The fruit of righteousness. Grace that "works in"...brings obedience that "works out".

The power of God's Grace is not a progressive work as many people think. Saving Grace is the power of Salvation which is the outflow of Calvary within the human soul. The effect of Calvary upon the believer in Christ... "morally changes the human soul". The corrupt and unholy heart is made clean. Holiness begins when the heart is made clean by the Grace of God. Salvation is a complete work performed by God's Grace. The fruit of Salvation is the morally changed heart and life of a sinner to state of becoming... a child of God.

When the Bible says, "Work out your Salvation with fear and trembling" it doesn't mean to gradually get closer to God. It means to work out what God already "worked within you".

Phil 2:12-13...as ye have always "obeyed", not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

Notice the language of the scripture. Paul commended the Phillipian church because they "always obeyed". What caused these believer's in Christ, to obey God? God had already performed the work of Salvation within those hearts and lives. The Phillipian Church was saved. They were filled with the fruits of righteousness. Paul was confident of this, because he knew what God had already given them. He knew Divine Grace that flowed from Calvary was enough to sustain these believers, all the way through life...until the day of Christ's return.

Phil 1:6...Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

Phil 1:10-11...That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ; Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.

You can be filled with the fruits of righteousness in this life. You can obey God every day of your existence. You can have assurance and confidence that Salvation is the beginning of the new heart and new life. This is the blessing of Salvation and obedience to God. This is the new heart and the new life the Bible teaches about.  This is obedience to God that the world doesn't have or know about. You can live victorious! You can have contentment found in the holy life! You can walk and live with obedience to God every day of your existence in Christ! Be blessed by the power of God's Grace! This is what the Bible teaches! Read it closely! Meditate on it! Glory!

The walk

The walk of a Christian is a walk of obedience to God. Reason? Empowered with the Holy Spirit. Reason? The Grace of God keeps the Holy Spirit present in your life.

In times past you didn't walk with God. Reason? You didn't have Christ or personal redemption from sin. Ephesians 2:2

After Christ came in you could walk worthy in the eyes of God. Reason? You were called by God and you accepted Christ as your personal Lord and Savior. Ephesians 4:1

The old life has nothing to offer. It is empty, void, and hollow. That old life of vanity can be tossed into the sea of forgetfulness when Christ takes over. Ephesians 4:17

After the Spirit of Christ came in actions were changed. Conduct was changed. A new behavior began. Eyes on Christ as personal Savior and redeemer. The character within the soul found peace. Love for mankind and fellow man is produced within. Christians imitate God in love because they are "begotten" of God. Love and unity are produced by the Grace of God that keeps the Holy Spirit present. Love and unity are characteristics of the Christian walk and Christian manner of life. Ephesians 5:1,2

Christians live an obedient life. They walk the walk so they can talk the talk for Jesus. No longer are believers in darkness...they are children of light who walk in the light. Ephesians 5:3

Paying attention to Spiritual things and being cautious before acting is the walk of a believer in Christ. Believers in Christ look before they leap. Ephesians 5:15

Anyone can walk this walk with Christ and find victory every day of their lives. What a beautiful life! The sacred theme of the New Testament.

Staying conscious to Christ

Faith can see Christ without eyes.

Recognition understands who Christ is.

The moral change of heart in Salvation brings realization and consciousness to the presence of a living Christ.

Consent to the person of Christ is a matter of personal trust. In order for fallen man to give consent to God - the will and rebellious nature of fallen man must be broken by the power of the Holy Ghost.

Obedience to Christ is outflow of the power of Calvary in the believing soul.

Staying conscious to Christ is an act of faith.

Staying conscious to Christ is forsaking sin.

Staying conscious to Christ is knowing every sin is forgiven.

Staying conscious to Christ is minding the Spirit.

Honor God

You're equipped by God to do right and live right. Right came down from Heaven in the person of Christ.Today right flows from the person of an exalted Christ who is back in Heaven.

Righteousness gives the believing heart the ability to honor God. Righteousness is enough power to keep you from dishonoring God. You're equipped with a God-given righteousness.

Righteousness flows from our Savior and flows into the soul. Morally the believer has the power to honor God in everyday life.

Christians honor God in everyday life. What a blessing! You're equipped! Bless God and bless people...with the same blessing God blessed you with. Be a witness for Christ.Tell others about the blessing of God's righteousness that gives you the power and strength to bring honor to God.

Christian obedience...can Christian's "always" obey God?

Yes! here's why...

