Erring Christian

The Erring Christian Series

http://www.erringchristian.com  &  http://www.rahabschurch.com

Evangelical Multi Denominational Christian Fellowship

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Old Testament Law - New Testament Grace

God does take strange ways to start a man for heaven. The way home is sometimes shown him by an unexpected finger-post; and from a motive so unworthy that he dare not tell it in after-life, there comes to many a man his first impulse toward God. And long after he has begun to run the Christian race, God may try to hasten his lagging steps by the spur of a motive as far beneath an heir of heaven as his spiritual life is beneath what it ought to be.  Henry Drummond

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Intro Rahab's Church

Born-Again

Steps

Bible Prophecy 

Creation v Evolution

Heavy

Utility (Daily Content)

Appendix (Daily Content)

Evangelismaid

Gospel

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Index in depth near foot

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Old Testament Law 

 THROUGH MOSES  

*

New Testament Grace

THROUGH JESUS 

BACKSLIDDEN? ... SINFUL? ... OUT OF FELLOWSHIP? ... GUILT? ... CONSCIENCE?

Grace = Unmerited, Unearned, Pardon & Forgiveness

There is no condemnation for those who are united with Christ Jesus, because in Christ Jesus the life-giving law of the Spirit has set you free from the law of sin and death. Romans 8:1-3 NEB

The transforming realisation in a Christian life is to know the true meaning of God's grace. We may have genuinely accepted Jesus Christ as our Saviour and Lord, perhaps even been blessed experientially by Him, we know we are different now, we have a new Spirit in us. We are Born Again!

Yet still somehow we often give in to our old sin nature and sometimes deliberately do things we know to be wrong. When we do, this can cause an almighty guilt trip for the more sensitive amongst us. Satan can and often does exploit guilt and can sometimes effectively wipe us out through it. Even if the sin was originally done through ignorance, or our own deliberate choice. 

By piling on more and more guilt feelings he makes us very conscious of our shortcomings. In fact if we don't relate our sins to the cross and leave them there, (not always easy) we can get in such a sorry state that we become despondent. The wiles of the devil are not to be underestimated, he's an expert at deception.  

For by grace are ye saved through faith: and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God. Ephesians: 2:8 KJV

The issue is not will God forgive us our sins, but that He has forgiven us right from the time we accepted His perfect sacrifice Jesus Christ as personal Saviour and Lord. Satan will constantly try to keep our minds from realising this fact. One of his key weapons is sowing the seed of doubt.

Discernment 

There is a subtle but real difference between conviction of sin by our conscience inspired by the Holy Spirit, (so that we sincerely confess our sin) and the loading up of guilt by the forces of evil. At this juncture the spirit of discernment is really needed. Was the conviction of guilt brought about by the Holy Spirit, our Mind, or the Satanic? The word of God clearly tells us: 

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.1John 1: 9 KJV  Full Stop.

God is not holding anything against us once we repent and are saved.

Is salvation dependant on confessing "all" our sins?

When we remember specific sins, I believe it is important to confess those sins. But what if we have forgotten one or two or twenty thousand? 

When we pray the Lord's Prayer, taught by Jesus Himself, the word used for sin is in the plural. "Forgive us our trespasses (sins) as we forgive those who trespass (sin) against us." Trespasses is a generalisation covering multiple sins. There are times we know for certain we have deliberately sinned and what the sin was. Sometimes a sin will be brought to mind years later. When we are made aware of specific sins, I believe we should confess them and ask forgiveness in Jesus' name. 

But! as humans we can't always know for sure all we have ever done wrong. In thought, word or deed. If our salvation was conditional on confessing every sin we have ever committed, we would be in an impossible position. The omission of confessing a forgotten or not realised sin will not condemn us or affect our salvation.

Personally I have been reminded of sins committed years ago, as a Christian. When they do come to mind sometimes I physically wince! How could I have done this or that? What was I thinking of? How could I be saved and yet have sinned in that way? Then I confess the sin without hesitation, but I don't always feel cleansed despite.

It is in such situations that Satan will sow doubts in our mind. "Are you really forgiven? Are you sure? Does not scripture say that if you continues in sin there is no longer a sacrifice for sin?" Then we can start focussing on our selves, on our own unworthiness instead of Christ's imputed righteousness. We look at our shortcomings in human terms and ask? How could God possibly forgive me for doing that? Then starts yet another guilt trip.

