The Main Purpose of Law and Grace

• The Main Purpose of Grace:

God is giving all unbelievers as well all believers a plenty of time to repent (2Pet 3:9). God calls the seven churches in the book of Revelation to repent.

Repent means "to turn away from sin". And to turn away from sin completely does not take place overnight. A saved person must progressively grow in holiness and in the righteousness as of in the exact copy of Christ. In other words, change does not happen at once.

However, for God to allow repentance, one must have a godly sorrow. For having sorrow in a godly way results in repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regrets. But the sorrow of the world produces death. 2Co 7:10. Godly sorrow is a kind of sorrow that a person is deeply felt sorry for the sin he did. He is in the state of being sad because he was sinful, wretched and fall short of the glory of God.

Repentance must continuously run its course until the sin we hate (and sin we already knew is sinful and evil) are completely overcome. We have to produce it, until we finally be able to do the good things we ought to do such as to pray, read the bible, having a joy of belonging and a passion to obey God.

• The Main Purpose of Law:

Psalms 19:7 says, "The Law of the Lord is perfect converting the soul". The Latin word of "soul" is "psyche" which means "mind". Therefore, the main purpose of the Law is to convert, to reform, to change and to renew the mind. In other words, the Law is perfect for the renewing of the mind.

All believers were urge to renew their mind, "Do not be conformed to this world, but continually be transformed by the renewing of your minds so that you may be able to determine what God's will is-what is proper, pleasing, and perfect. Rom 12:2

There is no perfect way by which a believer has to renew his minds except through the Law which is the Ten Commandments. Other way will make sense but usually, it end up in frustrations and defeat. Recurring thought patterns and bad habits will keep coming back again and again. While inwardly you desire to do good but cannot carry it out. And unless you surpass the law, that will be your constant situation and no change at all.

Renewing of the mind will make way when you surpass the Law. There would be no renewing without surpassing the Law.

The Law is guaranteed to renew your mind, and there is no other way around.

Choose this Day!

So whoever sets aside one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. Mat 5:19

In this last days, a saved person must decide and choose wisely on how he will be going to do about the Law which is the Ten Commandments. If you claimed you are a saved person choose now:

Are you going to set aside the Law and tell others to do just the same? Or

Are you going to keep, obey and teach others to surpass the Law?

Take a closer look at the scripture above, if any saved person prefers to set aside the Law and teaches others that the ten commandments had passed away, that the Law is not binding anymore, obsolete and have no significance until today they are preventing themselves on the great privilege God had prepared in His Kingdom. As for those who does them (the ten commandments) there is a great rewards waiting for the Christians who follow, keep, obey and teach others to surpass the Law.

It does not mean a Christian who set aside the law is not saved. He is saved. However, if he wants that way by not allowing the law to rule in his heart and mind, certainly he will be called least in the kingdom of heaven.

If indeed the saved person decides to set aside the Law, there is a very serious matter they must consider to think about. Sin is transgression of the law (1John 3:4). That is the biblical definition of sin. And if your eyes and hands and also your tongue causes you to sin you actually transgress the law and you are in big trouble (Mat 5:29-30; Jam 3:6). In fact, any possible sin a man can do are cover by the Ten Commandments.

Think of it, if you will not give importance about the Law, then better make sure that your eye is not adulterous, see to it that your hands does not use in wickedness and your tongue found no deceit, arrogant speech and falsehood. Doubtless, the wrath of God will be pour out on those who professed they know God but in themselves does not keep His commandments (1 John 2:4). Be warned, no adulterous, thief and liars will enter the kingdom of heaven.

You can see clearly the big difference, those who will not set aside the law has a greater position than those who will.

There is a the risks involve too, that ignoring and setting aside the Law might putting oneself in the danger of the fire of hell.

So if your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one of your members than to have your whole body thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away from you. It is better for you to lose one of your members than to have your whole body go into hell." Mat 5:29-30

The tongue is a fire, a world of evil. Placed among the parts of our bodies, the tongue contaminates the whole body and sets on fire the course of life, and is itself set on fire by hell. Jas 3:6

Now is the time to decide.

Do you want to be called least in the kingdom of God and be out of danger of the fire of hell? Or

Do you want to be called great in His kingdom? Reap great rewards God had prepared for those who keep, obey and gave importance even the least stroke of the pen written in the Law?

The choice is yours.

Four Secrets of Apostle Paul

Four Secrets of Apostle Paul
by Zac Poonen

1. Contentment:

In Philippians 4:11, Paul says, "In whatever state I am, I am content." And such contentment brings with it fullness of joy and peace. Hence Paul speaks of joy and peace in verses 4 and 7 of the same chapter. We can praise God only when we are perfectly content with all His dealings with us. If we believe in a God who is sovereign and Who can therefore make everything that befalls us work together for our good, (Rom.8:28) then we can be truly content in all circumstances. Then we can praise the Lord, like Habakkuk, even when the trees in our garden don't bear fruit, when our flock dies and when we have suffered heavy financial loss - or in any situation (Habak.3:17,18). Ephesians 5:18-20 indicates that the result of the infilling of the Holy Spirit is an outflow of praise to God. The Apostle Paul could rejoice even when he was locked up in prison, with his feet in stocks (Acts 16:25). Even there, he was content and found nothing to complain about.

2. Cross:

Paul said, "I am crucified with Christ" (Gal. 2:20). The cross is a symbol of weakness, shame and death. The Apostle Paul had fears, perplexities, sorrows and tears in his life (See 2 Cor. 1:8; 4:8; 6:10; 7:5). He was considered a fool and a fanatic. He was often treated like dirt and garbage by others (1 Cor. 4:13). He glories in nothing but the cross (Gal. 6:14). He does not glory in his gifts or abilities or even his deeper life experiences. He glories only in dying to himself perpetually. He says in 2 Cor. 4:10, "Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body [in ever-increasing degree]." One aspect of the cross that he accepted was the disciplining of his bodily appetites. He says, "Like an athlete I punish my body, treating it roughly, training it to do what it should, not what it wantsto" (1 Cor. 9:27-LB). He disciplined his eyes in what they read and looked at, his ears in what they listened to, and his tongue in what it spoke. He disciplined his life in every area.

3. Humility:

Twenty-five years after his conversion, Paul says, "I am the least of the apostles" (1 Cor. 15:9). Five years subsequently, he says, "I am less than the least of all the saints" (Eph. 3:8). Still a year later he says, "I am (notice, it is not "I was" but "I am") the chief of sinners" (1 Tim. 1:15). The closer Paul walked with God, the more he was conscious of the corruption and wickedness of his flesh. He recognized that no good thing could be found in his flesh (Rom. 7:18).

4. Pressing forward:

"I am pressing on," says Paul, nearly thirty years after his conversion, and as he was drawing to the end of his life (Phil. 3:14). He still has not attained. He is seeking a still greater degree of the fullness of the Spirit of God in his life, and is therefore straining every spiritual muscle toward this goal.

_________________

The Law is Excellent Part 2

The Law is excellent because it makes the saved person to become excellent too. Jesus said,For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.Mat 5:20

The word “surpass” means “be excellent”. Therefore, we must be excellent to go far beyond than the righteousness of the Pharisees who outwardly follow the law but inwardly they are filled with hypocrisy. Their lips speak of the law but their heart is far from what Jesus had really intended on the law.

It was very clear, Christ did not do away with the Law; He fulfilled it (Matt. 5:17). He also taught that the Law would never pass away, and that whoever would break even the least of the commandments and teach others to do so shall be the least in the kingdom of heaven (Matt. 5:18, 19). Jesus himself had surpassed the law and Christians should do the same also.

We are called to be excellent, Paul said, “Be excellent of what is good (Rom 16:19).

Did you know that a “truly saved” person does not and should not sin anymore, excellent not to go on sinning?

No one who has been born from God practices sin, because God's seed abides in him. Indeed, he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born from God. 1Jn 3:9

Actually, the truth is, a saved person will still go on sinning. However, when a saved person had commit sin it should not be intentional and habitual. Those who continually go on sinning in which he knows sin is sin, evil is evil the bible said that person is not a children of God( 1 Jon 3:8). Therefore, not saved.

To become excellent of what is good is to avoid and hate what already knows is sin and evil.

We know that not to tell a lie, not to look with a lust, not to steal and not to anger-murder are good. If in some reason that those who claimed saved had intentionally and continuously lie, lust, steal and murder then accordingly as what the bible tells, will not certainly enter heaven.

The moral law or the Ten Commandments needs more than keeping, fulfilling and obeying. We need to surpass it the way Jesus did.

Becoming expert on the law is not our main goal but to be excellent of what is good. That in any possible way our “good works” ( as a saved person) should never and ever be contrary and against to the exact and real intent of the Law.

The Law is Excellent

● Shame unto them who will disregard the law which is the 10 commandment, who will not establish them upon in their heart and mind, who totally abolished the law in the church, who did not give importance even to the least stroke of the pen written in the law.

