God s Unconditional Love Lesson 1

Transcription

1 God s Unconditional Love Lesson 1 1 Corinthians 13 : 1 * Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. This verse mentions two different kinds of tongues. Tongues of men and Tongues of angels. Tongues of men are human languages for example English, French, German etc. Tongues of angels are Heavenly languages. When we pray in tongues we are using our Heavenly language tongues of angels When we pray in tongues we are praying out of our born again spirit, yielding our voice to God the Holy Ghost who came to live in us, when He regenerated our spirit. When we pray in tongues God in us is praying through us, and for us, in accordance with God s own will. One of the great advantages of praying in tongues is, we are praying out of our spirit and not our brain. 1 Corinthians 14 : * For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful. * What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also. When we pray in tongues the Holy Ghost is praying or interceding on our behalf. Our understanding is unfruitful, which means; our mind or brain does not understand what we are saying does not understand the language of God s spirit. Those who are born of God the Holy Ghost - born again can pray with our natural language, and with our heavenly language. We can sing and worship God with our natural language. We can sing and worship God with our heavenly language. 1

2 Hebrew 12 : 23 * To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, To the spirits of just men made perfect. All who are born again are just men made perfect. In that we are justified by the blood of Jesus, and our born again spirit is created in righteousness and true holiness - in the image and likeness of God, perfectly Holy and righteous possessing eternal life. The mind of Christ is lodged in our regenerate spirit because God the Holy Ghost has taken up residence within us. 1 Corinthians 2 : 16 * For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ. Within our born again spirit resides the mind of Christ, God s word is spiritually discerned and understood by the power of the indwelling Holy Ghost, who is God, as the Father is God, and as the Son is God the undivided Three yet the mysterious One. Our mortal brain is limited and certainly does not know everything. Our born again spirit is a new creation, a brand new man. Because God has taken up residence within our regenerate spirit we have the mind of Christ. We have the perfect wisdom of Christ in our born again spirit. That is why it is so important that we renew our minds. We have to transfer Christ s perfect wisdom from our spirit to our mortal brain; studying the scriptures is the only way we can only do this. The indwelling Holy Ghost wants to educate our mortal mind or brain, to understand the perfect wisdom of Christ, which is already resident in our born again spirit. As we study God s word with the revelation knowledge of the indwelling Holy Ghost, the mind of Christ is transferred to our mortal mind or brain, and the life of God is released into our lives, so that Christ s knowledge over rules our carnal thinking. We then learn to live to let Jesus live through us. Jesus was anointed with 2

3 the Holy Ghost and power, who went about doing good healing all who were oppressed of the devil. We have received the same anointing of Holy Ghost power, which enables us to do the same works as Jesus did. All praise be to Him who has exalted us as joint heirs with Him. He has made a way for His body to do all things through Him that the Father may be glorified in the Son. As adopted sons of God we have an unction from the Holy One - the same anointing as Jesus, to destroy the works of the devil and all his evil followers. This unction from the Holy One is to know all things first and foremost that the devil is the enemy of God and His creation mankind. Jesus came into the strong mans house to spoil the strong mans goods. The strong mans house was the kingdoms of this world which were under the devils power and control, the strong mans goods were the peoples of the nations of this world who were under the devils power and dominion. Satan tried to steal us all from our Creator, Jesus came into the strong mans house and spoiled the strong mans goods. Jesus said, If I be lifted up from the earth I will draw all men unto me. We are joint victors with Jesus over the works of darkness, we cannot slumber and sleep for another moment, we must rise up and do the works of Christ and expose the works of the devil against God s creation man. 1 John 2 : 20 * But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things. We have no excuse; we know everything that Jesus knows, because Jesus dwells in us by His Spirit. The Holy Ghost is God, just as is the Father and Son. Praying in the language of the Holy Ghost releases revelation knowledge from our born again spirit to our mortal mind or brain. Praying in unknown tongues is much more powerful than praying with the knowledge of the carnal mind. Praying in the unknown tongues of the Holy Ghost, promotes spiritual growth and understanding. Praying in tongues builds us up in our most holy faith, and allows us to draw on the infinite wisdom of God, which abides or is resident in our born again spirit. 3

