How can we know that we are born again ?

[Lou Newton]

I have attended many churches and forums over almost 40 years. I was surprised every place to find many of those who seemed to be very committed Christians, revealed over time that they were not trusting in the blood of Jesus ALONE, but trusting in their works to save them.

I have also seen many committed professing Christians confess that they were sinners, but now did not sin much. I was at a house group meeting and heard the pastor confess that he did not think he had sinned yet that day. It was 10PM, but that is immaterial. For no mere man has ever done anything, or thought anything without sinning.

Some even read this scripture and justify that they no longer sin after they became Christians:

⁸ If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. ⁹ If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. ¹⁰ If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.

If we claim to be without sin - John is talking to Christians here. This is NOT past tense, but it is present tense. Anytime we claim to be without sin:
we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us

But instead: If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

Anything God repeats the second time in the same passage is there because so many error in this way. But God repeats this again:

If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us

This does not say: if we claim we have never sinned ( or past tense)

But it says: If we claim we have not sinned ( present tense )

Any second of any day I claim to without sin, I am calling God a liar and His word is not in me.

We are all born into sin. Our flesh is sinful, or selfish. We fear death and try to hang onto our life.

We have to give up our life to Jesus, and He then enters our spirit and we are born again in the spirit.

How do we know if we are born again ?

Well Jesus makes this promise to us:

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

Notice that it does not say: if we confessed our sins - which would be past tense.

But it says - If we confess our sins - which is present tense.

So as long as we confess our sins, in every present moment, Jesus promises:

he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

As long as we are confessing we are sinners, and keep on confessing we are sinners, Jesus forgives us and cleanses us from all sin.

There is only one condition to being saved. That is to trust Jesus, and nothing else to save you.

If one trusts also in their works, then Jesus can not save them.

The 7th day Adventist preach that one has to confess every single sin in their entire life or they will not be saved. Of course they are a cult. They also preach that one has to be a member of their church to be saved, and one has to worship on Saturday to be saved.

( I told one man who was a 7th DA, that I am good because I worship on every day of the week ) Certainly no one is forbidden to worship on Sunday or any other day. Even 7thDA go to church on Wednesday too.

But how can any person even be aware of every single sin they commit. I would say they must think their sins are of small number to believe as they do.

But they are correct, we do have to confess every sin we commit. But how can one do that.

There is one and only one way to do that.

That is to be aware that God tells us that our most righteous deed is filthy rags ( or toilet paper)

If our most righteous deed if filthy, what are our worse deeds.

When we confess that ALL of our deeds are sinful, that is every single deed and thought we have had, and have, and will have, is sinful, then we have confessed every single sin we have ever committed.

When a person confesses this to the Lord Jesus, they can know they are saved.

Grace to you

Lou Newton

[Lou Newton]

Is being born again and the baptism of the Holy Spirit the same ?

Many say that one must be born again and then being baptized in the Holy Spirit is a separate event.

But I noticed this scripture on my kitchen wall above my sink this morning:

John 1:¹² But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

I will give this in context also:

¹¹ He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
¹²But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
¹³ Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

But as many as received him - This does not mean that as many that received them into their home made of wood, stone or bricks. For many invited Jesus to dine with them and then mocked him while he was in their home.

But we must receive Jesus into the home where our spirit dwells.

¹³ Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

Our flesh is born of the will of our earthly fathers and mothers. But God makes it very clear, so no one will have an excuse, that He is not taking about the flesh. God also makes it very clear that this is NOT of the will of any man, but only of the will of God.

No man can decide to receive Jesus into his spirit. This is by the will of God.

So we must receive The Holy Spirit of The Lord Jesus into our spirit to be born again.

We are born first of the flesh, and then we are born again of the spirit.

Jesus reveals how this takes place the day He raised Himself from the dead.

John 20
²² And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:

John 1:¹² But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

So how do we receive Him ?

We confess our sins to Him and then he will purify us from all sin by His blood. Then we receive The Holy Spirit of The Lord Jesus into our spirit and we are born of the spirit.

Grace to you
Lou Newton

[Blane]

I have attended many churches and forums over almost 40 years. I was surprised every place to find many of those who seemed to be very committed Christians, revealed over time that they were not trusting in the blood of Jesus ALONE, but trusting in their works to save them.

