Making The Connection

Today professing Christians find it very difficult to connect Faith with Obedience to the truth. Any form of teaching obedience is considered 'legalism' and taboo in most churches. People are convinced they can possess the 'faith' of devils (who 'believe' & tremble! James2:19) and still inherit the Kingdom regardless of their immoral conduct. Yet the very essence of faith is OBEDIENCE to the truth of God! (Heb11:1)  

James told us that 'Faith without works it dead!' (Js2:17) He went on to say that, "By WORKS faith is made perfect!" (Js2:22) But the real force of this truth is NOT merely that 'Faith apart from works is not saving faith' It is stated in such manner to WARN us that the 'WORK OF FAITH' is the ONLY Evidence that PROVES our faith is REAL! Otherwise you are 'believing' in Vain. 

The problem in evangelical Christianity since the reformation has been in the proper explanation to the population at large as to true Biblical nature of 'soul saving faith.' As a result we have over 260 denominations with masses of unproductive professing Christians, convinced they are 'saved' forever because they once had a moment of true faith. They can neither explain the: 'Nature of faith', 'The Purpose of Grace', nor 'Produce the fruit of righteousness.' Yet they are told by renowned 'bible' scholars that they are saved by 'grace', not of works and 'nothing' they can do has any merit toward the outcome of their final salvation. 

Simply stated, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, is Obedience to the Truth He preached! 
1) Rom6:16 'You obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered'
2) Rom1:5 'We receive Grace & Apostleship for obedience to the faith'
3) 1Pet1:22 'Since you Purified your hearts by Obedience to the truth' 
4) John14:15 'If you Love Me, you will Keep My Commandments'

What then is True Salvation, Stated in Eph2:8-9 "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourself, it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast." 

God's Perfect illustration of the Grace that Saves! 1Cor10:2-13 

1) The Children of Israel were in bondage to Egypt 
2) God delivered them from that bondage by PURE GRACE, Not by any merit of their own. 
3) They were baptized into Moses in the cloud in the sea
4) They partook of the same spiritual food & drink, which was Christ
5) God fought their battles, kept them safe from their enemies & guided their steps to the promise land!
6) But MOST of them DIDN'T make it! 

BECAUSE THEY WERE STILL REQUIRED TO OBEY HIM!!! THE COVENANT WAS CONDITIONAL ON THEIR WILLINGNESS TO KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS!

What Happened? 
1) They became idolaters
2) They committed sexual immorality
3) They tempted God 
4) They murmured against Him 

And these things, Paul writes, are EXAMPLE for our admonition. Therefore anyone who thinks he 'Stands' take heed lest he 'Fall!' This should make the CONNECTION inside your brain that MOST of the preachers are misleading you concerning the nature of God's Grace. For they are proclaiming the following: 
1) Once you are 'saved' you can NEVER be lost
2) God's Grace makes up for your lack of obedience to the faith & He no longer sees your sin
3) And no sin, no matter how vile can separate you from God. He will KEEP you from falling away! 

Ask yourself the following question: Did the people in Egypt SAVE themselves?  Did any Bible character 'save himself'? 'Abraham, Moses, Noah, the Apostle Paul?'  NO. They were ALL saved by the GRACE of GOD! 
Can YOU save yourself?  

NONE of these aforementioned, including you and I, have done anything to merit our salvation from God. NOTHING we have done or could do has any merit toward the FINISHED Work of Jesus Christ on the Cross of Calvary. He SAVED us, delivered us, filled us with His Spirit & sustains us by His DIVINE GRACE & LOVE. 

BUT YOU ARE STILL REQUIRED TO OBEY HIS WORD & REMAIN STEADFAST TO THE END! 

The failure to make this Divine 'CONNECTION' between faith and obedience has resulted in multitudes of ruined lives and lost souls. No one but God Himself could measure the devastation this has caused to mankind. How many souls are suffering in hell at this very moment because they 'believed' the lie, that GRACE meant God no longer sees their sins and obedience is legalism? How many marriages have been destroyed by this teaching? How many teenagers have killed themselves 'believing' they would go to heaven? And how many 'Preachers' are now in bondage to sin & lust while PROMISING others 'liberty' in Christ!? (2Pet2:18) 

They have created the 'SELFISH' religion! Where people remain in bondage to their sin, pursuing the things of the world without the slightest concern for their own soul or the souls of others, believing themselves 'New Creations' in Christ, while destitute of true holiness and obedience to the faith. 

MAKING THE CONNECTION: 

God SAVES you by His Divine Grace when you repent of your sins and believe in Him! (Acts20:21) BUT that doesn't mean you don't have to OBEY Him. As Israel had to Continue to OBEY to enter the Promise land, so you must be: 
"Diligent to enter that rest, lest you FALL after the same EXAMPLE of DISOBEDIENCE!" Heb4:11

See how simple this is? A child could understand it! 

Grace provides the POWER for you to WALK after the Spirit & not the flesh, thereby KEEPING His Commands & fulfilling the righteous requirements of the law! (Titus2:11-14, Rom6:16, 8:1-4) That's why if you LIVE according to the flesh, as the children of Israel did, you will suffer the same fate. (Rom8:13) 

Here's what Scripture says happened: Heb3:11-19, 4:1-10

1) Their corpses fell in the wilderness because of sin!
2) They came 'short' of the promise because of disobedience to the truth! 
3) They were hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.

None of this sounds like they entered the kingdom, does it? Make the connection! This is not hard to understand. The warnings are given in love, to show us the WAY! Nothing about this is hypothetical or for someone else. If you do not Continue to Obey Him, you also will fall into the same trap and end up in hell. GRACE provides the Power, you provide a willing heart by which it can work! (2Thess1:11 'The work of faith with power!') 

Now Connect the Truth Together, By Grace you MUST: 

1) Reckon YOURSELF dead indeed to sin & alive to God! Rom6:11 
2) Crucify the flesh with its passions & desires! Gal5:24
3) PUT OFF the old man which grows corrupt according to deceitful lusts! Eph4:22
4) Cleanse YOURSELF from all filthiness of the flesh & spirit! 2Cor7:1
5) KEEP YOURSELF PURE! 1Tim5:22
6) Continue with Steadfast endurance to the end! Rom2:7
7) OVERCOME by the Blood of the Lamb & Word of your testimony! Rev12:11

You lay aside all filthiness & overflow of wickedness & RECEIVE with meekness the Implanted WORD (Jesus Himself!) which is able to save your soul! By Putting it into practice & Continuing to the end. (James1:21-27)

Have you made the connection between 'faith' and 'obedience'? When Jesus says to 'believe' on ME for everlasting life, it INCLUDES EVERYTHING He taught about Remaining Steadfast to the end! Matt10:22

YOU ARE NOT SAVING YOURSELF!!! HIS WORD SAVES YOU AS YOU OBEY IT! 

"And we desire that each one of YOU show the same DILIGENCE to the full assurance of hope until the end, that you DO NOT become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith & Steadfast endurance inherit the promises!" Heb6:11-12

"Therefore do not cast away your confidence which has great reward, for you have need of Steadfast Endurance, so that after you have DONE the Will of God you may receive the promise!" Heb10:35-36

"Looking diligently lest anyone FALL short of the grace of God, lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble and by this many become defiled." Heb12:15

NO ONE will remain saved by Grace IF he fails to OBEY Continually the WORD of God.