When to be scared you're NOT a genuine Christian.
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 1 ต.ค. 2024
- I'm hoping and praying that God would use this to comfort those who need comfort and to shine a light on those who are living dangerously, so they can make a true faith commitment to Jesus.
Trust in Jesus, follow Jesus, be real about it.
My website BibleThinker.org
There is a difference between someone who is struggling with sin and wanting to live free, and a person that is almost boasting in their sinful lifestyle. Huge difference...
Good distinction 🤔.
No difference. Neither are children of God that know the Way to righteousness. 1 John 3:9
Its true but I believe Mike was referring to a group that is more nuanced. I was born again, even received the gift of the Holy Ghost. But I still couldn't stop my sexual perversion largely because I wasn't imbibing the Word of God and I turned from grace to works.
Eventually I got tired and stopped following Jesus. Years later, He found me again but this time around, gave me a mentor to help me grow. The sexual perversion disappeared not long after.
My point is having a desire to stop sinning doesn't totally mean you're saved if you continue in it. Like Jesus said, He who the Son sets free is free indeed.
So I've concluded that the salvation question lies solely with each individual. If you test yourself, you'd know whether you're on the right path or not.
@@swen6797 Is it your view that people can, and are expected to, entirely cease from sinning in this life?
@@Theguy1244 walk in the light and find out. Thats the criteria laid out, and that's how children of God are made, begotten by His light. . Prove all things. Thessalonians doesnt say nay-say all things. Proverbs says scoffing is only condemning yourself and that the wise man accepts reproof as new knowledge. Doesnt it sound like the lack of knowledge that perishes My people is that they walk in darkness?
If you're not walking in the light, then you are only manifesting lies and deception, including the inferences you make here.
Separation from God's light started with the fig leaf waaaay back in the garden. Hmmm original sin, continuing today, is clothing and all the modern barriers and lifestyles and accepted advice that keep you from abiding your flesh in God's light, which is the Great Physician. Who said you were naked?
Hello, I was wondering if anyone could pray for my big sister. Her name is Mercedes and she is going through a horrible time. She just miscarried and she is being severely stalked. No one in my family has seen her for 9 months. Please pray for her salvation and safety. Thank you and God bless each and every one of you❤🙏
Thanks for caring for your sister, praying for her now
Will pray for her !
Praying, Sis. 🙏🏾
Praying!!!
Just prayed for her.
There was a period in my life where I was continually sinning, and as I was a believer, I was sorry that I sinned, but once the guilty feelings subsided, I would do it again. I decided that I would just trust God and his grace and not worry about it. I was going about my merry way feeling a whole lot less guilty all the while continuing in sin, but one day right out of the blue, I heard a voice inside me saying "I also said to repent". From that day, I stopped falling in that particular area of my life. If you are truly saved, you will want to please God If you are weak, don't run away from God. Run straight for him and confess your sins. He is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. However, Paul said, " shall we sin that grace may abound? God forbid!" If you love God, you will want to be obiedient to him. But if you are weak (and we all are in some areas of our lives) God is faithful and strong enough to help you overcome in your weakness. The Bible says, "For the Lord your God is gracious and merciful and will not turn away His face from you if you return to Him.
Right, that is one of the great things about Christianity; you can commit the most venal sins and always count on being forgiven afterwards! It is a bit like the get out of jail free card in Monopoly and indeed many inmates do find Christ during their residency. Go well with the Lord!?
@@roqsteady5290 Right.. It is Satans way of convincing you that is ok to do evil...
@@roqsteady5290 what happened in Peters life from the moment before he met Jesus to the day after Pentecost? What happened to Paul the day before he met Jesus to the day He went to be with the Lord.
The answer is, spend time with Jesus. The more time you spend with Him the more you will fall in love with Him, understand the ways of the Lord, the more you will be influenced by His Spirit…. I think that is the answer spend time with the Lord
@@The_redeemed7 dunno, can’t even remember what happened last Tuesday.
yes we are to repent daily - keep your heart focused towards Jesus ; yes continue a heart in repentance after we ask God his gift of repentance. it is repentance that saves us trusting in Jesus
This something Ive really been dealing with . I was saved at 13, even baptized and then went off the rails , straight into fuzzy sin world for way too long. 5ish years ago I sincerly repented but now am completely stressed/scared because sinning as a saved christian seems a thousand times worse to me versus unsaved sinning. I pray for God forgiveness and if I can warn anyone else- dont stay in the fuzzy zone. The price of failing God is too high.
Jesus is your righteousness. If He took away your sin upon belief than you rest in Him. You can’t make yourself clean through not doing big sins others don’t approve of. It’s only faith in Jesus that pleases God. Rest in it ❤
Press in Wendy, I struggle too but someone one told me good people question themselves, bad people don't even think of that.
In Christ you have been forgiven!! Listen to sermons from Alistair Begg or the late Charles Stanley
I've a similar story. Got saved at 15 years old, and quickly became a worse person in my late teens and early 20s than I was in my early teen years, struggled with (still do sometimes) feelings of unworthiness and giving in to sin out of depression off and on for the past 15 years as a result. 2 steps forward, 1 step back the whole time. I only recently realized that all that hardship was the enemy trying to destroy me from the inside out. Once you put your faith in Christ, evil will do whatever it takes to twist you around and encourage you to give up, thereby making our witness to others ineffective.
@@swansonseven2851 Couldn't have put it better myself! God Bless!
My sister and I were talking about the meaning of atonement, as in, Jesus' death atoning for our sins. She pointed out that to atone for someone means not just paying a debt but also restoring a relationship. If our relationship with God is restored, then we will grow towards seeing things the way He sees them, and as a result, we will begin to hate sin more and more, and avoid it more and more. Praying for all Christians to understand this more deeply.
Wow, great point. Can't believe that didn't click for me until now
Amen 🙌🏽☝🏾🙏🏾🙏🏽🙏🏼🙏🏿
It is just one more reason to establish relationship with Jesus.!
@@phlegmbuoyant ... Kool screen name. 🐮
To "restore" something, means to return it to original condition... Are you saying that if our relationship with god is returned to its original condition, "then we will grow"?.. Because as far as I can tell, the original condition is NONEXISTENT...
Yo. I needed to hear that, "when you have Jesus in your heart, you are not going to want to partake in those sin, or to the same degree". I have struggled... but I know in my heart that I am saved, I WILL get out of the fuzzy zone...thank you.
Praying for you😊
@Rockie Ruiz thank you Rockie.
Getting saved is not about stopping to sin, yes we all should stop sinning, but if you believe on the lord Jesus Christ that he paid for your sins then it means that no matter what you do, you will be saved because all sins even future sins have been paid
You are not and have never been in any fuzzy zone. If there were something you could do to ingratiate yourself with God, Paul says that doing that would make Jesus of no use to you. Jesus does it all. There is nothing to do. You can, however, improve your awareness of your perfect status with God by simply listening to Jesus.
@@honzarubes2103 That’s false teaching and heresy, the one who continues to sin [without repentance] will not inherit the kingdom of God, as Saint Paul has said in Galatians 5:19-21.
Thank you for this Mike. I've been struggling with a relapse from pornography addiction and your teaching made me realize that although I had myself convinced I was doing well, I really am not taking Jesus as seriously as I need to be. Thank you again for opening my eyes with the hard truths we all need to hear.
I just did a video on this subject! Its a tough one at first. Get a calander set a goal and keep working towards avoiding that. I got rid of my TV because it would always lead me in a weird direction that led to that sort of thing. Whats the longest youve went without seeing that?
No, forget the calendar. Surrender yourself to Jesus wholeheartedly while admitting and accepting that you are helpless without him, and realizing (and begging him) that you will never be the man He has made, saved, and call you to be UNLESS you are free of porn, and you will NEVER have the ministry of life He has planned and prepared for you (ephesians 2:10) UNLESS you are free from porn. Then pour yourself into Christ, fast from the worldly things (and even food for a while so you can master the flesh, desiring Christ above all - because this also likely involves demonic activity trying to keep hooks in you), and live your life serving the Lord. And if you require a helpmate, pray for one VERY SPECIFICALLY with all you desire AND for what the Lord KNOWS you need (and want, because we don't even know ourselves as well as God does), and that a relationship with her will bring more glory to God than you being alone.
This is what I did Jan 2, 2022 and I've been porn free since, and I'll never return unless I actually decide and WILL to. (on that note, when you align your will with the will of God, you WILL be able to do all that He desires you to accomplish - Phil4:13, 2chron16:9). He also introduced that helpmate to me and it was amazing. But satan stole her away through lies and fear and anxiety. If you don't mind, pray she returns... or that the Lord blesses her with an amazing man of God who will lead her into full restoration so she may share her amazing testimony of God's preservation in her life... and that I will find someone else. Thank you.
I've also had porn struggles. When you get tempted, go read the Bible, listen to worship music, and do not dwell in thinking sexual things. Remember that the Bible says with God's help we are capable of withstanding any temptation. You may also have a demon influencing this, so you should keep that in mind as well and take proper steps to get rid of it if you verify you have one. They will take any weaknesses and poke at them to get you to falter in your walk. One other thing is get an accountability partner.
Yes the first thing I worry about when discussing this topic is us who deal with addictions. Whether it be porn, or substance such as alcohol or drugs. Where we have wonderful times of striving to be better Christians but then the temptation strikes us, or our own evil heart strikes us and boom we've grieved the Holy Spirit. I'm reading a book on Assurance of salvation by H. A. Ironside that has helped with me knowing that I'm not hopeless, and that I'm not some Calvinistic predestined-to-hell person that can't be saved. Just remember my friend that doing the right thing doesn't get you saved, and doing the wrong thing doesn't send you to hell, it's the Blood of Christ. Nothing but the Blood, as the hymn goes, can wash away your sin. It is not your Righteousness that gets you to heaven but the imputed righteousness of Christ. Whether you sin once a week or a million times, the only thing that can get you forgiven is leaning on Christ, making Christ your King. Try to increase your Prayer life, take it to the King. He's our savior, our King, and even calls us brother, someone who knows how you feel when tempted.
This was one of the hardest things I personally struggled with..I was in that zone for a many years..I was terrified that I wasn’t “saved” because I didn’t feel “clean”. As I matured I realized that my salvation was in Christ and not in whether or not I stopped looking at porn. I know I was saved because Christ changed my heart..even though my actions hadn’t caught up..my heart and mind hated porn. It took years to get sober/free from this. I wish there was a magic prayer or 12 step program but ultimately I stopped treated porn as something “bad” that I did from time to time..and started viewing it as an addiction. I tried my best every day through the power of God to consciously prepare myself..I had to stop listening to certain songs and watching certain tv shows..I needed to have my mind renewed and that couldn’t happen by entertaining myself with the same environment..today I honestly say I’m free from porn but my mind has still been effected so much that over the years I feel I could easily go back if I don’t properly guard my heart. The best advice I can give is don’t pray and seek God for the sole purpose of breaking free from this addiction..you’ll only disappoint yourself and give yourself false expectations. Pray and Seek God because he’s the only one who can save. And He’s worthy to be praised! Over time trust that God knows what you need and he’ll provide it for you..but get in his word and know Him for him and not for what you can get from him.
Grace and peace! Praying for you brother🙏🏽❤️
Sadly Mike, this was a problem in my small group at church. I struggled with understanding how to relate to a "sister" who was 7 months pregnant, unmarried and insisting that we accept her lifestyle of sexual immorality and not judge her. Repentance was not in her heart, and she doubled down on her deeds. I was the only one who wanted to try to restore her as stated in James, but I was called judgmental. It happened again with a new member and after years of listening to people who are supposedly being transformed by God, I felt like they were being deceived and they were trying to deceive me, based on God's Word. Eventually I had to leave before I made a concession to another's sin. It is dangerous, and even more sadly, I continue to meet more and more people in my church who overlook sexual immorality instead of battling it with the aid of the Church body.