I have also seen many committed professing Christians confess that they were sinners, but now did not sin much. I was at a house group meeting and heard the pastor confess that he did not think he had sinned yet that day. It was 10PM, but that is immaterial. For no mere man has ever done anything, or thought anything without sinning.

Some even read this scripture and justify that they no longer sin after they became Christians:

⁸ If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. ⁹ If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. ¹⁰ If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.

If we claim to be without sin - John is talking to Christians here. This is NOT past tense, but it is present tense. Anytime we claim to be without sin:
we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us

But instead: If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

Anything God repeats the second time in the same passage is there because so many error in this way. But God repeats this again:

If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us

This does not say: if we claim we have never sinned ( or past tense)

But it says: If we claim we have not sinned ( present tense )

Any second of any day I claim to without sin, I am calling God a liar and His word is not in me.

We are all born into sin. Our flesh is sinful, or selfish. We fear death and try to hang onto our life.

We have to give up our life to Jesus, and He then enters our spirit and we are born again in the spirit.

How do we know if we are born again ?

Well Jesus makes this promise to us:

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

Notice that it does not say: if we confessed our sins - which would be past tense.

But it says - If we confess our sins - which is present tense.

So as long as we confess our sins, in every present moment, Jesus promises:

he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

As long as we are confessing we are sinners, and keep on confessing we are sinners, Jesus forgives us and cleanses us from all sin.

There is only one condition to being saved. That is to trust Jesus, and nothing else to save you.

If one trusts also in their works, then Jesus can not save them.

The 7th day Adventist preach that one has to confess every single sin in their entire life or they will not be saved. Of course they are a cult. They also preach that one has to be a member of their church to be saved, and one has to worship on Saturday to be saved.

( I told one man who was a 7th DA, that I am good because I worship on every day of the week ) Certainly no one is forbidden to worship on Sunday or any other day. Even 7thDA go to church on Wednesday too.

But how can any person even be aware of every single sin they commit. I would say they must think their sins are of small number to believe as they do.

But they are correct, we do have to confess every sin we commit. But how can one do that.

There is one and only one way to do that.

That is to be aware that God tells us that our most righteous deed is filthy rags ( or toilet paper)

If our most righteous deed if filthy, what are our worse deeds.

When we confess that ALL of our deeds are sinful, that is every single deed and thought we have had, and have, and will have, is sinful, then we have confessed every single sin we have ever committed.

When a person confesses this to the Lord Jesus, they can know they are saved.

Grace to you

Lou Newton

Lou, I can't think of a better thread topic. I'm looking forward to learning what the Holy Spirit might share on this thread. This is a topic that has been near my heart for several years now. One of the biggest burdens on my heart is that the tares may far outnumber the wheat in the church world.

Blane

[Lou Newton]

Lou, I can't think of a better thread topic. I'm looking forward to learning what the Holy Spirit might share on this thread. This is a topic that has been near my heart for several years now. One of the biggest burdens on my heart is that the tares may far outnumber the wheat in the church world.

Blane

This scripture would seem to indicate that there are few that trust in Jesus alone and many that are deceived.

¹³ Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
¹⁴ Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

[Steve Hollander]

Thank you brother for reminding us of what is important. I need to hear it all the time. ...... Steve

[Lou Newton]

Thank you brother for reminding us of what is important. I need to hear it all the time. ...... Steve

Thank you brother for your reply and encouragement..................all honor and praise to the One who shed His blood for you and me.

[Baruch]

As you astutely point out, Lou, the test is simple. We are born again when we put our trust in the finished work of Jesus Christ--His blood shed on the cross for our sins--and we receive His Spirit.

Lay hold on the simplicity that is in Christ and move not away from it. Even as we grow and step out, move not away from it. Never, ever. (2Co 11:3; Rev 2:5)

A rich prayer life, and studying scriptures, and works born of faith are essential, but first must come the seed that is born of God: His Spirit. We must receive Him, and abide in Him. Abide means to remain, dwell, keep an abode, continue, stand, tarry, endure.

It is such a simple concept anyone can grasp it.