● But happy are those who will love the law, who will keep the law in the tablet of their heart, and who will make the law the apple of their eyes.

In all over the earth and in all throughout generations, the 10 commandments are excellent. Why? The first and foremost reason why the law is excellent simply is because it will make the whole body of a person to keep out from the danger of the fire of hell. Look at what the scriptures said,

So if your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one of your members than to have your whole body thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away from you. It is better for you to lose one of your members than to have your whole body thrown into hell. Mat 5:29-30

Let us take for example, the 7th commandment says, “Do not commit adultery”. When a person look with a lust to opposite sex that is actually the same if someone committed adultery (Mat 5:27-28). Therefore, that particular command really means is, “Do not look with a lust”. Of course it is the eye that causes the person to sin if to look with a lust to opposite sex.

Another example, the 8th commandment says, “Do not steal”. What else do we think the person uses when he steals something? Definitely he uses his hands and there are many people today (including who claimed they are saved) use their hands in different kinds of immorality and unrighteousness.

Take note, if just the hand or eye causes you to sin, your whole body will be thrown into hell where in that place worms never die, and the fire never put out. How terrible it is to be in that kind of place, it’s unimaginable!

So if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life injured than to have two hands and go to hell, to the fire that cannot be put out. In that place, worms never die, and the fire is never put out. And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two feet and be thrown into hell. In that place, worms never die, and the fire is never put out. And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell. In that place, worms never die, and the fire is never put out. Mar 9:43-48

Just on those two commands it clearly shows that the law is excellent. That by keeping (surpassing) all of the 10 commandments the saved person can enter heaven with his hand and eyes fully intact with the whole body. Don’t take it literally, cutting the hand or tearing out the eye doesn’t do away sin. All sin emanates from the heart and mind and by continually renewing the mind the evil pattern of the hands and eyes that are not pleasing in the sight of God can be cut, tear down and remove. The mind must be renew to become the mind of Christ.

If someone says the 10 commandments has no more significant today, they are putting themselves in danger of the fire of hell. If they do believe in that misconception, then better make sure that their mouth are not full of falsehood, they must have never tell a lie anymore and boast, make sure that if they look to opposite sex there is no lust in their eyes, make sure that they didn’t steal something even if it small of value and make sure that they have not harboring bitterness, wrath, anger, revenge, indignation and hatred toward others. Otherwise, if they continually do those detestable things, they are not different from the unsaved. Not saved at all.

Furthermore, make sure to themselves that they are not becoming like the Pharisees. They keep the law in their mouth but their hearts are very far from the real intent of the law. Outwardly they showed it but inwardly full of hypocrisy. They are expert in the law, preach biblically about the law but they didn’t excel –exceeds-surpass the law.

Indeed the law is excellent. Make it a habit of everyone to look their face to the mirror of the 10 commandments. See to it that there are no mote in your eyes (prejudices) and no dirt (any sin) (sin of omission and sin of commission) sticking on your face. If there’s any, even if it is small, the excellent way is to repent and make every effort to surpass the law.

The Law can save You!

“Just then a man came up to Jesus and said, "Teacher, what good deed should I do to have eternal life?" Jesus said to him, "Why ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good.If you want to get into that life, you must keep the commandments." Mat 19:16-17

“The person who says, "I have come to know him," but does not continually keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. 1Jn 2:4

It’s very simple, the law can save you because if we will not keep it, sin will dominates in the members of our body.

A saved person will go to hell just because of his eyes, hands and tongue:

“But I say to you, anyone who stares at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. So if your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one of your members than to have your whole body thrown into hell”. Mat 5:28-29

“ And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away from you. It is better for you to lose one of your members than to have your whole body go into hell." Mat 5:30

"The tongue is a fire, a world of evil. Placed among the parts of our bodies, the tongue contaminates the whole body and sets on fire the course of life, and is itself set on fire by hell.Jam 4:6

Can't you see? The Law can save your whole body from hell!

We must continually put to death the misdeeds of the body that is contrary to the Spirit of God that within us (Rom 8:13). We must consider ourselves dead as far as the sin is concerned, but alive to God in Christ (Rom 6:11).

Therefore, “Do not let sin rule your mortal bodies so that you obey their desires. Stop offering the parts of your body to sin as instruments unrighteousness. Instead, offer yourselves to God as people who have been brought from death to life and the parts of your body as instruments of righteousness to God”. Rom 6:12-13


Keep the (spiritual) Law. It can save You.

Claimed it, But Watch Out! Part 2

Many person besides claiming they are truly saved or always saved they are also claiming they are “more than conqueror”. But the truth is vast majority of Christians are conquered by the sin that are living in the members of their body.

Those who claimed they are more than conqueror take the four questions below and be honest to yourself:

This past week or month:

“Did you told a lie?” If so, then you are conquered by the sin living in your tongue.

“Did you look with a lust to opposite sex? If so then you are conquered by the adulterous eyes that belong to you body. You already committed adultery.

“Did you steal something even it is small of value? Did you rob God? If so then you are conquered by the sin living in your hand. You are a thief.

“Did you easily get angry? Are you harboring bitterness, wrath, indignation, hatred to others? If so, then you are already conquered by the devil who is murderer since the beginning. Just like Cain you are a murderer.

There is no problem with what we claimed and even the word of God we claimed. The truth of the matter, is that “In spiritual realm we are more than conqueror because Jesus had already conquered the devil, the world and even death. But in the natural realm or in reality there are sin living in the members of our body that conquering within us wherein we must conquer and subdued all completely.”

Have you observed yourself? You desire to pray but instead your eyes oftentimes conquered you to become sleepy. Why? Because the members of our body which is the flesh is contrary to the Spirit. The Spirit that is within us desires to do good, such as to pray and read the bible regularly but we find the body always weak to carry out the good we ought to do. The main reason why many “man of God” fall into the devil’s hand is the lack of being watchful and prayerful and because of it, the members of their body (hand, eyes and tongue) becomes alive again to the sin.

When a saved person becomes neglectful of what ought to be do such as reading the bible, prayer, fellowship, witnessing and most importantly surpassing the Law, the devil’s foothold will build. If he continually entangle himself from the things of God, his last condition will become worse than ever before. Understand that once a person has been enlightened, had fully known the saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ and have taste the so called born-again experience, the chance of going back to where he formerly belong is possible (2Pet 2:20).

If in this moment you see a sin working in the members of your body, don’t be dismay. Hold on to the promise that we are more than conqueror but then we have to be diligent and determine to take the other way around and that is to completely conquer the body. Paul says, “But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection 1Co 9:27

The best way to conquer our body is to take a close watch of our hand, eyes and tongue in whatever we do and whenever we are. Then while you watch, do pray always so that you may not be caught up unaware (by temptations) of the things that might occur.

Paul see to it that he himself are not overcome (conquer) by his own body. He subject (and watch) his body by not staying too much time in the “comfort zone”. He always brings his body to the “prayer zone” and stay there until the presence and power of God rest on him.

Therefore as what Paul did let’s keep Watch and Pray. And, “Do not let sin rule your mortal bodies so that you obey their desires. Stop offering the parts of your body to sin as instruments unrighteousness. Instead, offer yourselves to God as people who have been brought from death to life and the parts of your body as instruments of righteousness to Go”d. Rom 6:12-13

Claimed it, But Watch Out!

There is no problem at all when a saved person claimed he is “truly saved” or others claimed was “always saved”. Those who claimed they are truly saved, should claimed it and those who claimed they are always saved, should claimed it also, hold tight on what they believe. They should even claim what the scripture tells about on what they claimed. In fact, there are about more than 200 verses in the bible a saved person can claim that tells about the assurance of salvation of those who are in Christ.

As much as possible, besides claiming, a saved person should memorize and internalize those verses and meditate it day and night, however that is one thing. Claiming all of it without watching closely their Christian walk is another thing.

Claiming without watching their daily walk might cause a very serious problem for those who said they are truly saved or always saved.

For those who claimed they are truly saved or always saved,

Claimed it, But Watch Out!

You might become like the following persons below, they have been caught up by the sin unaware:

1.King David - who claimed to be the man “after God own heart”, but later in the comfort of his position he become adulterer, murderer, liar and a thief. God punished him and it proves that no one can escape from the wrath of God for those who committed detestable things.

2.Lucifer - who claimed to be a “bright morning light”, supposed to be eternally secured in heaven (eternally saved), but because of PRIDE, he was kicked out from heaven. Angels and human beings are created by God, both have the will to obey or to disobey God. Lucifer who once a beautiful angel chose to disobey God and many people today (including who says they are Christians) choose his way.

3.Ananias and Saphira - who claimed themselves as generous giver and serving God but found out to be a liar. The bible said that liar goes to hell Rev 21:8

4.Judas Iscariot - who claimed to be a disciple (chosen apostle) of Christ but found out to be a thief. No thief can enter heaven.

