r L n -- really LOVE now! : FAITH TEST: 14 KARAT or FOOL's Gold?

Thursday, September 2, 2010

FAITH TEST: 14 KARAT or FOOL's Gold?

Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from GOD... This is how you can recognize the SPIRIT of GOD: Every spirit that acknowledges that JESUS CHRIST has come in the flesh is from GOD, but every spirit that does not acknowledge JESUS is not from GOD. (I John 4:1, 2, 3)

Don't be deceived, my dear brothers. Do not merely listen to the Word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? ...faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds." Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do." As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead. (James 1:16, 22; 2:14, 17-18, 26)

The man who says, "I know GOD," but does not do what He commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But if anyone obeys His Word, GOD's love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in Him: Whoever claims to live in Him must walk as JESUS did. (I John 2:4-6)

Who is the liar? It is the man who denies that JESUS is the CHRIST. Such a man is an anti-CHRIST who denies the Father and the Son. No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also. (1 John 2:22-23)

No one who lives in Him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen Him or known Him. He who does what is right is righteous, just as He is righteous. No one who is born of GOD will continue to sin, because GOD's Seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of GOD. (1 John 3:6, 7, 9).

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. This is how we know what love is: JESUS CHRIST laid down His life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers...let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. (1 John 3:10, 16, 18)

And this is GOD's command: to believe in the name of His Son, JESUS CHRIST, and to love one another as He commanded us. Those who obey His commands live in Him, and He in them. And this is how we know that He lives in us: We know it by the SPIRIT He gave us. (1 John 3:23-24)

Anyone who believes in the Son of GOD has this testimony in his heart...And this is the testimony: GOD has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of GOD does not have life. (1 John 5:10, 11, 12)

I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of GOD so that you may know that you have eternal life. (1 John 5:13)

Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves... (2 Corinthians 13:5)

The Character of GENUINE SAVING FAITH (John MacArthur's Study Bible)

I. EVIDENCES that NEITHER PROVE NOR DISPROVE ONE'S FAITH

A. Visible morality
B. Intellectual knowledge
C. Religious involvement
D. Active ministry
E. Conviction of sin
F. Assurance
G. Time of decision

II. The FRUIT/PROOFS of AUTHENTIC/TRUE CHRISTIANITY

A. Love for GOD
B. Repentance from sin
C. Genuine humility
D. Devotion to GOD's glory
E. Continual prayer
F. Selfless love
G. Separation from the world
H. Spiritual growth
I. Obedient living
J. Hunger for GOD's Word
K. Transformation of life
If LIST I is true of a person and List II is false, there is cause to question the validity of one's profession of faith. Yet if LIST II is true, then the top list will be also. (John MacArthur)

Therefore, if anyone is in CHRIST, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! (2 Corinthians 5:17)

The one truly born of GOD is characterized by FAITH, LOVE, OBEDIENCE. Not that the follower of CHRIST has been perfected in the flesh -- body, mind, will, emotions -- (for sanctification is a lifetime process), but that his new nature has a different bent : a bent towards righteousness and holiness. He no longer sins habitually or persistently. He is not sinless, but he sins less.

And I trust that you will discover that we have not failed the test. (2 Corinthians 13:6)

1 comment:

Solid Rock or Sinking SandSeptember 10, 2010 at 12:56 AM
I really enjoyed reading the posts on your blog. I would like to invite you to come on over to my blog and check it out. God bless, Lloyd
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my Prayer For You

When i think of the wisdom and scope of GOD's plan, i fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. i pray that from His glorious, unlimited resources He will give you mighty inner strength through His Holy SPIRIT. i pray that CHRIST will be more and more at home in your heart as you trust in Him. May your roots go down deep into the soil of GOD's marvelous love.

And may you have the power to understand, as all GOD's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep His love really is. May you experience the love of CHRIST, though it is so great you will never fully understand it. Then you will be filled with the fullness of life and power that comes from GOD.

Now to Him Who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by CHRIST JESUS to all generations, forever and ever. AMEN!