And it's a good thing too. If the community will not work together, you were warned to flee from sexual immorality, 1 Corinthians 6 : 12-20, "12 “I have the right to do anything,” you say-but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”-but I will not be mastered by anything. 13 You say, “Food for the stomach and the stomach for food, and God will destroy them both.” The body, however, is not meant for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. 14 By his power God raised the Lord from the dead, and he will raise us also. 15 Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never! 16 Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, “The two will become one flesh.”[b] 17 But whoever is united with the Lord is one with him in spirit.[c]
18 Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body. 19 Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies."
Come as you are but if you love Christ you won't stay as you are. It's crazy how many people misapply the Bible's teaching on judging.
@ LP, unfortunately people who are "easy" or "soft" on the sins of immorality are oftentimes either guilty of the same or making a broad place to be treated with kid gloves if they do the same in the future. A corrupt politician can't truly insist that other corrupt politicians clean up their acts. A prosperity preacher can't truly rebuke another preacher who idolizes money. They can't insist on godly grief that leads to salvation and to repentance without any regret (2 Corinthians 7:9-11). Sadly, statistics show that around 70% of professed believing men are slaves to pornography.
Perhaps the woman isn't as perfect as you. It is good you left that church and remind yourself that every church you avoid attending will benefit from your absence.
I suggest you get a white satin cape and stand on abandoned street corners in the snow. That way, you will blend into the scenery and not be noticed.
@Emmanuel Goldstein
I love my sin and try to maintain a high average score. I hope nobody is sinning at Olympic standards, as I couldn't keep up.
Maybe the Jesus you imagine did not exist, and describing something in someone's imagination isn't so much a lie as confusing reality with fiction.
4:16 "I think it's ok to be a little scared sometimes because your lifestyle is CONTRADICTING your CLAIMS of faith, and go 'yeah' I need to get serious about Jesus."
Well said.
And that follow up with the call to true repentance. Well said again Mike.
True biblical repentance in the context of salvation is changing your mind from unbelief in Christ alone as your savior to belief in Christ alone as your savior, the word repentance in Greek is 'metanoia' which means change of mind. 'repent of your sins' isn't found in the Bible and the vast majority of pastors and preachers are using the word wrong to try and keep people under the law, mixing your obedience to the law plus Jesus work on the cross for your salvation is a false gospel, the one and only true Gospel of Jesus Christ is believing in Jesus Christ that he died on the cross for your sins and rose again 3 days later, it Is a free gift of God and not of our works lest any man should boast according to scripture.
@@davidmcclain5910 I agree with you. Once I started believing I was saved my fruit increased and my desire to do the right thing instead if the wrong thing increased. When I use to worry about wether I'm saved or not is when I had almost no fruit and I was trying to do the right thing to stay saved. That never works. But metanoia means chnage your mind and according to the Bible God changes our hearts.
@@davidmcclain5910 - Yes, that is completely correct. God repents several times in the Scriptures.
@@davidmcclain5910 Pretty much amen , wolves like this don't seem to realise that or don't want to keep well away from that creep .
You're no more saved than he is .
Sorry Mike, big fan of yours but I don't think you said this well. You are confusing justification with sanctification. A great thing about grace is that you don't have to wonder if you did enough (the "fuzzy zone" as you put it). Jesus did it all when it comes to justification; we only have to accept the free gift. This grace is the only way we can have peace with God. You seem to suggest that, hey, you had better start doing more works or you may not be saved (justified). If that is your motive for doing good works, to be saved as you suggest, that is works-based salvation which results in no peace because you can never do enough. While I try to live a Godly life, I know I am not righteous and that is the requirement. My favorite verse is Romans 4:5 and there are about 150 just like it in the NT.
I recommend Charlie Bing's book Grace, Salvation and Discipleship where he goes through each of these difficult verses, including Ephesians 5:5. Believers who sin will not enjoy rewards in the kingdom. That is a sanctification issue, not a justification issue. The alternative is living a life not based on the work of Christ, but on the works of yourself.
My dad is in the “fuzzy zone.” Please pray for him.
Mine too.
Mine tooooo.
what is the fuzzy zone
@@AverageMann
It is a time when you need new spectacles because everything you see is fuzzy.
Me too, and I love the fuzzy zone. Since nothing fails like prayer, you may as well pray for everyone else and leave your dad alone.
Thank you for posting this! I have struggled to understand my testimony for years because of this very issue. As a child I prayed to be saved, got baptized then a few years later as a teenager got completely involved and overwhelmed by sin. I would repent and do better for a while, but then find myself right back in that same sin pattern again. This went on for years until I finally surrendered ALL to Jesus (to be ALL in). I had to radically cut some things out of my life and started studying the Bible over and over until I finally understood what I was reading. Thank God those fuzzy years are all behind me. I know at some point in my crying out to God, I truly became saved! If anyone struggles with this type of sin, don't only repent but also make radical changes in your life and study God's word in a translation you can understand so you can learn how to follow Jesus.
Amen 🙌🏽 ☝🏾🙏🏾🙏🏼🙏🙏🏿🙏🏿
@Hiroko Harada go back to the drawing board, you don’t get it
Thanks for this video, Pastor Mike! I was that unsaved person and called myself a Christian for so long because I grew up believing in God and knowing that God exists and going to church, but when the time came for me to live on my own I stopped going to church and decided to walk in the desires of my flesh and clung to them. It wasn't until things got so depressing that the Lord opened my eyes to see my sin for what it was and He called me to repentance. Then I can say that, by the grace of God, I took steps to remove that sin that I had clung to; it was definitely a process, as now I look back and see those early days as still filled with lots of compromises that I'm ashamed of now, but the pattern of sin became way, WAY less marked in my life, and the Holy Spirit kept leading me in a process of repentance and submission. All this to say, I think the difference between those two fuzzy zones is the attitude of your heart: do you want to cling to your sin, do you relish it? Or has the Lord begun to show you that sin is repulsive and destructive, and you desire to be free from it. I hope that helps someone reading. Basically, God's grace is AWESOME, and He will finish the good work He begins in us, when we truly repent and submit. God bless, sorry for the long comment.
YES!!!!!!! Amen! PTL!
This is where I am at in my walk. I've seen the destructive pattern of sin in my life, and each time I fall I get back up and plead to be freed from it. It's becoming less and less, and I even feel the conviction in my heart before and after I sin. I know that if I continue in my walk with the Lord, I will be freed. I have to keep clinging to faith.
Isn't it possible to both love and hate sin? I find myself rolling by a grocery store and grab too many hard ciders only to regret it afterwards. I've prayed for a new heart but keep on falling on my face. From what I understand, we have NO power to change. That is a gift from God, and I've asked for it. I've given up trying to change and have left my fate in His hands- for better or worse. I'd like to think I'm saved but there's a worrisome thought in the back of my mind that maybe I'm one of the "vessels of wrath".
@@1967MGC as long as we recognize it for what it is and keep repenting and asking for a new heart, we continue in the faith. Don't give up, and don't give in! I've seen changes in my life from where I started. It's gradual, and sometimes you fall, but God will not fail us. We need to keep fighting and trusting in the Lord.
I still struggle with anger. I keep praying and asking God to deliver me from this because I can't do it in my own strength. I need His help. I don't want to hear Jesus say He never knew me.
The secret is to turn your heart to the Lord Spirit who lives in you. Spend time beholding his face. Loving him. In that moment his riches flow into your heart. Those riches transform you from one degree of glory to another and before you know it anger has been overcome. It's a day by day practice.
@@Doves778 I'm sorry you deal with this too. I'll keep you in my prayers. 🙏
I struggle with anger and frustration too I asked the Lord to change my heart… i asked a lot but finally came to the end of myself and cried out Lord I can’t do this anymore please help me… and He has it hasn’t been easy but as I surrender and die to myself the less and less I have anger or frustration issues… also get the book humility and absolute surrender by Andrew Murray I tell you now you will feel convicted as he used the word to lay out how surrender and humility are traits a true believer should have. Currently on chapter 8 awesome read
@@davidpacheco5796 Thank you so much! I'll look into that book. That's really great! Praise God for that! I've cried out so many times. I do well for a while and then just out of nowhere it gets bad. I think it has something to do with demonic oppression too. Anytime I start getting further on my walk with God I feel like there's an attack. So I pray for help with this, that I be delivered from any oppression and for the Holy Spirit to help sanctify me into what Jesus wants me to be. Thank you again for sharing that info. I appreciate it. God bless you.
Jesus only tells the people who thought they were Christians I never knew you. Believe on Jesus' alone. Don't look at you or works at all. When u get angry find grace for self too. Don't be so hard on yourself. When u focus more on Jesus and his love rather than what do wrong u will find urself living people like Jesus did.
As a new believer I’m constantly amazed at how my ability to turn away from sin is the work of the Holy Spirit in me rather than my tortured, weak, effort. All I must do is choose to ignore or distract myself from my lusts. The moment I make this small choice The Holy Spirit will join me in the fight. What was once feeble, lonely, me versus Satan is now feeble me with my big brother The Holy Spirit. Satan has no chance and he knows it.
I commend you for understanding this simple truth much earlier than others (including myself). The Holy Spirit isn't only there to convict us of our sins after the fact. The better situation is when we humbly surrender to God recognizing our own weakness, He is mighty to save us from habitual sins, shame, self-condemnation, and the attack of the enemy. Turning away from the things that tempt us is much easier after this and we're set free.
@@Garanon5 Amen!
@@Garanon5 Amen! Thank you for the commendation. All glory to God!
This is an "L" take by Mike Winger... Let's look at his lack of logic in this analogy....
Would it be logical to say "I don't really believe George Washington was the first president of the United States because I watched Porn today???"
You’re right, one can genuinely believe and live a sinful life. And they need to repent of their sin to be saved.
@@catholictruth102 you're reply is a bit of a non sequitur. If they live a sinful lifestyle and believe the Gospel are they saved? Or do they have to repent of their sin to be saved, therefore not a sinful lifestyle?
Answer, they just have to believe or it's by works of the law...
@@AdamJoseph1352 No, if they believe the gospel and refuse to repent of their sin they will not be saved. Scripture is clear on that one.
*Galatians 5:19-21* “Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that *those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”*
Works of the Law refer to the Mosaic Law, not Christ’s law. You must follow Christ’s law to be saved.
@@catholictruth102 friend in the very first sentence of Galatians 5:19 it says those sins are the things of the FLESH manifest. We are of the spirit that 1 John 3:9 says doth not sin... You see the flesh is a slave to sin as it's from Adam, but the spirit is from God and a slave to righteousness, and according to 1st Corinthians 15:50 the flesh does not inherit the Kingdom because how can corruption inherit in corruption...
According to 1 John sin is the transgression of the law, so to repent of sin is to obey the law...
The only place the law of Christ is defined is in Galatians 6, and it defines it as taking on the burdens of others so they might be saved. But you might mean the law of Christ to mean following the 2 great commandments loving God and your neighbor, to which I would say the Bible clearly says those 2 commandments hangs the WHOLE LAW and of prophets, so there is no way around it...
"God have mercy on me, a sinner."
The sinners PERFECT plea!
Same here
This is a rare instance where I have to disagree with Mike. I'm a big fan of this channel and this doesn't happen often.
When a person is born again, he is born of the spirit. This is the new creation we are and what gives us the new identity we have when we're saved. However, when that new birth takes place, God does not do anything with our flesh nature. That nature remains completely opposed to the things of God and stays with us until the day we die.