5.Peter – claimed to be the chief of the Apostles. He becomes unaware of his hypocrisy that if not caught in the act by Apostle Paul and publicly rebuke him (Gal 2:11-14), Peter will continue in hypocrisy that the devil might take foot hold on him. Peter must be thankful to Paul.

6.Demas – claimed to be a Christian worker and follower of Christ but then fall in love with the world (2 Tim 4:10). He becomes carnal and worldly.

7.Cain – claimed to have the best offering and worship. He killed his own brother because of envy.

8.Balaam – claimed to be a prophet of God who loved the reward he got for doing wrong (2 Pet 2:15). He becomes a lover of wealth.

9.Angels - claimed to have greater strength and power . Many of them have sinned that they are now called a fallen angels. God did not spare them to be punish in hell (2 Pet 2:4). Watch out! You might become like the fallen angels.

Look at Jude 1:11-13 and take notice of the two person mentioned: Cain and Balaam

How terrible it will be for them! For they followed the path of Cain, rushed headlong into Balaam's error to make a profit, and destroyed themselves in Korah's rebellion. These people are stains on your love feasts. They feast with you without any sense of awe. They are shepherds who care only for themselves. They are waterless clouds blown about by the winds. They are autumn trees that are fruitless, twice dead, and uprooted. They are wild waves of the sea, churning up the foam of their own shame. They are wandering stars for whom the deepest darkness has been reserved forever. Jud 1:11-13

Note the last sentence, “They are wandering stars for whom the deepest darkness has been reserved (for them)forever”. That is Hell! There is no doubt that Judas, Ananias and Saphira, and all angels that sinned goes with Cain and Balaam into the deepest darkness.

How about King David who murdered, lied, coveted and committed adultery, he must be in hell? No, he’s not in hell and he is not there because of being the man after God’s own heart. God spared him because he submitted himself to God’s discipline. When David said, “I have sinned”’, he humble himself and it means he did not let his pride overtake his heart. Read Heb 12:5-11; Jam 4:6

In the case of Peter, maybe you can imagine how shameful he must be when Paul rebuke him in the front of many people because of his hypocrisy. In that occasion Peter controlled himself not to loose temper and he also did not let his pride to arise in his shameful situation. He humbly submitted to Paul’s rebuke.

If it is hard for the righteous person to be saved, what will happen to the ungodly and sinful person? 1Pe 4:18

Therefore, the person who thinks he is standing securely should watch out that he does not fall. 1Co 10:12

“Many will (claimed) say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, we prophesied in your name, drove out demons in your name, and performed many miracles in your name, didn't we?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Get away from me, you evildoers!'" Mat 7:22-23



This clearly shows that by just claiming you are truly saved or always saved is not enough. Any persons who claimed what they claimed must be vigilant to closely watch their daily walk. It means his “talk” should be always conformed to his “walk”, it must go hand on hand and it will takes place only when one is being watchful. In every occasion and circumstances he must always be on the watch to his hands, eyes and tongue for in those members of the body manifest immorality, adultery and lying/boasting respectively.

Above all things, take a close watch of your heart for it is very deceitful (Jer 17:9).And the most important, don’t you ever, ever forget, disregard, and ignore the law. Look at what the scriptures says,

The person who says, "I have come to know him," but does not continually keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. 1Jn 2:4




One more thing, in claiming and watching add to yourselves praying. In this way you are continuously learning, growing , maturing and guaranteed of what you claimed shall indeed be yours forever.

After salvation,What is the next real thing? Part 4

There is one excellent way for a saved person which he should undertake after salvation. It is great and excellent way because it surpasses all of the law of Moses and the law of the prophets combined. Jesus said, 'You mustlove the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the greatest and most important commandment. The second is like it: 'You must love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets depend on these two commandments." Mat 22:38-40

To love God and to love our neighbor is the excellent way a saved person should undertake after he got saved.

● How to Love God with all of your heart, mind and soul?

There is no other way to love God except by keeping the commandments. Jesus said, "If you love me, keep my commandments". John 14:15. What exactly the commandment Jesus said are to be keep? What else, no wonder it’s none other than the law in which He did not destroy or abolished but He actually fulfilled them (Mat 5:17 ).

Therefore, a saved person can love God with all of his heart, mind and soul by applying to his own daily Christian living as what the commands or the law that Jesus said, “You have heard that was it said… But now I tell you…”

When Jesus says, “Do not commit adultery” it means “Do not look with a lust”. Looking to opposite sex with a lust is the same as adultery. Therefore, love God by obeying the command that Jesus had told about on the real intent of that command. And that is ,” Do not look with a lust”.

Jesus said, “Do not murder” it means “Do not be angry”. Anger is the same as murder. Therefore love God by obeying the command that Jesus had told about on the real intent of that command. That is, “Do not be angry”.

Notice the three words in the first greatest commandment, “heart, mind and soul”. “ For it is out of the heart that evil thoughts come, as well as murder, adultery, sexual immorality, stealing, false testimony, and slander”. Mat 15:19. It is very important that we must keep the commandments in our heart because if we will not keep it, there would be more evil thoughts in our mind that will lead us to anger (murder), adulterer, to steal, to become liar. If we not keep the commandments, our thoughts will lead us to break even the least part of the intended commands Jesus speaks.

If a saved person break the first greatest commandment then he is committing the first greatest sin. Not to love God is the first greatest sin.

Therefore let us not forget His commands and make it always as the apple of your eyes:

“My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments: For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee. Pro 3:1 -2

“My son, keep my words, and lay up my commandments with thee.
Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye.
Bind them upon thy fingers, write them upon the table of thine heart. Pro 7:1-3



● How to love your neighbor as yourself?

If you want to love your neighbor as yourself you can actually do that practically as in the following:

Do not tell a lie to your neighbor
Do not steal whatever belongs to your neighbor even if it is small of value.
Do not anger-murder. Do not provoke your neighbor to anger.
Do not look with a lust to opposite sex
Do not covet. Be content and enjoy what you have.

Maybe you can guess what the second greatest sin is- love not your neighbor is indeed the second greatest sin.

Understand that the 10 commandments as a whole were really intended for us to love God and to love others. The sum of all the commandments is love.

The excellent way to show that you love God with all of your heart, mind and soul and to show that you love your neighbor as yourself is only through the 10 commandments.

Only love is what God wants from us and only love is all what we need.

After Salvation, What is the next real thing? Part 3

If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes with the holy angels in his Father's glory." Mar 8:38


The next real thing after salvation for a saved person to undertake is to make himself not to be ashamed of Christ and his words.

Usually, the problem that came to a saved person after salvation is not the tag that he is in Christ but the words – the Word of God. Jesus said “Go and make disciples” (Mat 28:19-20), it is a command not only for the “ordained” but to every Christian and in order to do that, each Christian should testify for Christ through His words.

Notice the word “ashamed”. Ashamed means to be “unwilling or restrained because of fear of shame, ridicule, or disapproval”. Testifying about Christ to the unsaved is something many Christian were more likely hesitant because of fear of shame, ridicule, or disapproval. If that so, then that kind of Christians are ashamed of Jesus and His words.

The good news is that there is a solution to the problem of being ashamed of Jesus and His words. One best solution is already given in the scripture and that is,

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth”. 2Ti 2:15

That scripture told every Christian to study to show oneselves approved unto God. It means we should study the subject of evangelism to learn the way on how to share our faith to the unsaved so you and I need not to be ashamed and fearful. Pro 16:23 says, “The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth, and addeth learning to his lips”. And Pro 11:30 says, “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise”.


If any saved person do not make it a matter of study about testifying for Christ, then look at what the Revelation 21:8 indicates. The “fearful” are aligned with the “unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and wrongmongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars”, they all will be cast into the lake of fire.

God has not given us the spirit of fear, but instead He has given us power, love and a sound mind (see 1 Tim 1:7). We have been given “power” to witness for Christ. We have “love” to cast out all fear, and we have a “sound mind” to faithfully testify to the truth of the gospel- that God is holy, that hell is real, and that the cross is the only way to escape.

So let us diligently study how to share the gospel and how to do it. Let us make evangelism a part of our lifestyle.

Again, diligently study that matter so that we can rid totally ourselves of the fear of man. Let us need not to be ashamed of the truth.

After Salvation, What is the next real thing? Part 2

The next real thing after salvation which is the important thing is to grow spiritually. As what has been said in part 1, a Christian must read the bible, pray, attend a fellowship and witnessing all of them are basic part of Christian life so that a saved person can grow towards maturity in Christ.

Besides on those things needed in Christian spiritual growth, there is a very essential things that must be incorporate in Christian practical way of living. It is a vital things that a saved person is considered truly saved if it’s become his everyday life’s practices. The bible said, “This is how God's children and the devil's children are distinguished. No person who fails to practice righteousness and to love his brother is from God. Jn 3:10. Take note, to practice righteousness and not failing of doing it is a children of God-truly saved.

