in the Jewish law, now if Christ himself had to take Paul outside the camp of religion to teach him truth that really says something to me. I would have to ask the question why did he do this? When the rest of the apostles where in Jerusalem still telling the people that they had to go through purification rites, when indeed Christ had already shed his blood and tasted of death for everyman,..Heb2v9. I believe that Paul was shown the mystery of the cross work of Christ. We need only to read his writings. Paul taught just one mystery, you can read it here in 1tim, 3v16. And without controversy, great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
Now notice in this verse the word’s,God was manifest in the flesh. And don’t forget Christ had taught Paul this mystery out side the camp of religion?
Now read this verse in 2cor5v19,..To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
Yes,… God was manifest in Christ reconciling the WHOLE WORLD unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
My friend this is what we believe and share here at boldgrace.
I know your question’s need more space to answer them.
Another you asked was,
If we are all redeemed (because of Christ) & truly FREE (to do whatever), why did Paul the Apostle write so many clear instructions of things that certain groups of people should & should not do? In one case Paul said “Flee fornication.” Why would he say that, if they were free to do anything they wanted? I’m just throwing that out as one example.
Paul did give many instruction’s in his writing’s,but it was for the good of the person and of those that the person had hurt. These instruction’s have nothing to do with the finished work of redemption my friend.If i seen you or anyone else doing something that would be destructive to you or anyone else,i would tell you that that is not a profitable thing to be dong,not only in your life but that of another.
The example that you gave about the man being handed over to satan proves my very point. In the next letter Paul wrote to the same believer’s he told them to bring him into fellowship again with them and forgive him. Just as Christ had forgiven them. The church at Corinth was going through all sorts of mindsets and they where growing in grace. Why would Paul tell them in 2corchp3 that the law written in ink and in stone had been abolished in Christ? Think about that my friend? And that they where free from the law through the body of Christ. These believer’s where coming out of law and where learning to be embraced by grace. Their self-righteousness was being pointed out to them. That is why there where so many divisions among them. Paul was teaching them that they where all the same in God our Father’s sight now, both Jew and gentile had been made one in the body of Christ on the cross, where God being manifested in Christ had broken down every wall of devision between them and God almighty. If you read Ephesians chapter 2 you will see there that God drew all the entire world, i.e. Jew and gentile into his body on the tree and made the two one in Christ. It is a beautiful picture of the Love of our God toward the entire world.
I hope this helps you a little my friend. But it will take time for all your question’s to be answered, but they will.The spirit of grace delights in revealing the finished work of Christ to God’s creation.
Hope to hear from you again and hope to hear what your name is.
Ps, remember also that when Christ was teaching before the Cross he was teaching the law to it’s full. There was a good reason for that. And the reason was that the teachers of that day where not teaching the law to the full, they watered it down to suit there own self-righteousness. Just a thought for you to ponder?
G&P to you as you seek the truth that will set you free.
kenneth.
Ps, you will find many audios on one of my sites here,
http://belovedson.multiply.com/journal
That will be of help to you. And also gospelogic.com
My imeem site is also on the blogroll here at boldgrace.
I would recommend that you listen to the the redemption of the world at gospelogic.com you will find it on the free section.
Blessing toward you my friend,
shalom.
I would also like to ask our new friend if he has ever taken the Jesus Test of Faith? What is the Jesus Test of Faith? Just this… Jesus said if you only have the faith of a tiny mustard seed you could say to the mountain be cast into the sea. Now I know how I used to try and get around that statement and how evangelical Christianity today tries to get around it also. But the truth is there is NO getting around it. So if mustard size faith can cast mountains into the sea wouldn’t you think just the DNA of a mustard seed would allow you to say to your cup of coffee over there on the kitchen counter “be brought into my hand over here in the living room”? So go ahead and try it I’ll wait…………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Okay I’m back. Did it happen? NO it did not so therefore you have NO FAITH according to Jesus! And it is at the point of NO FAITH of your own that you come into the Faith of Christ.
As I was driving to work this morning it hit me something that John the Baptist said. He said, “He must increase and I must decrease”
I realized for the first time that John was not talking about his ministry decreasing and Jesus’ ministry increasing. He was speaking of FAITH!
John was saying, “MY Faith must DECREASE in order for Jesus’ Faith to INCREASE” You see as long as your personal faith remains then the Faith of Christ cannot increase. And without His Faith increasing you have no assurance in your soul of salvation. Now I did not say you have no assurance of Redemption but of Salvation which is of the mind, will & emotions.
I am so thankful that you have asked these questions. And as Cliff said if you would be more specific of the passages you speak of then we can answer better.