Therefore, as saved individuals, we can choose to either walk in step with the Spirit that has indwelt us at the moment of salvation, or ignore it and walk in the flesh. Paul is clear on these points throughout his letters. We still have a choice to make, but our eternal destiny is not determined by that choice. Believers can, and often do, choose to walk in the flesh almost continuously after being saved, but that doesn't mean the spiritual birth didn't happen.
I believe it to be wrong to say a person will progressively (with subjective quantification mind you) become better behaving if they're truly saved. I don't and shouldn't look to my behavioral progression (or how bad I feel about sin since it's not based in feelings) as evidence for my salvation. I know I'm saved because I believe in the promise of God, that when I trust Him for that salvation, He will keep His promise and raise me up to life eternal at the last day as He says He will.
The information in this video is a wrong way of thinking regarding this topic and can only lead to doubt about one's salvation or a haughty attitude about one's own goodness despite Isaiah saying that even our best efforts are like filthy rags to God.
It's either Christ's righteousness given to me as a free gift God judges me by or it's by my own inadequate self righteousness. It can't be both.
This is legitimately false and dangerous teaching, which can be refuted with a single Bible verse.
*1 John 2:4* “Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him,”
When we truly are saved, I feel it’s like we’re tethered to God. When we move away from Him, we are pulled back because we’ve already made that decision. But I don’t know if that is sound Biblical philosophy, I’ve just noticed that even when I do stray, I can’t stay in it, as if God is nagging me to return to Him
Same. I sadly don’t see the same situation in regards to my husband and his entire family. Yet they grew up as a “good Christian family” in church.
Since January he constantly fights with me that I have begun “take my faith too seriously” and then lets me know if God wants him to stop doing something he shouldn’t He will take it away (all while also claiming God can’t or won’t heal his addictions).
I finally realized a year ago I was putting alot ahead of God in my life for a while- even trying to make my marriage work and other things.
I laid those down and put Jesus first again as my Lord and began to seek Him first. My priorities changes and how I approached things changed.
It has caused a lot of tension in our home off and on but I am attempting to bring peace and not argue on subjects that hubby and I disagree with religiously.
I can’t keep away from God for long. My hubby has gotten jealous and said he doesnt know how to have a relationship with God like me…
he sadly doesn’t like the answer I give as to what it takes to have one. I pray weeping about it knowing its not my hubby’s lack of knowledge but internal desire to submit to God that is preventing him from this.
I wish I had recognized my state and prayed sooner for us both before it got to where it is now.
@@Jaxmusicgal23 all things work for good to those who love him. Romans 8:28. tell him to read the bible and pray at least once a day
Proverbs 28:13
“He who covers his sins will not prosper, But whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy.”
Turning from sin isn't nor is it part of biblical salvation, The INSTANT a person places their faith in Christ ALONE as savior (believing He died for all their sins, was buried and rose again on the 3rd Day according to the Scriptures for their justification) they are IMMEDIATELY, PERMANENTLY and ETERNALLY saved!!!! They have received the IMPUTED RIGHTEOUSNESS of Christ that very INSTANT without which NO MAN can be justified in the eyes of God...saved from eternal death in hell and GUARANTEED eternal LIFE in the New Heavens and New Earth forever!!!!!
"For He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him." 2nd CORINTHIANS 5:21, KJV
@@davidmcclain5910
Amen, much love to you. 💕
@@davidmcclain5910 , I agree. If it were, how would anyone ever know that they’d turned enough? Plus then you’re automatically gauging your acceptability with God based on your ability to turn from sins.
That is trying to earn salvation by works and they are DEAD WORKS because they are an attempt to earn salvation.
We are created 👉🏻unto👈🏻 GOOD WORKS because they are done in faith AFTER salvation according to what God in Christ has accomplished.
@@davidmcclain5910 This is not true, the need for repentance is an ongoing process. Remember the parable of the sower. You're not eternally secure until your secured eternally in Heaven.
Not everyone who calls Him Lord will be able to enter. Not everyone who does mighty works in His name will be able to enter. Make sure your election is sure and work out your salvation with fear and trembling.
The kingdom of heaven is like a man who found treasure and buried it in a field. Later he sold ALL he all had and bought that field. Whoever takes the plow and looks back is not worthy of Him.
Therefore to everyone take up your cross daily for you are not only believers but followers...doers of the word.
May the Lord bless you and correct and reproof everyone to His ways.
@@OJPrime Correct
The problem with deception is that people don't know they are being deceived
I would hope that God has mercy on those who do not know of their deception, because it hasn't been revealed to them.
Imagine an Earthly father getting angry and kicking their child out of their house for unknowingly believing something false - I do not believe that God is that callous.
Which begs the question, how would YOU know?
@@docmars And yet there's the Old Testament
@docmars That is an incorrect analogy. The bible says that everyone is a creation of God, not that they are all his children. Through faith in Christ we become children of God (Gal 3:26).
As long as we trust in Jesus as our Lord, no deception that the Lord can't reveal will come upon us. That is why he says that the truth will set us free.
@@4everMayito Fair point, however, how do we deal with those who have accepted Jesus as their savior, but believe that LGBTQ+ is the way to become a god of your own, because they believe "you are Christ"?
How do you work through that deception spreading throughout the church?
Is their claim to salvation valid while they simultaneously spread heresy far and wide?
I have always had non-christian friends and been afraid of telling them about Jesus. I only ever evangelise to strangers online and avoid confrontation. In irl conversations I tend to agree with my friends about topics I don't think are right or just try not to talk about them at all. I'm not sure people would be able to tell I'm a Christian. When I was a teenager I thought 'oh it's just peer pressure, I still have time to grow' etc, but I'm 20 now and struggle to see this attitude going away..
Maybe really start seeking Him for deliverance from the fear of man? Lots of good information available online. Repent for putting yourself and others ahead of God, because that is what fear of man really is. You serve whom you fear.
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
John 13:34-35
You just kinda have to do it and accept that you might lose some people. The next time you have one of those conversations, just say, "I understand where you're coming from, but I have to disagree and here's why..." and go on from there. You might be shaking or need to take some deep breaths or look away; you don't have to be this bold hero, just be faithful.
Galatians 1:10. Just give it a shot, pray and tell them all about Christ. If they reject you, GOOD RIDDANCE, who needs friends like that?! And pray for godly friends who encourage and are serious about Christ. Be blessed!
Oh my.... I am 62 and have trouble with this. I actually have had trouble being open about my beliefs with my own husband! I'm not ashamed of it, but I am always awkward whether I will say the right thing and if they ask questions whether I will have the (right) answer). I'm not as much worried that they will think some way about me. I just worry they will walk away being even LESS likely to believe in Jesus! I know my own pride has a part in this.
I have worried about my own salvation. For many years I went astray. But when I came back and truly repented, the sinful things I was drawn to before, no longer have any power over me. I still sin (we all do) but I am no longer a slave to sin and I do not do the things I used to do. I am more aware of my words and actions. I am thankful for conviction. I see so many people who are what you describe in this video as being in the fuzzy area. They claim to genuinely believe in Jesus but their lives are aligned more with the world. Willfully and knowingly do things that go against God. I try to be an example to them but it seems to not matter. I worry about them. Then I worry if I am being too judgmental. Do I have a log in my eye and am I too focused on the speck in theirs? I hate second guessing myself.
U can't look at ur works as a marker on whether or saved or not. The Mormon or the Amish live "holier" lives than most but there not saved. Because they never believed that Christ was enough to save them
You don't have a log. You are speaking the Truth in love. This just shows how much you care. Blessings
@@josephmetts3085 I agree. An unsaved person can do works too.
@@thefruityking6722 yup, the unsaved can do good works and the saved can do bad works. Look at bill gates, I'm not really a fan of his but on paper he does alot of charities and gives lots of money to the unfortunate but inwardly, well I don't think I need to go there.
Please don't give up trying to help people follow Jesus. I'm in the fuzzy area and don't know what I would do if people gave up trying to help me. Been fighting and failing for longer than I wanted to, and many people have given up on me because maybe they think they are not having an effect. But I am still hoping to get out with Jesus. 🙏
Thank Jesus I was delivered from sexual sin
I must be too :/
I’ve only recently began studying the scriptures. I wasn’t raised Christian, but was taught a general belief in God. I often feel guilty because no matter how much I want to be saved my brain throws up doubts. I have been indoctrinated to believe that science and Christianity are mutually exclusive. I am a sinner and I have a lot of regrets about lies I’ve told or times I’ve engaged in bad behavior. I lived with an ex for a time outside of marriage. Please pray for me!
All one must do to be saved is to trust in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of their sins.
The Gospel is the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of our sins, that we read in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4.
I understand where you’re coming from. Before converting I was the same way. Throughout my life I needed “logic” to explain everything.
I had several friends who were Christians, and though I “believed in God” or some higher force (honestly I was very into eastern new age spiritually for quite a while) I wasn’t a Christian and didn’t read the Bible nor did I go to church. I was raised Catholic though and hated it from the bottom of my soul as it always felt off. Now as a Christian (Baptist) I know exactly why.
Anyhow, I wanted to tell you what I did about 10 years ago. Watching my Christian friends and their lifestyles and their faith I was almost a bit jealous. I remember one day sitting on my couch and I asked God to open my heart for this kind of faith and to help me overcome my doubts and disbelief. To overcome my need for things to make sense and be “scientifically backed-up”. I really really wanted it but I knew my brain was my main leader and not my heart at the time. It was so hard for me to accept the whole story of Adam and Eve and the flood and everything.
Rewind 9 years and last year I converted and surrendered my heart to Christ. About 10 months prior to my conversion I started attending a Bible studies group in my town. And after actually READING the scriptures and studying them slowly I started feeling the change. And then it happened.
Now, my whole testimony would be a bit too long (as this reply already is haha) but that was the key. And I am eternally grateful that Lord answered that prayer of mine 🙌🏻
I hope you will surrender your heart to Christ too. Maybe you can ask Him to help you like I did. To open your heart enough and to take away the doubts. Ask Him to reveal Himself to you and He will!
God bless you on your path to Christ.
@@barbarapaz3722 God bless you, Barbara.
@@susand thank you. God is merciful 🙌🏻
You just described my situation 😭
Well said - if your scared, do not despair, come to the light.
If your scared, go to church...
Consider this. If God has truly given you a new heart, will you chase after sin? I believe this is what Paul is pointing to, those who chase after sin. Those who have a war within over their sin, take heart, this is a sign that you are saved. For the unsaved do not war over their sin.
That's actually not a sign that you have biblical salvation although it sounds appeasing to the ear to think you had something to do with your salvation. But that's not biblical salvation according to scripture. The INSTANT a person places their faith in Christ ALONE as savior (believing He died for all their sins, was buried and rose again on the 3rd Day according to the Scriptures for their justification) they are IMMEDIATELY, PERMANENTLY and ETERNALLY saved!!!! They have received the IMPUTED RIGHTEOUSNESS of Christ that very INSTANT without which NO MAN can be justified in the eyes of God...saved from eternal death in hell and GUARANTEED eternal LIFE in the New Heavens and New Earth forever!!!!!
"For He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him." 2nd CORINTHIANS 5:21, KJV
@@davidmcclain5910 uh… those indwelled with the Holy Spirit- as the scriptures indicate- will be led to righteous living… an internal compass. It’s not that hard to understand. The original poster is correct.
@@annieaviles4760I guess if your dealing with problems you don’t have the Holy Spirit then, basically saying u look at your works to know if your saved. You believe in yourself to be justified before god, Paul makes it clear we look to Jesus for our justification.
@@KronZoldyck righteousness is works? LOL! Repent!
