...three fruit...over time...

"Now when we believe the gospel of acceptance grace then three fruit immediately grows through a process that over time produces 3 things:

1. Boldness.
2. Obedience.
3. Humility.

Rejection (or unbelief in) of acceptance grace in Christians produces:

1. Fear of rejection.
2. Drivenness to prove themselves.
3. Comparisons between people.

These are all signs of rejecting acceptance grace."

Rob Rufus - 2008

It is the work of the Holy Spirit!

"Identification with Christ includes the position of death for the old nature, and the position of life for the new nature. It is the work of the Holy Spirit to block self and its sinful works, and to foster the new life and its fruit.

Spiritual growth does not involve effort on the part of the Christian, for the indwelling Spirit transmits the life of the Lord Jesus from source to servant. Neither is there struggle connected with the daily deliverance from the tyranny of self, for the Spirit transmits the finished work of the Cross to that sinful element.

Where these death-dealing and life-giving identification truths are unknown to the believer, he finds no alternative but to try to keep the law as a "rule of life." This erroneous expedient consists of applying the principle of law for the control of conduct—its prohibitions for self, its commands for life.

The Scriptures teach us that the Holy Spirit, "the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus," ministers Christ to the Christian, not law. "For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ" (John 1:17)."

Miles J. Stanford

A more excellent ministry

"Hebrews 8:6, "But now hath He (Jesus) obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also He is the mediator of a "Better Covenant, which was established upon "Better" Promises". The new covenant is Not a covenant of works but rest in his work. By it all the Body of Christ ' is not under of the condemning ministry of the law (2 Cor. 3:9; Rom. 8:1-2 there is no condemnation), since believers are not under the law they are beyond its grasp to condemn.(Rom. 3:19)."

...these two things...

"Feed also upon this by faith, That Christ died not in vain. There is nothing you can desire, nothing that you can pray for, nothing that you can ask for in time, nor enjoy to eternity, but it is contained in this, "Christ died not in vain:" for Christ died to all those blessed purposes that are needful to make them happy for ever that are sharers therein. Whensoever you come to have any dealings in earnest with God about salvation, and your justification, and eternal life, always remember these two things, —

The grace of God, and Christ's death. The law hath nothing to do in this case; it cannot help you whilst you are under it, but condemn you: and if you be believers, the law cannot hurt you, for you shall be absolved; for this is a righteousness without the law, "But witnessed to be the law and the prophets," (Acts 10:43)."

Robert Traill

Two components

"Two components of the gospel of grace that I believe must be understood are acceptance grace and empowering grace. “Acceptance grace” is the unconditional acceptance and love of God the Father as we stand before Him clothed in Christ’s righteousness. It is not achieved; it is simply received. As we confidently draw near to Him, He interacts with us, “baptizing” us in assurance and unlimited acceptance. As we have more understanding of acceptance grace, we realize that there is no disapproval of the Father towards us, no possibility of rejection from the Father. The foundation of our acceptance is not our fluctuating performance but is always the perfect obedience of Jesus Christ on our behalf. That’s acceptance grace and builds into our lives a strong, supernatural sense of security. And, when we embrace the good news of God’s total acceptance based upon the righteousness of Christ, there will be an “empowering grace” upon us. Boldness will naturally flow out of believing the message of God’s accepting grace."

“Who is he who condemns?”

“Who is he who condemns?”

Is there anyone who can cast a verdict of “Guilty” against us. But if we were declared “Not guilty” in our justification, who can reverse God’s verdict? “It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us” (8:34b). When Jesus said from the cross, “It is finished,” He was saying that our sin debt was paid in full by His death. He took the punishment for us. Then He arose from the dead proving that God accepted that payment, so we are safe from future punishment. The word “intercession” is also from the courtroom. It refers to the work of a defense attorney or advocate. As our defense advocate, we can count on Jesus Christ to win our case. He now lives in the presence of God, at His right hand, pleading our case before the Father (Heb. 7:25 ). His plea for us is based on the finished and sufficient work He did on the cross. As believers, we can"

The real danger

"Paul spoke of his own preaching as being by the grace of God. Eph 3:8, "Although I am less than the least of all the saints, THIS GRACE WAS GIVEN TO ME: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ." Not only his own preaching, but all ministering to the church, Paul says is to be by grace. Eph 4:7, "But to each one of us GRACE HAS BEEN GIVEN AS CHRIST APPORTIONED IT." Eph 4:11-12, "It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastor-teachers, to prepare God's people for the works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up." Heb 4:16, "Let us then approach the THRONE OF GRACE with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." There is a provision from God to completely support us in our time of need. This is by grace and grace alone. We don't earn it, nor do we deserve it. II Thess 2:16-17, "May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and BY HIS GRACE GAVE US ETERNAL ENCOURAGEMENT and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word." The benediction of grace in the Christian life is "eternal encouragement and good hope culminating in encouraged hearts and strength in every good deed and word." There is nothing in life for which there is not grace. Because grace is so essential for every detail of the believer's life, there can be no danger of teaching too much grace. The real danger is in not understanding grace and in not teaching it enough."

Robert H. Kreger

...sharply contrasted spheres...

For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ"(John 1:17).

"The most obvious and striking division of the Word of Truth is that between Law
and Grace.... It is vital to observe that Scripture never mingles these two principles.

Law is God prohibiting and requiring;
Grace is God beseeching and bestowing.

Law is a ministry of condemnation;
Grace is of forgiveness.

Law curses;
Grace redeems from that curse.

Law kills;
Grace makes alive.

Law shuts every mouth before God;
Grace opens every mouth to praise Him.

Law puts a great and guilty distance between man and God;
Grace makes guilty man nigh to God.

