Turn Me From My Iniquities.

 

The Work Is To Believe.

 Too many believe their good enough status causes their justification in the sight of God. They consider themselves godly, God-fearing people and as such they are superior to all the ungodly, non-God-fearing people who make no claims to belong to God. Yet the truth of the matter is only the ungodly are justified by God. Yes, you read that right. Everyone has to realize, and have a deep-seated comprehension of the fact they have absolutely NO righteousness of their own at all and none of their claims will give them righteousness. They could be perfect God-fearing people in all their actions but unless they realize their perfection is filthiness, stained by the sin that caused ALL their righteousness to be like filthy rags, it means nothing. God alone justifies the ungodly and our believing that God does this, that Christ is our righteousness will make it so.  Truly the ungodly are justified by God, because we can be nothing but ungodly without God's righteousness. 

We are told…

Joh_6:29  Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.

The work is to BELIEVE on Christ and His righteousness!

(Excerpt)

Romans 4:5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly,  his faith is counted for righteousness

Justifying the Ungodly. 

God justifies the ungodly. No others need justification. 

But mark that he does not justify ungodliness. 

That would be to call evil good, and to deny himself. But he justifies or makes righteous the ungodly, and that is just what they need. He justifies the believing sinner by making him a new man in Christ Jesus, and this he can do and still be just. To make a new man in righteousness is perfectly in harmony with his own character as Creator.

Working Not. "But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness." 

Bear in mind that justification is the subject under consideration. When the apostle speaks of not working, it is evident that he means not working in order to be justified. A man is not made just by works,  but the just man works yet always by faith. "The just shall live by faith."

Rom_1:17  For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

 It is faith that makes him continue to live justly. The reality of the works of faith is made more prominent in the latter part of this chapter.

I Choose the Righteousness of My Creator.

 Recognizing God as the Creator.

Do you recognize God as your Creator?  

If you don't, does that mean you believe it's pure chance that you exist, that we all exist? Even those who believe in the big bang have to continue on back further than the bang that created us to what created the bang? You could keep going back and back until you are in a corner of nothingness, with nothing, because ultimately there had be something that started something.  We cannot take nothing and create something from nothing- it's impossible, completely and utterly impossible. And the big bang takes something to make something, not nothing creating something.  The absurdity of it all is so obvious, yet Satan has blinded the minds of many people, a lot of whom consider themselves of superior intelligence. 

Hope or no hope.

Belief in God or no belief in God.

I know I exist now in this moment and I know that I can cease to exist in the next moment. I can either choose to believe that if I cease to exist in the next moment that there will be another moment when I will again exist or I can believe that is it, no more existence whatsoever.

If I choose to believe this current existence of mine is all there is of life, truly hope is non-existent. There is so much unfairness in the existence of so many, exponentially more unfairness than what would be considered fair- that to believe this is how it is supposed to be- is truly horrific. 

Hope.

Hope tells me that if I believe in the evidence of the unseen that there is so much more to my existence than what is happening with me right now, and happening to all of us. The teeny tiny portion of people who live a life seemingly problem free… wait, there  is no such teeny tiny portion of people. All, without any exception, have problems in their lives. What might be considered a problem to someone wealthy might not be considered a problem to a poor person, someone considered physically beautiful might have a lot of problems that someone not beautiful in that way would have and vice versa. Problems big or small, significant to the person experiencing them, make up our lives. We live in a constant state of potential problems. This existence isn't what was intended. 

We have a Creator. A righteous Creator who has given us hope. In that hope is the knowledge that our existence in this problematic filled life is temporary towards an ultimate existence in perfection. That perfection is our uniting completely with our Creator. After having made the choice to separate from Him, we make the choice to join with Him. We recognize the wrong choice and because our Creator loves us, we are forgiven for making that wrong choice and allowed to accept that our Creator has made a way to make that wrong choice right again. 

We have HOPE. We live with that HOPE.

We choose to live with HOPE or no hope, that choice is ours to make.

I choose HOPE! I choose the righteousness of my Creator!

(Excerpt)

'Romans 4:4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. 

Debt and Grace. 

"Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt." It is necessary to keep in mind what the apostle is writing about. The subject is the means by which a man is justified. 

To him that works for justification, the reward of righteousness is not a gift of grace, but the payment of a debt. That is, it would be so if there were any righteousness by works. In that case, the man would come to the Lord and demand of him his due.

But no man can put the Lord under obligation to him. 

"Who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again?" Rom. 11:35. If any one could do something for the Lord for which the Lord would be under obligation to him, then all things would not be from him.

That is to say, the idea of justification by works is opposed to the fact that God is the Creator of all things.

And, conversely, the recognition of God as Creator is the acknowledgment that righteousness comes from him alone.'

Perfection of Faith.

 

Glorying In God.

 

Faith Enthrones God In the Heart.

(Excerpt) 

Ro.331 Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid; yea, we establish the law

Making Void the Law. 

Making void the law does not mean abolishing it. There is no question as to the perpetuity of the law. It is so plainly eternal that the apostle Paul never wastes space in arguing about it. The only question is as to how its claim may be satisfied.

The Saviour said that the Jews made the commandment of God of none effect through their tradition. So far as they were concerned, they made it void. No man could by any action or lack of action abolish or in any way affect the law of God. But anybody may by his unbelief obliterate it from his own heart. 

The question then is, Do we by faith make the law of God of none effect? 

Or,  more plainly still, Does faith lead to the transgression of the law? The answer is, "Not by any means."

Establishing the Law. 