@@annieaviles4760if you think you are righteous based off of what you do then yeah. We are not saved by doing good works. Stop trusting in what you do and instead trust in Jesus. Good works are good things we SHOULD DO (KEY WORD SHOULD) but it’s not required for salvation.
I've tried everything to flee from porn, yet there's always an opening, I've prayed day and night, fasted, cried on my floor, I was raped at a young age, got into porn at a young age, I'm almost thirty now and even though I'll never lose faith, I've lost a lot of hope expecting that things will ever change for me.
Don’t lose hope. Jesus can break your stronghold and one day, He’s going to come back and abolish everything that has tainted God’s perfect world and make everything alright again.
@@rainbowhawk911 Maybe He will maybe He won't. God can make whatever He wants out of us for His glory.
@@potapotapotapotapotapota In the meantime, TISTTRUTH should continue to lean on the strength of Jesus and trust him with everything that’s going on in life.
@@rainbowhawk911 Yes and sometimes that means resting in Jesus, knowing that no matter how we may fail Jesus' blood still covers us.
@@potapotapotapotapotapota And all we can do in the meantime is pray.
🙏 please pray for me and my bf to get out of the fuzzy category and into the light 😭 I was (behaviorally) in the clear Jesus category for years but even then struggled to be certain I was saved, it's totally right to say get out of moping and ask God for a real repentance. Thank you for posting this.
If you're living in willful and unrepentant sin .. you're not saved. 1 John 3:6
Mike is giving a sugar coated answer to keep his followers.
This subject gets so over complicated on TH-cam. My understanding is that It’s about the heart and whether a persons love of God/Jesus is honest and whether their efforts toward sanctification are honest and wholehearted as well. And there’s unfortunately no way for any human being to know this about anyone else especially over the entirety of their life. Yes we can look at the fruits of their life and have some guess but we will never be able to say for sure 100%.
Anything else is works based salvation and not the gospel. As soon as you start talking about quantity or severity of sin in relation to salvation that’s works based salvation. End of story. We don’t know what’s in that persons heart.
Another good way of thinking about it is the opposite. What if there was a preacher who lost his faith over time but stayed in the church to make profit and died with no majorly visible evidence that he wasn’t saved. Only God would know that his faith wasn’t *truly* in Christ.
I’m strictly talking about salvation here. Obviously if someone is clearly displaying the fruit of sin, nothing is forcing us to commune or accept them. But as for their salvation, we cannot be 100% sure
I came to Christ, but still had the mindset that what is done in the Spirit and what is done in the flesh were separate things. It was a year to a year and a half later that the Holy Spirit convicted me regarding my behavior, and delivered me from that desire. I have been enabled to walk in chastity by his power ever since.
There isn't a passion, lust, addiction of the flesh that God is not able to overcome, if we allow him to be the Lord of our lives.
Thank you Brother Mike for constantly addressing the difficult questions and issues with a very straightforward approach.
Oh wow Mike - you're talking to me here! I was born again 10th January 2022, so just 16 months. I still find myself in sin that I hate - I'm surrounded by unbelievers in my family and at work. I am easily tempted into gossip at work, which makes my skin crawl when I do it. I also smoke cigarettes. I've prayed about these strongholds, but they're still so strong. I don't know where to go from here - I want God's will to overpower my own, but it's just not happening. Please, would you pray for me. Carole x
My youth pastor once told me, living as a Christian is often not a switch, it's a dial. This is the process of sanctification, or "becoming more like Christ".
Essentially, your life, after Christ has entered it, has been changed. But it may not be readily noticeable day to day. Like a seed planted in the soil, will not be a mighty tree for many years. Your life is changing, by degrees. The things that you used to tolerate and be ok with, you're no longer accepting in your own life.
Be thankful in this season, that the Lord is convicting you of things you see as separating you from Him. Be thankful that he is growing you, disciplining you, and shaping you (all parts of that sanctification), in to the person He wants you to be. Have some grace and patience for yourself in this process. Continually strive for Him and His kingdom, but don't weigh yourself down with shame. Also remember that conviction is not the same as shame. One builds up, the other tears down.
Grace and peace to you.
ps. Smoking is not a sin :) While addiction definitely can be, have patience with yourself here also. If you're intent on quitting, or absolutely need to quit for any reason, start by degrees.. Maybe break the cigarettes in half before starting to smoke them, or maybe break one for every one smoked, then next week or the week after, break 2.. or eventually only smoke every other day... do it til you're buying a pack just to break them all, and then don't buy it! Keep praying for deliverance from this, and with some perseverance through prayer, He will remain faithful and you will be delivered.
🙏
@@Apoch86 thank you so much 💓
@@kurtweiand7086 thank you 💗
God knows that we are weak because of the effects of the Original Sin inherited. To help us to overcome this weakness and become holy as He is Holy (Lev 11:44, 1 Peter 1:15-16), Our Lord instituted Sacraments in His Church founded on the 12 Apostles (Rev 21:14) with St. Peter as His Vicar (Pope) on earth. The Sacrament of Baptism makes the baptized a child of God (John 1:12) restoring the Sanctifying Grace lost and a member of His Mystical Body, the Church whom He saves (Eph 5:23), and, at the same time, forgives all past sins committed by the baptized.
A sin committed by the baptized darkens the beauty of his soul, takes away the Sanctifying Grace from him, and separates him from the communion of life with God. Sin causes the person to return to slavery under Satan, who thus exercises his evil dominion over him, and leads him along the road of eternal perdition. To meet our extreme weakness (to sin), Our Lord instituted the Sacrament of Confession in which He absolves sins and communicates His Graces to heal and strengthen the soul and to form new hearts and a renewed life in the penitent.
The soul of a newly baptized is a spiritual baby (Hebrews 5:12-14, Eph 4:13-14, 1 Cor 14:20). In addition to cleansing by the Sacrament of Confession, the baby needs spiritual food to grow to become a mature man. The Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist is the Bread from Heaven (John 6:35-58) given to the members of the Church so that they grow to mature men, bearing abundant fruits worthy for Heaven (John 15:5).
Without the Sacraments instituted by Our Lord and administered by His Church, which is the power He gives to members of His Church to transform them into His image (Rom 8:29, 2 Cor 3:18), one can't retain the Sanctifying Grace, which is the wedding garment (Matt 22:12-13), required for salvation. Therefore to be saved, one must be a faithful member of the Church. Otherwise, whatever one does, for example, read Bible, pray to God, preach God, and try to do good to others, it will be no avail. That's why 'Extra Ecclesiam nulla salus (outside the Church, no salvation)' is a Catholic Dogma (Catechism No. 846). Please watch The Forgotten Dogma: No Salvation Outside the Catholic Church by Father Isaac Mary Relyea on TH-cam.
Why wander about outside of Our Lord's Holy Sheepfold (John 10:16) and suffer? Come quickly to Our Lord's Holy Sheepfold so that you may hear His Voice, know Him, and be saved, before it is too late, because the public appearance of the Antichrist is imminent (2 Thes 2:8-12)! May God bless you and lead you. Amen!
I think one sign that someone is either saved or not, is whether they have what Paul describes as 'Godly sorrow'...
Years ago, I used to say that I was a Christian if anyone asked me, all the while sinning and it not really bothering me.
Today I will still say that I am a Christian, but now if I sin, it bothers me because I know that I have sinned against God and I hate it, sometimes to the point that it will bring tears to my eyes because I dont want to sin against God anymore.
I mean we all willfully sin no matter what. As long you believed in Jesus you have been saved. Yes sin will give us consequences but we won’t lose salvation.
It's not a question of "how much sin?" It is about whether or not you have a heart of repentance. If you are acknowledging that your behavior is sinful, and if you want that sin to be removed but you just can't seem to get control over your flesh, then I think you are saved. But if you are nursing and protecting a sin, refusing to admit that it is sinful or something that requires repentance, then watch out.
Very true. It's about your reaction to your sin. Many of us struggle with destructive addictions and sins: drugs, pornography, anger, etc. A saved Christian is grieved by those sins, even while acknowledging his lack of control over them. The unsaved one continually tries to justify why those aren't sins for him, or why sin isn't a problem. Especially common is the modern version of antinomianism where, "God has to love me no matter what I do, so I can do whatever I want."
No that’s false, you have to stop the sin to be saved, not just recognize it’s wrong and continue committing it.
Repentance is a change of mind not turning from sin but faith towards Christ alone That's how you know you are saved for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God🙏🏾
Amen 🙏🩸✝💗🕊
"There is also an antitype which now saves us-baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him."
1 Peter 3:21-22 NKJV
Amen, repentance when speaking of salvation can only mean going from unbelief to belief
Turning from your sins repentance gospel is as blasphemous as it gets
Hello John MacArthur and co
Mark and avoid these folks but pray for them too
There's 2 types of Repentance, Repentance unto Salvation, which is that change of mind about everything the Word says about us and Sin and who and what Jesus is and has done, aka you change your mind about Sin being worthy of death and hell and you change your mind about Jesus being God who died on the cross for your Sins and that results in the saving faith and belief unto Salvation.
However once you are saved you definitely are commanded to turn from Sin. Prior to Salvation you literally can not turn from Sin, it's impossible. You were dead, you were enslaved, nothing a dead and enslaved person can do to turn from Sin.
But once we are saved, we have the Holy Spirit in us who has made us free from Sin and it's bondage and now we are commanded to turn from the Sins that had a hold on us.
It's the difference between Justification and Sanctification. Repentance unto Justification requires only changing your mind and believing in Jesus.
Sanctification is a life long process of the work of the Holy Spirit that by repentance we are changed more and more into the image of Christ.
Best example of the truth as told in the Bible is exactly what you said. Thanks for that!
Christians today have totally forgotten that the baptism of REPENTANCE preached by John the Baptist preparing the Way of the Lord, PRECEEDS the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
John scorned some by calling them a brood of vipers whom he insisted "do things in keeping with repentance..."
One way to look at it is to say that if you believe in Christ but don't even try to be better, then the sin will eventually engulf you so much that you will stop believing in Christ, and that's what to be wary of, since you are only saved if you keep believing til the end... So stay watchful, and repent!
This is a matter of “Only God knows the heart.”
Augustine once said "The new is in the Old concealed and the Old is in the new revealed." What he's saying is the Old has the entire story of Jesus in it by means of prophecy and christ is the reveal of those prophetic writings. A great example supporting your point is Ezekiel 36:26-27. God is the CAUSE of our Christian behavior. He causes our desire to know him. In John 15 Jesus says we can claim to be in him all we want but its not until he is in us that anything happens. John 15:1-8 - Great read.
A Christians behavior can be measured by struggled sin. Hebrews 12:4-8 fantastic example of what conviction looks like.
but make no mistake, a Christians life is also met with heavy restriction.
1. by means of limitation and inability we are 1000000% unable to practice sin. 1 John 3:9. The one born of God cannot even curse Jesus from the heart - 1 Cor 12:3. And even better is the blinders are off, the gospel is clear and wonderful to our ears and we understand spiritual things which includes the scriptures. this comes with it a craving to know God.
1 cor 1:18, 2:14
2 cor 4:4
Being Born again, Born of God has more to do with God than just our belief. Its AMAZING how our life is forcefully changed for the better.
There is no such thing as a backslidden Christian. To backslide says a believer can return to his old death and sin without conviction or repentance. Thats impossible if 1 John is right.
If you are still trying to earn it, there’s a problem. If you are more focused on what you DO than on what Jesus DID, there’s a problem! TRUST and BELIEVE in JESUS!
Amen!
Right on 👍🏽💯❣️"... and be Found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own, that comes from the Law, but that which is through Faith in Christ--the Righteousness that comes from God, and is by FAITH."