What exactly the righteousness a saved person should practice? There are actually a saved person can practically and exactly do the righteousness as in the following:

● By not lying. If someone claimed he is of God, have faith and truly saved take a look of what the bible said about lying.

He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 1Jn 2:4


Whoever says, "I love God," but hates his brother is a liar. The one who does not love the brother whom he has seen cannot love a God whom he has not seen. 1Jn 4:20


But people who are cowardly, unfaithful, detestable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars will find themselves in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur. This is the second death." Rev 21:8

● By not looking to the opposite sex lustfully. To look with a lust to an opposite sex is the same as adultery.

"You have heard that it was said, 'You must not commit adultery.' But I say to you, anyone who stares at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. Mat 5:27-28


● By not stealing even it is small of value. Those who steal is called a thief-like Judas (John 12:4-6)

Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings Mal 3:8

But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, 5 or as a busybody in other men's matters. 1Pe 4:15

●By not easily get angered. Are you a hot tempered person and quick to be angry? Do you harbor hatred, bitterness, wrath, indignation, revenge towards others? If so then you are a murderer-not truly saved.

Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life remaining in him. 1Jn 3:15

Of course, none of you should suffer for being a murderer, thief, criminal, or troublemaker. 1Pe 4:15

Are you a real Christian and claimed you are truly saved or even eternally saved? First of all before you say yes, face yourself to the mirror of the ten commandments and ask yourself the following questions:

Is there some lie I told about last week, last month or last year?

Am I still looking my eyes with lust to opposite sex?

Did I steal something (from my place of work, office, school from someone) even if it is small of value? Did I rob God? Mal.3:10

Am I still holding grudges, bitterness, revenge, wrath, indignation to someone?

Therefore, in all of the above, it is very essential that after a person got saved he should practice and practice and practice and keep on practicing the righteousness(which is of God) that surpass the righteousness of Pharisees (self-righteous) until he become so well used to it.

Again, let me repeat, to practice righteousness and not failing of doing it is a children of God-truly saved.

After Salvation, What is the next real thing? Part 1

“O taste and see that the Lord is good”(Psa 34:8). Indeed, when a person got saved he received a “taste of heaven”. It tastes something different that a saved person cannot express what an awesome and unspeakable joy it is. That was we experience when we accepted the gift of salvation because along with that gift was a deep sense of joy far from the things of this world has to offer.

However, as the days pass by, we notice a change in our feeling, the “taste” that bring joy in our heart were gone. Our joy suddenly turns into mourning because of many unpleasant things happening in our life as being a follower of Christ. Jesus said, And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. Mat 10:38.

We must not be surprised, the cross symbolized hardship and suffering. After you taste heaven you now come to take the cross and follow Jesus and that is something called a taste of a little bit of hell here on earth. After salvation, what is the next real thing? Absolutely it is the things you will not expect. There will be persecution, insults, false accusation and other evil manner because you are in Christ (Mat 5:11) and that is suffering. Those are the cross (suffering) that you must carry wherever you are.

There is a paradox here a saved person should see and understand. You must really suffer to have a real joy. Yes! You must suffer as a Christian that differs from non Christian. It means because of you are in Christ, belong to him you are being persecuted, insulted and laugh at. If that so, then rejoice and be glad for you are as what the bible describe was blessed, “

"How blessed are you whenever people insult you, persecute you, and say all sorts of evil things against you falsely because of me! Mat 5:11.

“If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the glorious Spirit of God is resting on you. Of course, none of you should suffer for being a murderer, thief, criminal, or troublemaker. But if you suffer for being a Christian, do not feel ashamed, but glorify God with that name. 1Pe 4:14-16

To be persecute, insult, mock, laugh at you and say evil of you because you are in Christ are something that was not enjoyable in the natural sense. But if we look at it beyond of what our eyes could see and beyond of what we feel, those things will be a truly thrilling and exciting experience. And faith is the important substance to have that wondrous experience. Faith is the assurance of things we hope for, the certainty of things we cannot see” Heb 11:1 . We must see, feel, and taste beyond of what the natural man senses naturally which is of the flesh and carnal.

We cannot see beauty in suffering and we have no assurance when things get tough around us but because of the faith we have in God all things turn upside down. Whatever circumstances good or bad it ends up all for our own good (Rom 8:28). When we suffer for Christ sake we should be happy not because we are pretending or trying to be happy but it is because of the “Spirit of Comfort” which is the Holy Spirit moving and working in a very special way within us.

Initially, after salvation, what is the next real thing? Take the cross, and you must claimed by faith that you are blessed if you suffer for His name sake (Mat 5:11). Of course, it will only takes place when you regularly read the bible, pray, fellowship and testify about Christ. Keep these in mind and keep doing about all these things so God will give you the divine enablement to become happy even in the midst of all odds.

Legitimate Sign a Saved Person is Truly a Children of God.

There is another indication or a sign that a saved person (those who claimed they are truly saved/eternally saved) might not be children of God at all-not saved at all.

The Bible said, “ If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons”. Heb 12:7-8 NKJV

Chastening of God the Father is a legitimate sign that a person is truly saved. Those who claimed that they are children of God but not experiencing a chastening then accordingly the bible said they are illegitimate and not sons-not saved.

Chastening of God comes in different forms as of what like happens to Job. He endures sufferings, insults from friends and from his own wife. And as God test Job, Abraham, Peter and all Israelites so a Christian too. In some degree or another and in different forms which God would allow to every Christian, will walk through which the bible said was on a narrow way.

Apostle Paul is a profound example who found out that to be chastened is good and profitable. He actually considers and turns those difficulties into his delights. He said that if not for the “thorn in the flesh” in which God allowed in Paul’s body he will surely become conceited.

Therefore, consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds (James 1:2). Stop complaining but keep praising and thanking the Lord in all circumstances.

God as our Father chasten or discipline us for our own good. Indeed it is unpleasant but we must endure it until we are well use not to disobey God but follow and obey him with all of our heart, mind, soul and strength.

One perfect way to be sure you are not going to be a false converts

The Bible said, “The law of the Lord is perfect converting the soul...Psa 19:7
The Latin word of “Soul” is “Psyche” which means “Mind”. Therefore it can be said that the law is perfect to convert the mind. In other words, the function of the law is to perfectly renew and change the mind into having the mind of Christ. A total turning of the mind from carnal mind into spiritual mind.

There are things should always be in our mind, “ Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things”.(Phil 4:8)

Think about these things, anyone who claimed they are truly saved or eternally saved but their minds were being polluted contrary to whatever is true, noble, right, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy one is suspect of being a false convert.

As far as the law is concern, the law which is the 10 Commandments is perfect to convert the minds. The law is a perfect way that can be use as a mirror so a saved person can look at it and see what inside in his mind and on his own heart. Because, “For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander”. Matt 15:19

Remember this, “What the mind conceived the body will achieved”. Therefore, it is excellent way to keep the law in our heart so our mind will conceive all that contains in it. Thus our mind will be convert, reform, change and renew continuously making our body achieve not the desires of the flesh but what is pleasing in the sight of God. Thus, making the saved person a true convert.

The law of the Lord is perfect to convert, to renew, to change the soul-psyche-mind.

Four Things that are not Right

There is a doubt that those who claimed they are truly saved/eternally saved were not saved at all because of the four things that are not right with them and maybe they are not aware or concerned about it:

To tell not a lie is a right thing. Did you still telling a lie? If so, then you are not saved because you do what the Father of lies has been doing ever since. It means your father is not God who made the heaven and earth but your father is the Devil who is a liar.

To look without a lust to opposite sex is a right thing. Is your eyes did still look lustfully? If so, then you are already committed adultery. You are not saved because no adulterous will enter heaven.

To not be angry with someone is a right thing. Have you harbour hatred, bitterness, wrath, revenge in your heart and in your mind? If so, then you are a murderer and the bible said a murderer has no eternal life-not saved.

Not to steal is a right thing. Did you steal something even if it is small of value? Did you rob God? If so, then you are thief and a thief cannot enter heaven.

The Bible tell the difference who is not a child of God (not saved)“ This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God;

The 4 things that are not right are included in the 10 commandments. Those who claimed they are truly saved/eternally saved should look and face themselves to the mirror of the 10 commandments. See to it that your face is clean of any dirt (Sin- sin of omission and sin of commission) and see to it that there’s no plank in your eyes (judgemental and lustful look). Thoroughly see your face in that mirror on a regular basis because through that mirror you can see your real state and condition.


If so happen that after you see your face in that mirror and you see many or some dirt (even it is small sin), the best thing you can do and should do is to Repent.

Repent is the word that had been said to the 7 churches in the book of Revelation. It is a very clear reminder for every truly saved person today/eternally saved that they must see to it that a genuine repentance had truly come to them.

If not, therefore REPENT NOW until there’s much time, otherwise Perish.

Best way to know if God is your friend and not Satan

Do you want to know if God really is your friend and not Satan?