Christ bought us freedom from the curse of the law (The Ten Commandments) by becoming for our sake an accursed thing: Galatians:3:13 KJV 

The forces of evil never rest, they will catch us off balance when we least expect it. Such doubting thoughts will be encouraged and amplified. Satan may not know what we are thinking, (only God knows that) but he and his demonic hordes can certainly hazard a pretty good guess. Many years experience have brought me to this conclusion.   

When we accepted Jesus as our personal Saviour & Lord, we were and are seen by God as Holy and Righteous because Jesus, God's only begotten Son, is Holy & Righteous. Our salvation is not dependant on how good we are, but on how good trustworthy and true Jesus is. God the Father accepts Him completely. He is perfect. Furthermore, He took OUR sins on Himself, He paid the price for every single one of them. No sin is therefore too big for God to forgive. Jesus alone makes intercession for us. He is our advocate & mediator before God.

Advocate = Defence Council

"It is finished!" Our Lord's cry on the cross. I mention this fact because the accuser of the brethren, Satan, will use any means to make us unsure of our position in Christ. He will keep harping on our unworthiness until we despair of any effort to do God's will for us. We may genuinely feel unclean, and we are. But thank God our salvation is NOT dependant on us. "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." - "There are none righteous, no not one."

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, "For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered." No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers,  nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:35-39

*When we still focus on our shortcomings. 

If despite knowing the price that was paid for our salvation we still focus on our selves, our own unworthiness and inability to be what we should, then we will become ineffective in our walk with God and in our ministry. When we accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour, His righteousness was imputed to us, not our own. Salvation is not dependant on us but on what Christ did for us to secure our salvation.

But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. ... Galatians 3:11 K.J.V

Living up to God's laws. 

Our salvation is not dependant on whether we have kept all of God's law's (613 of them) that is an impossibility. Neither is it dependant on what we do or may not have done. Our salvation cannot be earned or added to BY OUR WORKS, good or otherwise. We cannot earn our way in to heaven, neither can we make up for our sins.

Ephesians 2: 8-9 KJV: For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.

All our sins? 

When we focus on our own shortcomings, on our self in fact, we are not totally trusting in God's provision for our salvation, Jesus. It is not sin that will condemn us, but refusing God's provision for our sins, Jesus, that will.

God loves us so much.

God is love! From a mere human level (and this is only a shadow in comparison to God's love for us) I would say most of us love our children and possibly grandchildren pretty well unconditionally, despite sometimes being pushed to the limit. How much greater is God's love for us? He allowed His only begotten Son to suffer and die for us, to pay the price for our sins.

Prior to the Law

Prior to the ten commandments being given by God, certain customs may have been acknowledged by mankind as law in themselves. A man's conscience may have acted as his guide. Consensus of opinion may have deemed what was considered acceptable. A tribal chief may have imposed his own law. But there was not a larger (general, absolute, super natural, greater than man) moral law to relate to.

However, long prior to the ten commandments, God had spoken commands to human kind, the first being to Adam. Genesis 2:16,17 Amplified Bible: "And the Lord God commanded the man, saying You may freely eat of every tree of the garden, 17) Except of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and of blessing and calamity you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die. More Info: http://www.cogwriter.com/ten.htm

When commandments were given by God, mankind knew just how far he could go without breaking God's laws. But he mistakenly thought that by just keeping to the "rule book," that was the pre-requisite to eternal life. 

 Laws & Commandments

Given by the Judaeo/Christian God! 

The Creator, the Absolute Basis for truth, the Infinite reference point.

The Ten Commandments

1) You shall have no other gods but me.

2) You shall not make unto you any graven images.

3) You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.

4) You shall remember the Sabbath and keep it Holy.

5) Honour your mother and father.

6) You shall not murder.

7) You shall not commit adultery.

8) You shall not steal.

9) You shall not bear false witness.

10) You shall not covet anything that belongs to your neighbour.

The 10 Commandments were given to Moses by the Judaeo/Christian God. The breaking of any of these laws is sin, but without them there would not be any way to know for sure what sin is. There were also other laws written by Moses (some scholars put the total as high as 613)

According to Jewish tradtion:

Moses received the entire "5 books of Moses" - also known as the Pentateuch - which includes all 613 commandments and their explanations - later written down and redacted as the mishna. http://wiki.answers.com

Jesus on the 7th Commandment: Heavy

From the very beginning

Genesis

Genesis is the foundational book of the whole Bible and is often referred to in the New Testament. Without it the rest of the Bible does not make sense.