Obedience is the outflow (effectiveness) of Calvary in the heart and life of a believer. This effectiveness is not something that just happened for all men 2010 years ago that should be taken for granted! Nor is this effectiveness something that covers all believers in their future life until they die. The effectiveness of Calvary is a "present tense" effectiveness that produces holiness of character and obedience in the conduct of a believer in Christ. The moral character of a believer in Christ is changed by the outflow of Calvary within that human soul. Obedience is produced in the heart of a believer...by the Grace of God! Obedience is shown in the believers life and conduct toward God. That's why Christians can be in right standing with God every day of their lives...in this present world. No matter what conditions in life they face or experience. Notice the language of the Epistles...

Col 1:22...to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:

Col 1:10... That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work

Heb 13:21...Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ

Unreprovable in his sight. Doing everything pleasing in the sight of God. Yes, Christians can be "full time" obedient to God. How? Christ forms within the character and makeup of believer in Christ. Christ morally changes human behavior and the human character. Notice what Paul professed in the following verse.

1 Thess 2:10...Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe:

Notice the behavior and conduct of this believer! Notice the example! Obedience... that Paul speaks of in the New Testament writings is the product of the Grace of God that all men need! Paul knew this. Paul taught this! I teach it too! This life changing Grace I speak of can only be found in the person of Christ! Sinful men no matter how talented they are, or how able they are, cannot achieve or advance toward this obedience of character I write about in this Blog. No matter what... man is not able to morally change himself enough to do things pleasing in the eyes of God. What I mean is the unbelieving soul is without the power of Christ that morally changes their hearts and lives! The present tense effectiveness of Calvary is what I'm conveying and writing about! Man has to be changed by the Divine Grace of God that flows from the effectiveness of Calvary. This effectiveness likewise doesn't cease at Calvary... it also flows from the living Christ in the Throneroom. Glory! God given righteousness is also the very gift of Christ I speak of within this effectiveness. Notice the abundance of Grace mentioned in the following verse...

Rom 5:17...much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ

God given righteousness enables the believer in Christ to be obedient to God because that conscience is freed from the guilt of sin. The soul of the believer in Christ has been pardoned from guilt caused from the sins of the past life. The Grace of God that bringeth Salvation offers power to free man from "guilt" and "condemnation" caused from sin's vast separation from the bliss of Eternity in Heaven. This freedom I speak of... (from the guilt of sin in the human conscience) is only granted to the believer in Christ...through the present tense effectiveness of the outflow of Calvary! You ask, "Why", "why"?" Here's why!

Christ was innocent and without guilt in an unbelieving world! Christ suffered, and was badly beaten, and then crucified for the sins of humanity! Christ was tried 4 times by the Jews and the Romans. They broke their own civil and moral Laws to make Christ guilty enough to be punished in a horrible death by crucifixion...but remember, Christ was innocent! As an innocent man...Christ's death on the Cross and His suffering in a Roman dungeon was the Judgment of God Almighty! Yes, it pleased God Almighty to bruise His Son. Yes, in innocence Jesus was badly beaten and scourged! Yes, in innocence Jesus bore in His body (the punishment) for the sins of humanity! Yes, Calvary was the Judgment of God Almighty! Why Judgment? Why," My God my God why hast thou forsaken me?" Here's a small glimpse of that Divine Judgment!

"So you and I could be made the righteousness of God in Christ!"

2 Cor 5:21...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.

"The effectiveness from the great truth of Calvary; and the effectiveness of this great blessing that flows from Calvary is,"your obedience and "your morally changed heart and life". Obedience to God Almighty is your responsibility and obligation to Christ...as a believer! I speak of full time obedience to God." Unbeliever's can't obey God because they don't have the power of Calvary in their hearts that follows the forgiveness of their sins and their renunciation of sinful conduct. Unbeliever's can't do right in the eyes of God because they don't have the "gift of righteousness" which is the believer's power to do right! The Apostle Paul commended the Philippian Church... because they always obeyed.

Phil 2:12... Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence

Simply put, "Christians can always obey God Almighty". Salvation of the soul gives the believer what's necessary to "always obey!" How can Christians always obey? Here's how! Christian's have the power to do right! Christian's have a Divine Nature! Christian's can walk with victory over sin every day of their lives! Christians obey the authority of Christ's Holy and Righteous presence in their lives. Christians are subject to Christ the head of the Church!

Why do I say this? Why do I teach such truth? God's Word teaches this doctrine. God's Word says so! God's word is the basis of this writer's faith! It is written! It is proven! It's not the opinions of men! It's what the doctrine of the New Testament teaches! What are you going to do with it? It's God's Word and it's His opinion!

