GRADED ON A CROSS...NOT A CURVE

Good Morning Students...I have you tests graded.

In our last Rambling...or as some have called them...Rumblings...we were encouraged to TEST OURSELVES TO SEE IF WE ARE IN THE FAITH. That faith...that we are to be in...is not faith in ourselves...not faith in religion...not faith in our good works. It is not even faith in Doris Day (see teacher at the blackboard)...where she teaches Doris Day Faith. NOTE: Doris Day Faith is where she sings...Que Sera Sera...WHATEVER WILL BE WILL BE...the futures not ours to see Que Sera Sera. It is a faith that just lays back and accepts anything that comes down the pike as God's will. No...our faith is in God Himself...based on the fact that he is not a liar, not a trickster, not someone who gleefully delights in our FAILURES...in our tests.

Paul lets us know that there are indicators...that will let us know if we are NOT in the faith...by the manifestation of the DEEDS OF THE FLESH. I personally come up short every time I take the test...and I need help.

II Timothy 3:16,17 speaks of the importance of the Scriptures and their profitability for us. "All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for
(1) teaching (2) reproof (3) correction (4) training. These are all for righteousness in our lives so that we will be adequate...EQUIPPED for every GOOD WORK." We are taught...but then we are graded. Again...I come up short on the grading system. If we just get our papers back...and see how we failed...we would be in poor shape. We go beyond the reproof...and on to correction of where we failed...and then get trained by practice with a tutor...a Helper (aka the Holy Spirit).


The question is..."What do I do NOW?" On one hand we see in the word that we are to grade ourselves...judge ourselves...discipline ourselves...AND ON THE OTHER HAND...we see that we CAN'T DO anything...so why try. Of course...if we say we have FAITH...we are encouraged to show our WORKS...because FAITH without WORKS (corresponding actions) is considered to be DEAD in the waters. For the rest of the Ramblings...we want to see how we can WORK OUT OUR OWN SALVATION with fear and trembling.

"For by GRACE you have been saved through faith; and that NOT OF YOURSELVES, it is the GIFT of God; NOT AS A RESULT OF WORKS...that no one should boast." (Ephesians 2:8,9)

Grace means: (1) favor (2) gift (3) free gift (4) unmerited favor (5) the divine influence in the heart, manifested in the life. We cannot do anything to deserve the love that he pours out on us..we only accept what He accepts. We cannot be graded ON THE CURVE...we can only be graded on THE CROSS (thanks to Bruce Coble for that word).

"He SAVES US....NOT on the basis of DEEDS which WE have DONE in righteousness...but according to His MERCY...by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit." (Titus 3:5)

The basis...the roots of our salvation...is from the INSIDE OUT...and not from the OUTSIDE IN. It is not based on what WE DO...but what HE HAS DONE.

"For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus FOR GOOD WORKS, which God prepared beforehand, that we should WALK IN THEM." (Ephesians 2:10)

We are not to WORK to get good...but if we have been saved...we are called to WORK. In Philippians 2:12...Paul encourages us..."So then my beloved, just as you have always obeyed not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, WORK OUT YOUR OWN SALVATION with fear and tremblings; for it is GOD who is AT WORK IN YOU...both to will and to WORK for His good pleasure."

NOTE: This not you developing your own salvation plan. That has already been worked out...it's called D.B.R...death, burial, resurrection, nothing more...nothing less. You working out your own salvation...is you listening to God...doing what he says...and TEST YOURSELF... DISCIPLINE YOURSELF...JUDGE YOURSELF...and take control of the DEEDS OF THE FLESH...so that you can WALK in the Freedom of your salvation...and not be trapped again in the YOKE OF SLAVERY.


O.K. You have TESTED YOURSELF...and you found yourself coming up short. WHAT DO YOU DO? The answer is found in the same Book...that the deeds of the flesh are found. Galatians. The people of Galatia were SET FREE from the bondages of rules, regulations, religion, works, etc. There were a group of people trying to entangle them back into adding to the D.B.R. It would be
D.B.R. plus Circumcision=Salvation. D.B.R. plus eating/not eating certain types of food=salvation. D.B.R. plus keeping certain religious holidays=salvation. Paul keeps bringing it back to what HE DID versus what WE DO.

"I have been CRUCIFIED with Christ; and it is NO LONGER i who live...but CHRIST LIVES IN ME; and the life which I NOW LIVE (2008) I live by FAITH IN THE SON OF GOD...who loved me, and delivered himself up for me. I do not NULLIFY the GRACE OF GOD; for if RIGHTEOUSNESS comes through the LAW, the Christ died NEEDLESSLY." (Galatians 2:20,21)

In Chapter 3 of Galatians...Paul wants to know who has bewitched them about Jesus and these WORKS. He asks a series of questions that clarify...that how we started...is how we are to finish...and not somewhere in the middle of the process...begin to DO IT OURSELVES.

QUESTION #1: Did you RECEIVE the Spirit by the WORKS OF THE LAW...or by HEARING WITH FAITH?
ANSWER #1: Hearing by faith

QUESTION #2: Are you so foolish? Having BEGUN by the SPIRIT, are you NOW...being PERFECTED BY THE FLESH?
ANSWER #2: No.

QUESTION #3: Did you suffer so many things in vain?
ANSWER #3: No

QUESTION #4: Does He then, who provides you with the Spirit and works miracles among you, DO IT BY THE WORKS OF THE LAW or by HEARING WITH FAITH?
ANSWER #4: Hearing with faith.

What then is the FORMULA...than we can use to CORRECT OUR FAILURES. What can WE DO...to WALK OUT...and to WORK OUT our SALVATION?

It was for FREEDOM that CHRIST set us FREE. We are called to KEEP STANDING FIRM...and we are called to NOT BE SUBJECT AGAIN TO A YOKE OF SLAVERY. This warning and encouragement...would not be relevant...if it was NOT possible for believers in the D.B.R...to be subject again to the YOKE that we were set free from as we fail the test.

Paul writes about his in Romans 7:15-25. He talks about doing the things he does not want to do...and not doing the things that he wants to do...he speaks of a war raging with the INNER MAN...and the OUTER MAN...and concludes that he is a WRETCHED MAN...who cries to be set free form the body of this death.

His conclusion...is THANKS BE TO GOD THROUGH JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD!

In the next Rambling...the conclusion of this 3 part series...we will see what PAUL'S solution for DEALING WITH THE FLESH...AND THE DEEDS OF THE FLESH...so that we do not get entangled with YOKE.

Remember that the word CHRIST mean the Anointed One...who is ANOINTED with:

(1) Yoke destroying (2) Burden Lifting (3) Oppression Removing power.


Love and Cross Graded Kisses
Rodney "Freeeeeeeeeddddddddddddooooooooommmmmm" Boyd