There is actually a one and best way of knowing it.

Just carry the gospel by doing a one-on-one evangelism at least once a week. By doing so, for sure you will encounter people that may insult you, laugh at you, and say every evil word about you. But then take heart, of course there are people that will believe you, and indeed they are very few.

The more you go and share the gospel the more Satan will hate you. While the more you go the more Jesus will be with you. In fact he will never leave you nor forsake you because God is in your side walking with you. He will be your friend and not the one who is in the world (1 John 4:4)

Who have you shared with today?

The Paradox of the Biblical Salvation

Introduction:
They devoted themselves to the apostles teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer”. Acts 2:42

Have we ever thought, “Is the modern church today did still hold and remain steadfast to the apostles teaching'? It was during the time of the apostles (in the book of Acts) that all the believers were together in fellowship-breaking bread, eating and have everything in common. They have a one common learning and understanding of the scriptures, and that include a common knowledge on the teaching of the biblical salvation. They became as one body with one Lord, having one spirit and one mind.But not so today, the church that exist from the time of the so called "Reformation" up to the present, were not the same as the church as on the apostles days in terms of having a one mind. It is simply because of many diverse views regarding on the doctrines held by Christian denomination and organization. In particular, was on the subject of salvation and as far as the teaching of salvation is concerned, there are two different and distinct teaching that contradicting to each other. One teaching states, “Once saved, always saved", and the other one teaching states, “Those who truly saved can lose their salvation", which one can we determine was the true teaching of the apostles? Of course, many will agree and disagree on one with the other. If we say one is true and the other one is not, we are unsure because both have many strong biblical standpoints. And let us be cautious, we better stop all of our prejudices. If we say both were right, there shouldn't be divided mind and contrast views and opinions.
See Arminianism vs. Calvinism (Google)

One thing is definite, the teaching (of salvation) held by the church today were not came from the teaching of the apostles but are from the teaching of theologians and bible scholars who have constant disagreement with each other over one major subject which is a very essential doctrine in the church- Salvation. However, this doesn't mean we are to cancel the merit of their works or ignore their teachings.
Somehow disagreement must be settled for good, once and for all.

At this point in time, neither of the two teaching is considered wrong nor right, it just might be that there is something needed to be put in between. Maybe a bridge that can link them so the two can meet head on without colliding to each other. Yet there is a bridge to link them! A bridge strongly built and founded on a solid rock! And it cannot be shaken!

As Christ return is imminent, the present situation of the church was still lacking unity as a one body with having also an absence of unity in mind. The so called ‘’Universal Church’’ and the ‘’Local Church’’ is not far from being different from the Corinthian Church (1 Cor 1:10-13). This thing should never and ever be
prevailing within the church!

The Lord Jesus prays for all the believers (the universal church) to be one. John 17:20-22. His prayer means, that the church is to be one in spirit and one in mind. While the apostle Paul appeal to the Corinthian church (the local church) to agree with one another, not to make division among themselves but be perfectly united in mind. 1 Cor 1:10








The Paradox of the Biblical Salvation
“Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed-not only in my presence, but how much more in my absence-continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling”. Phil.2:12

“For you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls”. 1 Pet.1:9

By carefully analyzing the two verses, it is very logical to think that there’s must be something needed to be done before a salvation can be attained. The verses shows that one must act towards salvation until it becomes complete or until the goal have been achieved. The verse implies works that are progressive. The Paradox of the Biblical Salvation is that Salvation is by Faith and equal by Works.

The emphasis gave by the Apostle Paul instructing the Philippians to be more obedient and continue to “work out the salvation” was for a reason not because they have not yet received the so called “Sola Fide” (salvation through faith alone) and not because they are not yet assured of salvation. What Paul meant here is that one must continue to work and make every effort to save themselves from what is called the “Sting of Death.” The so called “Sting of Death” means nothing else but sin. (The sting of death is sin 1 Cor.15:56)

The ‘’Sting of Death’’
Sting means “to inject someone with toxin (venom)’’ and death means a “lack of spiritual life” (Encarta Dictionary). Therefore, the sting of death is a sin (toxin or venom) that poisons the whole being and this brought about a spiritual death- lack of spiritual life. The physical body is alive but the spiritual well being
is dead. Man is living in sin and his entire whole being was dominated by the power of sin.

Commentary:
The sting of death is sin. This gives venom to his dart: this alone puts it into the power of death to hurt and kill.Sin is the parent of death, and gives it all its hurtful power. (from Matthew Henry's Commentary)

The sting of death is sin because it is by sin that death gains authority over man, and it is by the law that sin gains its strength. The Law, then, stirred up sin, which led to death. (from The Wycliffe Bible Commentary)

Origin of the “Sting”
In Genesis 2, the Lord commanded Adam and Eve not to eat the fruit from the “Tree of knowledge of good and evil.” The Lord warned them that if they eat the fruit, they will die. However, Adam and Eve disobey the Lord and ate the fruit. After just a few moments, they didn’t die physically right away. The thing that had been taken place to both of them was actually a spiritual death. Their defiance against the Lord
resulted to spiritual death. They become separated from God. The presence and the fellowship between God and the first man come to a death-lack of spiritual life. That’s why according to John 3:3, all people must be born again because all are spiritually dead. All must be born in water and spirit.

According to Romans 3:3, “The wages of sin is death.” So, therefore, whenever a Christian sin and live with sin, death arrives resulting to spiritual death- lack of spiritual life-lack of zest unto God. These are eventually being manifested as in the following: lack of desire to read the word of God and pray, lack of joy of belonging (fellowship), lack of interests on things of God, and lacking many things. At the very start of their Christian life, they are very eager to praise, worship and serve the Lord. However, along the way because of the sting of death (which is sin), one slowly loss the passion for the Christian way of life. The life of a Christian is in the Spirit- in the Spirit of God while the death comes from the sin committed, making him/her spiritually dead. All the way, all sin leads to spiritual death.

Therefore, we could say that the root caused of how and why many Christians often failed to experience God and His presence, it was because the “Sting of Death” in which originally came from Adam and Eve were effectually at work when sin is committed. Since the beginning and until now, the poisonous venom of the Old Snake (Satan) continues to affect the whole well-being of a Christian. This poison is like a pestilence growing and spreading throughout the world affecting all creations. Also, this is like a disease that infected a person and spreads to all the races and generations. It is like an infectious disease that always recurs even after a period of temporary healing and the person starts to weaken again that lead to spiritual death.

The sting which is the sin was ingrained and deeply rooted in our whole being. That’s why every one of us has ingrained habits, and that habits are not that easy to remove. Also it’s the sting that makes us to have a sinful nature. We must completely remove the sting and be save from its power.

We should be saved from the “Sting”
In the book of Numbers 21:4-9, God commanded Moses to create a “Bronze
Serpent” and raise it up so that anyone bitten by a snake who look at it will be saved from the fierce sting of the snake at death. Just like the Israelites, we must be saved from the sting of death. Each one of us had been bitten by the serpent (satan) and the sting (the sin) had brought in us evil effect throughout in our
whole being. We became slave to sin and we always follow whatever desires of the flesh. It is undeniable, we craves for the things desires by the flesh (Gal.5:19-21). This are the real concerned of the Apostle Paul to the Philippians believers when he said that they must continue to work in order to completely take away the sting and at the same time for complete deliverance against its ill effects.

There is a truth that we need to see and understand as true believers of Jesus as our Lord and Savior. In the spiritual realm, we are saved from the judgment of fire in hell, our sins forgiven, we become holy and we become a new person. These we freely received in exchange for the sacrificial works of Christ. However, in natural realm or in reality, all of us have sinned, keep sinning and getting enslave by sin. This is the truth that even we, as a believer, still commit sin. Is there among us who never commit sin? There is none! It is so sad to think that many Christians continued to commit sin and enslaved by sin. If not, however, they ceased to grow and always return to committing sin again and again. It is also sad that for many, serving and worshipping the Lord has been only a ritual. This is because of the Sting of Death, which had clung and deeply ingrained in to one person, has never been completely removed. This disease or this “cancer of the soul” is very dangerous and contagious that if not completely treated with a right andperfect cure death and the fire of hell might awaits.

Another important thing that we need to understand is that the Sting of Death is the reason why we become slaves of sin. Our sinful nature have been there of long ago even when we were still in our mother’s womb. This is the main reason why man continued to commit sin ever since childhood. Even becoming a Christian, we continued to commit sin. When we became children of God, we did not immediately change in an instant. In fact, when we became born-again, we start as a “spiritual babies” born in the family of God. Just like a baby it needs to feed and grow and become a mature man. As a born again Christian, we also need to grow and mature on the things of God. Thus, a Christian needs to continue to work in order to progressively free himself from the slavery of sin until he is completely saved from the ‘’Sting of Death’’.

