WHAT (IF)

What (IF)

As a Christian while in your bed in the wee hours of the morning, you were awakened by an angel and told that unless you change your way of belief, that you have (no hope) of eternal life? What would you do? You think you're alright with God, but God may NOT be alright with YOU.

The scriptures teach in reference to "faith" the following: Heb 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Faith is INVISIBLE except it be displayed through belief, and belief is displayed by obedience to God.

It's clear here that "faith" IS a tangible "substance" but it cannot be seen as a substance and is invisible to others without the display of the faith in question. In order to be (true faith,) it must be expressed towards God alone and NOT towards your Christian brethren. They have their own brand of personal faith.

What is the "substance of things" hoped for? What are those "things" that the substance called faith hopes for?

• It should be the hope of having a personal relationship with God.
• It should be the person's concerted effort to please God.
• It should be a willingness to "die to self."
• It should be seeing others of the greatest value to God.
• It should be allowing Jesus Christ to live inside of you.
• And FINALLY personal REDEMPTION!
  

Rom 8:24,25 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. Clearly here the "hope" Paul is speaking of is the believers "hope of Redemption." This is what he meant when he says "we are saved by hope."

How does this scripture line up with Ephesians 2:8?

Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God. NOTICE: The last part of this verse "that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God". QUESTION: What was the "gift of God?" to humanity? Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

It is Jesus Christ alone that was the gift God "gave" to humanity so this verse is speaking of the "faith of Jesus" NOT your own personal faith IN Jesus even though that is a requirement for the believer who understands that their salvation is assured by and through the "faith" that was exhibited by Jesus Christ when He says:Mat 26:39(c) nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.

Your personal faith, if it's NOT the faith of Jesus "the faith that's NOT of yourself" then it's NOT true real faith, it's a presumed faith and NOT a saving faith.

One scripture states that we are saved by "hope" and the other says that we are saved by "grace". How do we reconcile the two?

Obviously, God's grace then is what gives the "hope of having a saving faith". And "faith" in God's free gift which is the substance i.e. Jesus Christ of what we hope for that through our faith in the saving faith of Jesus Christ is the assurance of our salvation if we overcome by our faith in His saving faith. Then it's the "Faith of Jesus" the faith He had that took Him to the cross for you, that the scripture recognizes as "saving faith."

Hope that can be identified as "hope" and seen is NOT true hope nor true faith otherwise the one who "hopes" cannot see his/her personal faith substance who is Jesus Christ and His faith.

Clearly then faith is tied to the hope of things through the grace of God. You have only the part of obedience to play in both your faith and in your hope.

Then this phrase "hope that is seen is not hope". If "faith" is tied to "hope" and "hope" is tied to God's Grace and you see your "hope" through your faith then you don't have either "hope" nor "faith" you have taken the "Grace of God" in vain.

"For what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?" "But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it." Redemption is the subject and the substance of the "faith and hope" Paul speaks of in both references.

Neither Rom 8:24,25 nor Eph 2:8 is speaking of "faith" even though the word "faith" is present in Eph 2:8. NOTICE: The word "saved" in Eph 2:8 it's in the (past tense) and implies Redemption, as a done deal a past event. Eph 2:8 For by [God's gift of Jesus Christ and through His God's] grace are ye saved [Redeemed by and] through faith; [That of Jesus Christ Faith] and that not of yourselves: [YOU and I have nothing to do with It] it is the gift of God.

This is why it's so important to understand what God did through His Son. It wasn't that God took any joy in seeing the Son slain on the cross as a substitute for humanity. There was much, much, more involved in the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ than Him just being a substitute for humanity. The word "substitute or "substitution" is NOT found anywhere in scripture in the KJV bible. This doctrine is Augustinian at its root and is NOT a bible doctrine. Neither are the words "vicarious or vicariously" found in scripture yet both "substitution and vicarious" atonement doctrines are taught in the apostate church today. When one follows and believes these doctrines as they are taught today they cannot understand the God they claim to believe in and follow.

The word "atonement" is found 81 times and is misunderstood today by the modern church. Someone who obviously understood what Jesus did for humanity smartly and wisely used the word (at-one-ment) which is the correct understanding of what took place at the cross, but also took place in Jesus at the incarnation and was carried all through His life, death, and resurrection. We were NOT made (at-one-ment) at the cross with God through the Son. We were made (at-one-ment) with Him in the womb of His mother. Just as Adam was the corporate man of humanity, so too was Jesus Christ by God the Father made a corporate man representing the whole of humanity.

1Co 15:21,22 For since by man [ADAM] came death, by man [Jesus Christ] came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. [ALL that accept Him] 1Co 15:45-47 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam [Jesus Christ] was made a quickening spirit. Howbeit that was not first [Adam] which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that [Jesus Christ] which is spiritual. The first man [Adam] is of the earth, earthy: the second man [Jesus Christ] is the Lord from heaven. Just as Adam's progeny were all born sinners by birth, destined to die the eternal death, all born again sinners through the Spirit of God are destined to eternal life with God.

Jesus is called the Savior of the World because His death on the cross because we were (at-one-ment) with Him in the incarnation, all through His life, and on that cross, as an (inhabited world) IN HIM in need of redemption He saved everyone in the world, but not everyone will accept this truth. Many will be LOST because they cannot understand the God in whom they claim to serve.

The WATCHMAN !!!