Note: Any doubts about the historicity and accuracy of the first book of the bible, Genesis, can be dispensed with by anyone with a reasonable and fair mind.

Creation v Evolution & Evolution?  

The continuation of this theme: Heavy

 After God's perfect creation sin entered in to the world through Adam. More in depth Rahab's Church: Evolution?

From that time on, man was born in sin. 

The wages of sin is death.

St. Paul's explains Law Grace & Sin. Taken from the Amplified Bible with it's fuller translation of the text. 

Romans Chapter 5 verses 12 - 21

12)  Therefore as sin came into the world through one man (Adam - who broke God's commandment not to eat of the forbidden fruit) and death as the result of sin, so death spread to all men, [no one being able to stop it or escape its power] because all men sinned.

13)  [To be sure,] sin was in the world before ever the Law was given, but sin is not charged to men's account where there is no law [to transgress]. 

14)  Yet death held sway from Adam to Moses [the Lawgiver], even over those who did not themselves transgress [a positive command] as Adam did. Adam was a type (prefigure) of the One Who was to come [in reverse, the former destructive, the Latter (Jesus) saving]. [Gen.5:5; 7:22; Deut. 34:5.}

15)  But God's free gift is not at all to be compared to the trespass --- His grace is out of all proportion to the fall of man. For if many died through one man's falling away --- his lapse, his offence --- much more profusely did God's grace and the free gift [that comes] through the undeserved favour of the one Man Jesus Christ, abound and overflow to and for [the benefit of] many.

16)  Nor is the free gift at all to be compared to the effect of that one [man's] sin. For the sentence [following the trespass] of one [man] brought condemnation, whereas the free gift [following] many transgressions brings justification --- an act of righteousness.

17)  For if, because of one man's trespass (lapse, offence) death reigned through that one, much more surely will those who receive [God's] overflowing grace (unmerited favour) and the free gift of righteousness (putting them into right standing with Himself) reign as kings in life through the One, Jesus Christ, the Messiah, the Anointed one.

18)  Well then, as one man's trespass (Adam) --- one man's false step and falling away --- [led] to condemnation for all men, so one Man's act of righteousness (Jesus) [leads] to acquittal and right standing with God, and life for all men.

19)  For just as by one man's disobedience (failing to hear, heedlessness and carelessness) the many were constituted sinners, so by one Man's obedience the many will be constituted righteous --- made acceptable to God, brought into right standing with Him.

 *The Law

Reason for the law 

*

20)  But then Law came in, [only] to expand and increase the trespass [making it more apparent and exciting opposition]. But where sin increased and abounded, grace (God's unmerited favour) has surpassed it and increased the more and super abounded.

Grace

21)  So that, [just] as sin has reigned in death, so grace --- His unearned and undeserved favour --- might reign also through righteousness (right standing with God) which issues in eternal life through Jesus Christ, the Messiah, the Anointed One, our Lord. 

 Another reason for the law

'Now all the words of the law are, addressed, as we know, to those who are within the pale of the law, so that no one may have anything to say in self-defence, but the whole world may be exposed to the judgement of God. For no human being can be justified in the sight of God for having kept the law: law brings only the consciousness of sin.' ... Romans 3: 19-20 NEB

 Another reason for the law

Except through law I should never have become acquainted with sin. For example, I should never have known what it was to covet, if the law had not said, 'Thou shalt not covet.' Through that commandment sin found its opportunity and produced in me all kinds of wrong desires. In the absence of law, sin is a dead thing. ... Romans 7: 7-9 NEB 

The law stirred up wrongful passions that showed our inability to be perfect in our own strength. It led us to know our need of a Saviour.

The Law & Gentiles

"When Gentiles who do not possess the law carry out its precepts by the light of nature, then, although they have no law, they are their own law, for they display the effect of the law inscribed on their hearts. Their conscience is called as witness, and their own thoughts argue the case on either side, against them or even for them, on the day when God judges the secrets of human hearts through Christ Jesus. So my gospel declares." ... Romans 2: 14-16 NEB 

 St. Paul's Confession

ROMANS 7: 14 - 25 N.E.B.

