WHEN THE DOOR CLOSED

I think I'm a little stuck on Noach this year.  I can't seem to get past this Parasha.  That, or perhaps I'm seeing so much within this Parasha that it is taking me a good part of Genesis to move on.

I've titled this week's message, "When the Door Closed," in reference to the Grace that the Earth experienced before The Flood, and the Grace that the inhabitants of the Ark experienced after The Flood.  This reference can also be attributed to the Door of the Wedding Feast, when the Foolish Virgins show up too late.


"The Door" in Hebrew Thought, represents a Period of Grace and we must understand what Grace is from God's point of view, and not simply what we perceive it to mean.  We must be careful that certain Theologies do not steer us away from the truth.  Although with good intention, in piety of Faith, certain doctrines may take God's Grace for Granted.


Today I want to shake things up a little.  I'm going to have a look at a doctrine that I have pondered my entire life.  When I say pondered, I mean, I have accepted the Theology behind it, but the more I apply common sense and logic, I continually question the premise.  The doctrine that I am referring to is "Eternal Security." 


I was raised being taught that Eternal Security is "Easy Salvation," it's not built upon Scripture, and it gives The Believer a false sense of security.  (This is what I was taught - NOT that I didn't question it.)

Now, although I was taught this, and accepted this idea as a child, I still wondered why some Believers embraced this teaching.  In fact, I remember having a midrash on the concept, without even knowing what a Midrash was at the time --  Many years ago.

My understanding of the concept of a "Covenant," meant that it, or at least certain aspects of the Covenant, was conditional.  Therefore "If This ... then That."  This is what a Covenant is, or at least how I understood it at the time.  I have since come to understand that this is the idea behind a "Contract," and that a "Covenant," is simply a "Promise," that may or may not hold conditions.

At the time I was not fully aware of the one sided nature of God's Covenant with Abraham.  Other than receiving the Blessing, there are no conditions regarding God's Covenant with Abraham.  It is merely an unconditional promise from God to Abraham.

In my Drash, I had explained that if the New Covenant is a Covenant, then it is "conditional."  If the word "If" is used, it is conditional.

This begs the Question, "If the New Covenant is based upon the Premise of Grace, then is Grace "Conditional?"

This is a complex idea, but before we determine whether Grace is conditional or not, we must first try to understand what Grace is.  We'll come back to this.

First, let's look at the most famous "Condition" of The New Covenant.

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."  John 3:16

I don't know.  What do you think?  Conditional or Unconditional?  I say Conditional.  "Whoever Believes."  What if we don't believe, do we get to have "everlasting life," regardless?

OK.  So there is some condition involved within the parameters of the New Covenant.  More specifically, you cannot enter into The New Covenant without Believing in Him.

Now, we can go down an even more complex road of what it means to "Believe in Him," but let's save that for another message.  I'd like to eat lunch at some point today, and dinner for that matter.

Therefore, there is a Condition to enter into the Covenant.  Now, according to the doctrine of "Eternal Security," this is where the "Conditions" end.  "Once Saved, always Saved."

We are saved "Once and for all," therefore our actions, once past the threshold of "Salvation," are irrelevant.  Well, as it is taught, "irrelevant," regarding the issue of our "Salvation." However, our "Rewards" will be affected by our behaviour.  This is the Theology taught on topic of Eternal Security.

To many of us, especially Messianic Believers, this is a difficult idea to embrace.  It is difficult to embrace, because in essence this ideology fits directly into the doctrine of "The Law doesn't matter, for we are Saved by Grace," or as it has been put to me, "What Sin is too Great for Yeshua?"

Well there is one, "The Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit," (Matthew 12:31) but that's not really the point is it?  The point is that Once within the Covenant of Messiah, we are Saved from our Sin.  End of Story.

To many of us Messianic Believers, it sounds like reckless and dangerous theology.  "Take Liberty in your salvation!"  This idea comes from Galatians 5:13

"For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another."

I do not accept this to mean, "Do what you want, because you are Free from The Oppressive Law of God."  Rather I understand this to mean, "Be free of the condemnation of The Law of God, for Salvation protects you."  Never the less Sin is defined by the Law, and if we are best advised "Not to Sin," then therefore we are advised to Live within the Word of God (Live within the Law).

