Jehovah's Witnesses Straight Talk - Forum/Blog

Grace No Longer Works

Romans 11:6 And if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work.

Could there be any greater gulf between light and darkness then the statement made above by the apostle Paul? Just what are Christian's to do when reading these words by Holy Spirit, when their entire life in a religion is by works done and judged by members of their religion?

1 John 1:5 This is the message which we have heard from him and announce to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

What a profound contrast that one would push ahead into a works religion after reading such a rebuke, by Christ himself against works instead of grace, that is, undeserved kindness? How has grace become works? How has the exact opposite occurred to where the lie is the truth, and the truth is a lie?

1 Corinthians 14:33 for God is not a God of confusion, but of peace. As in all the assemblies of the saints,

James 3:16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition are, there is confusion and every evil deed.
1.
Such a mystery, is indeed great, is it not? Can we not see that, honestly? The single fundamental truth of Christ is being trample all over, as if ones have the power to supplant Christ himself, taking his position as our high priest, and replacing him with works instead of grace by the power of the flesh the human will, a will of flesh God himself put away in Christ!

2 Thessalonians 2:7 For the mystery of lawlessness already works. Only there is one who restrains now, until he is taken out of the way.

2 Thessalonians 2:4 he who opposes and exalts himself against all that is called God or that is worshiped; so that he sits as God in the temple of God, setting himself up as God.

If not by works than what work can a person do to save themselves? To create such confusion it can only come from Satan, to blind people to the point that right becomes wrong, and wrong becomes right, cannot be from the God of truth whom cannot lie. Actually if one is honest Paul is saying how can a person change a cow into a horse? If works is grace than grace cannot be grace any longer, and if grace is works than works cannot be works any longer, how much clearer can one say it? The two are as different as light is to darkness they couldn't be further apart!

Matt.5:37 But let your 'Yes' be 'Yes' and your 'No' be 'No.' Whatever is more than these is of the evil one.

James. 3:11 Does a spring send out from the same opening fresh and bitter water?

So there is vast wide spread confusion over the word works, and word grace? We must wonder has attorney's gotten their hands on these two words and made so profoundly complicated that someone with a childlike heart can't possibly come to know what they mean?

2.
Actually is has become the convoluted, where words don't even mean what they say, which only proves the power of bad education? So what exactly does works mean?

1Cor.13:2 If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but don't have love, I am nothing.

Does God have works? Well, of course he does, but why so much confusion over such simple words as grace and works? It is very simple, if on thinks because they pick up their bible and practice it they are doing God works than they are profoundly mislead into believing that they can do works instead of living in grace/unmerited kindness/undeserved kindness. In other words, the confusion is actually in us, not in the words.

Philippians 1:11 being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

Philippians 3:9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own, that which is of the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith;

Such thinking when practiced is precisely why we see all the corruption in religion for two thousand's years. It is why a person can steal what is Christ, God's word, and build giant massive religions and governments declaring whatever unrighteousness thing they practices, as Christ that he justified it by his blood. Moreover, it is also why human blame God for everything under the Sun, just as they do their governments and religions.

Rom. 9:14 What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? May it never be!

3.
Rom.9:20 But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed ask him who formed it, "Why did you make me like this?"{Isaiah 29:16; 45:9}
9:21 Or hasn't the potter a right over the clay, from the same lump to make one part a vessel for honor, and another for dishonor?

So our works cannot be grace, or grace is not grace. You see, it is very simple, if we love truth. Grace is incorruptible works of God, in other words, it does not come from below from are earth, and any of the works of our earth found in mankind. Grace comes down to us from above from an incorruptible God of love, as a free gift. Mankind has nothing to do with God's perfect works of grace, it is not their or a religion, nor a government, it is God's idea, his plan and works for a free gift to mankind.

James.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.

Grace is God's works, lets say that one more time, the works of God for us is his grace that is the teaching of God for mankind found in Christ. The works of mankind is everything but grace/undeserved kindness. Mankind's works are from below through the power of their own will, the will they have been born into and practice because they must by their very nature born into their fallen flesh. Those works are not at all God's works because they are birthed into corruption, i.e., sin.

