1 John 3:7 Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.

What is the implication? Someone is going to try to deceive you. Has anyone told you that righteousness doesn't affect what you do? That would be deceptive. Whoever does righteousness is righteous.

In no way does this mean that you earn your salvation. You do not earn your salvation. Salvation is a free gift from God. You cannot earn it or even add anything to it.

In no way does this mean that you are capable of righteousness. You are not capable of righteousness. Righteousness is by grace through faith. This righteousness is a free gift from God. It works this way: God speaks. You hear. Faith comes by hearing and hearing comes by a word (literally, utterance) of God. Faith gives you access into God's grace, this free gift from God. Grace does the work through you if you will yield yourself to God's grace. That is the only thing that can ever be righteousness. God does the leading. God does the working. You do the submitting, but only by the grace of God are you even able to do that. Lord, please help me to allow you to love through me. (some caveats about hearing God's Voice)

In no way does this mean that you can judge whether or not you or anyone else has been born again based on works. You can sometimes tell a little bit about maturity. However, even then, God has not given us the ability to judge in these matters. Read what the Bible says regarding being born again. If you meet these things, you are born again. Don't pay any attention to those self-appointed reasoners who say otherwise. Just remember that we have been born again so we can grow up. It would be a shame to remain a baby through unrighteousness.

Here is God's Pattern:

God Speaks.

You know that when you were pagans, you were led astray to the mute [incapable of articulate speech] idols, however you were led. Therefore I want you to know that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, "Jesus be cursed," and no one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians 12:2-3

So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by [the] word (literally utterance) [of] God. Romans 10:17

I am the Lord your God, who teaches you to profit, who leads you by the way you should go. Isaiah 48:17

Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. Matthew 4:4

This is the point at which you either see reality or you do not. This is the point at which you look into the totally complete law of liberty. James 1:22-25

James 1:22-25 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like to a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

2 Corinthians 3:18 But we all, with unveiled (the veil is the flesh) face beholding as in a mirror (those who have been created in the image of God) the glory of the Lord, are transfigured into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. Literal

1 Corinthians 13:12 For now we see through a glass [a mirror], darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. (Note that we now see in part, but as we walk from glory to glory, our senses are exercised by reason of use. The light becomes more clear to us. We see reality more clearly.)

You become what you see in the Spirit. When we see things as they really are, we see that we are born into Christ the Body, which is joined to Christ the Head. We have a sinful nature, but we are the Christ. When we forget this, we fall into sin. When we abide in this, it is because we maintain fellowship with the Father and the Son. We yield our mind, our soul, to the Holy Spirit, and allow the Holy Spirit to lead us and fill us with power both to will and to do His good pleasure.

When a person is born again, they are drawn toward Christ by the Father until the day that they suddenly realize that they were created to be joined to Christ the Body (the Church) and Christ the Head. For those who have been born into the Church, you realize who you are in Christ, a member in particular in His Body. You identify with your ministry, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. You realize that your life makes no sense outside of the context of the Body of Christ. You also discern what is not of Christ, what is of the devil, and you avoid it like plague.

But whoever listens to me will dwell safely, and will be secure, without fear of evil. Proverbs 1:33

Then said they to him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said to them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent. John 6:28-29

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Proverbs 3:5 Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion. Hebrews 3:15"

Then, God's faith comes by hearing. And faith gives access to His grace.

By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Romans 5:2

Grace, the free gift of righteousness, does the works in us. You reap what you sow. You are transfigured from glory to glory into God's holiness and freedom from sin's slavery.

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Topic: By Grace Through Faith

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