GLORY!!!

How does God see the heart of man?

When God looks upon the heart of man from Heaven...He sees two types of man.

One man is a believer in Christ the other man is an unbeliever. A believer is a man who trusts in the death of Christ (alone) for the forgiveness of sins (accepts Christ). The unbeliever (rejects Christ) and has no forgiveness for his sins. God knows those who belong to Him.

2 Tim 2:19...The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.

God’s forgiveness for sin saves the human soul from Hell and damnation. God’s forgiveness for sin also allows the heart of man to be clean and thus provides man with the power to do right. A believer is justified by God's Grace. A believer in Christ “minds” or “obeys’ the Spirit of God. Obedience to God 24-7 is the desire of a Christian.. Forgiveness allows the power of God's Grace (in Salvation) to change the moral make-up of a believer in Christ.

Titus 2:11-12...For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

Here's what God's Word says about the unbeliever...

Rev 21:8...But the fearful, and "unbelieving", and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

Jesus said more about Hell than He did Heaven...

As for children and those who do not know...

Rom 5:13 says...sin is not imputed when there is no law.

Obey from the heart

Rom 6:17-18...But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.

First note they "were" (past tense) servants of sin
Second note they "obeyed" God (present tense)
Third note they were "made free"
Forth note they "became" servants of righteousness

A little Biblical food for thought this Labor Day weekend...Enjoy it in Christ! Get back to the truth of the Bible! Sound Doctrine is the true Gospel Message that brings the lifechanging...Grace of God!

I love you all! God Bless from the Churches on Trial!

Where does "obedience" come from?

Obedience to God is the "outflow of Calvary'' in the heart and soul of a believer in Christ. Obedience is man's subjection of the will - to his Saviour and Redeemer, the one who forgave all the past sins, and removed guilt from the human conscience. Subjection is an act of man's faith; obedience to God is the outflow of this action. The language of the Bible teaches in the Greek text that obedience "springs" from faith...Romans 1:5. You show me a man that truly trusts Christ. I'll show you a man that's obedient to God! Glory!

Man is born with a heart full of disobedience to God. Man is unrighteous by nature. Man from birth is in natural rebellion to Christ and; the truth of God's Word.

The power to "do right" is a God given power to man from God. This power is simply the power of God's amazing Grace. It's the power of God granted to man "when" man believes and trusts in Christ alone for personal forgiveness. God's power flows from Calvary and is granted to the heart of man through belief. Belief causes man to act. The action of a believer in Christ is to do right. Righteousness is a gift of God's Grace. Righteousness produces obedience to God. The Bible teaches that man believeth unto righteousness.

Romans 10:10...with the heart man believeth unto righteousness;

Minding the Spirit of God...

In the midst of learning the Bible, going to Church, and learning relationship with Christ...no Christian must ever forget to mind the the Spirit of God! Minding the Spirit is God given peace in the heart man. It doesn't take knowledge to "mind" the Holy Spirit! Minding is subjection of the human will.

This following excerpt from "Bless your dirty heart" by Brother Lindsey (during his preaching days at Berkeley Campus) will put some light on what the "heart, soul, and will of man" is from a Biblical standpoint.

"One afternoon I was explaining how that out of the heart are the issues of life. Someone fired back, "Hubert, you know the heart just pumps blood." I explained that the biblical term "heart" implies the seat of affections, the soul of man. The Bible used the word "heart" because life is in the blood, and the heart is the seat of all blood life.

Prov 4:23… Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

Man is a complete being -- a soul, spirit, and body. Both God and Devils approach him through the intellect. The soul decides which one is going to take charge of his life. The soul is the seat of affections. With this soul, man can accept or reject, Love or hate, every decision in his life is determined by his soul."

Brother Lindsey taught "holiness of heart and conduct" and this writer teaches that same holiness. The key to holy living is having a clean heart that enables the believer in Christ with a way..to mind the Spirit of God.

Receiving the Spirit of God doesn't require Bible knowledge. Minding the Spirit of God doesn't require Bible knowledge. Subjection to Christ doesn't require Bible knowledge. Minding the Spirit of God is a believers obedience that "springs from his faith". Grace through faith produces a believer's obedience. Obedience produces a way for the believer in Christ to "mind the Holy Spirit". Minding the Holy Spirit simply "confirms the truth of the New Testament records" after the death of Christ.

"Recognizing" the Holy Spirit's presence is one man's of the most blessed experiences. "Obeying" the Holy Spirits presence is where "real life and true Christian living"... begins!