So how can one who has received His Spirit lack confidence, to the point where doubt is an oppressive shadow and a constant companion? I struggled with it for a season, and I see others struggling and frustrated.

Perhaps it is because of self, when self accepts the finished work of Christ, but then wants to build the house in proximity of, but not upon the foundation of Christ.

If so, then one must return to the simplicity that is in Christ. Start that house on the sure foundation--His finished work--and study the instructions for building a house that will stand, and the tests and proofs that provide the confidence to edify one's faith. These are one's works born of faith, born of the Spirit, and one's abode is in Christ.

In fact, one probably must return to this simplicity over and over. Like when you start building that deck or garage or play room and one day you realize it has crept off the foundation. It may be nearby, but it won't stand against the rain and the wind. Abandon that work, get back to the one that will stand eternally.

We are creatures governed by time, by cause and effect, by beginnings and steps and milestones. The enemy and his world teach us many time-based lies that found and reinforce unbelief, and deceive us into thinking we can know the future. We gotta break out of the temporal paradigm and "see" into and "move" and "dwell" in the spiritual, the eternal: hid in God with Christ. Jesus is the beginning and He is the end, He is eternal.

I love this. Pay particular attention to the recursion in this verse:

1Jn 5:13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

God plants the seed, He waters it, and gives the increase. This takes place when we abide in the simplicity that is in Christ Jesus.

[Lou Newton]

As you astutely point out, Lou, the test is simple. We are born again when we put our trust in the finished work of Jesus Christ--His blood shed on the cross for our sins--and we receive His Spirit.

Lay hold on the simplicity that is in Christ and move not away from it. Even as we grow and step out, move not away from it. Never, ever. (2Co 11:3; Rev 2:5)

A rich prayer life, and studying scriptures, and works born of faith are essential, but first must come the seed that is born of God: His Spirit. We must receive Him, and abide in Him. Abide means to remain, dwell, keep an abode, continue, stand, tarry, endure.

It is such a simple concept anyone can grasp it.

So how can one who has received His Spirit lack confidence, to the point where doubt is an oppressive shadow and a constant companion? I struggled with it for a season, and I see others struggling and frustrated.

Perhaps it is because of self, when self accepts the finished work of Christ, but then wants to build the house in proximity of, but not upon the foundation of Christ.

If so, then one must return to the simplicity that is in Christ. Start that house on the sure foundation--His finished work--and study the instructions for building a house that will stand, and the tests and proofs that provide the confidence to edify one's faith. These are one's works born of faith, born of the Spirit, and one's abode is in Christ.

In fact, one probably must return to this simplicity over and over. Like when you start building that deck or garage or play room and one day you realize it has crept off the foundation. It may be nearby, but it won't stand against the rain and the wind. Abandon that work, get back to the one that will stand eternally.

We are creatures governed by time, by cause and effect, by beginnings and steps and milestones. The enemy and his world teach us many time-based lies that found and reinforce unbelief, and deceive us into thinking we can know the future. We gotta break out of the temporal paradigm and "see" into and "move" and "dwell" in the spiritual, the eternal: hid in God with Christ. Jesus is the beginning and He is the end, He is eternal.

I love this. Pay particular attention to the recursion in this verse:

1Jn 5:13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

God plants the seed, He waters it, and gives the increase. This takes place when we abide in the simplicity that is in Christ Jesus.

Amen and amen Barry........................Lou

[Lou Newton]

The sheep and the goats

When Jesus returns he will gather His sheep, but He will tell the goats that he never knew them.


Matthew 25

The Sheep and the Goats³¹ “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. ³² All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. ³³ He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
³⁴ “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. ³⁵ For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, ³⁶ I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
³⁷ “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? ³⁸ When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? ³⁹ When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
⁴⁰ “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
⁴¹“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. ⁴² For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, ⁴³ I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’
⁴⁴ “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’
⁴⁵ “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’
⁴⁶ “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”

This is a very simple lesson here:

The sheep ask WHEN DID WE SERVE JESUS

The goats ask - WHEN DID WE NOT SERVE JESUS

The Pharisees were very confident that they were going to heaven.

The disciples were not so sure.

