Thursday, July 21, 2011
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Does faith save you, or is it works?
Pastor Bob Grenier explains the truth about what saves a person. It's not dead faith, and it's not demon faith.
Does the Bible say works are important
Yes, it certainly does. But, perhaps not in the way that many people think. Many people think that they are saved by what they do. The Bible is very clear that salvation is not by our works, but rather by and through God's grace, and our faith in Jesus Christ.
But, what part, and what place do works have in our life, and in connection to our faith?
James chapter 2:14-26 really digs into this deeply, and clearly, and explains what God says about works, and their importance.
For example......James asks, "what does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? That's the question. What does that that profit the person saying that they have faith, but they have no works. And, then, James asks, can "faith save him?" Meaning, will a person who says they have faith, but they have no works, are they saved?
So, one thing we know for sure, that a profession of faith without any works attached to that profession, is not profitable. That's the point that James makes as he goes on in chapter 2.
Another way of saying it, or understanding the place of works according to the Bibles's teaching, is that saving faith is a working faith. Or to put it another way, "the faith that saves a man, is not alone. It has works with it".
It might sound like it's all semantic's, but it's not. For James says that even the demons believe, and they tremble. We know that they remain demons, that they are not saved as it were. So, there is a faith, as James is describing that is not going to be of any profit to a person.
And, there is a faith which of course does profit. And, that is the faith that is demonstrated by works.
To sum it all up. Many people falsely believe that their works can save them. And, people can also falsely believe that they can say they are saved, but have no works, but are not profited by that workless profession.
The true understanding, the true balance, the real salvation is one that's faith is shown by it's works.
Lord, You are the greatest worker for our salvation. You actually have worked to save us by sending Jesus. He said, "it is finished" He completed the work of dying on the cross for our sins. Thank You for the faith You have given to us. We love You.
Pastor Bob Grenier
Calvary Chapel Visalia
Application/Promises.
1. God gives every man a measure a faith.
2. He has given you a measure of faith.
3. God is so generous.
4. Faith can be seen in action.
5. Profession without works is dead.
6. Faith with works, now that is saving faith.
7. Not works saving us, but faith shown by it's works.
8. It may sound like a trick, but it's not.
9. Abraham and Rahab are examples of faith shown by works.
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
A little more about mercy, and judgement:
James 2:12 So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty.
James 2:13 For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
These verses have to do with both mercy, and with judgement. We are encouraged to so do and speak as those who will be judged by the law of liberty.
What does this mean? Well, it's clear that overall it means, that while we are here on the earth, that both our actions and words will one day be judged by what is called the law of liberty.
James is saying that one day, we will be judged for the things we have said, and the things we have done. So, we ought to live with that judgement in mind. Or to be personally accountable with regards to our words and actions.
Jesus spoke about this accountability also. Matthew 7:2 “For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.
The other very interesting thing that is said here, is that we don't have to live in fear of the judgment to come if we are living now in a merciful way towards others. On the other hand, there is a warning. That, the person who lives now without mercy towards others, will not be shown any mercy in the future judgment.
But, a person can smile in the face of judgment to come, if now they are living in, and walking in, and showing mercy towards others. It's very interesting, that we never ask God to give us justice for ourselves, but we ask for mercy. But, we may think He should give others justice. Interesting.
At any rate, God is so merciful. He has new mercies every morning. His mercies are eternal. He bestows His mercies on us. Mercy is something we can pray for daily. It's something we need daily.
Oh Merciful God. Have mercy upon us now, and may we walk in mercy now towards people we know, and come in contact with day by day. You have shown us mercy, You have not given us justice, You gave that to Your Son, but to us You have been merciful. Thank You Father.
Pastor Bob Grenier
Calvary Chapel Visalia.
Application/Promises
1. It's by His mercies we are saved.
2. God's appeal to us now, is based on His mercies ( Rom 12: 1 )
3. Why not be merciful towards others?
4. Does God ever run out of mercy?
5. Would He give You mercy today?
6. Shall we not rather be merciful now?
7. I want mercy later from God also.
8. Blessed be the Lord of mercy.
Monday, July 18, 2011
A promise for you from God through Jesus
Jesus spoke frequently about the ministry of the Holy Spirit. God wants to give you His power for daily living.
Promises are given, to be both received and believed in. Here's one of them.
A promise Jesus brought up.......For You.
Luke 24:49 “Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.”
Normally, when Jesus says, "behold", it means, here's something I want you to know about, and pay attention to, it's important. Jesus uses that word, "behold" here. So, let's listen, and learn about this promise today.
This promise included a number of elements.
1. It's something Jesus was personally involved in.
2. Jesus was going to send this promise to the church.
3. This promise was from God the Father.
4 This promise was connected to power for the disciples
5. This power ( ability ) was from on high, or heaven.
This promise was given much earlier by God the Father through the prophet Joel 2:28-31. We know this is the promise Jesus was talking about, because the apostle Peter says the same thing in Acts 2.
The promise essentially, has to do with the Lord pouring out His Spirit upon believers in the last days. ( those days started when Jesus ascended to heaven, and will go on until He comes back to the earth ) So, we are in that time period.
The word power comes from a word meaning "to be able, have power, to be capable, strong and powerful" And, the word power itself means, mighty work, virtue. The greek words is dunamis, from which we get our english word dynamite. So, you can get the idea here of what was being communicated. It's speaking of God giving us strength, power and ability.
Luke 24 story line, is picked up in Acts 1-2, and there you see that indeed Jesus gave this promise to the early church, and then the rest of Acts, shows later members of the church receiving this power also. And then, the letters in the NT speak of this power also. See Colossians 1, and Ephesians 1
The point being, this promise that Jesus brought up is for us today. It's the Lord pouring out His Spirit into our lives, and causing us to be endued with supernatural power from God, to have His strength and ability. So, that we can live for Him, and serve Him, and see His kingdom expanded and built up. It's so the Word of God can grow and spread, and that many disciples would be added to the body of Christ. It's for the purposes of God in our lives.
How do we receive this power? Here's what Jesus said....
Luke 11:9 “So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
Luke 11:10 “For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.
Luke 11:11 “If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish?
Luke 11:12 “Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?
Luke 11:13 “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”
Would you join me in asking God right now? Lord, we are simply asking for this promise in our lives this day. We know Lord that in one sense, a very real sense, the Holy Spirit is already dwelling in us, He came in at salvation, ( 1st Cor 2:12 ) But, this promise is for that further work of Your Spirit, in giving us power. Lord, I do not know anyone, any christian, who does not need Your power in their lives. Thus we ask for Him to come and fill, and to overflow our lives this very hour, in answer to this prayer. In Jesus name. Amen.
Pastor Bob Grenier.
Calvary Chapel Visalia
Application/Promises
1. God gives promises.
2. God never fails to fulfill His promises.
3. God hears and answers prayer.
4. God delights in those who seek Him.
5. God said He would pour out of His Spirit.
6. God is ready to do it today.
7. God, thank You, for Your promise.
8. God I open my heart and life to You now.
9. God, may Your power help me to do Your will.
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