So...  If you want me to understand Eternal Security, What you are telling me is that, once I say "The Sinner's Prayer," and I accept His Salvation, by Faith, then I am saved, and no matter what I do or don't do, after that fact, I am still saved from Hell Fire, all the while, I may loose "My Reward," should I misbehave?

It just sounds too easy, but then again, I'm one of those "Back under the Law types," so that's no surprise. 

This is the point.  Yeshua said, "My Burden is light."  The LORD has done it for us, and there is nothing that we can do to add to our Salvation.  I agree with the latter point, but what does this have to do with how we live our lives according to God's Word?

Oh - But that's were Faith comes in.  If you really believe that Jesus has saved you, then you are saved.  If you are unsure of that Salvation, because you are lacking in Faith, then were you truly saved to begin with? 

What???  

So...  What you are saying is that, if I question the fullness of Yeshua's Salvation due to lack of Faith, then due to my lack of Faith, I was never really saved in the first place?  Therefore, my Faith has to be perfect, before I can be saved? 

I thought that we grow in Faith, once within the relationship with the LORD?  Then, how do we ever know if we are truly saved or not, or better, whether our Faith is strong enough to save us in the first place?  --  Did you catch that paradox?

In an attempt to twist our responsibility away from Works, we have now switch-backed right into turning Faith itself into a Work of Merit.  If our Faith determines our Salvation, and we need enough Faith to be acceptable in order to receive Salvation, then our Salvation is dependent upon our applied Faith.  That places us (Our Efforts) back into the equation, of which this doctrine is attempting to omit us from.  This is a Paradox.  There is something just not fitting right here.  Therefore we need to "Midrash."

If you are saved, and yet you continue to live in sin, were you ever "Truly" saved to begin with? 
To better understand this idea, let's add some contrast.  If you accept Yeshua's Salvation, and then sin from time to time, due to the weakness of the Flesh, are you "Living in Sin," or are you "Living within the Law," and slipping up, from time to time? 

I believe it is this contrast that determines whether we are "Walking with The LORD," or if we are "Looking for the Formula to Please God."  If we are looking for the Formula to Please God, in the same manner that Ancient Israel did during the Days of Isaiah, and that so-called "Formula" replaces and inhibits our Walking Relationship with The LORD, then we may as well be "Living in Sin."

It is in our Walk with the LORD that we find Grace in God's presence.  Even when we Sin, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9 - "IF" we confess our Sin.  This is a perpetual and "conditional" process within our Relationship with Him. 

Now, if we are "Living by the Rules" or "The Law," but in doing so, we are not "Walking" with Him, but rather the concept of Him, then we may as well be, "Living in Sin."


This is How The Law becomes Sin to us.  Romans 8:2   All the while, if we Live within the Law, but in doing so, Walk with Him, then we have found our Place.  In as much we find Grace within our Walk, in spite of our Sin.  Therefore, within this "Walk," we may stumble and fall, but since He is with us, we learn from our mistakes, and move forward, not worrying about the condemnation of the Law, due to our Failure.  "He is faithful and just and willing to forgive us."  In as much, we are not taking His Grace for Granted but applying it, as He intended for it to be applied.  

Once True Salvation sprouts, then the Fruit of the Spirit begins to grow, and become evident in that person's life, therefore the evidence of Salvation becomes a physical manifestation. 


Then why all the talk about Hell?  Was this just used to warn us, a method of provoking us to think about the alternative?  Is this simply a method of prodding us into the direction of accepting God's Salvation?

Well, yes it is, but Hell is real, or is it only real for the Unbeliever?


The answer is that Yeshua spoke more about the dangers of Hell and Damnation, then He did about the rewards of Heaven.  In the same manner, we have two ears and one mouth.  We are told that this means that we should listen twice as much as we comment.  I'm sorry if that sounds hypocritical coming from me, but regardless of our short comings, the Truth is still the Truth.  Amein?


A side note: Remember, just because I am up here speaking about God's Word, doesn't mean that I am preaching to you.  I am the vessel for the LORD's Message.  This message is just as much for me, as it is for you.  The hope is that we all get something out of this. Amein?