WHY ?

Because the Pharisees were not aware of their sinfulness, and thought they were righteous.

The disciples were aware of their sin and so knew they were not righteous. ( I am speaking of after they received the Holy Spirit).

Are you sometimes worried that you are not saved - that may be a good sign that you are one of the sheep.

Many give the poor food, and visit those in jail; but are sill goats. They are not giving to the poor at all. They are building up good works for themselves. So instead of giving they are taking. You know when they minister to you. You feel as though you are less than them. You do not feel loved, but you feel as though you are the scum of the earth. Why, that is how they look upon you.

They misunderstand the words of Jesus. They think EVEN the poor and the sick can enter heaven if they help them.

But it is ONLY THE POOR AND THE SICK THAT CAN ENTER HEAVEN.

These goats do not see themselves as poor and sick. They see themselves as the rich and strong that were sent to the poor and weak.

It is the other way around. Jesus sends the poor and weak to preach to the rich and strong. If the rich and strong then see their weakness and their poverty, they can also be saved.

Read the 7 letters to the 7 churches and see which ones were commended and which were told that if they did not repent they would be lost forever.

Grace to you
Lou Newton

[Blane]

When Jesus returns he will gather His sheep, but He will tell the goats that he never knew them.


Matthew 25

³¹ “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. ³² All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. ³³ He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
³⁴ “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. ³⁵ For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, ³⁶ I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
³⁷ “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? ³⁸ When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? ³⁹ When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
⁴⁰ “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
⁴¹“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. ⁴² For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, ⁴³ I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’
⁴⁴ “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’
⁴⁵ “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’
⁴⁶ “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”

This is a very simple lesson here:

The sheep ask WHEN DID WE SERVE JESUS

The goats ask - WHEN DID WE NOT SERVE JESUS

The Pharisees were very confident that they were going to heaven.

The disciples were not so sure.

WHY ?

Because the Pharisees were not aware of their sinfulness, and thought they were righteous.

The disciples were aware of their sin and so knew they were not righteous. ( I am speaking of after they received the Holy Spirit).

Are you sometimes worried that you are not saved - that may be a good sign that you are one of the sheep.

Many give the poor food, and visit those in jail; but are sill goats. They are not giving to the poor at all. They are building up good works for themselves. So instead of giving they are taking. You know when they minister to you. You feel as though you are less than them. You do not feel loved, but you feel as though you are the scum of the earth. Why, that is how they look upon you.

They misunderstand the words of Jesus. They think EVEN the poor and the sick can enter heaven if they help them.

But it is ONLY THE POOR AND THE SICK THAT CAN ENTER HEAVEN.

These goats do not see themselves as poor and sick. They see themselves as the rich and strong that were sent to the poor and weak.

It is the other way around. Jesus sends the poor and weak to preach to the rich and strong. If the rich and strong then see their weakness and their poverty, they can also be saved.

Read the 7 letters to the 7 churches and see which ones were commended and which were told that if they did not repent they would be lost forever.

Grace to you
Lou Newton

Wonderful post Lou. This post reminds me of an article you once wrote on another forum, entitled "Daniel's Gloves." In that article (testimony?), it was revealed that a drifter in town named Daniel ministered deeply to a very strong believer by just humbly walking with God, as an everyday affair.

Blane

[Lou Newton]

Blessed are the poor in spirit

Matthew 5 New International Version (NIV)Introduction to the Sermon on the Mount

5 Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, ² and he began to teach them.
The Beatitudes

He said:
³ “Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
⁴ Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
⁵ Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
⁶ Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
⁷ Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
⁸ Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
⁹ Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
¹⁰ Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

¹¹ “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. ¹² Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

³ “Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Jesus tells us here that the poor in spirit are given the kingdom of heaven.

Isn't that what we become aware of when we confess our sins to The Lord. Our spirit is poor, but His Spirit is rich.

When we are first born again, and we have not come to know Jesus well, we chose to walk in the flesh often. When we do this we are not being aware of how poor in spirit we are. But when we are reminded of how poor our spirit is and how rich His Spirit is we repent all over again.

⁴Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.

When we see our sin, we mourn over it. When we see the sin of others, we also mourn over their sin. Those who do, will be comforted by the forgiveness and hope of The Holy Spirit of The Lord Jesus.