4 Jude: 20 * But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in Holy Ghost, There is only one way we can pray in the Holy Ghost; pray in unknown tongues. Paul prayed in tongues more than them all, which released God s wisdom to his mortal mind or brain, therefore he wrote the biggest part of the New Testament. If you want to walk in Godly knowledge, pray in the power of the Holy Ghost. 4

5 God s Unconditional Love Lesson 2 1 Corinthians 13 : 2 * And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. Love is the greatest of all the gifts, the word charity means; a special kind of love that expresses its-self in actions, not just words. It is easy to say, I love you but do your actions reveal your words. The word charity, describes God s kind of love. God did not love us in word only, but in truth and actions. 1 John 3 : * Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. * But whoso hath this world s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? * My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. God laid down His life for us, so we should be willing to die for each other and share what we have with each other. To truly love with God s love, is to love in truth and actions, not in word only. It is easy to say, I love you, we must show our love, by your actions. In the body of Christ there are those who give and those who take. The givers are showing their love in actions. The takers just keep on taking and say, But we have nothing to give. You can give of yourself, give an extra hour or an extra half-day of your time, to 5

6 clean the church building or the toilets or tidy the garden. You mean I should clean the toilets, if you don t think more of me than that, I will leave and go to another church where I will be appreciated. Pride! Givers are Christ motivated. Takers are self-motivated, out for what they can get for themselves. Everyone must learn to show their love by actions and become givers. Give and it shall be given unto you. Luke 6 : 38 * Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again. The portion of your giving determines the returned blessing. Those who say they have nothing to give are in that situation because they have only ever been takers. It is more blessed to give than to receive. Jesus gave everything His very live, to gain back multitudes of children. We are the children of God by faith in in Christ Jesus. A biblical principle that never fails, is, give and it will be given back to you. It was the Lord God Himself that ordained this principle by His own actions. God so loved, the people whom He created, that He gave us His only begotten Son, the Lords motivation for giving us His Son was, love. Jesus loved fallen humanity so much that He gave His own life to save us from eternal damnation. God the Father and Son gave to gain back. If God withheld His Son from us, He would not have gained multitudes of adopted sons. If Jesus were not willing to die, and give His life a ransom for sin, He would not have gained back, a body of people for Himself. Those who keep on taking will gain back nothing of value. God s kind of love is revealed in actions. Giving to receive is a Biblical principle that cannot fail when done from a heart, which is motivated by love. 6

7 Giving must be done out of a good heart motivated by love, not a heart motivated by covetousness which thinks, I will give to receive a hundred fold return. Your giving must be to the Lord, to show your love and appreciation for His giving His life, to save you from eternal damnation. The love that Paul is expressing in this chapter describes God s kind of agape love, the highest kind of love. Agape love does not come from our human feelings. Jesus displayed agape love by dying the agonizing death of crucifixion. The human side of Jesus did not want to face such a terrible death, He prayed, O my Father, if it be impossible, let this cup pass from me, nevertheless not as I will, but as you will. Regardless of His human feelings, He was willing to do the will of His Father. Agape love has no selfish motives and over rules human feelings. Agape love seeks the welfare and improvement of others, regardless of your own human feelings. Jesus wanted the best for you and me, regardless of the fact that His human flesh did not want to face death, especially the death of crucifixion. Agape love drove Him on, and enabled Him to endure and win the victory over the works of the devil. God s kind of Agape love enables us to endure and gain the victory regardless of resistance from human feelings. Luke 6 : 35 * But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil. God s Agape love reaches out to the unthankful and evil. We are children of the Most High God, so must learn to love our enemies, and want the best for them, eternal life with Christ. We must separate ourselves from unthankful evil people who live to fulfill the lusts of the flesh and follow in the devils footprints. Never the less we must pray for them and when we meet them by coincidence we should show kindness and love, even when our human feelings don t want to have anything to do with them. Let 7

8 us never forget our own beginning, we were all dead in trespass and sin. In our worst state God s grace and Agape love reached out to us and saved us. Hallelujah! 1 Corinthians 13 : 2 * And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. One may have the gift of prophecy, have deep understanding of the word, and faith to move mountains, cast out devils and heal the sick, but if we do not walk in love you are nothing. We should not boast about our gifts and talents if we cannot walk in love. 1 Corinthians 13 : 3 * And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. True, Agape love looks for opportunity to do good to all men. The one commandment of the New Covenant is Love one another. Agape love, is not an emotion or carnal feelings, it is a deliberate choice to submit to the will of God, and walk in His ways and principles. Regardless of Jesus human emotions and feelings, He deliberately chose to submit to death, in obedience to His Father s will. Romans 8:13 says, Love your enemies, bless them do good and pray for them. Romans 12:9 By love serve one another. We have to make the deliberate choice to walk in God s kind of Agape love, wanting the best for everyone, regardless of what our carnal emotions and feelings are telling us. The motive of the heart is important, the right motive is more important than actions. Good actions can be cancelled out by bad motives. Some Church ministers use Malachi 3:8-10, to get their congregations to pay tithes. 8

