6 And if by grace, then it
is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. [a]But if it is of works, it is no
longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work.
Since the
time of Cain and Abel, (Genesis 4:2-5)
there have only been two types of sacrifices offered up to God by sinful
mankind throughout the ages to obtain God’s grace. One is “Works” in which
mankind tries to appease God for his guilt by his own labour. This sacrifice
inevitably falls short because God is perfectly holy and our works cannot meet
God’s perfect standard. (Isaiah 64:6) The
other type of sacrifice that is acceptable to God is “Faith” because faith is
trusting Jesus Christ to do what we are incapable of doing ourselves. (Ephesians 2:8-9)
An
illustration of this during the apostolic era is found in Acts; Chapter 15 when certain men from Judea taught that adherence
to the Mosaic Law was binding on gentile believers in order for them to obtain
God’s salvation. (Acts 15:1, 5) Apostle
Peter; speaking at the Jerusalem council; affirmed salvation by grace alone
though faith alone and affirmed that God’s cleansing came not as a result of
external rites or ceremonies. (Acts 15:8-11)
The certain men of Judea had violated the gospel of grace and needed to be
confronted to prevent their error from spreading confusion about the way in
which people are made right with God and the freedom that are theirs to possess
in Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 2:4-9,
Galatians 1:8, 5:1-6)
The basic understanding
that salvation is obtained by: grace alone, through faith alone, and in Christ
alone has continued to be a point of contention through the centuries as the
true gospel of grace continues to be under attack by those who teach that human
merit or religious rites somehow brings about God’s salvation. True ministers
of Christ however are called to defend God’s gospel of grace. (Jude 3-4)
Today; many
sources of false sources of saving grace are still being taught in false
religious systems under the guise of being a sacrament. (Some action on our
part in addition to Jesus’ atonement that imparts saving grace) It is my intent
to expose some of them today so that you will not be condemned by believing in
another gospel or that your freedom in Christ will not be hindered. (Romans 11:5-6)
Water Baptism: Many erroneously believe that baptising a baby at
birth initiates a person into the church but this is false teaching. Water baptism
alone can do nothing for your infant or for an adult alike in transferring
grace to a person. Godly parents are commanded to instruct children in the ways
of the Lord as an act of obedience and stewardship. (Deuteronomy 11:19) Grace however; is perfectly and completely
transferred to a person when the He or She is born again (John 3:3) of the Holy Spirit. In the New Testament; The Holy
Spirit is received when a person responds in faith to the gospel of our Lord
Jesus Christ. This and only this initiates a person into the church. (John 1:13) In addition; this act of
divine mercy is predetermined by the Heavenly Father. (Romans 8:29, Titus 3:5)
Water
baptism is commanded for disciples (also
called Christians Acts: 11:26) of Jesus Christ (Acts 8:26-38) as a means of publically identifying with the death,
burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ (Romans
6:3-6) and is one two valid ordinances of the church. An ordinance is a
decree to be obeyed but it does not imply saving grace or merit leading to
salvation. (That would annul grace)
Romans 10:9
9 that if you confess with your
mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the
dead, you will be saved.
Eucharist: Some have been taught that salvation
is dependent on partaking of the Eucharist. They are taught that by eating the
literal body and the literal blood of our Lord Jesus Christ as He is being
transmutated (literally transformed into bread and wine) and repeatedly offered
as a sacrifice on the alter for sin; that this ritual thus imparts portioned
grace to the partaker leading to salvation if faithfully observed.
This
unbiblical teaching contradicts the plain teaching of Holy Scripture that Jesus
Christ was only offered one time and that his sacrifice was perfect to
forgive all the sins of believers (past, present, and future) and had no need
to be repeated since it was wholly accepted by the Heavenly Father and
vindicated by the Holy Spirit. (Hebrews
10:8-14, Romans 1:4)
8 Previously saying, “Sacrifice
and offering, burnt offerings, and offerings for
sin You did not desire, nor had pleasure in them” (which are offered according to the law), 9 then He
said, “Behold, I have come to do Your will, [a]O God.” He takes away the first that He may
establish the second. 10 By
that will we have been [b]sanctified through the offering of the body of
Jesus Christ once for all.11 And every priest
stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices,
which can never take away sins. 12 But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for
sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, 13 from that time
waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. 14 For by one offering He has perfected
forever those who are being [c]sanctified.
With Jesus
Christ as your priest; one sacrifice is all it took. Reject false grace, from
false priest who offer a false sacrifice!
We do uphold
the Biblical ordinance of the Lord’s Supper by partaking of the bread and fruit
of the vine in remembrance that our God; the Lord Jesus Christ made a new way
(New Covenant) for us to be right with God through His death. (Mark 14-22-25)
Confession: In some circles; the belief is held
that one must confess His or Her sins to an appointed human priest in order to
be absolved (or forgiven) of their daily sins. This practise comes from a
misunderstanding of the divinely elected priesthood.
As noted in
the above passage from Hebrews 10:8-14;
Jesus Christ clearly distinguished himself from the earthly priesthood of the
Levitical priesthood by being completely qualified as the God-man to represent
us before Holy God because Jesus Christ is completely sinless and is therefore
qualified to offer us real help. (Hebrews
4:14-16) We therefore have no need to endorse false (sinful) priests to
represent us before the Heavenly Father when Jesus Christ is infinitely
superior as demonstrated by His “once for all” work on the cross that provided
complete forgiveness from God. (John
3:16, Isaiah 53:10-12, Romans 3:23-26,)
In the Bible; (God’s authoritative word) the
only valid priest that is recognized by God is the high priest Jesus Christ. (Hebrews 5:5-6) Since Jesus Christ’s
priesthood is binding and permanent; for a human to assume the position while
Jesus Christ occupies that priestly office (Hebrews 7:25) is both presumptuous and blasphemous. (Romans 2:24)
Biblical
confession of daily sins for the disciple of Jesus Christ is to be made to our
Heavenly Father for renewed fellowship with God. Jesus Christ acts as our
advocate and the Holy Spirit cleanses us from confessed sin. Confess your sins
to one another also so you will aided in overcoming them. (1 John 1:9, James 5:16, Titus 3:5)
Confirmation: Some traditions teach that confirmation
grants the recipient a greater portion of gifting from the Holy Spirit. This
doctrinal error stems from a false understanding of how the Holy Spirit
portions gifts to believing Saints. Spiritual gifts are sovergnly distributed
by Jesus Christ as along with all other necessary grace (Ephesians 1:3) at the moment of conversion and have nothing to do
with undergoing a ceremony or ritual. (Ephesians
4:7-8, 11)
Christians
are however commanded to walk in the Holy Spirit which implies submissiveness
to His leading in our lives. (Galatians
5:16)
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