⁵ Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.

When we see our sin, it makes us humble. When we come to know our Lord, it gives us hope in Him. We come to know that Jesus is The Lord of all lords and King of all Kings. This leads us to become more meek. Notice His promise is future tense. We will inherit the earth when Jesus returns.

⁶ Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.

When we see our sin and the Righteousness of our Lord, we desire to be like Him. We are filled with hunger for His Righteousness. His promise is that this hunger WILL BE FILLED. That is future tense. We will see ourselves having victory over some sins, but as we mature we also become more aware of our sins. But when Jesus returns He will give us new bodies and we will no longer live in the flesh, which is sinful.

⁷ Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.

Those that have confessed their sin ( the whole thing, that everything we do is filthy rags) are shown mercy. Those that have received mercy, show mercy to others.

Those that confess little of their sin are shown a little mercy and have little mercy for others. Those that confess all of their sin ( which is much sin) are shown much mercy and show much mercy to others.

⁸ Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.

Those that confess their sin and are born again, receive His Holy Spirit. From this time on, their spirit always wants to obey God. Their inner most being ( their spirit ) has become pure. It is not pure of their own will or righteousness; but it is made pure by the presence of the Holy Spirit of The Lord Jesus.

⁹ Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.

Jesus was a Peacemaker. We were all in rebellion against God and at war with Him. Jesus has brought us back to be at peace with God. Jesus is The Peacemaker. We become peacemakers by letting the mercy and grace of God shine from our lives. We become peacemakers by leading others to the Peacemaker.

¹⁰ Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

If we follow Jesus we will be persecuted for righteousness. Our Righteousness is not of ourselves. But Jesus is our Righteousness. He is the One and Only One who is Righteous. He covers us with his blood and we are then righteous by His Blood, but not by ANYTHING we have done. No one can cover themselves with His blood or no one can cover anyone else with his blood. Jesus is the only ONE who can cover anyone with His blood.

A mere man can cover an altar or a person with natural blood ( I have seen mere men arrogant enough to claim they were covering others with the blood of Jesus ) . But no man can produce one drop of the blood of Jesus. The only One who can cover with the blood of Jesus is The ONE who shed the blood.

When we walk in His Righteousness, we will be persecuted. We are not persecuted for anything we have done, or are doing. For we can do nothing righteous. But we are persecuted for trusting in The Lord Jesus Christ, and trusting in His Righteousness, AND NOT OURS.

WE ARE PERSECUTED FOR HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS NOT OURS

That is the only thing that can save us, so Satan tries to persecute us so we will stop trusting in His blood. Satan will try to get people to trust in ANYTHING, except The Lord Jesus Christ.

Satan cares not if one trusts in baptism, circumcision, joining a church, praying a prayer, trusting in the fact that they have faith, following the laws of God, or even following The Holy Scriptures. Because none of those created things can save. Only The Creator can save.

Or as The Lord writes in His Holy Scriptures in Romans:

¹⁴ For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children God.



Yes;

¹¹ “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.¹² Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Grace to you
Lou Newton

[Blane]

Those that have confessed their sin ( the whole thing, that everything we do is filthy rags) are shown mercy. Those that have received mercy, show mercy to others.

Those that confess little of their sin are shown a little mercy and have little mercy for others. Those that confess all of their sin ( which is much sin) are shown much mercy and show much mercy to others.

So true. Like so many spiritual truths, this one seems to be progressive in it's application. That is, the more we humble ourselves and grow in our faith, the more God pours out grace and opens our understanding. It is by grace that God enables us to go deeper in our walk with Him. Humility is critical if we are to grow in grace and a knowledge of the Lord.

Blane

[Lou Newton]

[B]

So true. Like so many spiritual truths, this one seems to be progressive in it's application. That is, the more we humble ourselves and grow in our faith, the more God pours out grace and opens our understanding. It is by grace that God enables us to go deeper in our walk with Him. Humility is critical if we are to grow in grace and a knowledge of the Lord.

Blane

Amen Blane. Thanks for the reply. Good addition.

So much more could be said about each thing Jesus says in this sermon. I was hoping some would add to what I started.