9 Malachi 3 : 8-10 * Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. * Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. * Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. They teach from this scripture, if you do not pay 10% of your income to the Church, God will curse you. Such teaching motivates people to give out of fear. Their giving is for the wrong reason or motive, so they don t experience the blessings. We are no longer under Old Covenant Law, or under any obligation to pay tithes, the right motive for giving is found in: 2 Corinthians 9 : 6-7 * But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. * Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. Pray, ask God what He wants you to give, then give it cheerfully, don t grudge your giving, don t do it because you feel obliged to give. Give, out of love and gratitude for what Jesus has given you. He gave His life, to give you His righteousness, peace, health, prosperity, eternal life, a glorified body and a coming Eternal perfect world. 1 Corinthians 13 : 4-6 * Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 9

10 * Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil. * Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth. God s kind of Agape love is long-suffering, patient, kind, does not envy that which belongs to others. Love does not promote-self, is not proud. Is not selfish, love is not easily provoked, love thinks no evil. Does not rejoice in sin and iniquity. Love rejoices in truth, and bears all things. God s kind of love does not quarrel and biteback, when we quarrel and hit back at those who have hurt us, we are allowing our carnal emotions and feelings to over-rule our spirit, in other words we are in the flesh as opposed to in the spirit. We should learn to walk in God s kind of agape love, which is not feelings and emotions, but an act of will, a free will choice to love, regardless of who insults you, rejects you, hurts you. It is only the carnal feelings and emotions and pride that feel insulted, rejected and hurt, we have to die to such carnal emotions, and make the choice to love. We were crucified with Christ; we are dead to sin so let us die to carnal feelings and emotions such as rejection, insults and feeling emotionally hurt. Pride is not a feeling or emotion pride is a satanic attitude. 1 Corinthians 13 : 7 * Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Love bears all things. We have all been in situations when we have felt. I can t take any more hurt, I can t bear any more. Human love has limits! God s Agape love knows no limits. Born again believers are not only humans; we can make excuses for ourselves by saying, I m only a woman, I m only human. We are not only humans; God the Holy Ghost lives in us, we have the measure of Christ s faith in us, we have power to cast out demons and heal all diseases, we have God s supernatural Agape love residing in our regenerate spirit that enables us to bear all things. 10

11 When we reach the point and feel I can t bear another minute of this situation. This is another sign which reveals to us, we are in the flesh, if we were in the spirit we would be drawing from God s Agape love within, which bears and endures all things. 1 Corinthians 13 : 8 * Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. God s kind of Agape love never fails and will never end. God s kind of Agape love will reign throughout Eternity. In Eternity; the eternal world, there will be no need for prophesies, words of wisdom, words of knowledge or unknown tongues, all these gifts of the spirit shall vanish away, but love will never end and reign forever. The gifts of the Holy Ghost are temporary and have been given for the help and edification of Christ s body, still in a state of imperfection, and will operate only during the Church age. Love is permanent and will last forever. Therefore love is the greatest gift. In eternity everything will be perfect and we will all walk in God s perfect Agape love. 1 Corinthians 13 : 9-10 * For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. * But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. When that which is perfect has come, once clothed in our immortal bodies we will have entered into the glories of the Eternal world. We will see Jesus face to face, look into His eyes and adore him, as His Agape love shines out of his eyes into our hearts. We will no longer need the gifts of the Holy Spirit that which is perfect will have become reality. When we see Jesus we will be like Him, in holiness, knowledge, wisdom, perfection, walking in God s Agape love clothed in immortality. 11