Philippians 3:9
Repentance is necessary.
@@christsavesreadromans1096 yes. You are correct. But what ACTUAL repentance is…….. that’s where many people get it wrong. How do you define “repentance”?
@@AVKingJamesBible Repentance is not only a “change of mind” from unbelief to belief, but also a turning from sin. That is how the word is used in several places throughout the Bible, like in Revelation 2:21 AKJV
“And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.”
Fornication is a sin, and so it’s clearly teaching that one must turn away from their sins.
Repent and fight your sin with the power of the Holy Spirit
I fell away from Jesus for sometime. The hardest thing Ive had to learn is that if a person has accepted Jesus Christ and yet falls away, if there heart if fertile to the seed s of His word, they will be chastised through this period and brought through some rough stuff until they, or in my case I submitted to Him. As the lamb that goes astray from the 100. Prayer and support in the Love of Jesus is a powerful thing when dealing with people as I once was. Your presistance to love and bring good ministry to the fallen away does matter. I will testify of this. Bless you who suffer us through these periods of spiritual harships. Descipleship in Christ is truly a group effort I have found, this is what makes the church of believers different from the world.
Yes, I agree. "The Lord chastises those whom He loves." It can make for a seemingly bizarre situation in which, looking back, I am thankful for certain difficult times because I see in them God's hand correcting my path and, thus, evidence of His love for me.
@@jacques3402 Amen. I am relieved that Jesus never gives up on us, even if we do give up on ourselves.
Amen, we practice what we believe in Jesus Christ, evidence of our faith, faithfulness and seeking our Savior for strength to overcome.
Galatians 5:22-23🕊️
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.”
❤
Amen 🙌🏽
Read Psalm 119 daily if you want a deep raw relationship with the Savior!!
And I suggest that we ask the Holy Spirit to begin planting entire passages from Psalm 119, in our heart, mind and spirits - so that we can live into His TRUTH, like THIS one from Psalm 119:97 "mem" מ =
"Oh, how I Love your Law!
(The Hebrew Scriptures)
I meditate on it ALL DAY LONG."
Only God knows the truth of one's salvation. However, if one's fruit indicates that one isn't saved, then all those around them who are, should be ministering to them.
Fruit refers to ur beliefs or doctorines. Not what sins u do or don't do. If that was case Moses and David weren't saved because they murdered someone. I know I've never did that
Joseph you are bang on, fruits or proof of fruits isn't contigent with salvation, our salvation comes by Grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. It is a free gift from God lest any man should boast according to scripture
@@josephmetts3085 Fruit is not beliefs or doctrine, it is the work that you do because of salvation. It is no a means to salvation. If you are saved, you are saved by faith, not by works, lest any man boast. However, if you are saved, your works (fruit) will show it. Again, nothing to do with doctrine or sin. We all sin. For the unsaved, our lives are sin filled life. For the saved, the sin in our lives becomes less and less through growing more and more Christ-like. Our life style changes.
Moses and David sinned but both were saved by their faith in the coming Messiah and the promise of God. Yeshua is the Vine and , if you are saved, you are the Branch. The Branch produces Fruit but not of its own but through strength of the Vine. No Branch can produce Fruit on its only but if it truly belongs to the Vine, it will produce Fruit.
@@ed-jf3xh the point I was trying to make is that our sins has nothing to do with good works. The law was never meant to save us it was always as means to show us we need to be saved. Christ became the law and freed us from the law. Now that we are free, we can now do good works in his name. Good works is not committing any sin, it's love, the kind of love we can only get from God. Mormons and Muslims and Buddhist and the Amish all try to keep the law or to not sin but they are not saved and can never show true love. They r not connected to the vine. So it is talking about doctrine. Christ alone to save us. Every other false religion or doctrine will try to add to what Christ did and so although outwardly they look like they live a very holy life inwardly they r a dead man who try to keep the law. And I'm afraid that's what most Christians do today is backloading there own righteousness into the gospel. Once u mix works or the law into grace it ceases to be grace anymore. Stop looking at people's "fruit" to determine who is saved or not. Jesus will be the only one to divide the wheat from the Tares on judgement day.
@@josephmetts3085You assume too much. I do not look at one's works to see if they are saved. But, they will be known by their works. See Jas 2:18-26
Living a moral lifestyle and claiming to follow Jesus isn't the way to determine salvation either. What about the LDS members? Generally, very much fit into this description, yet when you lift the hood, the inner workings are very different.
Jesus said we could tell the quality of trees (good or bad) by the fruit they produce. He didn’t mention any “fuzzy” trees.
Thanks Mike, Great explanation! Maybe the scripture that talks about working your salvation out with fear and trembling is geared towards those two fuzzy groups so that you don't have to worry about being in the unsaved group.
I think you nailed it!
If u believe that Christ took ur sins upon himself so u can have eternal life then u are saved. If u look at ur sins in anyway on whether ur saved or not then u should question urself
@@josephmetts3085 I think that is the point.
"My dear friends, as you have always obeyed in my presence, but Now much more in my absence, CONTINUE to work out your Salvation with Fear and Trembling, FOR it is GOD who works in you, To Will and To Act, according to His good purpose."
_______
Philippians 2:12-13
This...was honest, thought provoking, challenging, encouraging, and awesome. Thanks Mike.
What was honest about it?
It was heretical
Once saved always saved. Jesus paid for all sin. Believe on him. Don’t trust in your own works or that you’ve lived righteous enough. Look at Christ and you may end up even living less sinfully that you would have other wise, worrying if you’ve crossed some imaginary line. You’re either in Christ or you’re in your sin. You can’t have it both ways
"The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity."
"That is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will go out, cull out the evil people from among the righteous ones, and will throw them into a blazing furnace. In that place there will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.”
The warning is "Don't let that be you (that includes me)!"
Godly fear now is better than regret later.
I struggled with surrendering my own Will to God for decades after baptism. Holy Spirit was with me the entire time, but i kept wandering off the path. I finally surrendered, and it is so much easier to follow Jesus. Im not saying there aren't temptations, but it is less. Therefore, I believe that surrendering to God's Will is a big part of becoming that solid Christian and knowing what will be when you meet Jesus face to face.
You and me both. I was saved as a child, yet had a child's understanding of what that meant. Life circumstances whisked me away from the church and into chaos. Then, I went my own way and spent 40 years wandering the wilderness, so to speak. I always believed in Christ, although at one point, I started to falter there. God gave me every chance to straighten up and eventually, I did. It never ceases to amaze me when I look back now, I can also clearly see that the Holy Spirit was with me the entire time. And now that I've learned to submit my own will, my connection to the Holy Spirit has gotten so much better. It's nowhere near as difficult of a thing as I thought to myself that it would be to remember to put God's will first and foremost. In fact, its something that I _desire_ to do now. I know He knows far better than I, loves me and wants what is best for me. That pesky, stubborn, independent, flesh driven streak tries to make an appearance from time to time still, but I am better prepared to confront it now whenever it does. All praise and glory goes to Christ!
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’
Matthew 7:21-23
Thank you for sharing this, Mike. I prayed that God will bless you for speaking the truth in love.
I think what helps me other than knowing with my whole mind, heart and soul that I love Jesus and trust fully in Him, is that when my body sins, I absolutely freaking hate hate hate it. There is such a discomfort in me when I do things I know that God did not intent for me to do. 🙏🏽❤️
Love watching your videos Mike. Thank you for everything you preach! And thank you Lord for Mike!
Wake up.. Your body CAN NOT sin.. YOU control your body.. Not the other way around.. The first step to true salvation is accepting responsibility...
@@anotherperspective8263 you are wrong. The body does sin. If salvation is made through taking responsibility then what Jesus did on the cross was for nothing and nothing makes sense. We are saved through faith by grace. Without Jesus we cannot earn anything. You are so wrong which is so sad. You are too egotistical by believing that you can save yourself which is absolutely what you are spouting. You’ll never earn it.
“For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: but I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.”
Romans 7:15-25
“But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.”
Romans 8:9
@@m7m746 You can start your rambling with "you are wrong" but it won't actually make me wrong... You just haven't found Truth yet.. And you never will as long as you keep believing...
@@m7m746 Oh, and by the way.. I am not looking for salvation.. I have nothing to be saved from...
@@anotherperspective8263 the fact that you don’t believe that you need to be saved from anything shows me that you have absolutely no faith in Jesus and only belief in yourself. I have heard enough.
When the biblical meanings of the words translated as 'faith' and 'grace' are properly understood, there is no contradiction between Ephesians 2:8 & 5:5.
What few Christians realise is that the Greek words πιστεύω (pisteuó) and πίστις (pistis), typically translated along the lines of 'believe' and 'faith', respectively, concern _trusting faithfulness_ , not just little more than cognitive belief and faith. Thus, it was Abraham's _trusting faithfulness_ that was credited to him as righteousness (Romans 4:3), not his mere belief. So, wherever you see words like 'believe' and 'faith' in the NT, try replacing the word with something like _trusting faithfulness_ for the noun and _faithfully trusts_ for the verb. If the change works, that's probably what the writer meant and the recipients understood. For a full treatment of πιστεύω (pisteuó) and πίστις (pistis) in their first century context, see _Roman Faith and Christian Faith: Pistis and Fides in the Early Roman Empire and Early Churches_ (Morgan, 2015).
Similarly, the idea that everything is covered by God's grace and that this demands nothing of us is entirely false. In the first century, grace and its expression in the form of gifts existed in the context of reciprocal relationships; if someone did something for you, you were expected to make an appropriate response and failure to do so was an affront. Hence, failure to either acknowledge God's gift of salvation through trusting faithulness (Ephesians 2:8), or to respond appropriately, is itself an offence. And, for what it's worth, all those references to the 'free gift' of God in Romans 5:15-17 & 6:23 are wrong: the word 'free' is not in the Greek text. Translators have imported their 'enlightenment' notions of grace and gifts into the text. For a full treatment of the reciprocal nature of gifts and grace in the first century context, especially in the writings of Paul see _Paul and the Gift_ (Barclay, 2017).
Today's church has been seriously misled by a false faith vs works dichotomy. Those who ascribe to that dichotomy are really playing off faithfulness against works and tend to treat the obedience of faithfulness (Romans 1:5; 16:26) as legalism and an attempt to gain works-based righteousness.
Many believe there is a difference in “inheritance” and “salvation.” You are saved through faith, and some are saved “as through the fire.” Meaning, their works were not in the Spirit, so they are in the flesh, meaning you have little or no inheritance in the kingdom. As Johnny Cash said: “Everybody won’t be treated quite the same.”
Rewards (inheritance) will not be equal in heaven.
This is why Paul says “Should WE sin so that grace may increase? May it never be!” Believers *can* continue to sin. But they will grieve their lives when confronted by Yehovah Adonai.
BUT - You’re right: we should examine our lives and have an attitude of repentance. Always.
Here’s a question: Are ALL Christians (true believers) invited to the wedding feast? Or are some outside the door? I think there is evidence that not all are invited to the feast.
