When we as Christians will walk in the worlds ways then before GOD we are trespassing; a wrongful entry upon the ways and morals of what we, In CHRIST, are Called to die to, and in doing so sinning against GOD, in need of repentance. 1 John 2:15-17, 1 Samuel 15:23, Colossians 3.
When we allow the world and its ways into The Church then we are allowing trespassing; an encroachment or intrusion, and stand condemned, in need of repentance, and again also in our compliance with it we ourselves trespass yet further still to commit transgression, sinning against GOD.
In John 15:3, The LORD States of HIS Disciples, "You are already Clean because of The Word Which I Have Spoken To you... This is GOD'S Word; Given From The FATHER To The SON, nothing of mere man. This is The faith. John 14:15-24.
..."Abide In ME, And I In you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, so neither you, unless you abide In ME... John 15:4. Faith, Hope, Love, These Three...
In Isaiah chapter 6, verse 5, reverence, awe, humble, contrite; Isaiah 57:14-21. In verses 6-7, iniquity Taken Away, sins Forgiven. Verse 8, Then I heard The Voice Of The LORD, Saying, "Whom shall I Send, and who will go for US?" Then I said, "Here am i. Send me!"...
Isaiah 59.
Luke 24:44-49; according to The Word Of GOD, repentance for Forgiveness of sins, then Power From On High. True repentance, leading to Love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith: The Goal of our Instruction. 1 Timothy.
John 17:13-21, And The Sight of a Brother
..."But now I Come To THEE; and These Things I Speak in the world, that they may have MY Joy Made Full In themselves. "I Have Given them THY Word; and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I AM not of the world. "I do not Ask THEE to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil. "They are not of the world, even as I AM not of the world. "Sanctify them In The Truth; THY WORD Is Truth. "As THOU Didst Send ME Into the world, I Also have Sent them into the world. "And for their sakes I Sanctify MYSELF, that they themselves also may be Sanctified In The Truth. "I do not Ask In Behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in ME through their Word; that they may all be One; even As THOU, FATHER, In ME, And I In THEE, that they also may be In US; that the world may believe that THOU Didst Send ME... John 17:13-21.
In all of these words I post, to The LORD GOD The Glory, for there is nothing in all Creation worthy of the praises due to HIS Name Alone. There is no man here seeking any recognition of and for himself, other than GOD'S Truth be recognised and lived, in his own life and the lives of others to Eternal Life. And so to GOD The Glory and praises through our living, the worship due HIS Holy Name;
...I urge you therefore, Brethren, By The Mercies Of GOD, to present your bodies a living and Holy sacrifice, acceptable to GOD, your Spiritual Service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be Transformed By The Renewing of your mind, that you may ( so that you may be able to ) prove what The Will Of GOD Is, that which is Good and Acceptable and Perfect. Romans 12:1-2.
Transformed; the Greek word; metamorphoo: to change into another form ( meta, implying change, and morphe, form ). Here is obligation to undergo complete change which, Under The Power Of GOD, will find expression in both character and conduct as Of JESUS CHRIST.
At the beginning of verse 2, what we have translated, as in the nasb here, And do not be conformed, is, in the Greek, kai suschematizo me suschematizo, 'indeed, to shape one thing like another not to shape one thing like another' to this world, but...
suschematizo; to fashion or shape one thing like another. This verb has more especial reference to that which is transitory, changeable, unstable, Conformed ( summorphizo; to make of like form with another person or thing; Philippians 3:10 ) to that which is essential in character and thus Complete or durable, not merely a form of outline; 1 John 2:3-6. suschematizo could not be used of inward transformation; 1 Peter 1:14-25.
suschematizo not suschematizo this world, indeed change into another form Renewing of your mind and understanding, that you may approve:- allow, discern, examine which is The Will Of GOD, Good and Acceptable and Perfect. Romans 12:2.
Clearly, as children Of GOD, meaning children indicating Derivation, Origin being Of GOD; The Source, we will not to be lasting only a short time but will endure to the end, we will not be variable but constant, we will not be unsteadfast; inconstant; wavering, with no recognisable change occuring in the heart. Scripture tells us, from The Mouth of The SAVIOUR Of the world, "I AM The True Vine, and MY FATHER Is The Vinedresser. "Every branch in ME that does not bear Fruit, HE Takes Away; and every branch that bears Fruit, HE Prunes ( Cleanses ) it, that it may bear more Fruit... John 15:1-2.
As is the earthy so also are those who are earthy; and as Is The Heavenly, so also are those who are Heavenly. And just as we have borne the image of the earthy, let us also bear The Image Of The Heavenly... 1 Corinthians 15:48-49.
..."GOD Is Spirit, and those who worship HIM must worship in spirit and Truth." John 4:24.
Now may The GOD Of Peace HIMSELF Sanctify you Entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be Preserved Complete, without blame at The Coming Of our LORD JESUS CHRIST. Faithful Is HE WHO Calls you, and HE Also Will Bring It To Pass. 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24.