John 1:14 The Word became flesh, and lived among us. We saw his glory, such glory as of the one and only Son of the Father, full of grace and truth.

4.
John 1:16 From his fullness we all received grace upon grace.

John 1:17 For the law was given through Moses. Grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

Acts 4:33 With great power, the apostles gave their testimony of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. Great grace was on them all.

It is that confusion of mixing works from below into the works of God from above that has changed grace into a lie of works, works into the lie of God's grace.

Desisting From Works

The entire summation of the Greek writings found in our bibles is for us to stop and desist from our works, i.e., our will of our flesh, and do the works of God. Pretty simple stuff, but obviously not so easy to do, or we would not be calling works grace correct?

Hebrews 4:9 There remains therefore a Sabbath rest for the people of God.

Hebrews 4:10 For he who has entered into his rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from his.

But why must we desist from calling human works, God's works? Well, here is the cruxes of the matter regarding this subject. God has a work that work is his work it has nothing whatsoever to do with human's will, under sin at all!

1 John 3:4 Everyone who sins also commits lawlessness. Sin is lawlessness.

1 John 3:6 Whoever remains in him doesn't sin. Whoever sins hasn't seen him, neither knows him.
5.
God's works is Christ Jesus, and are found in Christ, a new creation that is right, a “new creation” unlike anything God created before. What is new in Christ? It is that he was born into flesh, and blood, killed, dead, and made alive in the spirit. In that condition of spirit God recreated his life into the exact representation of his very being/image, God's life of incorruptibility.

1 Peter 3:18 Because Christ also suffered for sins once, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring you to God; being put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit;

Heb.1:1 God, having in the past spoken to the fathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways,
1:2 has at the end of these days spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom also he made the worlds.
1:3 His Son is the radiance of his glory, the very image of his substance, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself made purification for our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;

Now that is what a new creation is, that is, God's works and not man's, because no human can created incorruptible life, let alone life, humans certainly cannot add to God's works by his own works now can he? In fact, all he can do is steal what God words says on the subject and mislead others with the false teaching causing world wide confusion.

Which is precisely what the devil did in the Garden of Eden by his lie, but his words were not only a lie they proved by their fruits to unworthy of coming from God when Adam and his wife could not do God's works any longer in the paradise of Eden because of their sin.

1 Corinthians 5:8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old yeast, neither with the yeast of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
6.
Galatians 5:9 A little yeast grows through the whole lump.

Mankind must to cease and desist from his own will/works, that is, his works he believes he is doing for God's boasting they are God's works. But we find that he cannot do that, by his unrighteous nature the same-one Adam past on to him in sin. It is because he is living in his own will and all that is of his will is his works and justification that those work are pleasing to God.

On the other hand, once Adam sinned he could not use such a faulty justification because he was blocked from entering into God's works in paradise, Furthermore, he could see what his own unrighteous works produced. Not life, but weeds, thirstily, pain, sorrow and death found outside of God's works. There was no work Adam could to gain favor with God again in sin, i.e., work!

Matthew 19:17 He said to him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good but one, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments."

Romans 7:18 For I know that in me, that is, in my flesh, dwells no good thing. For desire is present with me, but I don't find it doing that which is good.

Luke 19:17 "He said to him, 'Well done, you good servant! Because you were found faithful with very little, you shall have authority over ten cities.'

How does one cross over such a great chasm from darkness into light? That is then, the ultimate question is it not? The very thing we are talking about? It is obvious, that few have crossed over from death into life when they call works, grace, and grace, works! They are living in the lie, they have not enter into the new paradise of Christ and have deluded their own mind with false words of works.

7.
John 5:26 For as the Father has life in himself, even so he gave to the Son also to have life in himself.

The Crossing Over by What?