12 God s Unconditional Love Lesson 3 1 Corinthians 13 : 11 * When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. The believer s best state now is still childish compared to the way we will be in our glorified resurrected bodies in Eternity. When we enter into the glories of Eternity in the Eternal world, we shall become fully grown, and put away childish things. 1 Corinthians 13 : 12 * For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. Whilst in our mortal childish state we see through a glass darkly, we cannot comprehend the wonders and glories of our Maker, and the Eternal home He has prepared for us. When we see him face to face, all will be revealed. 1 Corinthians 13 : 13 * And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity. The gifts of the Spirit that will remain throughout eternity are faith, hope and love, but the greatest of these is God s Agape love. Faith and hope are intertwined, without faith it is impossible to please God. How do we know that God loves us? Romans 5 : 8-10 * But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 12

13 * Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. * For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. God did not love us in word only but in deed. God demonstrate His love for us by coming into this world in the form of a man, the Lord Jesus Christ, and dying the terrible death of crucifixion. Greater love hath no man than this than a man lay down His life for His friends. Those who believe are justified, declared and accepted as holy by God, through faith in Christ s atoning blood. How are we declared and accepted as righteous by God? A) By being good Christian. B) By doing good works. C) By abstinence, giving up all vices. D) By faith in Christ s blood. Those who are justified by grace through faith in our Lord s atoning blood shall never face the wrath or anger of God, by going to the Lake of fire and brimstone. God wants us to understand His amazing agape unconditional love, for each and every one of us. We are all unique individuals, especially designed by God. There is only one I. C. Noble. There is only one you. God loves us as individuals, He knows us personally, He knows and understands you better than you know and understand yourself. Jesus loves us individually, every bit as much as the Father loves Jesus. John 15 : 9 * As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. This is an amazing statement receive it into your heart. Jesus loves you and me, as much as the Father loves Jesus. We can understand God s love for Jesus He was perfectly holy at all times, He never 13

14 once sinned, He deserved His Father s love. We do not deserve God s love, we have all sinned and continue to sin, if you say you have no sin, you are a liar and the truth is not in you (1 John 1:8). In spite of the fact that sin is still present with us, Jesus loves us, as much as the Father loves Jesus. Do you really believe that Jesus loves you individually, just as much as the Father loves Jesus? Say it, Jesus loves me, just as the Father loves Jesus. The bible teaches us that God s love towards fallen humanity is unconditional. Unconditional; that has no conditions, not depending on your performance, good works, life-style or any thing an individual could do to gain acceptance. Religion has deceived many into believing that God loves us according to our good works, what we give up, or according to religious holy standards or our good-living performance. Satan uses Religion to move us away from grace and faith to works and Law keeping. Satan knows if he can get us trusting in our good works and religious Law keeping, he can get us back under the curse of the Law, and he can legally rob us of all the blessings God has freely provided for us in Christ Jesus. The first blessing that Satan robs believers of is health, we were healed by the lord s stripes. But if we move away from salvation being the free gifts of God to trusting in our performance Satan can legally make you sick, attack your body with pain, because you have stepped out-side God s divine protection. Those who live by grace through faith are redeemed from the curse of the Law. Galatians 3 : 13 * Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree. In Deuteronomy 28 we read, if you obey the Lord s commandments, you will be blessed. If you disobey the Lord s commandments, you will be cursed. To protect His chosen people from the curse of the Law, God established the Levitical Covenant, animals were killed and the blood was sprinkled upon 14

15 the mercy seat, the death of sacrificed animal was accepted as a sin offering and the blood of the sacrificed animal, covered over their sins, thus God s chosen people were protected from the curse working against them. As long as they had complete faith in the blood of the Covenant to cover over their sins, they remained under God s divine protection. When they got into doubt and unbelief and stopped wholeheartedly trusting in the terms of the Covenant, the curse automatically worked against them, and they were plagued with disease and died a premature death. So it is to day, we remain under God s divine protection, and the curse cannot work against us providing we, wholeheartedly believe in the terms of the Ever Lasting Covenant. The moment we start trusting in our good works, our abstinence, our keeping religious laws and trusting in our performance, we are mixing grace and faith with works and law keeping. This means we are no longer whole-heartedly trusting in the blood of the covenant, and the curse works against us. As far as healing is concerned, the moment we get our eyes of the truth we were healed by the Lord s stripes and put our faith in the remedies of this world, we break the healing terms of our Covenant with God, through double mindedness and unbelief, and the curse works against us. It is impossible for God to break His side of the Covenant agreement, the Everlasting Covenant is a mutual agreement, and this means it takes two parties to make the Covenant operate efficiently. Jesus established the Covenant in His Death and sealed it with His Holy redeeming blood. We have to keep our side of the Covenant agreement, Jesus completed the work of sacrifice and atonement once for all, the work is complete. What do believers have do to receive all the blessings of the New Better Everlasting Covenant?.?.?.?.?.?.?. BELIEVE AND RECEIVE BY FAITH. Without faith it is impossible to please God. That which is not of faith is sin. God s Covenant people of Old Testament times broke the Covenant repeatedly, they turned away from God to serve false god s the result was they lost God s Divine favor, put themselves under the curse of the law whereby they lost their right standing with God, health and prosperity. 15