(Ephesians 3:14-21)

The Great I AM

I AM the Bread of life. He who comes to Me will never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.
(John 6:35)

I AM the Light of the world. He who follows me shall not walk in darkness, but have the Light of life.
(John 8:12)

I AM the Door of the sheep. All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. I AM the Door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.
(John 10:7, 9)

I AM the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd gives His life for the sheep. I AM the Good Shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own.
(John 10:11, 14)

I AM the True Vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. I AM the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.
(John 15:1, 5)

I AM the Resurrection and the Life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.
(John 11:25)

I AM the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
(John 14:6)

Pilate therefore said to Him, "Are You a king then?" JESUS answered, You say rightly that I AM a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the Truth hears My voice.
(John 18:37)

LOVE is...

Though i speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, i have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.

And though i have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though i have all faith, so that i could remove mountains, but have not love, i am nothing.

And though i bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though i give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.

Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up;

does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil;

does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth;

bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.

For we know in part and we prophesy in part.

But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.

When i was a child, i spoke as a child, i understood as a child, i thought as a child; but when i became a man, i put away childish things.

For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now i know in part, but then i shall know just as i also am known.

And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

(I Corinthians 13)

Rejoice!

Rejoice in the LORD always. i will say it again: Rejoice!

Let your gentleness be evident to all. The LORD is near.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to GOD. And the peace of GOD, which transcends all understanding, will guard your heart and your mind in CHRIST JESUS.

Finally, 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.

(Philippians 4:4-8)

How Great Thou Art!

O LORD, my GOD! When i in awesome wonder consider all the works thy hands have made.
i see the stars, i hear the rolling thunder, Thy power throughout the universe displayed.

Then sings my soul, my Savior GOD to Thee: how great Thou art! How great Thou art!
Then sings my soul, my Savior GOD to Thee: how great Thou art! How great Thou art!

And when i think that GOD, His Son not sparing, sent Him to die, i scarce can take it in;
That on the cross, my burden gladly bearing, He bled and died to take away my sin.

Then sings my soul, my Savior GOD to Thee: how great Thou art! How great Thou art!
Then sings my soul, my Savior GOD to Thee: how great Thou art! How great Thou art!

When CHRIST shall come with shout of acclamation and take me home, what joy shall fill my heart!
Then i shall bow in humble adoration and there proclaim, my GOD, how great Thou art!

Then sings my soul, my Savior GOD to Thee: how great Thou art! How great Thou art!
Then sings my soul, my Savior GOD to Thee: how great Thou art! How great Thou art!

Amazing Grace

Amazing grace! How sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me! i once was lost, but now am found; was blind, but now i see.

'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, and grace my fears relieved; how precious did that grace appear the hour i first believed.

Through many dangers, toils and snares, i have already come; 'tis grace hath brought me safe thus far, and grace will lead me home.

The LORD has promised good to me, His word my hope secures; He will my shield and portion be, as long as life endures.

Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail, and mortal life shall cease, i shall possess, within the veil, a life of joy and peace.

The world shall soon dissolve like snow, the sun refuse to shine; but GOD, who called me here below, shall be forever mine.

When we've been there ten thousand years, bright shining as the sun; we've no less days to sing GOD's praise than when we'd first begun.

The Holy BIBLE -- The Word of GOD

The BIBLE contains the mind of GOD, the state of man, the way of salvation, the doom of sinners, and the happiness of believers. Its doctrines are holy, its precepts are binding, its histories are true, and its decisions are immutable. Read it to be wise, believe it to be safe, and practice it to be holy. It contains light to direct you, food to support you, and comfort to cheer you.

It is the traveler's map, the pilgrim's staff, the pilot's compass, the soldier's sword, and the CHRISTian's charter. Here is Paradise restored, Heaven opened, and the gates of hell disclosed.

CHRIST is its grand subject, our good the design, and the glory of GOD its end.

It should fill the memory, rule the heart, and guide the feet. Read it slowly, frequently, and prayerfully. It is a mine of wealth, a paradise of glory, and a river of pleasure. It is given you in life, will be opened at the judgment, and be remembered forever. It involves the highest responsibility, will reward the greatest labor, and will condemn all who trifle with its sacred contents.

(Foreword from The Gideons International)