Can we cross over by our works, or must we cross over by God's works, grace? The works of man cannot cross over into God's new heavens, or new earth, or into New Creation, Christ. Man cannot resurrect himself, how foolish, so how could any work he/she do let them think their works are grace, that is, God's works?

John 5:39 "You search the Scriptures, because you think that in them you have eternal life; and these are they which testify about me.

John 5:40 Yet you will not come to me, that you may have life.

There is no real mystery here at all, what there actually is, is pride of flesh that thinks it is a god by it own good. Allowing that good to think it has earned merit into life in heaven or upon earth at some future time. By buying such power by good works gaining them merit requiring God to resurrect them back into life. Thus, they have a life time of achievements recorded and recalled at their death as if giving to God to remain God, and man, of their resume' of good works, that nullify the word grace/unmerited love/undeserved kindness!

Galatians 6:4 But let each man test his own work, and then he will take pride in himself and not in his neighbor.

Titus 3:5 not by works of righteousness, which we did ourselves, but according to his mercy, he saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit.

8.

Jesus had to tell a great teacher of God's people in Israel how one become part of God's works, i.e., grace, can you imagine? Imagine living and reading your bible each minute of each day, and teaching reproving and setting others straight about God's righteousness as a great teaching and not even knowing what God's works are?

John.3:1 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.
3:2 The same came to him by night, and said to him, "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do, unless God is with him."
3:3 Jesus answered him, "Most certainly, I tell you, unless one is born anew,{The word translated "anew" here and in John 3:7 (anothen) also means "again" and "from above".} he can't see the Kingdom of God."
3:4 Nicodemus said to him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb, and be born?"
3:5 Jesus answered, "Most certainly I tell you, unless one is born of water and spirit, he can't enter into the Kingdom of God!
3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh. That which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

What power could delude such a one into imagining they were doing the works of God by the power of their own will? Forgetting foolishly it is the power of God's life, which life, produce his own works, not man's, pretty simple isn't it? God's life is not found in corruption of mankind's sin, it can't be, corruption cannot inherit incoruption that is like saying grace can be works, or a corrupt tree can produce good fruit. It can't be done, give it up, stop thinking that way, take God's word on it, which cannot lie.

9.

Matt. 7:16 By their fruits you will know them. Do you gather grapes from thorns, or figs from thistles? 7:17 Even so, every good tree produces good fruit; but the corrupt tree produces evil fruit.
7:18 A good tree can't produce evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree produce good fruit.

James. 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.

One work must be dead, to do God's work to be found in the light. One life must be dead to cross over into the another new life works, by the power of what? Grace, undeserved kindness. One cannot cross over by their own power now can they? But is that a bible teaching?

Can a branch be grafted into a the new tree, without dying to the old tree? Can a branch have the power within itself to produce fruit if it is broken off from the tree?

Matt.16:19 "Now there was a certain rich man, and he was clothed in purple and fine linen, living in luxury every day.
16:20 A certain beggar, named Lazarus, was laid at his gate, full of sores, 16:21 and desiring to be fed with the crumbs that fell from the rich man's table. Yes, even the dogs came and licked his sores.
16:22 It happened that the beggar died, and that he was carried away by the angels to Abraham's bosom. The rich man also died, and was buried. 16:23 In Hades{or, Hell}, he lifted up his eyes, being in torment, and saw Abraham far off, and Lazarus at his bosom.
16:24 He cried and said, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue! For I am in anguish in this flame.' -

10.
- 16:25 "But Abraham said, 'Son, remember that you, in your lifetime, received your good things, and Lazarus, in like manner, bad things. But now here he is comforted and you are in anguish.
16:26 Besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, that those who want to pass from here to you are not able, and that none may cross over from there to us.'

Well, yes it is a bible teaching, that is what Paul was speaking to in the entire book of Romans before making the statement above about grace if it is by grace, then its not by works. Moreover, that is why Christ stated that our flesh profit us nothing in the new life of Christ, that is, our being in Christ.

Romans 8:7 because the mind of the flesh is hostile towards God; for it is not subject to God's law, neither indeed can it be.