Someone sent a link to me yesterday morning and it is the reason for this forum.
https://www.chess.com/news/the-fool-and-his-folly-7642
As I read I found that it was much how I saw it and indeed quite similar points to that which I have made myself to others before in the same matter. I loved to read it and in standing on The Word Of GOD alone it made absolute sense to me. And there were other postings too where it was as I saw and how I understood the matters about which he was speaking.
Though many profess to be Christian they will refuse and forsake GOD'S Way for their own. They will measure what they themselves believe and regard as true with anything they may hear to determine whether they will accept what they are hearing as being truth ( Of GOD ), or not. This, rather than seeking GOD always in everything, just as we are to do, because it is the only way in which Spiritual matters are Made Known to us; 1 Corinthians 2. And because of those who will reject Truth for their own way, and subsequently their conduct only ever being contrary to CHRIST, The Way of The Truth is maligned.They cannot see that whatever it is we put forth in word and deed in the name of a Christian is representing to the world that 'this is The Living GOD WHOM you must believe in to be Saved.
Well, no one is persuaded by or will place confidence in, hypocrisy. Fooled by it, sometimes maybe, but truly persuaded? Not according to The LORD JESUS CHRIST,
"I do not Ask In Behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in ME through their Word; that they may all be One; even As THOU, FATHER, In ME, And I In THEE, that they also may be In US; that the world may believe that THOU Didst Send ME"
Any house divided against itself cannot stand.
https://www.chess.com/news/believe-your-bible-6246
https://chess.com/news/grace-and-discipline-6428
https:chess.com/news/cheap-grace-7618
To Brandons question here I would say Bonhoeffer, by his words, would refuse such as calvinism?; "Cheap grace means grace as a doctrine, a principle, a system. It means forgiveness of sins proclaimed as a general truth, the love of God taught as the Christian "conception" of God. An intellectual assent to that idea is held to be of itself sufficient to secure the remission of sins."...
https://www.chess.com/news/our-battle-is-not-against-flesh-and-blood-7002
To the question asked by Paul Michael Raymond, whose words Brandon posts here, where he then after states, " The future of Christendom and our coming generations depend upon our answer", I would say, rather, GOD Is SOVEREIGN; The LORD Knows those who are HIS; we know from Scripture that there will be those who are Saved, and The LORD Is Coming back, this time without reference to sin for those who eagerly await HIM ( Hebrews 9:27-29 ). So, in the future, where will you be standing on that Great And Terrible Day? This depends on whether we are of The faith or not; whether we rely on GOD Alone for our every Blessing, or not. John 3:36.
https://www.chess.com/news/what-is-a-christian-5535
In this posting, when Brandon gets to this point I cannot align it with Scripture and it be found without contradiction; "If you consider the term "dead" for a moment and consider what something that is dead can do to help itself to be saved. The answer: NOTHING. This is why we see, "it is by grace you have been saved." The whole work of salvation is caught up in Christ. It has nothing to do with our "works," our "prayer of salvation (which occurs nowhere in the Bible)," our walking an aisle, our anything. It is the free gift of God to the people of His choosing (John 1:13, John 6:44, Romans 9, Ephesians 2:1-5). And because he has chosen some to be saved then we must obey and serve Him because of what He has done for us. All this to say that a Christian is a follower of the Biblical Christ who He has called and seeks, desires, and is obedient to His commands. Anything short of this is not a Christian."
( 1 Corinthians 15:50-58 ). Scripture always tells us, For By Grace you have been Saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, The Gift Of GOD; not as a result of works, that no one should boast. For we are HIS Workmanship, Created In CHRIST JESUS for Good Works, Which GOD Prepared Beforehand, that we should walk In Them... Ephesians 2:8-10. It is not Scriptural to state 'it is By Grace you have been Saved,' without the essential 'through faith'. Grace is not The Gift Of GOD, but faith Is The Gift Of GOD;
...But The Free Gift is not like the transgression. For if by the transgression of the one the many died, much more did The Grace Of GOD And The Gift By The Grace Of The One Man, JESUS CHRIST, Abound To the many. And The Gift is not like through the one who sinned; for on the one hand the judgment from one resulting in condemnation, but on the other hand The Free Gift from ( because of ) many transgressions resulting in Justification. For if by the transgression of the one, death reigned through the one, much more those who Receive The Abundance of Grace and Of The Gift of Righteousness will reign in life Through The One, JESUS CHRIST. Romans 5:15-17.
The Free Gift resulting in Justification; faith. Those who Receive The Abundance of Grace and of The Gift Of Righteousness reign in life Through JESUS CHRIST; faith that is a constant.
GOD Alone Is Just And The Justifier Of the one who has faith In JESUS ( Romans 3:9-28 ).
Where Brandon is asking, "If you consider the term "dead" for a moment and consider what something that is dead can do to help itself to be saved. The answer: NOTHING. This is why we see, "it is by grace you have been saved.", he is asking in reference to Ephesians 2:1, And you were dead in your trespasses and sins,... But it is to understand that here, the Apostle Paul is making reference to the Spiritual, i.e. 1 Corinthians 15:50-58, ( hence the need to be born again; fleshly to Spiritual; John 3:3-8 ), rather than dead meaning devoid of life and breath. As Paul continues, ...in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air ( not of The SPIRIT ), of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of Wrath, even as the rest... Ephesians 2:2-3.
