9. There is a difference between the spiritual position of the believer and his daily practice – Men criticize the practices of Christian’s, but God accepts the saved position of the Christian in Christ. The position of the believer never changes with God. The practice of our faith changes daily as we sometimes sin more and sometimes less. Unbelievers see Christians as hypocrites because they still sin. Unbelievers expect to see Christians turn into sinless saints if their faith is real. Unbelievers just don’t get it. They don’t understand that Christianity is a journey not a destination.
1 John 4:17 – Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world.
Romans 3:22 – Even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe.
Numbers 22:12 – And God said to Balaam, “You shall not go with them; you shall not curse the people, for they are blessed (Israel).
Whenever I get into a discussion about faith with a nonbeliever I always hear about Christians continuing to sin. My retort is always the same, “Christians aren’t perfect, but we are forgiven.” That usually ends the conversation. We are not as holy as Christ is; but in position, our standing before God, we are just as acceptable as Jesus is. We have to remember that as believers we are children of God now and always. We will always have standing before God as believers in Christ. No matter what trials and tribulations we face during this life on earth we must never lose sight of the fact that we are blessed by God. That makes all the difference. Heaven awaits us at the end.
10. Salvation is by faith and not by works – Man is saved unto eternal life by his faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. A believer will then produce fruit from the goodness of his heart in the form of good works. Good works is proof of saving faith. Good works avail nothing to a man that is not in Christ in the first place.
Romans 4:5-5 – Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt. But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness.
1 Timothy 1:9 – (God) Who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began.
11. God will fulfill his promises to both Israel and the Gentiles – The Jewish people are God’s chosen people and the apple of God’s eye. Don’t be fooled by the fact Israel is still being punished by God for rejecting Jesus Christ as their Messiah. Don’t believe it when some religious leaders tell you the Christian church has replace Israel as the chosen people of God. God does not change his mind. God will never break his covenant with Israel. God is ever faithful. God has also fulfilled his promise to bring salvation to the Gentiles through Jesus Christ. There is no conflict between Jew and Gentile, we are both brothers and sisters in the Lord and all of us are children of God. God will reconcile with Israel on the last Day and both Jew and Gentile will serve God in heaven forever.
Romans 11:26 – And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: “The deliverer will come out of Zion, and He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob; for this is My covenant with them, when I take away their sins.”