Who is the real Jew? (below)
Should we pay tithes?
Once saved always saved?
2 Cor 3:6 Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.
Rom 7:4-6
4 Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.
5 For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death.
6 But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.
Rom 2:23-29
23 Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God?
24 For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written.
25 For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision.
26 Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision?
27 And shall not uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfil the law, judge thee, who by the letter and circumcision dost transgress the law?
28 For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:
29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.
And so, men and women of God, we aren't called to pay "tithes" or "rob" God, but to "give it ALL away", and then come and follow Him!...or we'll end up "robbing" ourselves out of the true riches.
Besides that's what "Faith" does and is all about: "Hearing/understanding, believing/trusting and following/obeying Jesus and His words".
If you can part with ALL your riches (seeing them for what they are in the Light of Christ) and let go of them in your heart then you'll have both hands free and empty to lay a hold of Him...as He first laid a hold of you: "Phillipians 3:12".
Luke 16:11-13
11 If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?
12 And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man's, who shall give you that which is your own?
13 No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
Phil 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
"Tithing" places a "law and a limitation" on God's money! Where there is no law or limit THEN we are FREE to give freely whenever and wherever the Holy Spirit places another's "need" on our hearts. :)
2 Pet 1:4-10
4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.
10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:
Have you "thought" about what Peter is saying?
I believe that to believe that one is "OSAS": therefore, 'period', it's over, shut and closed regardless of what lies
ahead!, is the cause of something worse than believing in false doctrine, it gives the one who believes this a "Dangerous Mind-set" to exist because of "CONCEIT" or can cause one to become "CONCEITED" because of it: "Hey I'm saved forever and you're not!" It causes one to "sleep" or be slothful towards holiness, not seeing the need to put the hand to the plow from start to finish.
Think about the dangerous teachings of "Calvinism" for one, where you are either saved or not as God eternally decides for everyone with no choice at all on our part.
"Having no choice because God chose to save me and not you - and that's that",
that kind of thinking is every bit as dangerous as ---
"Having and making that choice once, way back when - so therefore I'm saved forever because of *IT*", irregardless of what I do after *IT*
is about as proud and high-minded against hearing the WHOLE COUNSEL OF TRUTH as one can get!!!
What a Dangerous mind-set to harbor!!! To actually believe that it is impossible to fall away (who else do you think can "fall away" pray tell?) - or,to believe that a person is like a zombie with no choice or say in the matter and "blaming" his salvation on God as if he hasn't "an option"?)
So, it's NOT just the "False Doctrine" that is associated with these beliefs that causes one to blindly stumble over them, but the kind of "Closed" or "High-walled" mind-set that comes in with them. THAT is the real Danger!!!
Here are some scriptures that have to do with such a mind-set....
Prov 18:11 The rich man's wealth is his strong city, and as an high wall in his own CONCEIT.
(Question: Perhaps the OSAS Christian feels that he is "Rich" in believing ONLY the promises of Christ to him that he will Never fall away, no matter how "sinful" he may again become if he wilfully continues in sin, and refuses to hear and/or respond to any "negative or IF/THEN Scriptures" against this "high wall" he has made!? see http://www.velocity.net/~subi/newslfeb.htm#grow)
Prov 26:12 Seest thou a man wise in his own CONCEIT? there is more hope of a fool than of him.
Rom 12:16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own CONCEITS.
Generally, being "Conceited is being "proud" (of self or something) in your own eyes. A "True Christian has NOTHING to be proud of in being Saved, rather he should feel humbled and in sorrow - because "Christ" had to come and lay down His own life as the price to save us no good rotten hell-bound sinners. ( I'd add more if I had the time.)
A proud (or closed minded to the Truth kind of) man tends to think of himself or what he has to be something special, that can't be lost. This is a "Dangerous mind-set to harbor, and "Christians" need to be aware of it!....
Some other Scriptures....
Gal 6:3 For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.
James 1:22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
James 1:26 If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain.
1 Cor 3:18 Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.
1 Cor 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.
Prov 25:14 Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift is like clouds and wind without rain.
Luke 18:11 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.
Rom 12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
1 Cor 8:2 And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.
Prov 3:7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.
Prov 28:26 He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered.