Romans 8:8 Those who are in the flesh can't please God.

Furthermore, that is why he said, that so few read and understand his words that a good tree can't produce corrupt fruit, and corrupt tree can't produce good fruit. One must die, to have the life of their other, the corrupted life by sin dies, is broken off the tree, so it can be graft into a new life a good tree, making it new, in a new life having the will of God in it, so it can do what, God's works, which work is grace, a free unmerited kindness giving others the same life freely.

Romans 6:4 We were buried therefore with him through baptism to death, that just like Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we also might walk in newness of life.

John1:12 But as many as received him, to them he gave the right to become God's children, to those who believe in his name:
1:13 who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
11.
Thus, in grace is the free gift of God's love, something none of us can earn, and certainly not part of our old tree born into sin, hence, how could we be teaching each other to do works of our old life to become a good tree, and/or become part of the vine of Christ, where only his works feeds and produce fruit, us?

John. 15:1 "I am the true vine, and my Father is the farmer.
15:2 Every branch in me that doesn't bear fruit, he takes away. Every branch that bears fruit, he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 15:3 You are already pruned clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. 15:4 Remain in me, and I in you. As the branch can't bear fruit by itself, unless it remains in the vine, so neither can you, unless you remain in me.

Here in lays the confusion, the great mystery that has caused world wide darkness for those professing to be Christian's where their own fruit deny the very God they claim to serve by works instead of grace. Is it works or grace, and if it grace why is it so corrupt and found to have the same old sin of all humans, how can that be grace? Why is Christianity a life time of justification of bad actions by using God's word the bible to justify evil of sin? That is the mystery, because God does not justify our sins, he kills the thing causing sin our flesh in Christ Jesus? Is that a work or grace?

Romans 6:22 But now, being made free from sin, and having become servants of God, you have your fruit of sanctification, and the result of eternal life.

When one mixes this old life into God's works, that is, into Christ, God's work of grace towards us, it causes darkness, not only darkness, but it propagates the lie, the lie that mankind can be God's grace by his/her works. But unlike Adam people aren't so honest when they see they are in a field of weeds thorns, thistle by they own works. Instead they justify the word works as grace, and blind themselves to the lie their own life is living.

It is the land of confusion and darkness, the middle ground, of neither light, or darkness which is factually the lurking place of the demons.

Revelation 18:2 He cried with a mighty voice, saying, "Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, and she has become a habitation of demons, a prison of every unclean spirit, and a prison of every unclean and hateful bird!

It is calling God light, and darkness at the sametime thinking he is like us existing in corruption of sin, and death, and then our becoming angry when other Christian's don't live up to what we call the truth! We miss judge God by our flesh, and we misjudge each other by the same flesh when we applies God's word the bible to our old life of the fleshly, and the will of our flesh and not to Christ, God's the new creation(grace), but in that blinded condition we cannot pass over into life by our own will in reading or practicing our bibles, or a religion.

James.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. 1:21 Therefore, putting away all filthiness and overflowing of wickedness, receive with humility the implanted word, which is able to save your souls{or, preserve your life.}.
1:22 But be doers of the word, and not only hearers, deluding your own selves.

13.

The flesh of mankind does not live in grace, there is no merit in our flesh that is why it must be dead, it in the spirit we passover into light, Christ Jesus (Spirit), then in that state we do God's will, in Christ (God's love) we can do the works of God. Have we actually passover?

1 John 3:14 We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. He who doesn't love his brother remains in death.

If we have passover from death into life we live in Spirit and truth, we are taught by the Spirit, and we walk in the Spirit, and we are feed by the Spirit life by the living bread Christ Jesus. Furthermore, we love the brothers because we are in God's love, and do onto our brothers and sisters by teh same grace that has been freely given us. We do not slaughter our brother by works, demanding of him/her works instead grace that has been given us freely.

1 Corinthians 5:7 Purge out the old yeast, that you may be a new lump, even as you are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, has been sacrificed in our place.

