| Author | Message | ||
| Max |
Even if you've never posted before, feel free to post here. I'll start by trying to recall all of the metaphors, similies, illustrations and word pictures posted so far: * For those under grace, Christ is a stairway of stepping stones. For those not under grace, he is a series of stumbling blocks. --Joshua of the Rock * We keep Christ's Commandments because we have been saved, not in order to become saved. --Maryann aka IBC (Insured By Christ) * We are saved by faith alone, but not by a faith that is alone. --Martin Luther * Salvation is a floor, not a ceiling. --MC * Show me your faith without works, and I'll show you my faith by my works. --James * Faith works. --Anonymous * Salvation comes at the beginning of the journey, not at the end. --MC * There is a pattern in the New Testament epistles: The "pioneer father" writers first establish the primacy of grace, then they go forward to show the more abundant life God wants us to live. They don't go backward to take us back under legalism again. --Valerie * The gospel is robust, not anemic. It is fertile and produces offspring. --MC * The gospel is your lighted lamp. You don't hide it under an overturned bowl. You let it shine. --Jesus * I am the vine or tree. You are the branches. If you are a branch attached to a good vine or tree [God alone is good], you will produce good fruit. But if you are a branch attached to an evil vine or tree [Satan or self], you will produce evil fruit. --Jesus * The kingdom of heaven is among you. --Jesus * The kingdom of heaven is under our feet as well as over our heads. --Anonymous * Because you have already been adopted as children of God, God sent the Spirit of his Son into oru hearts. So you are no longer a slave, but a child of God. And since you are a child of God, God has made you also an heir. --Paul Your turn, Max of the Cross | ||
| Max |
Salvation is going forward, living always IN the gospel message of absolute grace! Jesus's perfection always, always, covers us each step of the way! --Cindy Salvation is not a "Grace...but" issue; it is a "grace ... therefore" attitude! --Cindy | ||
| Valm |
I can not remember who to give credit to on this one: "I go forward FROM VICTORY not to victory." | ||
| Max |
I think the credit for that goes to Bill Twisse, who said it in an FAF meeting I attended. And I posted it, but I got it from him. It's so good I want to post it again: "I go forward FROM VICTORY not to victory." --Bill Twisse | ||
| Max |
Salvation is like Disney World. You, the parent, represent Christ. You, not your child, earned the money to buy the ticket. The ticket represents Godís grace. Your child did not earn it, yet he receives all of its benefits. Disney World represents salvation or the kingdom of heaven. Your child enters the kingdom of heaven and enjoys it. The rides and other attractions of Disney World represent the fruits of the Holy Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Your child will not enjoy these if he DOES NOTHING! He must: 1. Want to go on on the Space Mountain ride. 2. Walk to it. 3. Stand in line. 4. Find a gondola. 6. Sit down in it and buckle up. 7. Look at the scenery while heís riding, feel the accelerations, etc. The gospel of grace is a LIVING spiritual reality. It doesnít deaden us. It enlivens us. And living involves action. For Christ wants us to do more than just tell other people about it. We must also LIVE it. For how can you tell other people about it if you donít know what youíre talking about? Max of the Cross | ||
| Max |
Ooops, I forgot. You the parent, representing Christ in the Person of the Holy Spirit, accompany your child every step of his way in Disney World. For you will never leave him or forsake him, and he knows it. | ||
| Max |
GOD THE FATHER HAS ALREADY "BROUGHT US INTO THE KINGDOM" OF HEAVEN Colossians 1:13, NIV: For he [God the Father] has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins." This text is saying some powerful things: 1. The "kingdom of heaven" = the "kingdom of the Son [the Father] loves." 2. The "kingdom of the Son" is a present reality. 3. We do not receive redemption or forgiveness outside the borders of the kingdom of heaven. FOOD FIGHTS? IN THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN? Romans 14:16,17, NIV: "Do not allow what you consider good to be spoken of as evil. For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit." If the kindom of God/heaven were only a future and not a present reality, then there would be "food fights" in the heaven to come. Paul was settling a "food fight" that broke out in the "kingdom of heaven" in Rome by telling them that this was not appropriate behavior for citizens. THERE IS STILL SUFFERING -- EVEN IN THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN 2 Thessalonians 1:5, NIV: "All this [persecutions and trials] is evidence that God's judgment is right, and as a result you will be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering." | ||
| Denisegilmore |
These are all wonderful! Now I'm trying to think one up. Blessings to all, DtB | ||
| Denisegilmore |
Come on, all you lurkers out there! Help us out here. I certainly would love to hear from you. :) God is with us all, DtB | ||
| Maryann |