I heard a story from an Orthodox priest that might shed some light on this subject. There was once a priest who lived and struggled with the sin of drunkenness, and one day, he died. Some of the people from his church said among themselves that although it was sad that he had passed, it was probably for the best, because he shamed his profession and made the community look bad. Some wondered if he was even going to heaven at all. Another priest heard them saying these things and discouraged them, saying that he had a troubled past and wrestled with a lot of inward turmoil. Before his conversion, he would try to get drunk multiple times a day (i forget if it was multiple times per day or per week, but the point remains). He told them that after his conversion, it was a constant struggle to overcome his vices, and he often lost the bsttle, but he would get up and continue the slow and painful struggle to shed the old creation and put on the new. With much prayer and repentance, he found himself getting drunk far less often than he once did, even though he was hung over on the day he died. The lay people asked the priest whether or not the other who died was welcomed into heaven, and the priest told them he certainly was. God understands the frailty and weakness of our nature and our past, and he recognizes the conflict and desire in our hearts and the long, overarching trajectory of our lives. Even though his drunkenness was not a sin that he was able to fully conquer in this life, his desire to be more like Christ and his efforts to that end through repentant prayer and personal struggle reveal that the Spirit was still at work in his heart, and his attempt to work in sync with that prompting of the Spirit produced improvement, alebit slow improvement over the long course of his life, compared to where he had started. God recognizes our struggle and the areas in which we are weak. We have cause for concern when we do not care, even if we know the things that we make a conscious habit of doing are evil, and have no desire for genuine change. You will not simply be content with where you are for long if the Spirit is truly at work. The fact you even care at all shows that you aren't beyond help in this life and that there's something still there for the Holy Spirit to work with. If you were past some point of no return, you wouldn't be concerned with the answer to that question in the first place, and even if that were the case, there's no telling whether the grace of God will effectively impact your heart again in the future and ignite that spark of life again (although that possibility is not something I would consider wise to take for granted and try to take advantage of). If you struggle with sin and if you come to Him, genuine in your desire to overcome it, Christ responds to your desire, acknowledges the struggle, and sympathizes with your weakness as our perfect High Priest. Our perishable works of sin that are burned up and destroyed are transformed into precious metals refined in the fire of the presence of God through our repentance and requests for mercy and grace. There's a reason why Christ told his disciples to repeatedly forgive those who sin against them, even multiple times a day, if they seek forgiveness and reconciliation. The reality is that although at some point we may not be shielded from all of the natural consequences of our bad decusions, which God sometimes uses as a wake-up call, God's mercy has no limits for those who seek it. Because we are the way we are, sometimes repenting multiple times a day is what it takes to embrace the struggle, to get back up and keep on fighting uphill every time we get knocked down. Getting back up and trying again and again after getting knocked down is a part of the job description in the spiritual war into which we've been drafted upon our initial repentance and faith in Christ.
If a person chooses their sinful obsesión but is a believer. Gods spirit will continue to convict you. If he is ignored He will take you out of this world so you stop hurting yourself. And no one knows the moment it’s too late. Repent and surrender your life to the Lord.
The notion of a "true believer by works" isn't biblical, see here:
"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-NOT BY WORKS, SO THAT NO ONE CAN BOAST. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."
Ephesians 2:8-10
I agree. Which is why I don’t teach that you become a true believer by works. Consider watching again
@@MikeWinger I should clarify, I am mainly addressing the people in the comments who are suggesting that salvation is tied to works or the performance of a Christian.
Your video says "I don't know, it's not for me to judge" basically, which is biblically correct, as Jesus commanded us not to judge lest we be judged.
I've always believed this form of judgment to specifically address one's salvation, since one would have to arrogantly presume they are God to make that call.
@@docmarsIt’s absolutely tied to your performance. Our Lord taught that the measure you use will be used against you. How would saying such a thing even make sense if what you did or how you acted made no difference?
@@catholictruth102 Our deeds and moral decisions make a difference here in Earth directly, but have no bearing on our Salvation, outside of making the choice to believe in Jesus and His promise of eternal life for those who believe, evidenced by His resurrection.
Do you think God is going to show favoritism and turn life into a competition for His followers so they compare against each other, boast, and pass judgement on each other's works? Ephesians makes it clear this is not the goal.
Suggesting that performance matters implies that you think you're somehow in a better position, which misses the point of Jesus' guarantee of salvation by grace.
@@docmars This is totally false, they do have a bearing on our future salvation.
*Luke 6:37* “Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven;”
If God condemns you then obviously you cannot enter heaven, and neither if your sins are not forgiven. Thus one cannot go around condemning others and not forgiving them if they wish to enter heaven.
If you have a true and genuine faith, your sins will still not be forgiven unless you forgive according to the very words of our Lord in Matthew 6:14-15.
Just because we’re saved by grace and it’s a free gift does not mean there is no conditions on receiving the gift.
8 But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 20 If someone says, “I love God,” but hates a fellow believer, that person is a liar; for if we don’t love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we cannot see? - 1 John 4:8,20 NLT
One of the clearest ways to determine is if they hate other believers.
when it's talking about "sexually immoral" people, it doesn't mean people who have slipped up and made mistakes, or people who struggle with sexual desire. It means people who willfully live in unrepentant sin... you know, the "don't judge me, I was born this way" people who refuse to acknowledge their sin or even want to change their ways. If a person is in Christ, they may still desire to sin... but it will grieve their spirit to the point they don't want to do it anymore. Their flesh will be at war with the Holy Spirit, but Christ in them will give them the strength to overcome the flesh.
A good thing to note is that if you're thinking "How much can I get away with before I'm clearly not saved anymore" you should probably reevaluate of you were ever saved. If you're someone who notices problems in their life and genuinely makes effort to solve those shortcomings because you believe you should be better then you're probably alright
What if you realize you have multiple sin issues, are struggling with them, but just want to have assurance of salvation? Knowledge that there in hope in the end?
@@Mink_TracksThere is no assurance of salvation for those living in serious sin daily, repentance is required.
@@christsavesreadromans1096 I have learned the real meaning of repentance since my last comment was posted. It is not the false "turn from sins" meaning that is used by most preachers. Reading the bible is so important. One finds that God repents multiple times (at least 30) in the OT. Repentance CANNOT mean turning from or feeling sorry for your sins. God is perfect and holy and has no sin to turn from.
Repentance "metanoia" simply means change of mind :) in the context of salvation.. changing ones mind from unbelief to belief in Jesus and His antonement for our sins at the cross of calvary. God is so good and has made salvation so simple. Yet man complicates it and adds his pride and filthy rags.
I will look to Jesus for my assurance. He is my only hope. God bless you.
@@Mink_TracksSo salvation Is beliving in christ Thats it? I was worried i wasnt saved I may have overthought things
I would say those struggling with sin who beat themselves up over it and are actively praying, fasting and working towards changing those lifestyle choices. Then those people just need to keep up the work and keep turning to God no matter how many times we fall. Hes faithful. stay repentant He will bring you through it.
Thank you Pastor Mike! Videos like this always help me see what I’m doing wrong, and how God can save me from my sins!
We're saved, " by grace through faith". "All have sinned, and fallen short of the glory of God.". We're born into sin. Without Jesus we're done. Put a fork in us.
I look for people who have a desire to be around other Christians. Those who love to worship and use their gifts for God. Those who have a desire to, feed the hungry, clothe the naked, visit those in prison, take care of the sick, and are nice to strangers.
There are eight Kingdoms mentioned in the Bible and they are all different, so it's very important to know the difference between the Kingdom of Heaven and the Kingdom of God.
I continue to stand on one word with regard to this ongoing queston. "REPENTANCE". Do you even BELIEVE you need to repent (turn your mind/heart against sin), or are you putting all your trust in the notion that because you once made a statement of faith, then anything you do thereafter is already forgiven? Do you believe Jesus died to ENABLE your sin, or to FREE you from sin? Do you WANT the sin, or do you wish and seek to have victory over it? I believe an imperfect, yet repentant heart is the difference. Someone who intentionally sets out to sin by abusing Grace puts themselves in real jeopardy in my opinion.
Whenever Iiberal Christianity starts to push into my thinking, I always go back to 1 John, because its absolutely crystal clear. Verse 9 is so critical to understanding this. If God's seed abides in us, we have the Holy Spirit, which makes it nearly impossible to remain in unrepentant, lifestyle sin. Without the doctrine of regeneration (God performing a work in our heart), then this can turn into works. Struggling with sin is a good sign, as long as it remains a struggle! A righteous person struggles and fights against sin. An unrighteous person does not.
Verse 4. "Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. 5 You know that he appeared in order to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. 6 No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. 7 Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. 8 Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. 9 No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's[b] seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God. 10 By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother."
I needed this! ❤
Thank you Mike! I appreciate your wisdom and trust that the Holy Spirit is sanctifying me!
Whenever I apply this verse to other people as a test of their salvation I cannot determine whether they are or are not saved. However when I apply the scripture to myself I find two things happen, first of all when I doubt my salvation I can launch and see an inward change which is evidence to me that Jesus has redeemed me and secondly When I find myself committing sin are you see that the newness of my life in Christ does not permit me to continue, I believe this verse is most effective when I apply it to myself and not others
Or u know you are saved when you believed in Jesus.
How much sin can a saved person have and still go to Heaven? According to scripture, if you break the least of the 613 commandments, you are guilty of breaking them all. Paul talking to Galatians (believers) covers this issue in Galatians 1: 1-3. If I believe like Abraham, I’m saved by Faith alone. Once I’m sealed inChrist, even as Paul still dealt with sine, so will I. Please be careful with judging behavior for salvation. As hard as I try, I can’t serve God fully 24/7 and neither can anyone. Praise God for nailing ALL of our sins, past and present, to the cross. Jesus did it all and I can’t add anything to His work. Rest in Him and what He did.
Amen...Romans 7:15-20
Woah!! Im in that fuzzy area and I’ve been trying to justify my thinking with absurdity. But I NEED God…desperately. Thank you Mike❤️God bless
As saved believers we overcome seek and knock. If you fail keep knocking and seeking until you overcome sin struggles, be faithful.
Matthew 6:33
“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you”
Matthew 7:7
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you”
Hi mike!
God bless you brother! That was amazing! Something so simple yet so deep! I am grateful to God for men like you! Those who bear the image for the glory of God!
He is literally promoting a work salvation gospel. That is heresy and he is teaching a false gospel.
Jesus Christ came to save us and set us free from sin. Do not be fooled God is not mocked… if you aren’t freed from sin or your desire, it would be afraid. Jesus Christ isn’t a weak Saviour and He saves us and fills us with the Holy Spirit to live by the Spirit - the flesh is crucified.
Get on the cross and get crucified with Jesus. Ask Him to free you and you will be free. Stop believing the lies of the devil. Because sin comes from the devil.
I don’t know what you mean by “get on the cross and get crucified with Christ” because Jesus already paid the sacrifice for us, so that isn’t necessary.
They key is our identity. Notice how the passage says, "No one who IS (insert category of sin)". So if you ARE an idolater, then you are slave to your idol(s). If you ARE sexually immoral, then you are slave to your sexual desires.
*
But Christ makes us a new creation. He gives us a new identify that is no longer a slave to sin. While we still struggle against sin, there's a profound difference: with the Christian, there's a struggle against sin. We don't always win the battle, but the Holy Spirit in us never gives up the fight because ultimately Christ has won the war.
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In practical terms, we see this with someone who gluts themselves in immorality with no shame. Let's suppose the behavior in question is sexual immorality. Person A engages in swinger parties, lives an openly promiscuous lifestyle, mocks people who tell him he should not do this, and might even manufacture and distribute porn. Clearly, there is no struggle against the sin. This person IS sexually immoral. It is his identity to the core.
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Compared to Person B who recognizes that sexual immorality is wrong and feels the shame. Perhaps he is lonely due to a cold marriage relationship and finds himself on a porn website, but soon realizes that this is wrong. He turns off the porn, gets on his knees, and begs God's forgiveness and strength to avoid doing this again and to restore his marriage relationship. He is not sexually immoral to the core, even though he did a sexually immoral, sinful act. His identity is in Christ, not in the sinful acts that sometime overcome him.