Working out your salvation is more appropriate to examine and focus the study on the Apostle Paul mentioning the law, the sin and his experience in struggling with sin. In the proceeding paragraphs we will look at the writings of the Apostle Paul to the Romans about those matters. We will analyze about what he found out about to himself during in his struggles with sin in which eventually he overcome. Likewise, we will fully understand that we need to work continually in order for us to be completely saved.

Buod
· Salvation is “Sola Fide”.
· Ang kaligtasan na tinitukoy dito ay ang kaligtasan sa “Kamandag ng Kamatayan”, na malalim na nakaukit at nakabaon sa buong pagkatao.
· Sa kalagayang espirituwal tayo ay banal, matuwid, pinawalang sala, bagong nilalang , etc.etc., subalit sa kalagayang natural, tayo ay nagkakasala at naaalipin ng kasalanan na ito ay dapat nating matakasan at mapagtagumpayan ng lubusan.

The Law, The Sin and the Struggle Within
The fact remains that when a Christian still commits sin and yet still saved is quite understandable because no Christian is perfect. However, when a born-again Christian had been for many years continually, habitually and intentionally committing sin and still goes to church, praising God, give tithes and offering
and shouting halleluiah amen, that’s a different tale to tell. We could think and ask ourselves, are they really Christian? Are they truly saved?

Actually we cannot tell what and who they really are because God only knows and besides if we directly pinpoint them we are prejudice for we have no right to judge anyone. If we judge them it will boomerang to us. The only thing we could properly do is we better give them the benefit of the doubt. Let us presumably think that maybe they are false convert or belonging to the so called ‘’stony christian’’ or the ‘’thorny christian’’. Much better, for us not to become judgmental of others, let us think that maybe they are the kind of Christians who have been struggling in their spiritual life.

Struggling with sin is what the apostle Paul has been went through when he became a Christian. From being a baby Christian and growing up to the faith and in the knowledge of God until he became powerful in the Word of God, he eventually passed through and overcome the sin he said are living in the members of the body. He found out the truth and came to the understanding of himself in relation to the law, the sin and the struggle with sin. In Rom.7:7-25, apostle Paul clearly expound on that matters, and by thoroughly studying on that context we would come up to a point that we need to ‘’work out our salvation’’ to be save completely from the ‘’sting of death’’ which is the sin.

The Law, The Sin and The Struggle with Sin Rom 7:7-25 NIV
Romans 7:7
What shall we say, then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! Indeed I would not have known what sin was except through the law. For I would not have known what coveting really was if the law had not said, "Do not covet."

We know killing a person is murder and taking other man’s wife is adultery. But as we come to the knowledge of the Word of God and his law, we have known better than before about the law. We come to know that anger is also a murder and lustful look is the same as adultery (Matt.5:21-22; 1 Jon 3:15), we haveknown what sin really was.

Rom 7:8-9
But sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, produced in me every kind of covetousdesire. For apart from law, sin is dead. Once I was alive apart from law; but when the commandment came,sin sprang to life and I died.

Out of the ‘’sin of omission’’ that we have ever since from our childhood, now comes out more sin, such as the ‘’sin of commission’’ and many other sin (as in the figure page 5) in which sprang to life. It’s like to a sleeping giants that had been awaken from a very long sleep and it turns out that we could not help ourselves and we could not resist but to submit and be a slave. There’s nothing we can do to escape from the slavery of sin. The sin becomes our master. Therefore, the more knowledge of the Word of God and his moral and spiritual law, the more sin of omission and sin of commission we have, and the more sin we have the more death on our spiritual life.

Rom 7:10-11
I found that the very commandment that was intended to bring life actually brought death. For sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, deceived me, and through the commandment put me to death.

The law that supposed to bring us life were actually brings death and the law that supposed to set us free makes us a slave to sin. Something goes wrong, that was because the law deceive us but it doesn’t mean the law is evil. It simply means, that the devil that was at from the beginning that deceive Adam and Eve, was
the same devil who deceive all mankind including us and all generation to come. By his all craftiness and deception, satan makes us in the beginning a ‘’childhood-well used-sin of omission-sinful nature-mindset’’ to a severe state as of being a ‘’childhood-demonic-worldly-anger-murderer-mindset’’. The devil took the advantage of the law, and it seems just like this: Satan says, ‘’Don’t kill, don’t murder but you can be angry, that’s ok, and that’s it. Satan business is to tell the truth but not the whole truth, the truth that he always tells is actually a lie. So then, that’s what he did to all the rest of the commandments. He uses the law to deceive,
destroy and bring a spiritual death to us.

Rom 7:12-13
So then, the law is holy, and the commandment is holy, righteous and good. Did that which is good, then, become death to me? By no means! But in order that sin might be recognized as sin, it produced death in me through what was good, so that through the commandment sin might become utterly sinful.

Not only the law is holy, righteous and good, much more it is perfect (Psa 19:7). When we are not yet a believer, we knew something about the law. We know lying is evil, we know stealing is evil, to kill is evil and to take man’s wife is evil, perhaps that’s all we know. But as ourselves becoming a believer we came to
know God and his law even much better than we have known it. We eventually understand and recognized all kinds of sin. Such as anger is also murder, lustful look is adultery and much of the other commandments. We begun to realize many sin we have against God and to others. Also we prove that the sin is really sinful and evil because it doesn’t do good and better for us as well as to others. We have seen that sin oftentimes resulted to a broken relationship among the brethren and to individual .The presence of God and the interest on the things of God fade away that consequently leads to death- lack of spiritual life.

Rom 7:14
We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin.

As we grow in the knowledge of the Word of God, we look the law as it was not just the same as natural asthe way we look at before. When Jesus said, ‘’You have heard that it was said long time ago...then, ‘’But I tell you now..., it means Jesus had taken the law for himself from the natural and bring it into spiritual law.
So the law that was well explained and well defined must be obey not in the natural way, not in literal way but beyond of what the natural and carnal man can do. It must be done in spirit (by faith) and in all truth as of what the commandments really means and says so, and as what was expected of God. It must be pleasing
and acceptable to him, and can only be done with faith. For without faith it is impossible to please God.

In other words, surpassing the law is what God required from us. We must surpass the law by faith accompanied by works of the law- The 10 commandments.
Surpassing – Outstanding: of a quality far superior than others. (Encarta Dictionary)
Surpass – To go beyond what was expected; do better than somebody; be beyond somebody’s ability

Rom 7:15-20
I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not wantto do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is
good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to dothis I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.

Anyone who wants to be a disciple of Christ will be like as what Paul went through. Whenever he desire to do good he did evil instead. The same is true that happens every time we desire to do good. We desire to read the bible and pray but instead we always ends up having more time watching T.V. Inwardly we agree with the Word of God and everything we’ve learned from it, all are good and right to do but we oftentimes
do the opposite.

Our situation turned much worse, and there’s one thing that we must understand in ourselves. The sin that we do is not actually us who do it but it is the sin living in the members of our body (the hand and the eyes). The sin that awakens and arises was indeed the sin that does evil. Jesus said, ‘’It is better to lose one part of the body than for your hole body to go into hell’’’ Mat 5:29-30. It means there is a sin (of lust) living in the parts of the body, particularly in the hands and in the eyes that causes to do evil. This body that has a sinful nature lives nothing good. That is the real situation of our body and the best thing we could do is to put the body (flesh) to a total death. We must continually put to death the misdeeds of the body.

Rom 7:21-23
So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God's law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members.

There are 3 laws at works in our whole being:
1.God’s law which is, ‘’The 10 commandments’’,
2.Law of mind which is ‘’The mind agree with the law’’
3.Law of sin which is ‘’The wages of sin is death’’ (spiritual death/physical death).

These 3 laws are always goes opposite to each other or the so called, ‘’Waging war within us’’.

Our whole being is consist of 3 parts: 1 Thess 5:23
· Spirit – ‘’We are born in Spirit’’ Jon 3:3-5 / Inner being that delights in God’s law / Desirous of God’s will /Want to do good

· Soul (lat.word-psyche) – Mind – The place where the struggle always begin / A constant battle int he mind / The major point of attack of satan is in the mind / Idle minds is satan playground

· Body (flesh) – Parts of the body that by nature is sinful: Eyes, Hands, and Tongue / slave to sin / the part that actually do evil / destined for destruction and hell / Nothing good lives there

According to Gal 5:17, the body is contrary to the Spirit and they are in conflict to each other. There are actually in our whole being an occurring constant battle, a war between Spirit and the flesh, a war within. Therefore we could say that our real enemy is not on the outside but is on the inside.


Again, anyone who wants to be a disciple of Christ will be like just Paul. In some degree or another, every Christian will experience a struggle with sin. If not there’s a problem with them (they are spiritually blind). All will pass through on an experience like Paul and there’s no one is exempted.

The good news is, struggling with sin is a good indication of spiritual growth. Similar to a caterpillar that struggle to come out from the cocoon to become a beautiful butterfly, so we too, we will pass through on a experience of struggle to get out from the ‘’cocoon of sin’’ that enslaving us a long ago. Then, ‘’for a
while’’ and as we ‘’practice thereby’’ and as we press on we shall come forth as a newness of the creation.