Salvation is like being born (actually, it IS being re-born;-); once you are born you can never be un-born. You will always be your parent's child. You will always be God's child;-) You can never be un-reborn. You may do things that bring shame to your parents, yet you will always be their children. You may (will) do things that bring shame to your heavenly Father, but you will always be His child and he will love you regardless. You may be a child with down's syndrome or be retarded, yet you will always be your parent's child. You may be a retarded (slow spiritual growth) child of God, yet He will love you as much as a whole child of His. John 10:27-30...27"My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; 28...and I give eternal life to them, and they shall never perish; and no one shall snatch them out of My hand. 29...My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Faher's hand. 30...I and the Father are one." 1 John 2:25 25..."And this is the promise which He Himself made to us: eternal life." Isn't it great to rest, knowing that even though we are spiritually retarded, God will ALWAYS love us? Doesn't that light a fire under your? It does me!;-)) Do you believe? Do really believe?? If you do, then rest in His love and the security of your salvation by grace alone;-)) IBC | ||
| Valm |
Again, profoundly spoken. Yes. Valerie | ||
| Lori |
GRACE-God's free gift to mankind. GRACE-something that mankind through his own work can never deserve from God. GRACE-all that God is free to do for mankind on the basis of the saving work of Jesus Christ on the cross. | ||
| Lori |
The salvation that we are provided through grace is like God giving us an airline ticket. With the airline ticket, which we "accepted" (we had to either take it or reject it) from God we board the jet-this jet only has those on it that accepted "the ticket" from God. The jets destination is paradise. We did nothing to earn the ticket and we do nothing but rest on the "flight", our every need while we are on the jet has already been known ahead of time and has alreadly been provided for. Believing that we are responsible for retaining salvation by some system of works is like trying to get out of the jet in mid-air and "help" by pushing. Trying to hold on to salvation by human effort is as ridiculous as trying to push the jet. There are many other spiritual things that can be brought out in this don't you think?? Of course, Christ is the pilot-he had already tested out the "prototype" jet (his life on this earth under the enabling power of the Holy Spirit) and it worked perfectly!!! | ||
| Onesimus |
Laughter is the closest thing to the grace of God.--Karl Barth What makes us human is not our mind but our heart; not our ability to think but our ability to love.--Unknown | ||
| Denisegilmore |
Your crimes are murdering a person, robbing another, lying and cheating to others, rape and so on. You are standing in court, in front of the Judge. He tells you of your charges and then asks how you plea. Of course, you know you're guilty of all charges so you plea guilty. The Judge sentences you to life in prison. Then the Judge informs you that he will do your time in prison. As he is not only a just but a merciful Judge. You are Freed from a life in prison. DtB P.S. I don't know where I heard that one, so I cannot give proper credit, where credit is due. | ||
| Max |
BEING REBORN IS BEING TRANSFORMED INTO A NEW CREATURE! We have been born again -- THEREFORE we are new human beings as sons and daughters of God -- and heirs to all the promises. Life -- not under law, but -- under pure grace in the kingdom of heaven that is all around us is a whole new life experience. We have been made a new creation. Hereís how: We: 1. are birthed all over again -- of God rather than of Satan or ìthe worldî or self -- 2. feed at the breasts -- of God rather than those of Satan or ìthe worldî or self -- 3. are eventually weaned onto the solid food -- of God rather than that of Satan or ìthe worldî or self -- 4. grow up as sons and daughters -- of God rather than of Satan or ìthe worldî or self -- and, 5. come into our inheritance -- of God rather than of Satan or ìthe worldî or self -- I have only recently come to realize the wholesomeness of this complete metaphor. It has, in my opinion, been nearly destroyed by two satanic intrusions into Christian thinking from the world: SATANIC INTRUSION NUMBER ONE: that God is exclusively masculine with no feminine attributes at all. Hereís scriptural proof to the contrary: NIV Isaiah 66:9-13: ^^Do I bring to the moment of birth and not give delivery?" says the Lord. "Do I close up the womb when I bring [you] to delivery?" says your God. "Rejoice with Jerusalem [used here as a metaphor for God] and be glad for HER, all you who love HER; rejoice greatly with HER, all you who mourn over HER. For you will NURSE and be satisfied at HER comforting BREASTS; you will drink deeply and delight in HER overflowing abundance." For this is what the Lord says: "I will extend peace to HER like a river, and the wealth of nations like a flooding stream; you will NURSE and be carried on HER arm and dandled on HER knees. As a MOTHER comforts HER child, so will I comfort you; and you will be comforted over Jerusalem."