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From an outward appearance, we often don't know enough to make a firm judgment one way or the other, which is why we ought to warn someone when we see him or her sinning publicly. That's a sign that sin has a foothold on them and it may eventually give way to becoming their identify if not curbed. It's a dangerous game trying to tip-toe the line of what is "too much" sin for it to be considered your identity: why would any believer flirt with sin to see how far one can push the boundaries? Such a thought is evidence that the boundaries are already being pushed dangerously far.
I think you hit the nail on the head, Mike. We work out our own salvation with fear and trembling.
You are saved by grace not of works. You are saved once u believed in Jesus. You don’t work for it
@@kraftyval2162 Amen, you are right. I have grown up a little in Christ since that comment was posted. God bless.
Romans 4:4-5 KJV
4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.
5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
Romans 10:9-13 KJV
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
This matter is complicated by addiction and the definition of repentance. It seems that repentance is any action where one is trying to turn away from their sin. It seems to me (though I may be wrong) that an unsaved person in the danger zone would be someone who doesn’t actively try to turn from their sin while willfully, knowingly, and habitually practicing this sin. That’s the way I’ve understood it so that addicts who are struggling-and who haven’t just given up and accepted their circumstances-might be saved if they genuinely believe in Christ and are at least trying to overcome their sin. Correct me if I’m wrong, but this is what makes sense to me.
Thanks for sharing 🙏🏾
His grace and mercy be upon you and your loved ones 🕊️🥛🍯
Romans 8:13-14 is pretty clear.
Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, 21 envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God... Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. 8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. Galatians 5&6
Jesus Was Born Incarnate
Jesus was born incarnate to a young Jewish virgin, lived a sin free life, was illegally persecuted and then crucified on a cross on Calvary. He arose three days later defeating death and ascended into Heaven where He sits at the right hand of God.
Jesus met with 515 people after His resurrection in a dozen different occasions over a period of about 40 days before He ascended into Heaven.
Jesus knew He was entering the world to be the final and ultimate sacrifice for the sin of mankind. His body had been divinely prepared by God specifically for that purpose. Jesus was going to die for the sins of the world, and He knew it. Moreover, He was doing it willfully and joyfully.
Jesus came to earth to reveal God to mankind and teach truth. He came to fulfill the Law and offer His Kingdom to mankind. He came to show us how to live. He came to reveal God’s love. He came to bring peace. He came to heal the sick. He came to minister to the needy.
He was raised in a family who didn't believe in His divinity. He had six half-brothers and two or three half-sisters who didn't believe in His divinity until after His resurrection.
What gets me is demons knew His divinity but many men and women of His time didn't.
I presume Mary and Joseph knew His divinity. But in Luke 2:49-50 [NKJV] “He said to them, [His earthly parents] “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?”
This makes me wonder, did they not understand Jesus' divinity?
"But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you." (Matthew 6:33 NKJV)
Luke 3:23 states that Jesus was "about 30 years of age" at the start of his ministry.
The four Gospels record 37 miracles of Jesus, with Mark's Gospel recording the most. Three New Testament words refer to Jesus's miraclesas power, signs, and wonder. Every miracle of Jesus served a specific purpose in God's plan of salvation for humankind.
Jesus' miracles were followed by Jesus forgiving the individuals of their sins and commanding they sin no more. Many of Jesus' miracles were not identified. No other religious leader forgave mankind of their sins.
29 Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
The Purpose of John’s Gospel
“Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which were not recorded in the Bible.
But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” (John 20:29-31 KJV)
Our sins separate us from God, and there’s nothing we can do to make things right. So, we need someone to save us from our sins and make us acceptable to God. That someone is Jesus Christ. “Neither is there salvation in any other: for among men there is given no other Name under heaven, whereby we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12 GNV)
That’s why God sent Jesus to earth. Jesus’ death on the cross paid for every wrong we’ve ever committed or will commit in the future. Jesus made it possible for us to have a relationship with God the Father. We are sinner from birth and need help, Jesus Christ is that help, our only hope.
Therefore by the deeds of the law (Ten Commandments) no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law our sins are recognized not saved.
We must confess (repent) of our sins and iniquities before Jesus Christ, at the foot of the cross daily.
Jesus said in Matthew 28:19, to His disciples that: “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.”
I will not stand before The Great White Throne of God, my sins have been cleansed by Jesus Christ's crucifixion on the cross. And I am clothed in the righteousness of Christ of all my sins and iniquities before-today, today and forever.
I Love Jesus Christ and despite of the fact that I'm human and I fail Him daily, I pick up my cross daily and follow Him. I believe that Jesus is the Son of God and that He was crucified on the cross where He died for my sins and inequities and that He rose again on the 3rd day to give me a way through salvation and sanctification, known and unknown. He loves me dearly and has forgiven me of my sins and inequities. His Word says that if I deny Him before men, He will deny me before His Father.
I believe are the greatest verses in God's Word. "But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you." (Matthew 6:33 NKJV)
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16 NKJV)
I am a Christ-follower and live in the Kingdom of God on earth in Jesus Christ, my Lord, Savior and Leader. I have faith and trust in the grace and mercy of God for eternal life for my soul in Heaven when I pass from this life into paradise.
I proclaim this openly to the world, that I am sinner, that I am sorry for my sins and iniquities and repent of my sins and iniquities and receive Jesus Christ by faith into my heart, mind and soul as my Lord, Savior and Leader. I openly confess Him as Lord from this moment on, I want to follow Him, I pledge to obey Him daily, and read His word. I will include those in my prayers who are lost and have chosen to deny God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. Our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit.
Jesus Christ declared: “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6 NKJV)
I am in the “Lamb's Book of Life” and will not face “The Great White Throne of God” judgment which leads to Hell.
Jesus said: “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and lean on Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.” (Matthew 11:28-29 KJV)
I believe God has accepted me and I'm not worried about the “The Great White Throne” judgment of God. I know that one day I will go to spend a glorious and fascinating eternity with God, Jesus Christ and other believing Christians who are in Heaven.
Jesus loves me unconditionally, and voluntarily and joyfully died on the cross on Calvary for my past, present and future sins, that's the heart of Christianity and why I am a Christian and not any other religion.
The grace and glory be to God. God bless
This teaching is so well done. Thank you!❤
Powerful. Makes me really contemplate my own personal “exterior” image.
For some reason I keep struggling with loving sin. Especially today. It's so bad.
It can certainly be frustrating, especially when prayers for changes to not be so attached to our sin or to be more convicted feel unanswered.
I don't know if I have much else than what Peter told Christ when asked if he were going to leave as well: "To whom shall I go?"
It’s all in the Red Letters.
I don't know the situation, and I hope you can figure it out. What I know, and hopefully it may help you accordingly, is that many times sin is bound to a habit that triggers it, ask God in prayer to reveal to you the habit and or situation that triggers it, some times is so mechanic that you don't even realize it.
And the other is: what is that sin comforting, satisfying or supplying?
So it will help you either way to find a better way to deal with it or to deviate from it. Hope it helps 🙏
God knows that we are weak because of the effects of the Original Sin inherited. To help us to overcome this weakness and become holy as He is Holy (Lev 11:44, 1 Peter 1:15-16), Our Lord instituted Sacraments in His Church founded on the 12 Apostles (Rev 21:14) with St. Peter as His Vicar (Pope) on earth. The Sacrament of Baptism makes the baptized a child of God (John 1:12) restoring the Sanctifying Grace lost and a member of His Mystical Body, the Church whom He saves (Eph 5:23), and, at the same time, forgives all past sins committed by the baptized.
A sin committed by the baptized darkens the beauty of his soul, takes away the Sanctifying Grace from him, and separates him from the communion of life with God. Sin causes the person to return to slavery under Satan, who thus exercises his evil dominion over him, and leads him along the road of eternal perdition. To meet our extreme weakness (to sin), Our Lord instituted the Sacrament of Confession in which He absolves sins and communicates His Graces to heal and strengthen the soul and to form new hearts and a renewed life in the penitent.
The soul of a newly baptized is a spiritual baby (Hebrews 5:12-14, Eph 4:13-14, 1 Cor 14:20). In addition to cleansing by the Sacrament of Confession, the baby needs spiritual food to grow to become a mature man. The Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist is the Bread from Heaven (John 6:35-58) given to the members of the Church so that they grow to mature men, bearing abundant fruits worthy for Heaven (John 15:5).
Without the Sacraments instituted by Our Lord and administered by His Church, which is the power He gives to members of His Church to transform them into His image (Rom 8:29, 2 Cor 3:18), one can't retain the Sanctifying Grace, which is the wedding garment (Matt 22:12-13), required for salvation. Therefore to be saved, one must be a faithful member of the Church. Otherwise, whatever one does, for example, read Bible, pray to God, preach God, and try to do good to others, it will be no avail. That's why 'Extra Ecclesiam nulla salus (outside the Church, no salvation)' is a Catholic Dogma (Catechism No. 846). Please watch The Forgotten Dogma: No Salvation Outside the Catholic Church by Father Isaac Mary Relyea on TH-cam.
Why wander about outside of Our Lord's Holy Sheepfold (John 10:16) and suffer? Come quickly to Our Lord's Holy Sheepfold so that you may hear His Voice, know Him, and be saved, before it is too late, because the public appearance of the Antichrist is imminent (2 Thes 2:8-12)! May God bless you and lead you. Amen!
Seek to love God more! Search for Him! The more you love God, the more you will despise sin. Finally, trust that Jesus has the power to deal with your sin issue and overcome it in your life. ONLY HE CAN!
When you do sin, do not wallow in it… don’t go ‘ah well, I’ve sinned. Might as well continue sinning.’ No! Go to the Saviour immediately and repent; He is enough. Let’s seek Him more.
They will "unfuzzy" themselves, because the only people who are in the second group are new believers. The new Christian will either grow up in Christ or give up and fall in with the first group or leave the Church (better choice) 2:53
In our small town there are people that call themselves Christians but don’t act like it at all. They say they love God, that they believe in God, but then act like Muhammad. Imagine living your whole life thinking you’re Christian, only to find out on judgment day that you weren’t. Yikes!
These are great Q's ! I think of "Samson" who, by the way , is in Hebrews 11, the heroes of the Faith..... He had an unsatisfied appetite for woman,. Like a lot of us men,. Was He Saved? Or better said, will we see him in heaven ? I think absolutely Yes! Did he live in sin? Yes! Did he pay a price for his sin? Yes!!!! Interesting that the next ch. , Ch.12, talks about being disciplined by God as His children......
I got saved because of you and other preachers who are faithful to the truth of scripture. I was on the wide path while claiming the narrow. Eternally grateful to God for bringing me to where I am today.
You got saved from what?..
You didn't get SAVED.
Saved means salvation.
You only got CONVERTED.
You should join the Catholic Church, the earliest Christian’s were catholic
@@anotherperspective8263 saved from sin, saved from death, saved from the punishment I deserved for a life spent selfishly hurting others. Jesus took it all, my guilt, and shame and pain and He gave me life everlasting🙂
@@eltonron1558 funny enough I actually already would have said I was a Christian but I didn’t know the first thing about God and His love and grace. I needed a serious wake up call. So no, I didn’t get converted, I got saved. I was drowning in a life of misery and Jesus grabbed me by the coat, pulled me up and placed me on dry land. If He can save me He can save anyone🙂
We so often want people to change and then get saved. If they are saved, God deals with the sin. My own mother always said she had to first stop smoking and then she would respond to Jesus. She screeched into the Kingdom 6 days before passing away.( still smoking) She was already dying and had no time to do any religious stuff or get baptised like the man next to Jesus on the Cross.But I know I will meet up with her one day!
You don’t know if she’s in heaven at all, especially if she died in her sin and chose not to get baptized, so you should pray everyday that God had mercy on her.