Struggle- throw one’s limbs or body about in violent effort to get free; strive hard
Struggling – ‘’waging war’’ (We must wage war against the sin, the devil, and the flesh)

Rom 7:24-25
What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God-through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God's law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.

We must see ourselves how wrecthed man we are (as Paul sees himself) in the sight of God because of our sinfulness. We must see ourselves as lost and in danger of the fire of hell. We need to see ourselves as helpless to escape from the slavery of sin living in the members of our body and nothing we can do about it. In that point, it is where now we begin to look for help (that’s what Paul did) and there’s no one else we can turn except to God. That is the moment God will begin to move within us thus godly sorrow that leads to genuine repentance will allow for us. Then, if we continually humble ourselves and be diligent to surpass the law, God will gives us the will and the devine enablement to overcome “little by little” the sin that brings
death until we reach the goal of our faith-Salvation (save completely from the sting of death).

Thanks be to God-through Jesus Christ our Lord! We need not to become fell guilty anymore and we need not to be intimidated from the accusation thwarts by the devil in our mind day and night. We can resist him and he will flee indeed. Just let us continue to “work out your salvation”.

Summary of the Paradox of the Biblical Salvation
1. Salvation is ‘Sola Fide”
2. The Paradox of the Biblical Salvation is that salvation is by faith and equal by work.
3. Salvation is not made complete if faith is not made complete. Faith will be made
complete if it will accompanied by the works of the law, pleasing and acceptable to God.
4. In spiritual realm, we are righteous, holy, perfect, justified, new creation and so on, it is because of the sacrificial works of Christ but in the natural realm or in reality, we are slave to the sin living in the parts of our body (hands, eyes and tongue) wherein we must overcome it completely.
5. We have the two unchanging position or two distinct character-sinners and saint.
6. Work out your salvation, means to work out our faith w/c must be accompanied by works of the law, thereby removing completely the “sting of death” that was ingrained and deeply rooted in our whole being.
7. Faith is the important substance if we will work the law for it surpasses the natural or the literal form of the law.
8. Therefore, faith and work must go hand in hand. Because faith without work is dead while work without faith leads in hypocrisy.
9. The more knowledge of the Word of God and His Law, the more sin awaken
and arise, the more struggle w/ sin.
10. Like the Apostle Paul, in greater degree or another, anyone who want to be a
disciple of Christ will experience a struggle w/ sin.
11. As Jesus fulfill and surpass the law, we must do the same also.
12. Surpassing the law is a process of works “for a while”
wherein a Christian is passing through on the judgment of God to the sin.
13. Surpassing the law is tough undertaking as well as painstaking.
14. As far as entering heaven is concern, faith alone is the key to salvation and as far as the “sting of death” is concern, work is needed to escape from the slavery
of sin, thus making the salvation complete.
15. The law of the lord is perfect to convert (to renew) the soul-psyche-mind.


QUOTES:
· There is a work or business which men must enter upon and accomplish, in order to their salvation.- Men have no reason to expect to be saved in idleness, or to go to heaven in a way of doing nothing. No; in order to it, there is a great work, which must be not only begun, but finished. (Jonathan Edwards)

· Salvation is the great thing we should mind, and set our hearts upon; and we cannot attain salvation without the utmost care and diligence. (Matthew Henry)

· God and man must both do something before a man can be saved (John G. Reisinger)

· We are never to sit down and fold our arms, and say, “My lifework is over. I am saved. I have no pilgrimage to make to the Celestial City. I wage no war for driving out the Canaanites.” O Beloved, the time of rest will come on the other side of the Jordan, but as yet it is for you to press forward like the racer whose prize is not yet won, and to watch like a warrior whose conflict is not ended! Your own salvation is your first concern. ( C.H. Spurgeon)

· “Your own salvation,” the text says, and that is correct enough. Holiness is salvation. We are not to work out our salvation from the guilt of sin—that has been done by Christ. We have now to work out our salvation from the power of sin. God has, in effect, worked that in us—He has broken the yoke of sin in our hearts. It lives, and struggles, and contends—but it is dethroned and our life is to be the
continual overthrow and dethronement of sin in our members. A man may be saved from the guilt of sin, and yet at present he may not be altogether saved from the power of pride. For instance, a saved man may be defiled by being purse-proud, or proud of his position, or of his talents. (C.H. Spurgeon)

· No, you don't work for your salvation. There is no salvation by works.
So he's not saying, "Work for ...work at...work up your salvation," he's saying, "Work out." What does he mean? Well, this verb is important to note. It's a present-tense imperative verb which means it is a command that has a continual emphasis...keep on continually making the effort to work out your salvation. Now what does it specifically mean? Let me see if I can help you. The verb, as far
as I understand it, always means to bring something to fulfillment, to fullness or completion...to bring something to fulfillment, to fullness or completion. And what he is saying is this, the salvation that is in you needs to be brought out all the way to its fulfillment, to its fullness. It really is a command for sustained effort and diligence in working out what has already been planted within.
(John McArthur)

· The Quietist says "do nothing." The Pietist says "do everything." God says, "You do everything and I'll do everything and we'll effect sanctification." (John McArthur)

Pride is very Dangerous

What caused Lucifer the beautiful angel to be cast out by God from heaven? It is the pride! (Isa 14:12-15). Lucifer is supposed to be eternally secure in heaven, he is ‘’eternally saved!’’. Angels are not different from us human beings, it means angels are also created beings just like us. They have their own will to obey or not to obey. About the angel, the time will come that they too will face judgment and the actual judge who will stand before them is actually us! (1 Cor.6:3). The bible said, ‘’No one is righteous’’, and that’s includes all angels. Pride is what makes many church leaders led to their downfall if not, they became conceited or deceived. Read 2 Pet.2:4; Matt.24:24

Lucifer that turns out to be the devil and god of this world has been already judged. He is also called Satan the deceiver and accuser of the brethren that will be cast out to hell. With him that might be cast out to hell are those who became proud (pride) just like him, and yet Christians are not exempted to become proud of themselves. The bible said, ‘’ "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." James 4:6. There are certainties that might face (in the last days) by those who called themselves Christians, who say they are called by God, being led by God but not aware of their self that they becoming proud. They will certainly be opposed by God. The Lord Jesus said,’’ Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!' Matt 7:22-23. Being proud actually breeds many kinds of evildoing. In the same way evildoing breeds pride even more.

Pride led to the downfall of Lucifer and there are some characters in the bible that because of pride led to their downfall. When Uzziah became powerful, his pride led to his downfall (2 Chr.26:16), pride overtake King Saul that God rejected him as king and even the Israelites, many of them hardened their hearts and that is also a form of pride. Indeed, "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." James 4:6. This verse was actually manifested when Jesus was crucified along with the two criminal. One of the criminal insults Jesus but the other one became a ‘’penitent thief’’. From the two, we can tell who is humble and who is proud and who was being opposed and who has given more grace. And of course, we could plainly tell who goes to heaven and who goes to hell.

The main point here that we should clearly see and understand is, that the ‘’pride thing’’ is very dangerous to develop (w/o knowing it) by any individual Christian particularly the so called ‘’spiritual giants’’. Remember, that Lucifer was once a beautiful bright morning star that leads a multitude of angelic host to worship and glorify God. What an awesome privilege and position he has in heaven! But then, little by little (maybe he doesn’t aware) the pride creeps in slowly in his heart until he become desirous of more power and position as the same as of God. At that point, he become rebellious and led many angels along with him to challenge God, but turns out to be a condemnation for him down straight to hell. From that time until today he is actively involve in sowing pride in the hearts of man here on earth. The devil comes to steal, kill and destroy and he focuses more on the church to do so, in this last days.

Therefore, let’s see to it that our heart is not filled with pride of any kind. See to it that our heart is not deceiving us, for it is the heart that is more deceitful above all things (Jer.17:9). Let us examine ourselves and see if we are truly in the faith. Make a daily check of our self. The perfect way to do it all is to look
your self to the mirror of the Ten Commandments on a daily basis. The law is very ideal and perfect that will lead us unto perfection. Be warned, be aware, pride might put us in danger of the fire of hell.

Saved By Grace and Works

1. Saved by grace

A. (Ephesians 2:8-9) - "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9not as a result of works, that no one should boast."
B. (Rom. 3:20,28) - "because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin...28For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law."
C. (Galatians 2:16) - "nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we may be justified by faith in Christ, and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law shall no flesh be justified."

2. Saved by works

A. (James 2:24) - "You see that a man is justified by works, and not by Faith alone”
B. (Phil.2:12) – “Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed-not only in my presence, but how much more in my absence-continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling”.
C. (I Pet.1:9) – “For you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls”.