Hebrews 11:28 By faith, he kept the Passover, and the sprinkling of the blood, that the destroyer of the firstborn should not touch them.

2 Timothy 1:10 but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who abolished death, and brought life and immortality to light through the Good News.

2 Timothy 2:4 No soldier on duty entangles himself in the affairs of life, that he may please him who enrolled him as a soldier.

Titus 1:2 in hope of eternal life, which God, who can't lie, promised before time began;

14.
Titus 3:7 that, being justified by his grace, we might be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

1 Peter 1:18 knowing that you were redeemed, not with corruptible things, with silver or gold, from the useless way of life handed down from your fathers.

2 Peter 1:3 seeing that his divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and virtue;

1 John 1:2 (and the life was revealed, and we have seen, and testify, and declare to you the life, the eternal life, which was with the Father, and was revealed to us);

Grace is how we love each others, if grace becomes works we fall under the judgment of flesh, we become the world, we build our religion by a lie, by good works from the will of our own flesh. We do not receive the gifts of God given to the body of Christ freely. We are our own tree producing works by reading our bibles which Christ said were evil works, we have not receive the life of God's tree, (Christ) and/or its righteousness, we are saying that within sin we can be a good tree if we work hard enough at it!

That teaching is factually the lie, it is not a bible teaching and that is why one cannot understand that nothing good dwells in sin, that is, the flesh that please God. It is the summation of the whole of our bibles. Adam lost his relationship with God, by his own works and all are dying every sense.

Christ comes by God's grace to allow us back into paradise by the merit of his life, thus, we must die in our flesh in Christ and be made alive in him as our new creation. In Christ is the will of God, and only the will of God letting us please God, and do the works of the body for God's perfect will and pleasure. There is only one justification once for all times for us, and then we must desist from the justification of ourselves (works) to enter into God's rest the great sabbath day, of Christ life. We rest because we have been justify by God's works in Christ Jesus. Just as Adam was justify in God's works by being in the Garden of Eden proclaiming he was free of corruption from sin. So to are all those freed of sin in Christ.

Romans 4:8 Blessed is the man whom the Lord will by no means charge with sin."{Psalm 32:1-2}

Romans 5:20 The law came in besides, that the trespass might abound; but where sin abounded, grace abounded more exceedingly;

Romans 6:6 knowing this, that our old man was crucified with him, that the body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be in bondage to sin.

Romans 6:7 For he who has died has been freed from sin.

Romans 6:10 For the death that he died, he died to sin one time; but the life that he lives, he lives to God.

Romans 6:18 Being made free from sin, you became bondservants of righteousness.

1 John 3:9 Whoever is born of God doesn't commit sin, because his seed remains in him; and he can't sin, because he is born of God.

Hebrews 9:28 so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, without sin, to those who are eagerly waiting for him for salvation.

Hebrews 10:18 Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.

Galatians 3:22 But the Scriptures imprisoned all things under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.

2 Corinthians 3:6 who also made us sufficient as servants of a new covenant; not of the letter, but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old things have passed away. Behold, all things have become new.

Ephesians 4:24 and put on the new man, who in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of truth.

Hebrews 10:20 by the way which he dedicated for us, a new and living way, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;

2 Peter 3:13 But, according to his promise, we look for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.

Revelation 21:5 He who sits on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new." He said, "Write, for these words of God are faithful and true."

Philippians 3:3 For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh;

Galatians 6:8 For he who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption. But he who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.

Galatians 5:17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, that you may not do the things that you desire.

Romans 8:5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.

Romans 8:6 For the mind of the flesh is death, but the mind of the Spirit is life and peace;

Romans 8:7 because the mind of the flesh is hostile towards God; for it is not subject to God's law, neither indeed can it be.

Romans 8:8 Those who are in the flesh can't please God.

Romans 8:9 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if it is so that the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if any man doesn't have the Spirit of Christ, he is not his.

Romans 8:12 So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.

Romans 8:13 For if you live after the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.