We know that the law is spiritual; but I am not ... ... I am unspiritual, the purchased slave of sin ... ... I do not even acknowledge my own actions as mine ... ... for what I do is not what I want to do, but what I detest ... ...

The good which I want to do, I fail to do ... ... but what I do is the wrong which is against my will ... ... and if what I do is against my will, clearly it is no longer I who am the agent ... ... but sin that has its lodging in me ... ... 

I discover this principle, then; that when I want to do the right ... ... only the wrong is within my reach ... ... in my inmost self I delight in the law of God ... ... but I perceive that there is in my bodily members a different law ... ... fighting against the law that my reason approves ... ... and making me a prisoner under the law that is in my members ... ... the law of sin ... ...  

Miserable creature that I am, who is there to rescue me out of this body doomed to death ... ... God alone, through Jesus Christ our Lord! ... ... Thanks be to God! ... ... 

In a word then, I myself, subject to God's law as a rational being ... ... am yet in my unspiritual nature, a slave to the law of sin. ... St. Paul ... ...

Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace: Galatians 5:4 KJV  

For Christ ends the law and brings righteousness for everyone who has faith. ... Romans 10: 4 NEB  

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Foot Notes

I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake. ... 1John 2: 12 KJV

An all embracing liberal Christian type Grace has permeated many churches. (See Rahab's Church Chat )  

It is my constant prayer that everything on the Erring Christian sites and also Rahabs Church, is in accordance with true doctrine, is inspired by God, and is to His Great Glory. 

 Future Tense. 

Consider, all our sins were future tense from the time Christ died for us!

Knowing we are saved affects what we do.

How can we show people their need of salvation if we are riddled with doubts about our own? We are in a battle, a battle against the principalities, the powers, the dark rulers of this age. Put on the armour of God therefore and trust in Him. He is our Hope & Strength in reality. There is absolutely nothing we can do that He can't put right if we completely trust Him to do so. All things are possible for the God who loves us and the principalities and powers can never separate us from that love.

Out of his full store we have all received grace upon grace; for while the Law was given through Moses, Grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. ... John 1: 17 NEB 

Top

Salvation by Works. 

Good works are the fruits of salvation, not the means of producing it. 

Oswald Chambers

Sometimes after we have sinned we feel a natural inclination to try to make up for our sins in order to try to regain God's favour. We may "feel" alienated from God but that is on our part, not God's as hard as it is to appreciate this at the time. We may not feel close to God whilst we are sinning, neither does God condone sin. However, He has not stopped loving us. Our standing before Him is not based on anything we can do to earn it, but on His Son.

1 John 2: 1-2 KJV ... My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for our's only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

Advocate = Defence Council  Propitiation = Appeasement

For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace: Romans: 6:14 KJV 

We cannot earn our salvation.

If we try to justify ourselves through works of the flesh in order to try to earn or add to our salvation, we are insulting Almighty God. He who so loves us that He gave His only begotten Son to die for us in unspeakable agony so that we can be saved. 

Most of us are aware of the terrible things our Lord Jesus suffered. However, consider also what the Father went through as He had to turn aside from His dearly beloved Son whilst He was beaten, scourged and crucified, for us. Do you think God would have stood by and allowed this to happen if there was another way we could be justified before His uncompromising righteousness? Of course not. It brings tears to my eyes that some doctrines could even consider man can earn or assist his own salvation. The continuation of this theme: Gospel

You have heard it said no doubt, particularly when this or that tragedy occurs, how could a God of love allow it to happen? Consider how much love for us it took God to allow His perfect, righteous, sinless Son Jesus, to suffer and die, FOR US. So that we who gratefully accept His sacrifice (on our behalf) could be saved!

To think we can actually earn our own way in to heaven by good works is a lie from the pit of hell. Good works are commendable and to be encouraged, but Christ's redeeming blood alone is sufficient for our salvation. He alone is perfect.

John 3:16. Full translation of this classic verse. 

God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only-begotten (unique) Son, that whoever believes in (trusts, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish --- come to destruction, be lost --- but have eternal (everlasting) life. 