Peace
Geo
Hi all. I am the new friend. Sorry for being vague in my questions; I was trying to ask my questions in a hurry. I am still reading through all your replies, and will try to respond in detail soon. Thanks for helping out this recovering legalist.
Have a great day!!!
Jason
Welcome, Jason!
Feel free to ask whatever you want. There aren’t many people here who will enter into debate. If that’s something you desire, you’ll probably be disappointed with us. But, if you want to understand our point of view, we’ll be happy to share with love.
Welcome Jason- This website is a great place to start your journey! I would also recommend:
tentmaker.org
Jason, As Bruce said, we’re not much on debate because we simply do not have any desire to convert, but we are glad you are here and willing to share with us in this banquet of Grace.
Bruce & Cliff,
I don’t want to argue at all. I’m not against you guys. I left organized church a couple years ago, due in large part to holding the belief that God HAS in fact redeemed everyone through the FINISHED work of Jesus. In the church, it’s always a game of constantly moving the goalposts. It’s “Do this, now this, now this, now……….” and it never ends. It’s never enough, but people go for it in droves. UGH!!!
The reason I asked the questions I did is because: It’s just plain hard for me to REALLY believe that Jesus has TRULY made everyone righteous in the sight of God, that’s all. I guess I may always have doubts about it, who knows. Who among us doesn’t doubt the Gospel of Grace & Peace from time to time?
Don R,
I’m familiar with the tentmaker site, but I don’t spend any time there anymore. In my humble opinion, the guy that runs tentmaker is very much a legalist, even if he does have a universalist bent.
Good day & peace to you all.
Jason
Hi Jason. You said, It’s just plain hard for me to REALLY believe that Jesus has TRULY made everyone righteous in the sight of God, that’s all.
Man could not do it Jason, make himself righteous that is. God gave his Law to man to bring him to this knowledge. His law condemned all of man’s self-righteous act’s to try to find favor with God. So God has concluded all to be in unbelief so he could through the faith and obedience of Christ include the entire creation in his redemptive plan. Rom,.11v32.
It is an unspeakable gift as Paul taught.
peace Jason.
Jason, I didn’t really think you were here to argue. I was just trying to set an expection for visitors in general.
When you said, “It’s just plain hard for me to REALLY believe that Jesus has TRULY made everyone righteous in the sight of God”, that’s why I say “if Jesus is the Messiah, it doesn’t matter what we believe.” And it’s my contention that we can only “believe” when the requirement to believe is eliminated. That’s the only thing I can believe. Sounds funny, I know… but if I must rely on my own belief to save me from my doubts and fears, it will never happen. I will never find relief. I will never enter peace… not in this lifetime anyway.
We can’t be drawn to that which we are held hostage. We can only be drawn to that from which we have been set free. Complete, pure love does not hold people in bondage, it espouses unimaginable liberty, without obligation, and without requirement… real freedom, to which a positive response is unavoidable. We will all find ourselves drawn into God’s perfect love.
It’s the only thing I can believe about God.
OK, here are a few verses that bother me, because I don’t know how this should be interpreted in light of the Gospel of Grace and Peace. It is from 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10
“And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.”
Any thoughts on this?
Jason
Jason,
Let me first say that I do not speak for the entire BoldGrace community on this. There are many views and this is simply mine.
The entire book of 2 Thess comes out of the same warnings that Jesus gave in Mathew 24 and also in the book of Revelations. He is talking about the Destruction of Jerusalem which was the final fall of the old covenant. We know from history that this took place in 70 AD because that was when the Temple was destroyed along with the birth rights showing proof that you were a true Jew dating back to Abraham. The day of the Lord that he speaks about was at hand. In the book of Revelations the Angel said “NOT to seal up the book because the time was near”. Jesus speaking in Mathew 24 said: “This generation shall not pass away until all these things be fulfilled.” Study all the things he speaks about in that chapter and you will realize Paul is talking about the same judgement. The judgement was the total and complete destrution of the old covenant of self rigtheousness. No SELF RIGHTEOUS PERSON WILL EVER STAND IN THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD. Yes, the reality of our redemption took place at the cross, but the removal the old covenant physically was done in 70AD + salvation has always been ongoing since that time. Paul also speaks of this in the book of Galations when he talks about how Isaac & Ishmael dwelled together for a time representing how the Old and the New covenants dwelled together for a time.
Gal 4:22-31
22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and the other by the free woman.
23 His son by the slave woman was born in the ordinary way; but his son by the free woman was born as the result of a promise.
24 These things may be taken figuratively, for the women represent two covenants. One covenant is from Mount Sinai and bears children who are to be slaves: This is Hagar.
