We are saved by works; the works of the LORD, that is, not our works. You're welcome! You will never read James 2 and Ephesians 2 the same again.
Psalms 111:2 KJV The works of the LORD are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein.
Psalms 111:3 KJV His work is honourable and glorious: and his righteousness endureth for ever.
Psalms 111:4 KJV He hath made his wonderful works to be remembered: the LORD is gracious and full of compassion.
We say and sing 'Hallelujah' because of the works of the LORD. If the works of the LORD are not in you by faith, you simply will not praise the LORD with your heart, nor desire to be part of such a congregation.
Psalms 111:1 KJV Praise ye the LORD. I will praise the LORD with my whole heart, in the assembly of the upright, and in the congregation.
Redemption and everlasting covenant are synonymous with the Name of Jesus Christ and His people, called Christians, not Jews.
Psalms 111:9 KJV He sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant for ever: holy and reverend is his name.
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the fear of the Jews disrupts such wisdom with things like ignorant dispensationalism.
Psalms 111:10 KJV The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.
Paul was a Jew and an antichrist agent who persecuted Christians, yet God had mercy on him, and he too would die for the faith.
Acts 22:3 KJV I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day.
Acts 22:4 KJV And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women.
When a Christian is persecuted, the Body of Christ is persecuted. When you bless a Christian, you bless the Body of Christ. When you curse a Christian, you curse the Body of Christ. Now go back and read Genesis 12:3.
Acts 22:7 KJV And I fell unto the ground, and heard a voice saying unto me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
Acts 22:8 KJV And I answered, Who art thou, Lord? And he said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest.
Jesus Christ is the Holy and Just One and King. He is the LORD!
Isaiah 43:15 KJV I am the LORD, your Holy One, the creator of Israel, your King.
Acts 22:14 KJV And he said, The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know his will, and see that Just One, and shouldest hear the voice of his mouth.
Paul's sins were not washed away by water; they were washed away by calling on the Name of the Lord. His baptism was a public profession of his commitment to Christ before the very people he had offended and persecuted.
Acts 22:16 KJV And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.
It does not seem like the Lord is stating that Jerusalem is the greatest ally of Christians.
Acts 22:18 KJV And saw him saying unto me, Make haste, and get thee quickly out of Jerusalem: for they will not receive thy testimony concerning me.
Paul was already forgiven of his sins by calling on the Name of the Lord, yet he confessed his sins afterwards. And so should we. Confession is a great part of relieving us of the guilt of sin, so we can no longer be weighed down by such guilt and carry on with the will of God and strive to sin no more.
Acts 22:19 KJV And I said, Lord, they know that I imprisoned and beat in every synagogue them that believed on thee:
Acts 22:20 KJV And when the blood of thy martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by, and consenting unto his death, and kept the raiment of them that slew him.
You are forgiven, now move on with the work that God has called you to.
Acts 22:21 KJV And he said unto me, Depart: for I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles.
Jews do not believe that Christians should live, except as obedient cattle.
Acts 22:22 KJV And they gave him audience unto this word, and then lifted up their voices, and said, Away with such a fellow from the earth: for it is not fit that he should live.
Acts 22:23 KJV And as they cried out, and cast off their clothes, and threw dust into the air,
The Jews have always been false accusers.
Acts 22:30 KJV On the morrow, because he would have known the certainty wherefore he was accused of the Jews, he loosed him from his bands, and commanded the chief priests and all their council to appear, and brought Paul down, and set him before them.
The priesthood of believers according to grace is not the same as the priesthood according to the law, even though both priesthoods are saved by faith. If you think you are a priest according to the law, consider the following requirements: no funerals, shaving the head, and marrying a specific non-virgin, for starters. Christian, you are not a Levitical priest or a lawkeeper and its best to simply thank God for that.
Leviticus 21:5 KJV They shall not make baldness upon their head, neither shall they shave off the corner of their beard, nor make any cuttings in their flesh.
Leviticus 21:7 KJV They shall not take a wife that is a whore, or profane; neither shall they take a woman put away from her husband: for he is holy unto his God.
Leviticus 21:11 KJV Neither shall he go in to any dead body, nor defile himself for his father, or for his mother;
If you bow before the throne of Christ it is because of His mercy.
Isaiah 16:5 KJV And in mercy shall the throne be established: and he shall sit upon it in truth in the tabernacle of David, judging, and seeking judgment, and hasting righteousness.
Father, thank You for Your grace and mercy. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