For God did not send the Son into the world in order to judge --- to reject, to condemn, to pass sentence on --- the world; but that the world might find salvation and be made safe and sound through Him. ... John 3:16-17 Amplified Bible 

Before this faith came, we were close prisoners in the custody of law, pending the revelation of faith. Thus the law was a kind of tutor in charge of us until Christ should come, when we should be justified through faith; and now that faith has come, the tutor's charge is at an end. Galatians 3: 23-25 NEB  

But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. ... Galatians 3: 11 K.J.V  

Old Testament Law, prior Christ - New Testament Grace, post Christ

Grace rests firmly on the reality that Jesus Christ died for all our sins

Grace That Is Greater Than All Our Sins.

Christ bought us freedom from the curse of the law by becoming for our sake an accursed thing; Galatians 3: 13 NEB  

It is incredible what God has done for us so we can be saved. We, experientially deep in sin, are now seen as clean, holy and righteous because Jesus is holy and righteous. How can we not love him? 

For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace: Romans: 6:14 KJV 

But again feelings can take their toll. We may not FEEL forgiven. But God's word states we are forgiven. We depend on FAITH (in Jesus) not FEELINGS. If we again try to justify ourselves by doing good works, in the sense of trying to earn our salvation, we have put ourselves back under the law. Then, what need we of Christ?

On the other hand those who rely on obedience to the law are under a curse; for Scripture says, 'A curse is on all who do not persevere in doing everything that is written in the Book of the Law.' It is evident that no one is ever justified before God in terms of law; ... Galatians 3: 10-12 NEB  

Let us give thanks and praise to the one who through His death and resurrection paid the ultimate price for our sins so we can be forgiven. Let us worship Him who has washed us clean through the shedding of His precious blood. 

From first to last this has been the work of God. He has reconciled us men to himself through Christ, and he has enlisted us in this service of reconciliation. What I mean is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, no longer holding men's misdeeds against them, and that he has entrusted us with the message of reconciliation. ... 2 Corinthians 5: 18-19 NEB  

Making Light of the God of Creation. 

It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the Living God!

You can't flirt with God and you can't fool with God. He is the Creator of all, without Him was nothing made. Nothing can equal Him in wisdom, intelligence or in any other conceivable way. The creation will never equal it's Creator. There were none before Him and can be none after Him. Everything came into being as the result of His personal creation. God has communicated with us by His word, The Holy Bible. God is our Sovereign Lord. Incredibly, He loves us.

The Holy Trinity

 God the Father, God the Son & God the Holy Spirit.

A thought for the day 

At times most of us experience problems that seem impossible to deal with. Life never runs smoothly for very long. We have good times and bad times. Peaks & troughs. 

For the Christian it is the same, but he has an advantage. No matter how bad the problem, underneath it is God's assurance, "I will never leave you, or forsake you." He does not need a prop, for he has God in reality. When we have faith and prayerfully trust God to handle our problems, well, find out for yourself if you haven't already.

A thought for the day

"Evolution" 

When something has been accepted as truth and taught in the schools for many decades, it becomes established and takes some challenging.

People come to trust in that 'truth', in this case, evolution spanning millions of years, and it gives them a reason not to believe the confrontational reality and real truth that God is actually standing in front of them, giving them a gentle 'ahem', (a cough), and saying, "I am real," how will you respond? "The clock is ticking before you lose me forever. I am the 'Ark' who will rescue you from 'sin' which will pull you down to hell!"

Anonymous Christian Friend

God wants more of us and when that happens, we get more of Him. Our very being is inspired to cry out to a lost world, yes, there is an answer, Jesus loves us, Jesus died and rose again for us, death has been conquered. Hallelujah, Jesus is Lord. 

Anonymous Christian Friend

God is Not Holding Anything Against Us

When we harden or stiffen our hearts, we separate ourselves from our Heavenly Father but He has not separated Himself from us. For we who have truly accepted our Lord Jesus as our Personal Saviour, are redeemed by His precious blood. We are seen as Holy and Righteous because He is Holy and Righteous, we cannot improve on so great a gift. 

Jesus, God's Son, took on Himself our sins. He suffered and died an agonising death for them, then three days later, rose again from the dead in order to give us the opportunity to be made clean and inherit eternal life in His presence.

We are saved for eternity by Grace through Faith by personally accepting Jesus Christ as Saviour & Lord into our lives. There is no other way of salvation except through Jesus. 

Those that have genuinely confessed their need of forgiveness and asked Jesus into their lives, have received pardon for their sins. On the strength of God's own word the Bible, they are forgiven, their sins blotted out.

1 John 4: 19 KJV: We love him, because he first loved us.

Pushing Grace.

