Jehovah's Witnesses Straight Talk - Forum/Blog

Rom.4:14 For if those who are of the law are heirs, faith is made void, and the promise is made of no effect.

The apostle Paul poses a truth that alludes the fleshly minded person, why? Because in the world of the fleshly minded person it is a merit world, a world where every thing from work to love is earned by what it possess, what it has obtain too through works of law (business laws, governmental laws, and religious laws). Even gifts are given to others by how they treat a person, or do something good for the person.

Galatians 4:26 But the Jerusalem that is above is free, which is the mother of us all.

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Subsequently, the thought Paul states here as a fact of truth must be explained to a Jew under works of law, and to us under works of Christianity. The foundation of Christianity which most Jews rejected and most merit Christian's reject is a gift that could not be earned, why? Simply put, no person posses enough money or influence to buy the life of another human being from the wages of sin – death!

Psalms 49:7 none of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give God a ransom for him.

Titus 2:14 who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify for himself a people for his own possession, zealous for good works.

Factually, a Jew could not stand righteous under the law, without the gift of life, although, a lesser life of animal blood, but nevertheless, a gift they could not created nor take without God's permission. In other words, the gift was given freely, the gift of life to the sinner, and that life took the place for the sins of the person so they could have life before God as right, or in a right standing. Here the Jews as well as many Christian's put all the emphasis and power on their good works done according to laws of their bibles, or religion making faith and the free gift of God void, because that is the world of those walking in their flesh.

Hebrews 6:1 Therefore leaving the doctrine of the first principles of Christ, let us press on to perfection--not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works, of faith toward God,

Now once this is understood a basic teaching of the bible than a person can start to appreciated giving freely to others, the word unmerited kindness, and/or undeserved kindness. Moreover, they can than understand why there can be no competition in Christ, why each member is placed in the body of Christ not because of their good works or talent, but as God Himself pleases. Furthermore, because the gift of life is freely given by our Heavenly Father we can concluded we are in no position to judge others if they are worthy or not of this precious gift given freely by the rules of our religious group.

Romans 14:13 Therefore let's not judge one another any more, but judge this rather, that no man put a stumbling block in his brother's way, or an occasion for falling.

Does our heavenly Father re-neg on his free gift too us? Does he when we are not good enough in meeting Christian's principal than say: “You must earn salvation, the blood of Christ, paying me a price through your own efforts to keep it?” No he does not revert as many false religion teach, he does not go back to works of law, he does not fail, he is love. So when we make God into a man, swing from light to darkness into returning evil for good, dear friend that is our own hearts, not God's.

James.1:12 Blessed is the man who endures temptation, for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life, which the Lord promised to those who love him. 1:13 Let no man say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God," for God can't be tempted by evil, and he himself tempts no one. 1:14 But each one is tempted, when he is drawn away by his own lust, and enticed. 1:15 Then the lust, when it has conceived, bears sin; and the sin, when it is full grown, brings forth death. 1:16 Don't be deceived, my beloved brothers. 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom can be no variation, nor turning shadow. 1:18 Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures. 1:19 So, then, my beloved brothers, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger; 1:20 for the anger of man doesn't produce the righteousness of God.

See also: www.nu-truth.com