- Jul 26, 2023
- 3 min read
“On hearing this, they were stung in their hearts; and they said to Kefa and the other emissaries, ‘Brothers, what should we do?’ Kefa answered them, ‘Turn from sin, return to God, and each of you be immersed on the authority of Yeshua the Messiah into forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Ruach HaKodesh ! For the promise is for you, for your children, and for those far away — as many as Adonai our God may call’” (Acts of Emissaries of Yeshua (Act) 2:37-39)! Peter doesn’t say that they need to say a sinner’s prayer and everything will be alright. Peter does not say to get your doctrine all sorted out and you will be good. Peter does not say to join a church and make certain to tithe. Peter says turn from sin, return to God, and receive the Spirit. Folks are not easy to love because they are looking for easy solutions that require little work.
The second I say anything about works folks will jump up and shout about grace. Be prepared. BUT I am going to be judged by my works, “'But by your stubbornness, by your unrepentant heart, you are storing up anger for yourself on the Day of Anger, when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed; for he will pay back each one according to his deeds” (Romans (Rom) 2:5-6). And it is important that I get this important part, this fundamental part of becoming a Christian right from the beginning. I need to turn from sin and return to God. Those are actions I need to accomplish. Those are the beginning of a journey that lead me to walk in His Way. BUT the journey does not end there because I then receive the Ruach HaKodesh as a gift to help me walk in His Way. And walking in His Way is full of deeds and works and everything else.
Grace is important because without grace I could not turn from my sins and return to God. Grace creates His Way to Him. BUT works are the basis for my turning from sin and following Him. And He promises to be with us in that walk.
“I have taken you from the ends of the earth,
summoned you from its most distant parts
and said to you, ‘You are my servant’ —
I have chosen you, not rejected you.
Don’t be afraid, for I am with you;
don’t be distressed, for I am your God.
I give you strength, I give you help,
I support you with my victorious right hand”
(Yesha 'yahu (Isa) 41:9-10).
So, instead of getting folks to say a little prayer to make ourselves feel better, maybe we should be doing what we can to help people see discipleship? And discipleship entails working for His Kingdom. And His Kingdom is shown through the Spirit and its gifts, “'But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, humility, self control. Nothing in the Torah stands against such things” (Galatians (Gal) 5:22-23).
So, as for me, I am going to work for His Kingdom. “Then Yeshua told his talmidim , ‘If anyone wants to come after me, let him say ‘No’ to himself, take up his execution-stake, and keep following me. For whoever wants to save his own life will destroy it, but whoever destroys his life for my sake will find it. What good will it do someone if he gains the whole world but forfeits his life? Or, what can a person give in exchange for his life? For the Son of Man will come in his Father’s glory, with his angels; and then he will repay everyone according to his conduct’” (Mattityahu (Mat) 16:24-27).
Grace and Shalom to your home.
I love you. I forgive you. Have a blessed and abundant day!