Edited last January 2 ,2012
This is written for an unusual target audience. There are millions of church going believers who really are confused and conflicted on central issues of the faith. Issue 1: Are you really saved? You may say "Yes" but you may not be sure because of the legal requirements of the group you joined. Issue 2: When do I receive my salvation? When I believe or when I die after a trial to determine if I did all the right things like baptism, repentance ,lived in obedience, confession , "born again", absolution from the priesthood,tithed,lived sinless and on and on. Did you observe the sabath? was your "church" attendance acceptable to God? By the way, you did not do this guilt trip on your own. You were constantly "coached" into these ambiguities by the institutional "Church" to better control their flock and to extract attendance and money.
So it is you that I seek to give peace and comfort. You may not agree with many of my observations but my goal is that "at the end of the day" you will love God more and love yourself more. If you are a "professional Christian", you will absolutely hate this.
Antinomianism is the polar opposite of legalism, the notion that obedience to a code of religious law earns salvation. Wikipedia.
I do not let a chartered religious institution define my
relationship with God or Christ by their rules or my attendance to their building. I am saved from all sins by the sacrifice of Jesus and belief in him as the Son of God.When I say "belief" constantly and throughout this discussion super impose the word and concept of FAITH!!(Remember that) By the way, for those not fully confident that salvation is free and we must live "sin free", please define "sin" for me in such a way as we may then make a full list of sins of commission and omission and live my life accordingly. You will bog down in a sea of ambiguity. For example ,"Thou shalt not kill" .Does this apply in self defense? War? Accident?
Thou shalt not bear false witness? How many lies do you tell each day? "I'm fine, thank you " when your not. "I'll get right on it!" (when you won't). How about stealing? Oh,well ,you get my drift. Why did Christ come? Because all are sinner and fall short of the glory of God.
While Christ was on Earth he was quoted as saying in Matthew 5: 20 and after ...
20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 21 "You have heard that it was said to the men of old,
'You shall not kill; and whoever kills shall be liable to judgment.' 22 But I say to you that every one who is angry with his brother shall be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother shall be liable to the council, and whoever says, 'You fool!' shall be liable to the hell of fire. 23”
That was true because we could not reach "righteousness" prior to His sacrifice and atonement on the cross.
I went to a Sunday school class onetime where the "teacher" quoted this passage for how we MUST"live today, "according to Christ Himself'” .This type of blasphemous lie is done to extort building funds from sheeple to obtain salvation. I left and did
not return. Of course, Christ died for our sins ,all of our sins, and this is imputed righteousness.
Romans 8:1 and after
“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do: sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the just requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
8For it is by free grace (God's unmerited favor) that you are saved (delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ's salvation) through [your] faith.
And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [of your own doing, it came not through your own striving], but itis the gift of God;(Ephesians 8)
Christ himself says this in Mark 3:28. Do you think he meant it?
28'I tell you the truth, all the sins and blasphemies of
men will be forgiven them." (Notice the future tense.)
At the time he spoke these words, all men were condemned by imputed sin of Adam just as they are now not condemned by
imputed righteous for those who accept HIM.
imputed righteous for those who accept HIM.
He is reported again as saying the same thing in Matthew.
Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not beforgiven unto men”. 12:31
“Blasphemy” is a level of absolute belief in the reality of God and a rejection of Him in fact.
And what is the condition for this absolute forgiveness?
And what must we do to reach "imputed righteousness"?
Legalism is condemned by Paul in the book of colossians !!
You will see how all the "obedience" Rule teaching is misguided and from the Old Testament.
Christ died for our sins!! These rules are imposed to control the flock for the benefit of the Sheppard but these rules died on the Cross and "it is finished".
Legalism is condemned by Paul in the book of colossians !!
You will see how all the "obedience" Rule teaching is misguided and from the Old Testament.
Colossians 2:16-23
New International Version (NIV)
Freedom From Human Rules
16 Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. 17 These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ. 18 Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you. Such a person also goes into great detail about what they have seen; they are puffed up with idle notions by their unspiritual mind. 19 They have lost connection with the head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow. 20 Since you died with Christ to the elemental spiritual forces of this world, why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its rules: 21 “Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!”? 22 These rules, which have to do with things that are all destined to perish with use, are based on merely human commands and teachings. 23 Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value..."Christ died for our sins!! These rules are imposed to control the flock for the benefit of the Sheppard but these rules died on the Cross and "it is finished".