@@christsavesreadromans1096what in the world is wrong with you or warrant you to even comment that!! If her mother put her trust in the savior to save her then Jesus did just that he saved her.. dying in your sins means you do not believe on Christ therefore you have no righteousness because we need Jesus’s!!!!! We need a savior.. dying in. Your sin is not sinning before you die… he covers all of your sin the moment you put your trust in him! And you do not have to get baptized that is a work.. ( it’s an act of obedience) so I hope and pray you are not trusting in your works to save you what a shame that would be… our works are as filthy rags to god good luck with that!Wow just wow with the audacity of your comment… I hope one day you can see to stop trusting in the sinner and start trusting in the savior… please examine your self to make sure you know the true gospel and have put all your faith in Jesus! Salvation is free and all you gotta do is believe/trust in what Jesus did for you!
The Bible is explicit that one must be born again with water to enter heaven (John 3:5). Jesus said the one who believes AND is baptized will be saved (Mark 16:16), and in Acts 2:38 it was baptism and repentance that remitted sin.
Baptism is required to be saved. Also dying in your sins without having repented certainly means you will go to hell. What Paul said in Galatians 5:19-21 is more than clear.
"Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God."
Paul warned the church of this, so those within were already believers in Jesus Christ and had accepted Him as their savior. They were still warned about their sin. Dying with any severe sin on you means that you will go to hell almost certainly unless you repent before death like the thief on the cross.@@ElizabethMcmurry
@@christsavesreadromans1096 wow… it’s baptism of the Holy Spirit not water.. I suggest with a sincere heart you go study that topic.. the moment you put your trust/believe in Christ you get the Holy Spirit which means you are born again one with Christ in Christ!! Repent means to change your mind… or turn from so turn from unbelief in christ to belief and the moment you do that you get the Holy Spirit… baptism with water is just to symbolize your faith in Christ ti show how you died and was buried and rose with Christ.. please study this.. and dying in your sins is when you die without trust in Jesus… your sins are forgiven past present and future otherwise it makes no sense.. you will fail if you are trusting in you.. but the savior is unfailing and if you trust him and have faith he is going to save you.. there was an exchange on the cross all your ugly ness and sin for his righteousness.. go study all of this I pray you do with an open heart.. I’m not arguing online good luck and god bless
@@christsavesreadromans1096 we will not be entering the kingdom in our fleshly body.. the new man we have in us cannot sin and that is who enters
The warning of not living an immoral life is written in almost every epistle. As Christian, we need to take this very seriously. We could lose our salvation.
I’m not so sure. There are places in the Bible where it says we can’t, and other places where it seems as if we can. I need to do a deep-dive into the King James Bible on this subject.
Amen.
@@CerealDust-nStuff 1 Timothy 5:11-12
@@christsavesreadromans1096 ... and what do you think that means exactly?
@@CerealDust-nStuff It means if you abandon the faith you have damnation, just as it says.
Mike, What is a born again Christian?
What you are doing is leading Christians to look inside themselves to determine if they have eternal life or not .., and that can destroy someone’s assurance or lead someone to believe he or she are perfect enough to earn it.
“Born again” is a modern church Philosophy not taught in the Holy Scriptures.
If your relying on you not sinning to be saved or part of your salvation then your believing a false gospel which isn't biblical salvation. The INSTANT a person places their faith in Christ ALONE as savior (believing He died for all their sins, was buried and rose again on the 3rd Day according to the Scriptures for their justification) they are IMMEDIATELY, PERMANENTLY and ETERNALLY saved!!!! They have received the IMPUTED RIGHTEOUSNESS of Christ that very INSTANT without which NO MAN can be justified in the eyes of God...saved from eternal death in hell and GUARANTEED eternal LIFE in the New Heavens and New Earth forever!!!!!
"For He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him." 2nd CORINTHIANS 5:21, KJV
I love your work Mike Winger. Thanks for this. If you don't have or have never read "Life in the Son: A Study of the Doctrine of Perseverance" by Robert Shank, I can't recommend it highly enough. It's such an excellent book and the Scripture Index at the end of the book is fantastic. First published in 1960 I believe, it is still available today. I would VERY HIGHLY recommend this as a great resource on the topic.
Thanks for the tip, it sounds like a great read. I'm going to go look it up
Amen. #algorithm
So let it be forever and ever amen.
Thank you for making this video. This is a topic that I go back and forth with people about often...they interpret passages like these as proof that your salvation does depend partly on works, that you can lose your salvation. I have tried several times (with great difficulty!) to communicate that this is not really what these passages are saying, but at the same time, true salvation is not, "Yep, I believe in Jesus and prayed a prayer and now I'm going to behave however I want." This video really simplified and summarized it well! You're great Mike, keep it up! I can't even tell you how much your videos have helped me over the past few years...praying that God continues to bless you with peace and everything you need to continue this work, thank you!
Keep moving forward in Christ sister but this is truth =
👍Once Saved Aways Saved.
In 1John 3:6, when it says (Whoever abides in Him does not sin), that's talking about our (new man), our new man does not sin. When it says (Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor knows Him) that's talking about the person that's not saved.
*Now look at 1JOHN 1:8, our flesh sins.
*We can walk in darkness, 1JOHN 1:6, cross reference with Romans 13:12
The Lukewarm:
Jesus could wish they were cold or hot not Lukewarm. =Revelation 3:15
The Lukewarm, are people who are not saved.
*The Lukewarm people are naked, they have no garments on.= Revelation 3:17,18
*There are some believers that have defiled their garments, they are not naked= Revelation 3:4
Now go back to Revelation 3:21 = (to him who overcomes,) cross reference that with 1JOHN 5:4,5, (we overcome the world, through our faith.)
I hope this will help you sister.
You do not need to answer the questions. There meant to make you think. Iron sharpens Iron.
Context is very important to understand the scriptures.
In the beginning of the letter of Galatians, Paul is addressing the Churches of Galatia and in these Churches not everyone is saved.
👉Can you say everyone in your Church is saved?
Every Church that's of God has people that are not saved.
Next, Paul mentions the gospel of Christ in Gal 1:7, in this gospel Salvation is Today = 2Corinthians 6:2,
Acts 13:39. And by Him all that believe (are) justified (from all things), from which ye could (not) be justified by the law of Moses.
(justified) in the Greek is (dikaioō), which means to render righteous, declared righteous.
👉What does (justified from all things) means? in Acts 13:39
In Gal 5:16, we can put out the Spirit = 1THESSALONIANS 5:19,and walk in the flesh.
In Gal 5:19 it mentions (works). In the Judgment seat of Christ, which is a Judgment for the Church only in = 2CORINTHIANS 5:10/1Cor 3:11-15, this judgment is for rewards, based on our (works), not a lost of salvation. Verse 15 supports this.
In Galatians 5:21, Paul uses the word (they), not us or we, (they) meaning those that are Not saved in the Churches of Galatia.
As believers we SHOULD be living good lives after we have been saved but if u think adding that to the gospel is the key to salvation, then that is a false gospel. Backloading works into the gospel is heresy. You are saved by grace. Believe in Jesus only.
Here's the problem. This video only comforts the self righteous who are oblivious of their own sin. Jesus says to even look with lust is adultery. You don't even have to do it. All of us screw up. All of us sin. There are none who do good, none who are righteous. This is what scripture clearly says. We all struggle and fail in many ways. If our confidence before God comes from how good we are doing, then none of us should have any hope or assurance. Because we all sin and fall short. The people who don't see this, are the ones who should really be worried.
I appreciate Mike's honest and humble approach. I have enjoyed his videos for several years. I also noticed in this passage a clear distinction between the groups: 1. The group defined by sin 2. The Ephesians who Paul is assuming to be saved. Even though this passage may be a reasonable guideline for a person to take inventory for their own life, it seems that it's not intended to be used as the end all be all of how to make a final determination on a persons eternal salvation. The "fuzzy area" analogy is spot on! So real and honest. As Paul says "every man will give an account of himself to God."
he says the same thing in other books though like 2corrinthians7:10 or
2 corrinthians6:9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous2 will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality,3 10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.
@@Masowe. I'm unsure what your point is or meaning. I would apply my comment to those other passages as well.
Unfortunately the reasons he cannot unfuzzy those 2 groups is also revealed in his interpretation of James 2. He's also confused on conditional vs OSAS.
James 2:24 is clear that one is not justified by faith alone.
1 Timothy 5:11-12 is clear that one who had faith can later abandon it and incur condemnation.
@@christsavesreadromans1096 Yeah James 2:24 can throw people for a loop. Can you kindly show me how you understand Romans 4:5 in light of your understanding of James 2:24?
@@elunico13 Romans 4:5 and Ephesians 2:8-9 are likely speaking about original justification, by grace through faith. This means if one is saved they can’t brag that it’s because of what they’ve done, anyone who is saved is saved because it’s a gift of God.
After being saved, this salvation needs to be retained through abiding in Christ (John 15:1-2), repentance of sins (Galatians 5:19-21), and works (Matthew 25:31-46).
So the origin of your salvation is not of your own doing, but one is required to abide in Christ and put to death the deeds of the flesh to retain eternal life which they’ve received as a gift (that they don’t deserve), as the believer who lives in the flesh will die (the second death; hell)
Romans 8:13;
“For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
Here Paul clearly and explicitly wrote to the Church of Rome, who were baptized believers, that they will die if they continue living in the flesh; clearly such a view is incompatible with once saved always saved and saved by faith alone, as if your faith doesn’t lead you to repentance then it’s dead.
Only when there is grace, do works justify.
@@christsavesreadromans1096 Thank you for writing out the explanation 🙏
@@christsavesreadromans1096 You stated saved people can't brag about their original justification, but can they brag about their salvation from their works that made them justified in the end?
Love this! The wheat and the tares grow up together. The Lord sorts it out❤🙌🙏✝️
Winger? A person who “claims to be a Christian but really is not saved”?? That’s probably because we “tell them” to “say” Jesus come into my heart, Jesus save me, and to confess Jesus and believe in your heart. Many think they are saved because we tell them if they will believe and say it they are saved.
Here is a challenge Winger. Increase your Faith right now! Love the Lord more right now! Believe in Jesus more in your heart right now.
My guess is you can’t… but let Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Peter, Paul or a friend Lift up Word Jesus to you and Faith and Love will come alive in your heart if you don’t reject His Word.
The Power to Save a Person is in the Gospel. Not in a statement. But a person who Really Believes WILL Confess Jesus as Lord.
Do you really Believe? Has the Gospel done it’s Work in your heart? Has the Gospel convinced you? Has the Word changed your mind and heart? Then you’ll want to say Jesus is Lord. Not for your Salvation but because you know He Saved you and desire to Confess Him as such.
That person may be tempted to sin but will always confess sin as sin and will never stop trying to walk in obedience to The Spirit of Christ, yes The Holy Spirit within them.
Those that walk in the Flesh will justify their sin, reject the Word and explain it away.
A real Christian may be tempted to cheat, but will Always Confess it as wrong and will not be able to continue in it. Their Love for the Lord will not let them.
The "fuzzy scary sin zone" is the reason your view on "genuine faith" is just off. This is the issue with back-loading works onto salvation. Romans 4:5 is clear, Romans 6:1, James 2 is also clear when understood in context of what the rest of the Bible teaches on salvation. We obviously should be doing good works and stop sinning, but because we are a mixture of good and bad behavior we can't truly know if we are saved (if it wasn't fully by grace through faith). This is why works play no part. There are no works required before or after receiving the gift of salvation. Nobody but you and God can truly know if you are saved. James 2 is justification before man, not before God, and Romans 4 clears up confusion between the two because they both directly reference Abraham.
"If you really accepted my gift, you would pay me for it"
Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment. (James 3:1)