25 Now Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present city of Jerusalem, because she is in slavery with her children.
26 But the Jerusalem that is above is free, and she is our mother.
27 For it is written: “Be glad, O barren woman, who bears no children; break forth and cry aloud, you who have no labor pains; because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband.”
28 Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise.
29 At that time the son born in the ordinary way persecuted the son born by the power of the Spirit. It is the same now.
30 But what does the Scripture say? “Get rid of the slave woman and her son, for the slave woman’s son will never share in the inheritance with the free woman’s son.”
31 Therefore, brothers, we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman.
And by the way, God does destroy all self righteousness in us as well as he did in them over 2000 years ago. The same people that Paul speaks of being punished with everlasting destruction from the presense of the Lord are the very Jews who were persecuting the true believers of Paul’s day. Paul also says in Romans 11 that these same Jews would eventually find their salvation. Listen: Rom 11:25-36
25 I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in.
26 And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: “The deliverer will come from Zion; he will turn godlessness away from Jacob.
27 And this is my covenant with them when I take away their sins.”
28 As far as the gospel is concerned, they are enemies on your account; but as far as election is concerned, they are loved on account of the patriarchs,
29 for God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable.
30 Just as you who were at one time disobedient to God have now received mercy as a result of their disobedience,
31 so they too have now become disobedient in order that they too may now receive mercy as a result of God’s mercy to you.
32 For God has bound all men over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all.
33 Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!
34 “Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?”
35 “Who has ever given to God, that God should repay him?”
36 For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.
Now of course there is much more to this and one comment could not possibly contain all the study I have done on this subject, but I can send you to a good site that will allow you to study this on your own.
http://www.presence.tv/cms/index.php
If you interpret the book of 2 Thess like the traditional churches usually do you would have to be scared out of your wits. Is that really what God was saying to us?
I could go on and on about this but who really wants to read all this. I apologize for the length of this comment, but there is no quick way to answer these things.
Jason,
If you could send me your e-mail I would be glad to send you a more in depth answer by a good friend of mine….Kevin Beck. Just e-mail me at cliff@boldgrace.com and I will send you the article by Kevin on 2 Thess
My turn…
1. _*This is the most important question I can think of (for me). WHY*_
do you believe that Jesus has redeemed everybody, when there are verses
in the bible that seem to say that “Jesus will return to punish those
who have not obeyed the gospel of Christ”, or something to that effect?
In light of that, how do you defend the position that Christ has
redeemed everyone?
I think you’re confusing “redeemed” with “saved”. They are two totally different things.
“Redeemed” would be like you turning in a coupon or a gift card at your local store in exchange for purchases. On the Cross, Christ redeemed, or “bought”, us from the Curse of the Law; and, in exchange, he was cursed. He took on our sin, our imperfections, everything.
“Saved”, in the Greek (hat-tip to Strong’s Concordance), is the word “sozo”, which means “delivered, healed, rescued”. While I believe that ALL were redeemed at the cross, I don’t believe everyone is saved; however, I also believe all WILL be saved, as it is God’s will, according to 1 Timothy.
3. If we are all redeemed (because of Christ) & truly FREE (to do
whatever), why did Paul the Apostle write so many clear instructions of
things that certain groups of people should & should not do? In one case
Paul said “Flee fornication.” Why would he say that, if they were free
to do anything they wanted? I’m just throwing that out as one example.
Okay, back up. If you’re implying some of us believe we have free will, I have to vehemently disagree with that. If man did have free will, that would mean God is not an all-powerful being; and man’s will would be more important, which is wrong.
In Romans, it says that it is GOD who “locks” people up “in stubbornness/disobedience”, so that he may show mercy to ALL. There are a plethora of other verses in the Bible that say that it is GOD who causes everything to happen. You may then say, “But what about what happened at the Garden of Eden?” Well, if Adam and Eve did not eat from the “forbidden” tree, then we would not have needed a saviour.
4. What is your position of the book of Revelation as a whole, and the
Lake of Fire in particular?
To me, Revelation is one of the more fascinating books of the Bible; and I’ve heard many views and interpretations of it. Some believe it has to do with the fall of Babylon or Rome. Others think many of the events written in it have yet to happen; and many of the things in it are symbolic.
I’m in the latter camp.
As for the “Lake of Fire”, I think it’s figurative for purging. Also, consider this: how can hell purge itself? (It can’t. FWIW, the word “hell” appears nowhere in the original Greek.)
5. What, in your opinion, did Paul mean when he said that the
Corinthians should give a man over to Satan for the destruction of the
flesh? If Satan was defeated at the cross, what in the world was Paul
talking about?