Law says "do and live";
Grace, "believe and live."

Law never had a missionary;
Grace is to be preached to every creature.

Law utterly condemns the best man;
Grace freely justifies the worst.

Law is a system of probation;
Grace, of favour.

Law stones an adulteress;
Grace says,"Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more."

Under law the sheep dies at the hand of the shepherd;
Under grace the Shepherd dies for the sheep.

Everywhere the Scriptures present law and grace in sharply contrasted spheres. The mingling of them in much of the current teaching of the day spoils both, for law is robbed of its terror, and grace of its freeness."

C I Scofield

See who you are!

"Ok so here it is. If you believe in Jesus, you pass from death to life. This new creature, this new creation is regenerated and renewed. It is a new life. This new nature lives for God, the old nature was bent towards sin, the new nature made alive to God is bent towards life, light and goodness. The most underestimated aspect of the Christian experience has been the degree at which we are changed at the point of being born again. We are literally a new breed on the planet, something that did not exist before the cross.

We are filled with all the power of God. We are placed in Christ and co-seated with Him. The effect of the new nature is that we live differently. We sin less for who we are has changed. And the clearer we see who we are, the more we will live as we truly are. The old has passed away.It’s critical that we see ourselves as we truly are. One of the most staggering scriptures in the bible is in 1 John it says “as he is so are we in this world”. Now this belief in who you are simply cannot be understated for “as a man thinks in his heart, so is he”. What you think about yourself, will be your reality.

Even amongst secular physiologists and motivational speakers, they agree. How you see yourself determines how you behave. I remember in business they said “dress like a professional, speak like a professional, believe you are one, and you will be one!” and it is true. See who you are. You are a new creature, a holy creature, a powerful creature. A creature dedicated to God at its very core, a creature madly in love with the giver of life. A creature of light, a creature of anointing. You can do all things through Christ who strengthens you. You can do anything you want! What do you want to do?

Wayno Duncan - Port Edward, South Africa - Oct 2009

... a bitter pill to swallow ...

"Let me ask you this question – if God canceled the Law and we preach to the Church something God has canceled then the Holy Spirit will not empower you to preach something that God has canceled! So what spirit comes on ministries who preach the law to the church? It is not the Holy Spirit! What spirit? Galatians 3:1 – it is the spirit of witchcraft.

“Who has bewitched you?”. It is a bewitching spirit. This law/religious thing is not a small issue. It is a big issue! We should make it a big issue! The religious world doesn’t want us to make it a big issue because they have the leverage of the law to beat people up and control people."

Rob Rufus - Holland '09

i see a block coming...

Hi There...

To clear up the confusion with you anonymous authors...yes this is a public blog...but its MY public blog...and i hold the delete button...:-)

From now on NO ANONYMOUS authors will be allowed to comment...Yes Anonski call it "murder" that's fine...i am still the righteousness of God in Christ, not under law but under grace!


If you log on with a Google account and you don't behave yourself, i.e. if you persistently use this blog as a personal diary to air your far flung theories, i will block you...


Thanks

God CANCELED the Law

"This is what righteousness means as a gift. You are as righteous in the Father’s eyes as Jesus because you have been given His gift of righteousness, completely apart from the Law! And there is no possibility that the Law can come back over your life because Colossians 2:14 God CANCELED the Law and disarmed the powers and authorities at the Cross! So the devil can no longer accuse you because the law has gone. Now you are under grace and you are as close to the Father as Jesus is. In John 17 Jesus prayed, regarding all of us, “Father – may they be one just as We are one”. The Bible says in 1 John 4:17 “As He is, so are we in this world”. When I want to know what my relationship with the Father is like, I don’t look at me; I am finished with that inward looking stuff – if you spend all your time looking inwards, then you will get very depressed!"

Rob Rufus

self-salvation by the law...

"How awesome! As I was reading that insert (our total helplessness...), I heard in my spirit, "When I said that if you lose your life for my sake, you shall find it, I meant lose it from your sense of self-salvation by being under the law." Truely our weak & beggarly attempts to keep the law as a means to be blessed and right with God blinds us from the reality of true humility in receiving everything dieing to self-salvation brings. As you stated, when we are 'totally helpless' we will empty any and all self-righteous attempts to save our life by trying to keep the law. Grace is heavens 'open arms' inviting all who are tired of self-salvation by the law and are ready to find their lives by losing it out from under the law through Christ, by Christ and in Christ! I love you!"

Richard Gamel

eternal salvation disposition

"Spiritual maturity is impossible for believers who have come to doubt their eternal salvation. Yet the lack of assurance is a common problem among Christians and those who call themselves Christians."

Charlie Bing

Terror will be far from you...

"The New Covenant is superior to the Old Covenant! It has a superior mediator – Jesus. God took an oath in Isaiah to NEVER be angry with you or me again! He said “I take an oath, as surely as I took an oath with Noah’s flood – that the world will never be destroyed with a global flood – so I declare I will never be angry with you again, I will never withdraw My covenant of peace with you. I will establish you in My righteousness and you will have nothing to fear! Terror will be far from you! No weapon formed against you will succeed for your righteousness is from Me!”."

If you will know this truth, you will be set free...SALVATION!!!!!

lowering the standards...

"For those who want to place the moral standards of the Mosaic Law on the Christian in this age, is to insist upon a purely human standard of life for one who has become a part of the new creation in Christ Jesus. All who are in Christ belong to the new divine order for which there is divine rule of life according to divine love. And when you insist upon the law as a guide to godliness and spirituality under grace, you are actually lowering the concept of godliness and spirituality. In essence you are actually lowering the standards."