16 Are Gentile believers any different to the Jews who repeatedly broke the Covenant? No! Remember what the apostle Paul said, Because of unbelief they were broken off, and your right standing with God is by faith. Be not high in the head with pride, but fear. If God spared not the natural branch He may not spare you because of unbelief. When we were born again we were translated out of the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of Christ. We now belong to another kingdom where God has already provided our every need in the Everlasting Covenant Agreement, like Israel of old some cannot let go of Egypt, whenever a symptom appears in their body, they do not run to the Covenant table they run back to the kingdom under satan s control Egypt, the world. The reason they do this is because they have more faith in the remedies of the physicians or this world, more faith in carnal sense knowledge than Jesus who said, I bore your sicknesses and carried your pains, BY MY STRIPES YOU WERE HEALED. Many try to vindicate their actions in running back to satan s kingdom for help by saying I believe with all my heart that I was healed by the Lord s stripes. If they truly believed they would have received divine healing. They make God a liar, and are a tool of the enemy who sows unbelief in the Good kingdom. They have broken the healing contract in the Covenant agreement; the curse of the law will automatically work against them. (Rom11: 15 22) Regardless of our sin God s love for us remains unconditional. When our children are naughty and refuse to obey our instructions and walk in rebellion we on occasions use the rod, however our love for them does not change. We have the God given ability to love one another with unconditional love in spite of the fact that we sometimes walk in unbelief, or in the flesh Love never fails. Who blinded the minds of the Jews - God s chosen people of Old Testament times? The god of this world - that old serpent the devil! Who is blinding the minds of those who claim to be Royal Priesthood a Holy Nation belonging to God under the terms of the New Covenant? - the god of this world who is full or evil wiles. 16

17 Saints of God we cannot have a foot in both kingdoms we have been translated out of the kingdom of darkness into Christ s kingdom, we now live to a different code of practice a new way of life, old thing are passed away all things have become new. When we run back into the devils kingdom we are turning away from God and break our side of the Covenant agreement, just as the Jews of Old Testament times did. The blood of the Covenant justifies us, the just live by faith, we can only walk in the blessings of the Covenant by faith. God is a non-compromising Covenant Keeping God who refuses to compromise with double mindedness, doubt, unbelief and fear. As members of Christ s Royal Priesthood we have been called to keep the Covenant and be a noncompromising Covenant Keeping people. Romans 5 : 8 * But God commandeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. While we were yet sinners Christ died for us. God did not save us because we were worthy or deserved it. Our salvation was an act of His grace and Agape love. Whilst we were dead in trespass and sin, God s grace reached out to us. We did nothing good to cause God to save you. We did not deserve to be saved because we were such a good person, such a kind loving generous person, God did not choose us because we were so good, we were dead in trespass and sin, and a dead person can do nothing to save Himself. God saved us because He is love. God s love is not based on your performance. The moment we get born again Satan is on our case, self-righteous demons come along and say, Now you are a Christian you will have to perform to our religious standard, you must give up all vices, you must not eat pork on Friday, women must not use make-up or wear pants etc. Religion has set up a new set of commandments and teaches, if you do not conform to our religious standard, God will not bless you or answer your prayers. Religion changes God s 17

18 unconditional love to conditional love, dependant on your performance. If God s love was conditional, none of us could get saved- born again. None of us are capable of cleaning our selves up to God s acceptable holy standard that is why we need a Saviour. 18