Nothing to do with redemption. Read the entire chapter.
http://www.concordant.org/version/CLNT/007FirstCorinthians/007FirstCorinthians05.html
On this passage…
It is from 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10
“And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.”
Again, fire is symbolic for purging.
One of the words mistranslated as “hell” is “Gehenna”. In ancient times, Gehenna was a landfill of sorts, where people took their garbage (NOT their good stuff) to be burned. (Today it’s a botanical garden.) This word pops up once in the Gospels.
Now I’m going to show you the same passage…this time from the Concordant Literal version (which is a waaay more accurate translation than any of the mainstream ones, I believe). Emphasis is mine.
Eonian extermination, NOT “everlasting punishment”. The words “everlasting” and “eternal” NEVER appear in the original Greek text. The Greek word is “aionian” = “eonian” in English. An eon is a set period of time; it has a beginning and an end. What is being, or will be, exterminated? The sin of unbelief. In 1 Timothy, it says that “ALL will be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth”. In other verses, it says that Christ will be ALL IN ALL. Toward the end of Revelation, Jesus says, “Behold, I make ALL THINGS new!” All things. Universal Restoration. God restoring everyone and everything to himself.
Another site I recommend…
http://www.goodnewsaboutgod.com/topics.htm
Shelly
I checked out that website you posted……………….All I can say is “wow, someone has way to much time on their hands”!!!
Hi everyone, I’ve been lurking on this site for quite a while and finally got the nerve to post. I’m probably a lot younger than most of ya’ll here. I was raised Southern Baptist and started coming out of my traditional faith two years ago. I’ve really enjoyed reading the discussions here and hope to learn more.
Hi Kiara
It is good to have you here and to read your comment.
Welcome to life and freedom. We all here at Bold Grace have come out of some type of traditional thinking. But as you can read and see here we are no longer part of a thing called “evangelical christianity” But most of us here do believe in the faith of Jesus. We have given up our personal faith in order to embrace His Faith. Thank God when people come to the end of their “personal faith” and belief! It is at the point of quitting your personal belief in Jesus that a person finds the faith of Jesus. The whole “christian world” is wrapped up in the belief that their “personal belief” means that they have been accepted by God. While He rejects those who do not “believe”. We at Bold Grace believe that weather you accept or reject Him, He accepts and Redeemed you! And that is The Good News!
It is only when the requirement to believe is removed that you will then know “what” you believe.
Peace and again WELCOME!
Peace
Geo
EPH 1:9-10
9And he[d] made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment—to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ.
I think the time of the fullfillment was at the Cross of Christ.
Hi Kiara
You have helped me be bold enough to type a post! I’ve been lurking here for quite a while too.
I would be interested in an answer to this question from any Bold Grace bloggers who might have time to reply.
I am trying to grasp the concept of redemption and salvation being different.
However, if the outcome of redemption is eternal life (the opposite of perishing) and the outcome of salvation is being made whole, doesn’t the verse, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life” seem to indicate a requirement for personal belief in order to be redeemed?
Thanks.
Julia
Hi Julia, glad to see you post as well. I don’t know if I can adequately answer your question but here’s my take. In John chap 3 Jesus stated that whoever does not believe is condemed already.
He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. 21 But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%203&version=50
Basically the condemnation Jesus is talking about isn’t a literal burning place after we die but not being able to see what God has done for us. From what I can infer, the condemnation is now.
In this same chapter Jesus compared being born again to the direction the wind blows. Space is limited for me to post all the verses but the gateway link will lead to them. Do you decide to let the wind blow on you or does the wind blow on everyone regardless of whether they want it or not?
Back to what I was saying about condemnation, maybe this analogy can better explain the difference between salvation and redemption. Let’s say the President of the US decides to pay everyone’s tax debts. It doesn’t matter how small or large it is. There are no exceptions. It’s already been paid for whether one asked or not. However, let’s say most people do NOT believe that their taxes have been fully paid. They are still living their lives as if they had debts and continue to struggle to pay their debts. Does this change the president’s original action? No, but people miss out on enjoying the benefits of having no debt.
Jesus has already paid for any sin we could ever commit regardless of who we are. However, how can we enjoy the peace if we don’t believe this fact? Today most people try to please God through their doctrines, good works, etc and don’t understand that Jesus took care of all of that. When we try to please God through our own efforts we will be condemned, not b/c God is mad at us but because we can never live up to the standards for pleasing God. Believing is not about having the right knowledge or making something happen, it is about embracing the One who got it right for us.
Sorry for the length. This post is quite inadequate as there’s much more to this subject. A better explaination can be found here http://gospelogic.com/redemption_1_transcript.htm I hope you have a good day and come back.
Thanks Kiara.