OK, back to the point.  If Yeshua's teaching of Hell is only a warning to those who are outside the Covenant, then what do we do with all His Warnings for us, those of us within the Covenant?  Perhaps this Theology of "Eternal Security," isn't as "Cut and Dry" as originally implied.  There must be more to it. 


Perhaps the greater dilemma, within this doctrine, isn't the Security part, but rather the True Verification of Salvation.


"Well... The warnings are so that we do not lose our reward."  I'm NOT so sure about that.  For example, if you are going about doing "This in His Name," and doing "That in His Name," why is there a chance that He would declare on That Day, "Depart from me, you Lawless ones.  I never knew you."  This is not an indication of "No Prize for You," but rather, This is a very clear and direct, "Get Out!"  We must be diligent in our understanding and in our Relationship with Him.  This is not something that we should just take for granted, because someone has misinterpreted the meaning of Grace.


The question that I am posing is, if this "Once saved, always saved" theology stands on its own, then what's the point of diligence and concern?  This so-called, "Grace Theology," depicts an existence of a Sinless State, or at least a Life that Sin no longer has any affect, because we are saved from it.  If so, then why still the warnings in language directed at the Elect?  This is Paradox, if you fully embrace this Theology.  Are the Warnings only for those who "Think" they are saved, when they are not?  Again, then the paradox comes in the form of verification of True Salvation.


Now, if there are some among us that hold to this Theology, I'm not questioning Salvation through Grace, and not Works.  What I am challenging, is whether or not this nicely wrapped Theological Package, perhaps may have overlooked a few major points before concluding.


This challenge leads me down to the very definition of Grace.  Perhaps our understanding of the meaning of Grace, has been ever so slightly knocked off course so that the Scriptures appear to no longer be Echad or Unified regarding this understanding. 


Have you ever walked through the Grocery Store, and looked at certain products and they have all these nice ingredients, but then you come across something that you do not like, or cannot eat.  The whole package must be rejected.  You think to yourself, why can't they just make it perfect to my liking?  No - I'm not talking about picking and choosing Scripture.  In fact, I believe it is the Scripture that helps us overcome the anomalies of Theology.  What I am talking about is that some of these nicely packaged Theologies, may not exactly project the "Whole Truth." 


Well, in our Messianic Tradition, we are not bound to Theological packages.  In fact, we are allowed to challenge any Theology, and our Halacha is to better unify the Word of God.  Meaning that we are not in the business of picking and choosing theology that best suits us, but rather to look at the Scripture as a whole (Including the Torah) to guide our Theology.  Therefore I say that we must look at Grace as the Scripture depicts it, rather than superimposing our interpretation of the Word Grace into the theology.


What is Grace then?

I think I've taught on the Parasha of Noach pretty much, every message and drash that I have delivered this year, less the Bereshiet.  As I said earlier, I'm stuck on the story of Noah this year.


Once again, I will look to the Parasha of Noach to begin my study.  This time I found that the Hebrew word for "Grace" appears for the first time in the story of Noach. 


"But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD." Genesis 6:8


The Hebrew word for Grace is Chen.  It's pronounced like the bird, but with the guttural "Kh" sound.  Some versions translate the word as "Favour."  However, this translation can present a theological debate, as "Favour" can depict merit.  If we translate that "Noah found 'merit' in the eyes of the LORD," then it could be said that "Because of Noah's Righteousness," the LORD saved him. 


This is where Grace can take on a meaning that can cause Theological confusion.  Grace is described as "unwarranted merit."  It is a word, described within a "Spiritual Economy," as something that is "reward without effort," or at least without direct compensation for services rendered.  Is this what the word "Chen," describes?


I guess it depends on who you are asking.  Of course the Rabbinical Midrash is going to go with Noah's Righteousness, because Noah lived a perfect life (we were not there to see otherwise, and so since God favoured him, therefore we can conclude that he was a good and righteous man).  I would contest this carte blanche Righteousness theory based upon the fact that I know that "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23 -  Therefore, if Noah had sinned, then where did his Righteousness come from? Was it because he sacrificed, and corrected his mistakes by the covering of his sin, and learning to walk upright?  I think we are getting warmer with this.  However, ultimately it was because, like Abraham his great grandson, Noah Believed God.


