I BELIEVE
The article that I want to write today is about faith or belief. Why about faith? Because the apostle Paul says that if we have faith, we will be saved. Here is what Paul wrote, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; [it is] the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” Ephesian 2:8-9. In other words the apostle Paul says that faith alone is sufficient for us to be saved. We have to do nothing more. The first question that I have is did Jesus say that? Where in the Bible does it say that faith alone is sufficient to save us? I don't think what he wrote was inspired by the Holy Spirit. Why? Because what he wrote contradicts Jesus' words. I think when Paul wrote Ephesians 2:8-9 he was thinking about the one thief on the cross that Jesus saved. “Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, "If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us." But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, "Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? "And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong." Then he said to Jesus, "Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom." And Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise." Luke 23:39-43. Paul draws expansive conclusions based on insufficient evidence that the thief was saved even though he did nothing. This is called the Hasty Generalization Fallacy of logic. This is a common logical fallacy. And we have made a serious error when our faith is based on Logical Fallacies. Why did I say that? Because there may be a dozen other reasons why Jesus saved the one thief and not the other. And we don’t know for sure what they were, do we? One thing that I know for sure is when Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do." Luke 23:34. Jesus was referring to those who were involved in determining His fate on the cross. Jesus has forgiven them all, period.
And so, Brothers and Sisters, be careful when we make decisions based on the Fallacy of Logic of the apostle Paul. And here’s why.
"Not everyone who says to Me, `Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. "Many will say to Me on that day, `Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'” Matthew 7:21-23. Jesus sends these men/women of great faith straight to hell. No detour. And no grace. Why? Because they did not do what God wants them to do. They did not follow the law. They did not keep His commandments. Jesus called them Lawlessness Practitioners.
"Not everyone who says to Me, `Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. "Many will say to Me on that day, `Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'” Matthew 7:21-23. Jesus sends these men/women of great faith straight to hell. No detour. And no grace. Why? Because they did not do what God wants them to do. They did not follow the law. They did not keep His commandments. Jesus called them Lawlessness Practitioners.
When we abolished all of God's commandments, how can we know what His commandments are that we should keep?
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