God does not want a faith that is empty and works that is hypocritical. James 2:24,Phil.2:12 and I Pet.1:9 is talking about a faith w/c must be accompanied by works that is pleasing ( for w/o faith it is impossible to please God Heb.11:6) and acceptable unto God. Also it is a kind of faith w/ work that is according to the righteousness of God – not hypocrisy, as what the Pharisees and the Sadducee s and the self-righteous lawyer (Matt.19:16-21) had put in their work. All of their works are based on the tradition and ritual made by man. Jesus said,”For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teacher of the law, you will certainly not enter the Kingdom of heaven”.Matt.5:20

Therefore, we could say that a true faith that is dynamic and alive must be accompanied by work that surpasses of what the work of the Pharisees can do. It means we must have a kind of work that goes beyond of what the natural or the unspiritual man can do.

As what we oftentimes heard,”true faith results in true works” or “the fruit of salvation is good works”. That’s true indeed, but the question hanging in our mind is, “How can we tell a work is truly work or what are the true works whereby we can tell it is a true work? And what good works wherein we can pinpoint exactly it is a good work? Because, as far as the true works and good works is concerns, there are a lot of people, even unbelievers, who do the true works and good works the same as we do and even far better than us. Actually, it’s hard to tell, or no one can, for God only knows. But then, there must be a basis, a set of rules or set of standards wherein we can distinctively obey and set forth unto us to follow.

By the goodness and righteousness of God, He is the one who do the business of putting up and setting up before us a standard. The standard of God that came first to Moses, then to Jesus w/c He surpass and then unto us. Anyone who wants to follow Christ must do what He did to the law. As Jesus fulfill and surpass the law, so we must do the same also.

One main reason maybe a saved person is not saved at all

Lucifer who is also known as a “Beautiful Bright Morning Star” was supposed to be eternally saved. But what is the main reason why he was cast out by God from heaven? It is the Pride!

He was now well known as Satan who masquerading himself as an angel of light and his main job is to kill, steal and destroy everything and everyone. And the effective means to get his dirty jobs well done is to sow the seed of pride in the hearts of men, especially to those who are saved.

All Christians who claimed they are truly saved/eternally saved must seriously considered what the scriptures said:

“God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. James 4:6 NIV

“Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!' Matt 7:22-23.

Being proud actually breeds many kinds of evildoing. In the same way evildoing breeds pride even more. Therefore the main reason why saved person might not be saved at all is because of PRIDE.

Therefore, it's very important to always ask God that he may give a humble spirit.

Biblical Unity

Biblical unity is a unity that is founded on an essential common understanding of Christian theology. Those who say that we should somehow "unite" despite important disagreements in theology are urging not biblical unity, but humanistic unity, and thus have made themselves the enemies of Christ and the church. True unity must be based on a common and biblical theology.

To all Christians and particularly to all Calvinist and Arminist:

Those Christians who claimed that “once saved always saved”, how can they be sure enough that they are truly saved always? And those Christians who stated themselves that “Those who truly saved can lose their salvation”, what exactly was going to do to keep the salvation so it cannot be lost?
The precise and legitimate answers (for both of them) can be found on the following:

 They should be Merciful
• Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Matt 5:7 NIV
• Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. Luke 6:36 NIV
• I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion." It does not, therefore, depend on man's desire or effort, but on God's mercy. Rom 9:15-16 NIV
• Because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment! James 2:13 NIV

 They should Humble Themselves
• Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Matt 5:5 NIV
• For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. Matt 23:12 NIV
• God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. James 4:6 NIV
• Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 1 Cor 13:4 NIV

The question that Calvinist/Arminist (and to the individual who claimed they are Christian) should ask to themselves is, “Am I being merciful”? Merciful to others particularly to those of whom sometimes (or oftentimes) am I getting angry with? No one can’t deny, it will not passed that within one week or a month that you are easily get angry and lose temper to someone. Maybe you think you have no hatred or not disgusted or not hot tempered with someone but surely as it was, if not those people inside in your church (Pastors, Elder, Workers and co members) definitely are the people living inside your own home (Husband and Wife, Father and son and daughter, including the members of the extended families). Those are the people you encountered with a friction.

One truth lies here, that any Christians who harbour hatred, bitterness, anger and wrath in their mind and in their heart towards their neighbour especially with their brethren, there is one thing they should mind about. And that is he/she is not being merciful and yet can be accounted as not being truly saved. The Bible said, Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life in him (1 John 3:15). Also the Bible said that those who are angry is the same as committing a murder (Mat 5:22). Therefore, those Christians who are angry with others are not truly saved because no murderer has eternal life in him. Take note, a murderer has no eternal life and therefore not saved. The Bible tells the difference, “ This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother. 1 John 3:10. Therefore, anyone who claimed they are really Christians but has hatred toward others he/she is not doing what is right and is not a child of God-not saved!

One more question to all Christians, (also to Calvinist and Arminist) are you a kind of Christian who are down to earth- Humble? Have you become proud on the things you have? Are pride creeps in your heart that you are not aware of it? Better to check yourself and take this admonition, anyone who claimed to be the son of God that are not humble but becoming proud were putting themselves in danger of falling. If there’s any kind of pride build up in them they might end just like as what happened to Lucifer. Do you know why Lucifer who is formerly known as the “beautiful bright morning star” were condemned and rejected from heaven? It is the Pride!

Have you ever comes into your minds that Lucifer who led many angels to worship and glorify God has a position that is eternal? Lucifer is supposed to be eternally secured in heaven, it means he is eternally saved! . But because of his ambition and the more desirous of becoming like as of God, his pride led him to his downfall and in due time will be cast down into the lake of fire. With him to be cast down into the lake of fire are those people who claimed they are Christians, who said they are called by God, being led by God and can do miracles but found and prove to be having proud (pride) of themselves. ’’ Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!' Matt 7:22-23. Being proud actually breeds many kinds of evildoing. In the same way evildoing breeds pride even more.

Therefore, those Christian who claimed they are “once saved always saved”, and “Those who truly saved can lose their salvation” must be careful and look themselves onto the mirror of the Ten Commandments. Because breaking even one of the law will conceived pride and if not aware it will give birth to a more pride (sin) and when it is full grown gives birth to (sting of death) death. (Jam 1:15). And the Bible said, “ God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." James 4:6. Pride is very dangerous!

Therefore, so for a Christian to be “always saved” and that “salvation cannot be loss”, one must be humble always and must be merciful always at all times. Read The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector Luk 18:9-14; The Parable of the Prodigal Son Luk 15:11-32

Developing Discipline

DEVELOPING DISCIPLINE
By Dr. John C. Maxwell

H.P. Liddon said, "What we do on some great occasions will probably depend upon what we already are, and what we are will be the result of previous years of self-discipline." I believe that with all of my heart.

Discipline is doing what you really do not want to do, so you can do what you really want to do. What makes it hard is that in our own human nature, we do not want to do certain things, and so therefore, what happens is we have a tendency to be undisciplined in the areas that we do not care to do.

Three areas to develop discipline:

1. Disciplined Thinking.

George Bernard Shaw said, "Few people think more than two or three times a year. I have made an international reputation for myself by thinking once or twice a week."

I am in the process of writing a new book. The whole book is based on the idea that people who understand how to get to the top and stay there are people who think their way to the top.

One of the major differences in this discipline of thinking is that people that think their way to the top have the ability to do what I call "sustained thinking." They have the ability to think on an issue for a long period of time, until that issue becomes clear on the decision that should be made.

People who do not think their way to the top have the unwillingness of discipline to master sustained thinking. They will think about something for a while, and then they will get off it and go on to something else.

They have never learned how to discipline their thoughts by
writing them down. I always keep a pad with me of things that I am thinking. I write thoughts down so that I can stay concentrated and disciplined in that area.



2. Disciplined Emotions.

We have choices when it comes to our emotions:

1. We can master them, or
2. They can master us.

I was playing golf the other day at East Lake Country Club, a great golf course here in Atlanta. It is known for being the links where Bobby Jones played. As you may or may not know, he is a legendary golfer who won a major tournament at twenty-one. By age twenty-eight, he had already won the grand slam and retired.

Jones had an uncle who said that by the time he was fourteen, Bobby was probably already the best golfer in the world. He certainly was popular. However, Jones was also known for his temper because he would throw his clubs when he got irritated. Jones's uncle sat down with him and said, "Bobby, your problem is you've mastered the game of golf, but you haven't mastered your emotions; and until you master your emotions, you'll never be a champion in golf."

3. Disciplined Actions.

I call the two actions of initiating and closing the "bookends of success" because I really think they are.

I know some that can initiate but they can never close; I know some people that can close but they can never get it cranked up. You have to kick start them every time. When you can do both, initiate and close, you have the bookends to success.

Allow me to leave you with this closing thought about developing discipline: you cannot give what you do not have, and self- improvement precedes team improvement.

The only way that I can keep leading is to keep growing. The day I stop growing, somebody else takes the leadership baton. That is the way it always is.