^^ NIV 1 Peter 2:1-3: Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. Like newborn babies, crave [GODís] pure spiritual [BREAST]MILK, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have TASTED that the Lord is good. NIV 1 Corinthians 3:1-2: Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly -- mere infants in Christ. I gave you [GODíS BREAST]MILK, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. NIV Hebrews 5:12-14: You [Jewish Christians slipping back into required circumcision, Sabbath-keeping, tithe-paying and ham-shunning] need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again. You need [GODíS BREAST]MILK, not solid food! Anyone who lives on [GODíS BREAST]MILK, being still an INFANT, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the MATURE. SATANIC INTRUSION NUMBER TWO: that breast feeding is somehow shameful and so we should neither talk about it; nor let new mothers to do it in restaurants, department stores or the workplace; nor ever ever suggest that PETER, PAUL and the writer of HEBREWS in Holy Scripture could possibly ever refer to -- gasp! -- breastfeeding! After all, it was sooo obviously BOTTLE FEEDING USING INFANT FORMULA FROM SUPER- MARKET of which they wrote! Not sorry for the irony, Max of the Cross | ||
| Max |
Salvation is the beginning of the journey, not the end. --Valerie | ||
| Lydell |
Grace makes us adopted children. Unafraid to come running to the Father when we mess up. A "works" mindset makes us foster children, never quite sure if the Father will turn His back and reject our apology for wrong doing. I'll take a shot at relating something I heard Dan_2's dad say on a sermon tape. I think it is powerful. When Dan's dad, Dave, was 12 he and some buddies decided to try their hand at breaking a horse. They didn't have a breaking saddle, but knew that one of the cowboys on the ranch had just bought a brand new, and expensive one. Dan's dad, Dave, went to the cowboy and asked to borrow the saddle. Of course, the cowboy was most reluctant, but finally agreed to allow Dave to borrow the saddle if he would sign a note promising to repay if the saddle were damaged in anyway. Dave was 12. Nothing bad is "going to happen" in the mind of a 12 year old. So he willingly signed the promise with no thought of what it would mean. Dave took the saddle out and they put it on the horse. As I recall, as soon as they put it on the horse's back, the animal immediately went bezerk. The result was that the precious saddle was completely destroyed. Dave said that they all stood speechless looking at this mangled mound of mess that kind of resembled something that may have at one time been a sadde, wondering what in the world they were going to do. Suddenly Dave realized how stupid it was to have signed that note. He didn't have any money to pay. He knew his folks didn't have any money to pay either! What in the world would he do? He would sure the cowboy would be furious. Finally he realized that there was no way to avoid the inevitable. Full of dread for how he would be treated, he drug the mangled mess away and dropped it on the cowboy's doorstep. And knocked. When the cowboy came to the door he told him what had happened and apologized and told him he was so sorry, but he didn't have any money to pay for the mess. He told the man he would do ANYTHING to work off his debt, no matter how long it took. He stood there bracing himself for what he thought would be a horrible outburst. But instead the cowboy just stood there silently looking at the mangled mess that was once his saddle. Finally he quielty said, "no, that's okay Dave. I know you can't pay me back. I forgive you." And with that he picked up the saddle, drug it inside, and closed the door. That's grace. Dave asked, "you don't think I loved that man? From that point on I would do ANYTHING for Him." I think that explains the living spiritual reality you spoke of, Max: "You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts." II Cor. 3:3 Our lives reflect our joy of what the Lord has done for us. | ||
| Max |
Yes, Lydell, Outside of Scripture I haven't heard a better parable of what "the kingdom of heaven" is likened unto. --MC | ||
| Max |
"NOW is the time of God's favor, NOW is the day of salvation." --Paul (2 Corinthians 6:2) Meaning: Our salvation does NOT come at the end of our earthly journey or at the Second Coming. --MC | ||
| Lorinc |
Your situation: Standing barefoot in front of a pathway of hot coals, over which you must walk. For some reason (make up your own), your life depends on doing this. As you stand there, afraid and uncertain, Jesus appears. What happens next? SDA Version: Jesus proceeds to walk through the coals. He reaches the other side, turns, faces you, and says, "There! I did it! So can you, if you just follow my example!" Christian Version: Jesus walks to you, picks you up, and carries you across the coals. At the other side, He embraces you, and says, "Come with Me, my child! You need never fear the coals again." - Lorin | ||
| Cindy |
Lorin, Hi! :-)) Thanks very much for that illustraion. I know I'd much rather be in Jesus' ARMS than try to walk over those coals myself... Grace always, Cindy | ||
| Steve (Steve) |
Grace is like an elevator. You step into it, and next thing you know, you're on the top floor! |