Hence why in Romans 12:2 the Obligation to undergo Complete change. And why the Apostle Paul writes to The Church at Colossae, and to us also ...Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire and greed, which amounts to idolatry. For it is on account of these things that The Wrath Of GOD Will Come Upon the sons of disobedience, and in them you also once walked, when you were living in them. But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, abusive speech from your mouth ( Mark 7:20-23, Matthew 5:8 )... Colossians 3:5-8.
And if we are still 'living in' the deeds of the flesh, even though we maintain we are a Christian, apart from true repentance we are no more than illegitimate children ( Hebrews 12 ), and The Wrath Of GOD Abides On us. John 3:36.
Apart from faith; The Gift Of GOD, Through which Comes The Sanctifying Work Of The HOLY SPIRIT, Grace is made void;
...And working Together, we also urge you not to Receive The Grace Of GOD in vain - for HE Says, "At The Acceptable Time I Listened to you, And On The Day of Salvation I Helped you"; behold, now is "The Acceptable Time," behold, now is "The Day of Salvation" - giving no cause for offence in anything, in order that The Ministry be not discredited, but in everything commending ourselves as servants Of GOD, in much endurance, in afflictions, in hardships, in distresses,... 2 Corinthians 6:1-4.
Grace is made void only when one has believed in vain ( 1 Corinthians 15:1-2 ). Faith is required. John 3:36, Luke 17:5-10.
So then, Brethren, we are Under Obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh - for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if By The SPIRIT you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will Live. For all who are being Led By The SPIRIT Of GOD, these are sons Of GOD... Romans 8:12-14.
Then, the statement of Brandon, "It is the free gift of God to the people of His choosing (John 1:13, John 6:44, Romans 9, Ephesians 2:1-5). And because he has chosen some to be saved then we must obey and serve Him because of what He has done for us."
These Scriptures here are of those who Receive HIM, and live to believe in HIS Name, GOD Alone Knows the heart, GOD Alone Sees the end from the beginning, the children Of The Promise; those who live by Grace through faith in JESUS CHRIST; thus partakers of Grace; partakers of The Gospel, these are regarded as descendants of Abraham, the children of the flesh are not regarded the same; Galatians 3:7-9. Being Made alive Together With CHRIST means of living by faith in HIM; John 11:25-26. Abiding In HIM and HE In us; 2 Corinthians 5:17-21.
I read no where in Scripture that GOD has chosen only some to be Saved. But I know The LORD GOD to be The Living GOD, WHO Is The SAVIOUR Of all men, especially Of believers ( 1 Timothy 4 ), WHO Is Patient, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance ( 2 Peter 3 ).
John 3:16, to believe means to be persuaded of and hence to place confidence in, to trust, reliance upon, not mere credence. John 3:36.
https://chess.com/news/fasting-6140
The man who typed the words in these postings I have given the links to, Brandon, I have never met. I have not, before yesterday morning, read anything he has posted. I know nothing of Brandon ( john146 ), other than what I have read, and that he has not logged into chess.com through his account since 4th November 2013. But I know what he is seeing in the world that professes CHRIST to what indeed actually professes JESUS CHRIST and The Truth of The Gospel is what I am seeing also and what The LORD has been Showing to me since after the summer of 2008.
I read no other book other than my Bible. I have no desire to do so. I have Vine's expository Dictionary and an English Dictionary, but I have chosen to look to no other than The LORD for my Understanding of Scripture. This is of my faith. It does not make me arrogant, as I have been accused of before, very much the opposite in fact. My prayer since I first confessed JESUS LORD has been asking The LORD HE Teach me. With all of the many varying teachings and doctrines put forth, LORD, please Teach me, Show me YOUR Truth. I don't want to know what man thinks and teaches, just what YOUR Truth is. This was on my heart from the moment I had a revelation JESUS CHRIST Is The Truth, and I believed.
It is still possible to go astray, we all will stumble in many ways. Even the Apostles Of our LORD JESUS CHRIST made mistakes. But when we do and if we recognise, then The LORD will Show to us our error, however HE will Show to us our error, and they may be painful lessons, but in humility we will repent of our error in that we will forsake it for The Way And The Truth And The Life; JESUS CHRIST. And this will be the desire of our heart to do so also. Or, there may be a clearer more deeper way in which Scripture may truly be interpreted. Nevertheless, Truth is always Truth with no darkness in it at all ( 2 Peter 1:20 - 2:3 ).
In typing this, I do not know of anything else Brandon may or may not have posted, but what I do know is that what I have read of what he has shared here on chess.com and I share again here, my spirit rejoices as I read. My heart is stirred how I could never know and have never known when apart from The LORD, before my Introduction by faith into this Grace in which I stand; only In and Through faith In CHRIST JESUS. Just as it is for all. Thank YOU LORD.