Genuine Born-Again believers who love our Lord cannot consistently sin without being convicted of it. Neither would we want to if the Spirit of God lives within us.

If despite being genuinely saved, we deliberately and consistently persevere in our sinful ways, we can end up being shelved, no longer useful. Thereby we will feel a genuine emptiness in our hearts for we have separated our self from God. 

When we constantly ignore those sometimes slight pangs of conscience and deliberately continue in our own suspect way, God (who has given us free will) has little choice but to let us find out the error of our ways, our self. (this is applicable to nations too who have strayed from their foundational Christian root.) 

Sometimes we can be misled and deceived in to wrong doing. (Satan is well capable of  manifesting as an angel of light when it suits his purpose) We also make genuine mistakes (we are human after all) and often sincerely believe that what we are doing, (despite others doubts) is invariably right and in accordance with the Lord's will. Because we are Christians? But there are times, if we are being truly honest with ourselves, we have stifled that nagging feeling that warns us something is not quite right. Yet, we have still continued to do what we want anyway, and despite.

We may not be wantonly and deliberately sinning, (although this can happen) usually we are following a wrong path that happens to suit us, in the vain hope that God will invariably bless OUR endeavours. But, the fact is, God does know what is best for us and He is our Sovereign Lord. Our ways are not always His ways.

Sometimes in His mercy God will allow us to do things that He does not necessarily approve of. (we are under grace) However, if we constantly resist or ignore His reproaches, we will be heading for foreseen (by God) trouble. Through our own stubbornness. 

When one is truly born again and has received the Lord Jesus in to ones life, and I am talking here from personal experience ( I've pushed grace) there comes a time where out of concern for our well being, it becomes necessary for God to discipline His Erring Christians. As one writer so eloquently puts it 'out of love never anger.' 

God is incredibly patient with us but eventually if we still deliberately continue in a particularly favourite sin, or follow a path He knows is wrong, then for our own benefit we will get (what I like to term) our fingers rapped. And that can be very harsh believe me. However, even in conviction we have His assurance: "I will never leave you or forsake you!" He lovingly waits for us to repent, put our trust back in Him, and return to His merciful and welcoming arms. The continuation of this theme: Gospel

We cannot be truly happy unless we are living in accordance with God's will for us. 

Heavenly Rewards

Sadly, many of us will be guilty of losing rewards in heaven through our failure to do God's will in our lives. We may well feel ashamed on that great day when we meet our Lord & Saviour. Whilst salvation is imputed to us by accepting Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord, that's not in doubt, what we do with it will determine how little or how great our rewards are in heaven on that day of the believers judgement. 

It has been said (and I personally believe it to be true) whilst all saved will be glad to be there,  (especially considering the alternative) many will wish they had trusted Jesus completely and acted more in accordance with His will. Saved by Grace through faith undoubtedly, but in the words of St. James: 

"But will thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?" St. James KJV

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.  St. James NIV

Good works (to be encouraged) are the FRUITS of salvation, they are not the means to produce it. 

Only Jesus can do that.

An understanding of GRACE is the most important thing to know in our Christian walk. Sadly it is rarely explained in its true context in many established churches.

The Church.

We are saved by the person of Jesus Christ. Not by religion, church membership, affiliations or even attending church. Can the church save you?

The bible believing church that glorifies the Lord is a wonderful institution, certainly biblical and it performs many and varied important functions. We go there to worship God, fellowship with other believers and learn about Jesus. 

In many Anglican churches (of the Anglo Catholic C of E tradition) who's individual doctrine nevertheless does not always live up to the 'sworn' 39 Articles of Faith; every nook and cranny of the services is often filled up by man made "order of services." In fairness these are usually good, biblical and in my opinion pretty sound doctrinally. 

*

Many years ago the realisation of Grace was opened up to me via a couple of chapters in a book by Hal Lindsey. Still in my opinion un equalled. 

Moved but still not fully convinced, I went on to study grace in particular by reading works on the subject by Bible scholars. But more importantly through the ultimate authority, the bible, the word of God Himself. 

An excellent work on Grace by "Paul Hutchins" can be found on our Gospel page.

  Not saved? 