What does this mean?  He believed IN God?  There are people all over the World that believe in God or a god, and this is not counted to them as Righteousness.  Believing God is to believe what He declares to be Truth, and again in Hebrew Thought, what does Truth depict?  A-M-T - The Eternal Truth.  The same yesterday, today and forever.  For Truth to be Truth, it cannot change.  It is Eternal and Everlasting.  Therefore Noah believed in God's Promise. 

What was God's Promise to Noah? 

I'm talking about before the Ark.  I'm talking about those 480 years before the story of Noah begins.  Noah the infant.  Noah the boy.  Noah the teenager, and Noah the Man.  During that time, Noah was given a Promise.  Most likely passed down from his parents or Grandparents, from their parents, who from the Garden were given a promise.  The promise of Mashiach. 


What's sad about this story is that they all had this promise, the other people at the time of Noah, but only one man believed?  He believed so much that when the LORD called him to build the Ark, he did it.  He put his Faith into Action - Emunah.  This was counted to him as Righteousness.  I would take this a step further in thought.  In Genesis 6:9 it reads:


"Noah was in his generations a man righteous and whole-hearted; Noah walked with God."


Other translations use the word "Perfect."  Now, as mentioned earlier, I have trouble accepting certain translations.  I have trouble accepting the word perfect, because it generates an image of Noah that I do not think is perfectly accurate.  The word "Perfect," depicts Sinless.  It was not that Noah did not sin, as the Scripture also teaches us that "All have Sinned."  Therefore, what are they getting at?  It is the last part of the verse that drives the point home, "Noah walked with God."


This is Halacha.  This is Relationship.  Noach found Grace from God, because he Walked with God.  He was intimate with God.  Noach believed God, because he Knew God.  I can't stress enough the importance To Know God.  I'm not talking about only "Knowing of His Ways," but I'm talking about Knowing His Heart, intimately -- KNOWING HIM!!!

Perhaps it took Noah those 480 years of His life before the Ark, to develop that relationship with God, to get to know God on that level that when God commanded him to build the Ark, Noah didn't think himself crazy.  He trusted in the LORD, because he KNEW the LORD.  Those 480 years were Grace for Noah.


This is why Yeshua uses these words, "Depart from me you workers of Lawlessness.  I never knew you."  Matthew 7:23


Grace is conditional to our Walk with God.

Well, we might argue.  "Before we were saved, we found Grace, and because of that Grace, the Holy Spirit was able to lead us to our understanding and acceptance of Messiah."  Yes - We found Grace, as did the People of Noah's Day, until that Grace Period ran out, and the Flood waters came.  We take Grace for Granted, because we do not understand its meaning and purpose. 


We've been handed a Theology that only gives us a Half-Truth.  Keeping in mind, there is no such thing in Hebrew Thought.  It is either Eternal, or it is not. 


"Yes, but brother Daniel, the LORD accepts us just as we are."  Yes - He does.  Just like I accept a dirty carrot from the ground, but then I take it and I clean it, and then I prepare it for dinner.  Just because He accepts us, just as we are, doesn't mean that our goal is to remain in the way that we are found.  Our Goal is to grow in relationship with Him.  This requires effort and interaction.  Within the process of this interaction and relationship, we grow and in that growth, we mature, and become stronger vessels for His use, for the Kingdom.  Grace is the time allotted to grow, in order to become the vessels that He wants us to be for His Service.


Grace is for our limitations, not our apathy.


Yes, but we can never be perfect.  No, we cannot be perfect, in and of ourselves.  This is True.  However, we must BE all that we are for Him.  Where we fail, He makes up the difference, but we must do what He has empowered us to do.


Let me share Yeshua's understanding of this application of Grace.

A few weeks ago in Torah Club, I brought this doctrine of Grace Theology to the table for discussion, and as I am proud of our group, and because the group effort that we work with in growing closer to the Heart of the LORD, I like to share our thoughts with others, as well as, to give credit where credit is due.


When sharing my insights into this Grace paradox, Mary directed us to a portion of scripture that I will now share with you to help us understand how this idea of Grace works.


