The True Gospel vs The False Gospel

[Gerr]

When Paul wrote those words, of whom was he referring to?

If faith and repentance are both gifts of God, how then can it be said that man cannot receive them before he becomes part of the body of Christ?

[Samie]

When Paul wrote those words, of whom was he referring to?

[Gerr]

Originally Posted By: Gerry Cabalo

When Paul wrote those words, of whom was he referring to?

He was referring to the two groups of people that then compose humanity - the Jews (those near) and the Gentiles (those far away) - who were made into one body on the cross. Both became members of God's household - the family of God.

Yeah, Paul was talking about Ephesian Greek & Jewish believers!

How do I know that? If these Gentiles were already part of the body of Christ, Paul would not have said, ESV | ýEph 2:11 Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— ý12 remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.

When does a sinner become part of the body of Christ - the Church?

1. ESV | ýAc 2:38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins,

2. ESV | Jn 3:7 You must be born again.’

3. ESV | Jn 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

4. ESV | ýRo 10:17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

5. ESV | ýRo 5:1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. ý2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

Originally Posted By: Gerry Cabalo

If faith and repentance are both gifts of God, how then can it be said that man cannot receive them before he becomes part of the body of Christ?

Because the dead cannot do the act of receiving, and separate from Christ, Who is the Bread of Life that gave life to the world (John 6:33), we are lifeless: we can do NOTHING. God had to make us alive first before we can do the act of receiving.

If the sinner's freedom of choice is absent before repentance and conversion, then the following statements would be meaningless:

1. "Choose you this day whom you will serve." Josh 24:15.

2. ESV | ýRe 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.

3. ESV | ýHeb 3:15 “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.”

A sinner may be spiritually dead, but the freedom to choose is still his. As I said before, Christ is not only the Creator, but also the sustainer of every breath and heartbeat. So yes, without Him we can do absolutely nothing. But He also sends the sunshine and the rain to both the good and the bad.

[Samie]

If you have already convinced yourself that the dead can believe, receive, etc., then that's really your own choice.

I have already more than pounded it in.

[Gerr]

Freewill.

[skyblue888]

Please let me know if you believe that the following is the true Gospel or not: Thanks.

Here is a statement that no one can afford to ignore:

"We may be active, we may do much work, but without love, such love as dwelt in the heart of Christ, we can never be numbered with the family of Heaven." C.O.L.158.

Now if God ever sent a "straight testimony" to His professed people, that would have to be it, wouldn't you think? Without love, such love as dwelt in the heart of Christ, we can never be be numbered with the family of Heaven!

Further We read,

"The love that was in the heart of Christ is to be in our hearts that we may reveal to those around us the light of life." Sons & Daughters of God, 84.

Next, we read, "When God gave His Son to our world, He endowed human beings with imperishable riches--riches compared with which the treasured wealth of man since the world began is NOTHINGNESS. Christ came to the earth and stood before the children of men with THE HOARDED LOVE OF ETERNITY, and this is the treasure that, through our connection with Him, we are to receive, to reveal, and to impart." Ministry of Healing, 37.

This was the love that dwelt in the heart of Christ: the hoarded love of eternity! In this world there are many hoarders. Some are hoarders of silver and gold and some are hoarders of useless things, but Jesus came to the earth and stood before the children of men with the hoarded love of eternity! And this is the TREASURE that, through our connection with Him, we are to receive, to reveal, and to impart! Can anyone fathom this treasure? Can anyone fathom the hoarded love of eternity? Yet, lo and behold, this is the treasure (whole heavenly treasure) that is presented to us through faith in the merits of Christ. This is "the faith that works by love," by the hoarded love of eternity! (Gal.5:6)

Now I understand why Mrs. White stated that this was the only faith that will benefit us, the faith that appropriates to ourselves the merits of a crucified and risen Saviour (Desire of Ages,347), the faith that lays right hold upon the all-sufficient merits of Christ to bring the hoarded love of eternity, the love that dwelt in His heart, into our own hearts! This, then, is the only faith that works by love to purify the soul. This is the gold tried in the fire! (Gal.5:6; Rom.5:5; Rev.3:18).

Now I am sure everybody will agree that when this is our experience the world will take notice. We read, "The indwelling of the Spirit will be shown by the outflowing of heavenly love. The divine fullness will flow through the consecrated human agent to be given forth to others. So from every true disciple is to be diffused an influence for life, courage, helpfulness, and true healing." C.O.L.419.

This statement clearly tells us that "the hoarded love of eternity" is the "divine fullness," "the fullness of divine light and love and power," (P.K.594), the INFLUENCE which is to be diffused! This prophecy is to be fulfilled:

"The revelation of His own glory in the form of humanity will bring Heaven so near to men that the beauty adorning the inner temple will be seen in every soul in whom the Saviour dwells. Men will be CAPTIVATED by the glory (hoarded love of eternity) of an abiding Christ. And in currents of praise and thanksgiving from the many souls THUS won to God, glory will flow back to the great Giver." Idem, 420.

"Thank God for His unspeakable gift." 2 Cor.9:15.

So it shouldn't be too difficult to understand, after reading this, why there has been a long delay, why the second coming has been so long delayed. Not until this is our experience can the Lord finish the work upon the earth and cut it short in rigtheousness. (Rom.9:28) This will be the experience of all who receive this treasure. It is the latter rain, the refreshing coming from the presence of the Lord! Isaiah 28:12.

[Samie]

ESV Matthew 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

Unless the true gospel, the pure gospel, shall have been proclaimed throughout the whole world as testimony of His great love - that God attached us all, Jews & Gentiles, to His Son and made us alive so we can believe and repent - our Savior cannot come.

Sadly, it appears quite hard for many preachers long taught with the false gospel to accept and preach the pure gospel. Whoever said that lies oft repeated becomes truth, has a point.

But the stones will speak out.

[Gibs]

The true gospel and the law cannot be separated, Allow EGW to speak,

"Perfect Harmony Between Law and Gospel.--There is perfect harmony between the law of God and the gospel of Jesus Christ. "I and My Father are one," says the Great Teacher. The gospel of Christ is the Good News of grace, or favor, by which man may be released from the condemnation of sin and enabled to render obedience to the law of God. The gospel points to the moral code as a rule of life. That law, by its demands for undeviating obedience, is continually pointing the sinner to the gospel for pardon and peace. {2MCP 563.2}

Says the great apostle, "Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law" (Romans 3:31). And again he declares that "the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good" (Romans 7:12). Enjoining supreme love to God, and equal love to our fellowmen, it is indispensable alike to the glory of God and to human happiness.--RH, Sept 27, 1881. {2MCP 563.3}

A Complete Rule of Life.--God has given man a complete rule of life in His law. Obeyed, he shall live by it, through the merits of Christ. Transgressed, it has power to condemn. The law sends men to Christ, and Christ points them back to the law.--RH, Sept 27, 1881. (HC 138.)

"I repeat, Will our brethren reap from this meeting all the good which they can and should obtain? For all these privileges they are accountable. The words spoken will be to the hearers a savor of life unto life or of death unto death. The Lord is coming; the alarm must be sounded. The people who profess the truth are unready. Should their probation close now, they would be weighed in the balance, and found wanting. Some have not made earnest efforts to overcome; they have not realized the danger of continuing in sin, and have become almost content where they are. As I felt their peril, I longed to see them coming up out of the dark cellar of unbelief, into the upper room where there is light and happiness. I greatly regretted that we must close the meeting without seeing a deeper and more thorough work wrought in their hearts." {RH, November 13, 1883 par. 6}

Christ in you and all things are possible,

1Jo 4:4 ¶ Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.