19 God s Unconditional Love Lesson 4 If God s love were conditional we would all end up in damnation. It seems hard for some to accept that salvation is the free gift of God and received by individuals by God s grace through faith and not of works. God loves you just as you are, His only requirement of you is faith and love, we keep the Covenant by whole heartedly trusting in the free provisions of the covenant contract by faith. Many think and feel that God does not love them, because they know they have faults and weaknesses and are not as holy as they should be. Self-righteous Christians refuse to accept them, because they do not meet the acceptable holy religious standard. Luke 18 : * Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. * The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. * I fast twice a week, I give tithes of all that I possess. * And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. * I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted. The religious self- righteous Pharisee said, I am not as other sinful men. I am not like that publican. I am good and honest, I am not an adulterer. 19

20 I fast twice a week. I pay tithes. The publican had nothing to boast about, by in humility cried out for God s mercy. Which of the two were justified in God s sight? a) The Publican with faults and weaknesses who lives by faith trusting in God s Agape love, mercy and grace and has accepted Jesus sacrifice on his behalf? b) The self-righteous Pharisee who is trusting in his own performance? The one with faults and weaknesses who lives by faith, trusting in Jesus blood to keep him in right standing with his Maker, is the one who is justified in God s sight. Luke 18 : 14 * I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted. The publican was justified by God s mercy and grace through faith. God did not accept the self-righteous Pharisee. If you exalt yourself in pride by your performance you will be brought low. If you humble yourself and trust in the Saviour, He will exalt you. Why? Because faith pleases God, according to Isaiah 64:6, All our righteousness is as filthy rags. If we could have achieved the righteousness that God requires, Christ need not have died for us. The reason that self-righteousness is filthy rags in God s sight is self-righteousness denies the full sufficiency of the atoning blood of Christ, the Saviour of the world. It is not Christ blood plus my works. Christ blood is perfectly sufficient. When we realize that God loves us just as we are with all our faults and weaknesses, faith becomes alive in us. Say it, God loves me just as I am. His blood purchased righteousness for me. Hallelujah! I am the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus by faith. Nothing I could do could earn me right standing with God. Jesus did it all, 20

21 His blood bought me out of the devils kingdom into the kingdom of God s dear Son. I am a joint heir with Jesus; He has imputed His righteousness to my account, and keeps me walking in divine health and prosperity, even though I die I know I shall live forever, because my God cannot break His Covenant or change His word. Hallelujah God is good all the time. Psalm 89:34. Jesus loves us just as we are but that does not mean we have to stay the way we are. If you are living in sin, fulfilling the lust of the flesh, you are giving Satan a direct in-road to your life. If you continue in sin Satan will destroy you. God s love for us does not change Christ died to save sinners. Let us take those who practice homosexual sex, as an example. God loves them, Christ died for them, God s love is unconditional, but if they continue in the perverse sin of homosexuality, Satan will kill them with Aids, millions of people are dying of aids in the world to day. Babies are being born with aids, sin opens the door to Satan who comes to kill, steal and destroy. As Christians it is our duty to fight against the works of the flesh, the devil and the world, not to gain favor with God, but to keep Satan out of our lives. God does not give us what we deserve, his love and grace is unconditional. Nothing we do, or don t do, can change His love for us. We fight against the works of the flesh and the devil not to gain God s flavor, but to keep Satan out of our lives. Self-righteous Christians try to earn God s love by conforming to the accepted religious standard, by works and abstinence. When they have cleaned up their life, they can accept God s love. The only kind of love self-righteous people knows is a carnal conditional love. If such self-righteous people saw the condition of their own heart, as God sees it, harboring pride and selfrighteousness, they would see that they are not so holy as they think they are. In spite of pride and self-righteousness, God continues to love sinners with His amazing agape unconditional love. But those 21

22 who continue in conceited pride; open the door to Satan who will rob the individual of God s blessings. Pride brings a person low! True born again believers desire to please God, to do what is right in God s sight, when we know that God s love is unconditional, we do not use His unconditional love as an excuse, to live like the devil. We hate sin, fight and strive against it, desiring to live a holy life. Born again believers do not attain sinless perfection whilst living in our mortal body of flesh, because the flesh serves the law of sin. We live by faith, clothed in Christ s imputed righteousness. Religion teaches, Clean up your act, be holy, abstain from all vices, then God will accept and love you. True Christianity teaches, Jesus has paid the full penalty for your sins. He has freely provided acceptance and right standing for you with God, by His own redeeming blood. Take the free gift of salvation by faith; God s love is unconditional. 22