This is regarding one of Yeshua's explanations of The Kingdom of God:




14 “Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them.
15 To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag,[a] each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey.
16 The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more.
17 So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more.
18 But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.
19 “After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them.
20 The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more.’
21 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’
22 “The man with two bags of gold also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two bags of gold; see, I have gained two more.’
23 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’
24 “Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed.
25 So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’
26 “His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed?
27 Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.
28 “‘So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags.
29 For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them.
30 And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’




Matthew 25 is one of those Chapters that deals with Hell, and more specifically to those who claim to be "Saved," and in the service of the Master, and yet fail to Walk with Him.


Grace is not as simple as we make it out to be, nevertheless, it is not complex.  Grace is not a "One Size Fits All," type of idea.  Grace is given to those who need it for the time that the LORD permits Grace to be in operation. 


For the Unbeliever, or those outside The Covenant, it is up to the time of their demise, or their acceptance of The Covenant.  If they die in their Sin, then the Judgement.  If they come to Faith in the Messiah's Covenant, and accept it, then Grace is applied differently within The Covenant. 


According to this parable the servants are given responsibilities in relationship to their abilities.  This is Grace.


"To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag,[a] each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey."  Matthew 25:15


This is to say, "One Size" does not fit all.  We are given responsibilities to achieve according to our abilities and short comings.  The Father takes this into account, when assigning our duties.  He does not give us more than we are able.  Therefore, we work with the little that we have, and if we are Faithful in these little tasks, as we grow in Faith, he will give us greater responsibilities. 

This is why we pray the Avinu, "Do not give us more than we are able to bare."  The application of Grace within The Covenant is to Serve the LORD with All Our heart, All Our Mind, and All our Strength.  This is the expectation, but then why did Yeshua say, "My Burden is Light."  He said that His Burden was Light.  He didn't say, "There is no Burden."  It is He that makes it light.  It's a mighty burden, if we attempt to do it in and of ourselves -- It is impossible.


We are to Go, in Faith, and give our all, as Noah did.  Noah was in his generations a man righteous and whole-hearted.  Genesis 6:9.


This is what we are acknowledging in the Shema.  "All our Heart - All our Mind - All our Strength."  He is not asking us to give all the Strength of Samson, or All the Wisdom of Solomon.  He is asking us to be the Best Daniels and Phyllis' and Jeremiahs that we can be.  He is not asking us to do the impossible, but rather to have the Faith in Him, that He is able to do the impossible.  Is anything impossible for The LORD?


He is not going to give us something that is beyond our ability, watch us fail, and then toss us into Hell because we failed.  This is not our God. 


Let's look at the last of the 3 servants.  Was he given more than he was able?  Obviously not. The Master knew His weakest servant, and therefore gave him the least responsibility.  He didn't expect anything more from him than He did the others.  All that the Master did expect was the little effort to do his best.  Is that what the 3rd Servant did?  Did he give his best?  No.  We know this because of what term the Master uses to describe him.


"His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed?" Matthew 25:26.

In other words, let us not worry about the outcome of the investment.  This is not for us to worry ourselves about.  Wherever we invest for the LORD, there will be a return.  If we just say, "Following the Law is futile, because it doesn't save us. - It can't be done, so why try?"  This is not the type of Servant that the LORD is looking for.  The LORD wants Servants who will do their best in the little things, and HE will make them Masters over Greater things.  When I use the term "Follow the Law," this is a generic expression for applying our understanding of The Word of God. 


Is the Word of God and the Law of God the same thing?  Yes - these are all parts of His Promise to us. 
"Oh - But that's been done away with.  We now live under the New Covenant." 

This is Theology.  This is an interpretation of a part of The Scripture, rather than a full comprehensive look at the Unified Scripture. 


I'm not going to go on, and point out again, WHAT and WHERE the idea of "The New Covenant" comes from in the Tanakh (Jeremiah 31).  We've been down that road.  If you wish to further investigate this, or discuss this during the Midrash, you are welcome to ask questions and discuss the matter.  Right now, let me say that we have misused and misapplied the concept of Grace, just as we misused the concept of WHAT the New Covenant truly means. 