That which has been said in regard to making void the law of God will apply here also.  That is, no action of man can make the law anything different from what it actually is. It is the foundation of the throne of God, and as such it will ever abide, in spite of demons and men.

But it is left for us to say whether or not we will have it obliterated from our hearts, or have it established there.

If we choose to have it established in our hearts, we have only to accept Christ by faith. Faith brings Christ to dwell in the heart. Eph. 3:17.

Eph 3:17  That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love

The law of God is in the heart of Christ (Ps. 40:8), 

Psa 40:8  I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart. 

…so that the faith which brings Christ into the heart establishes the law there. And since the law of God is the establishment of his throne, the faith which brings the law into the heart, enthrones God there. And thus it is that God works in men "both to will and to do of his good pleasure."

 Php_2:13  For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

I Acknowledge God.

 May the LORD direct my heart…into the LOVE of GOD, and into the PATIENT WAITING for CHRIST.

I need the LORD to DIRECT MY HEART. Why? Because I cannot direct my own heart.

2Th 3:5  And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ. 

May GOD incline my heart to HIM- to WALK in ALL HIS WAYS.

I need GOD to incline my heart. Why? Because I cannot incline my own heart.

1Ki 8:58  That he may incline our hearts unto him, to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and his statutes, and his judgments, which he commanded our fathers. 

O LORD GOD…prepare my HEART unto THEE.

I need the LORD GOD to prepare my heart. Why? Because I cannot prepare my own heart.

1Ch 29:18  O LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, our fathers, keep this for ever in the imagination of the thoughts of the heart of thy people, and prepare their heart unto thee

Direct my ways to keep THY statues.

I need God to DIRECT my way to keep HIS statutes. Why? Because I cannot direct my own ways.

Psa 119:5  O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes! 

I cannot incline or prepare my own heart, I cannot direct my own path towards God. Why? Because it's not IN me to do so. I NEED GOD to incline and prepare my heart and direct my path and ways. I NEED GOD to do this for me. I need to believe God will do all this for me. God knows it is not in me to do any of this for myself, try that I may, wish that I may. To think I can do for myself is a HUGE obstacle in my spiritual life. To berate myself when I fail is another HUGE obstacle in my spiritual life. Satan will throw up anything he can to block our path, our spiritual life. Satan will hold up a mirror in front of us constantly so we can only see ourselves and our failings. Satan wants us to believe that we must incline and prepare our hearts to God, that we must direct our paths. What we have to do is ACKNOWLEDGE GOD. 

In all our ways ACKNOWLEDGE GOD.  

What's it mean to acknowledge someone? If I acknowledge you, I'm recognizing your existence, your being and I'm giving you my attention in that acknowledgement. 

When I acknowledge GOD, I'm recognizing HIM, I'm giving HIM my attention. I'm saying GOD exists to me! I BELIEVE GOD IS MY GOD and I WANT HIM TO BE GOD OVER MY LIFE! I WANT GOD TO RULE OVER ME AND ALL I DO!  

When I acknowledge God in this way I must then TRUST that God will incline and prepare my heart and direct all my ways, because in ALL my ways I am acknowledging HIM, recognizing that HE exists in all my life, not just in bits and pieces.

Psa 119:36  Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to covetousness. 

Pro 3:6  In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. 

Jer 10:23  O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps. 

Jas 1:16  Do not err, my beloved brethren. 

Jas 1:17  Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. 

Jas 1:18  Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. 

Deu 30:6  And the LORD thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live. 

Jer 31:33  But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. 

Rom 5:5  And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. 

Rom 8:28  And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. 

Jas 2:5  Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him? 

1Jn 4:18  There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. 

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

Deuteronomy 30:6

will circumcise: Deu_10:16; Jer_4:4, Jer_9:26, Jer_32:39; Eze_11:19-20, Eze_36:26-27; Joh_3:3-7; Rom_2:28-29, Rom_11:26; 2Co_5:17; Col_2:11

to love the Lord: Deu_6:5; Exo_20:6; Mat_22:37; Rom_8:28; 1Co_8:3; Jas_1:12, Jas_2:5; 1Jn_4:7; 1Jn_4:16-19, 1Jn_5:3-4

Deu 10:16  Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no more stiffnecked. 

Jer 4:4  Circumcise yourselves to the LORD, and take away the foreskins of your heart, ye men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem: lest my fury come forth like fire, and burn that none can quench it, because of the evil of your doings. 

Jer 32:39  And I will give them one heart, and one way, that they may fear me for ever, for the good of them, and of their children after them: 

Eze 11:19  And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh: 

Eze 11:20  That they may walk in my statutes, and keep mine ordinances, and do them: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God. 

Eze 36:26  A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. 

Eze 36:27  And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them. 

Joh 3:3  Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. 

Joh 3:4  Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? 

Joh 3:5  Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 

Joh 3:6  That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 

Joh 3:7  Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. 

Rom 2:28  For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: 

Rom 2:29  But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God. 

2Co 5:17  Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Alive in Christ

Col 2:6  As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: 

Col 2:7  Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. 

Col 2:8  Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. 

Col 2:9  For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. 

Col 2:10  And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: 

Col 2:11  In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: 

Col 2:12  Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. 

Col 2:13  And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; 

Col 2:14  Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; 

Col 2:15  And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. 

Deu 6:5  And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. 

Exo 20:6  And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments. 

Mat 22:37  Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 

1Co 8:3  But if any man love God, the same is known of him. 

Jas 1:12  Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. 

Jas 2:5  Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him? 

1Jn 4:7  Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. 

1Jn 4:16  And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. 

1Jn 4:17  Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. 

1Jn 4:18  There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. 

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

1Jn 5:3  For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. 

1Jn 5:4  For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.