Born-Again  Get Saved  Steps or Click for Video

But rarely, if at all have I heard it preached (in this wing of the all embracing C of E) that it is necessary to personally ask Jesus in to one's own life. Why? I cannot believe that any minister of whatever shade of opinion could consider it sinful to try to persuade (at least) their congregation to personally ask Jesus in to their hearts. (What doctrine would that fall foul of? How from a Biblical standpoint could this be considered sin?) So I ask again; Why not?

There are many opportunities where this could happen and thus allow the Holy Spirit to do His work. Surely they must realise, even on a down to earth logical basis that just by attending church does not make one a Christian. No more than attending a theatre would make one an actor.

Whilst some services can be uplifting and inspiring, if the minister stops short of asking the (unconverted) congregation to become "born again" themselves, (which most allude to happens at Baptism, even of Babies) they have failed. It's one thing to know about Jesus, but quite another to actually know Him personally. I was personally baptised as a baby and later confirmed, but I did not know Jesus until I asked Him in to my heart. The continuation of this theme: Gospel

Unfortunately (nowadays) the whole (High Church) service is planned out without regard to any supernatural elements. The continuation of this theme: Heavy

Most churches do work for the good of mankind in different and practical ways and should at least (on a purely human level) be commended for that. But, if the works were not actually born of the Holy Spirit, there are those that say they will finally be burnt up as "wood, hay, stubble." None the less, some of our best institutions and charities were founded out of genuine concerns by the church. 

Belonging to a church cannot save us in itself. It is the resurrected Jesus that saves, and Him alone.

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Rahab's Church

The Sex Workers Church 

Multi Denominational Bible Believing Doctrinally Sound

What does the Bible actually say concerning prostitutes?

God is no respecter of persons. The Bible states that there are none righteous, no not one. We all fall short of God's perfect standard whether prostitute or priest. Even king Solomon himself fell on account of loose women. Jesus said to the proud and righteous Pharisees of His time. "The prostitutes & tax gatherers shall enter the kingdom of heaven before you." Proud & righteous!!!

To the woman caught in the act of adultery Jesus said, "Let him who is without sin, cast the first stone." Mary Magdalene often referred to as a former prostitute, was the first to see the risen Christ. God actually told Hosea the old Testament prophet: "Go take thee a wife of whoredom and have children of her whoredom for the land has committed great whoredom and departed from the faith." The great man of God, Samson "went to Gaza, and saw there a harlot (prostitute) and went in to her." Judges 16. Rahab the harlot is actually in the genealogy of Jesus.

There is no condemnation for those that are in Christ Jesus. No one can earn their way into heaven, none of us are good enough. The price has been paid already for our eternal salvation. Will you accept this free gift? If you never accept it, you will never receive it. Our salvation was bought at a terrible price:  Not asking you to change your ways. Just to 'Get Saved' and allow Jesus in to your life. What happens then is between you and Him. Be assured, you will never regret it. ... God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believes, (trusts, clings to) in Him, should not perish but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. John 3 : 16 - 17

It may not be the right time for you now to browse our online church. But please remember the easy names rahabschurch.com or the sister site; erringchristian.com for future reference. Hitting 'Get Saved' could determine where you spend eternity. The Creator of all really loves His creation and that includes you, the sex workers, the persons with no illusions as to how corrupt this rebellious world really is.

Matthew 22 : 8 - 10 KJV  ... Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy. 9) Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage. 10) So these servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests. ... Such is our call to. All ways and everyway in order that you, the professional woman, will find truth and life most abundantly. 

Recommended, a secular but moving & true to life Ghanaian film, 'God Loves Prostitutes.' The film is also known as 'The Chosen One.' (Nigerian films) Available on dvd. 

  http://www.rahabschurch.com   

Rahab's Church

WELCOMES

Sex Workers,  Escorts, Prostitutes & Porn Stars. 

"We are saved by grace, not by works" ... "If we could be saved by keeping the law, then Christ died needlessly."

Jesus loves us unconditionally. He died and rose again taking the sins of those who believe in Him, on himself.

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For by grace are ye saved through faith: and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God. Ephesians: 2:8 KJV ... 

Christ bought us freedom from the curse of the law by becoming for our sake an accursed thing: Galatians: 3:13 KJV ... 

For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace: Romans: 6:14 KJV ... 

Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace: Galatians 5:4 KJV ...

I will not nullify the grace of God; if righteousness comes by the law, then Christ died for nothing: Galatians 2:21 NEB ...

Rahab's Church is named after the prostitute Rahab who was saved after she had hid Joshua's spies: 

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