Chaverim, let me tell you that I spent my whole life looking for the formula, the "One Size Fits All" solution to Theology.  I grew up hearing, "You can't do this, it's of the World.  You can't that, it's of the World." This provoked me to try to find out, WHAT exactly I could do, in this World!  I was a frustrated young man, being told that I lived Under Grace, yet I felt more bound up (Torach) in the ambiguity of Theology, than I did in the freedom of understanding the Scripture.  Therefore my quest was to find the Truth.  What is it, Law or Grace?


Why does Theology teach us this dichotomy of thought?  If Hell is Hell, and God was instructing us on how to avoid it, would not The Law be Grace?  The Law teaches us the need for Messiah, and it helps us understand Righteous Conduct, and how we should Love the LORD, and our Neighbour.  Why must I choose?  I say, "The Law is Grace."

In my journey to find the Truth, I found that even the more Fundamental of Evangelical Churches simply exchanged the Torah for a "New Testament" Theology.  This teaching that "We are no longer under The Law, but rather bound to Church Theology,"  it is no different than being bound to Catholicism or Rabbinical Judaism -- The Traditions of Men.  One bondage was exchanged for another.  We should follow the example of our Master, and kick those tables over, declaring "My Father's House shall be called The House of Prayer!" 


In my quest for the Formula, I found that there is no Formula to Please God.  There is only Relationship.  There is only "The Walk" with Him.  We all must be like Noah, and all the people of God, who simply "Walked with the LORD."  Our Halacha is worked out in Grace, and in Fear and Trembling (Another way of saying 'Reverence') of The LORD. 


Grace is not One Size Fits All.  Grace is given to us all individually, as needed.  Only the LORD knows the dosage of us all, individually.  This is why it is not our Place to Shofet (Judge), lest we fall into that same place of Judgement.  In the same way that we administer Grace, we will receive Grace for our shortcomings. 

Therefore, as you would want to know if danger is ahead, listen to those who bring you the instruction of Dan (Instructive or Constructive Judgement), and when you are feeling Shofet (Judged), take it to the Judge of Judges and ask for His direction, because you Walk with Him.  When you are in this type of Relationship with the LORD, where you Walk with God, then you will have no fear or frustration of Man. 

There you have it.  Grace is to be like Noah, Walk with the LORD.

Now, as we search for the Freedom in knowing the Scripture, rather than being like the blind leading the blind through the ambiguity of Theology, let this be Our Walk.  Let this be our Halacha.


Before I conclude on this topic, I just wanted to point out my personal frustration with this type of "Eternal Security" Theology.  Now, please forgive my tone of sarcasm, as this is how I feel about it but...


Am I the only one that finds it a little frustrating and ironic that by the definition of Grace Theology, there is nothing that we can do or not do that would remove us from our Salvation.  All the while, should we "Go back under the Law," aka "Adhere to the parameters established within God's Word," --  "For Some Reason," this is the only thing that we can do that brings us damnation?


In other words: In "reality" I can sin all I want, once "Saved," and there is no Eternal Problem, because I am going to Heaven, no matter what.  However if I should (Heaven Forbid), obey the Word of God, which is found within His Scriptures, "For Some Reason," THIS is the one thing that would take away my Salvation?

Now, I understand the premise (according to this understanding) that by "Following or Going back Under The Law" I am in essence defying the very foundation of my Faith through the Grace aspect of Salvation, but in "Reality" what is being said is that, should I follow the Scripture, this is worse than Sinning.  All the while, it is the Word of God that determines what Sin is, and what the Do's and Don'ts are.  If ever their was confusion of application of words and thoughts, I'm sorry, this just simply does not make sense to me.  This is a mighty paradox. 

"For God is not the author of confusion." 1 Corinthians 14:33

Therefore, as I had stated at the beginning of this Message, we must look at what it is that we think we understand.  Having a relationship with Theology, is not the same as having a relationship with the LORD. 

Let me leave you with this:

And the LORD said: 'My spirit shall not abide in man for ever, for that he also is flesh; therefore shall his days be a hundred and twenty years.' Genesis 6:3

Even Grace has its limits.  As there are Seasons, Grace has its time too.  Eventually the LORD will close the Door of the Ark, and the Door to the Wedding Chamber, and then the Judgement.  Let's just make sure that we are on the right side of that Door. 




May the LORD further Bless you with His Grace, and make you Masters over Greater Things.