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Am I working out?

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So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. - Philippians 2:12-13 (NASB) What is the believer’s role in sanctification, and what is God’s role? The Christian working out, God working in. Paul says to these Philippian believers: you’ve got to work out your salvation. Many people have been very disturbed by that statement. Some people think that means work for your salvation. Some people think it means work at your salvation. Some people might think it means work up your salvation. But salvation is not by works. You can’t work at it. You can’t work for it. You can’t work it up. For by grace are you saved through faith, that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God not of works, lest any man should boast. - Ephesians 2:8-9 (NASB) There is no salvation by works. So, he’s not saying, Work f...
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Am I in the faith?

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Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is narrow and the way is constricted that leads to life, and there are few who find it. Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven . Many will say to Me on that day, Lord, Lord, in Your name did we not prophesy, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name do many miracles?’ And then I will declare to them, I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness. - Matthew 7:13-14, 21-23 (LSB) When the Lord said these words, He was not speaking to irreligious people; he was speaking to fastidiously religious people. He was speaking to people who were religious to the max, I suppose we could say. They were obsessed with religion. In fact, they couldn’t divorce their social life, their civil life, their economic life, their family life,...
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What is salvation?

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For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God - Ephesians 2:8 (NASB) For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. - 1 Corinthians 1:18 (NASB) Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him...and those whom He justified, He also glorified. - Romans 5:9; 8:30 (NASB) Salvation has three components: 1. The Past: Justification - We have been saved from the penalty of sin. 2. The Present: Sanctification - We are being saved from the power of sin. 3. The Future: Glorification - We shall be saved from the presence of sin. There was a moment in eternity when the Father determined to express His infinite and perfect love to the Son. And we can understand that there is an inter-Trinitarian love, the likes of which is incomprehensible to us. But this we know about love – it gives. And at some eternal mom...
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Am I abiding in Christ?

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Remain in Me, and I [will remain] in you. Just as no branch can bear fruit by itself without remaining in the Vine, neither can you [bear fruit, producing evidence of your faith] unless you remain in Me. I am the Vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in Me and I in him bears much fruit, for [otherwise] apart from Me [that is, cut off from vital union with Me] you can do nothing. If you remain in Me and My words remain in you [that is, if we are vitally united and My message lives in your heart], ask whatever you wish and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified and honored by this when you bear much fruit and prove yourselves to be My [true] disciples. I have loved you just as the Father has loved Me; remain in My love [and do not doubt My love for you]. If you keep My commandments and obey My teaching, you will remain in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and remain in His love. I have told you these things so that My joy delight may be in you a...
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What does God want for me?

He wants you to be holy. [Live] as obedient children [of God]; do not be conformed to the evil desires which governed you in your ignorance [before you knew the requirements and transforming power of the good news regarding salvation]. But like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves in all your conduct [be set apart from the world by your godly character and moral courage]; because it is written, “You shall be holy (set apart), for I am holy.” 1Peter 1:14-16 (Amplified Bible) For God has not called us to impurity, but to holiness [to be dedicated and set apart by behavior that pleases Him, whether in public or in private]. So whoever rejects and disregards this is not [merely] rejecting man but the God who gives His Holy Spirit to you [to dwell in you and empower you to overcome temptation]. - 1 Thessalonians 4:7-8 (Amplified Bible) He wants your heart to be pure. Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? And who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure h...
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Am I deceived?

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You can enter God's Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. But the gateway to life is very narrow, and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it. Not everyone who calls out to me, 'Lord! Lord!' will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. On judgment day, many will say to me, 'Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.' But I will reply, 'I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God's laws.' Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise, and the winds beat against that house, it won't collapse because it is built on bedrock. But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn't obey it is foolish, like a perso...
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Am I obedient?

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Saul and his men spared Agag’s life and kept the best of the sheep and goats, the cattle, the fat calves, and the lambs—everything, in fact, that appealed to them. They destroyed only what was worthless or of poor quality. Then the Lord said to Samuel, “I am sorry that I ever made Saul king, for he has not been loyal to me and has refused to obey my command.” Samuel was so deeply moved when he heard this that he cried out to the Lord all night. Early the next morning, Samuel went to find Saul. Someone told him, “Saul went to the town of Carmel to set up a monument to himself; then he went on to Gilgal.” When Samuel finally found him, Saul greeted him cheerfully. “May the Lord bless you,” he said. “I have carried out the Lord’s command!” “Then what is all the bleating of sheep and goats and the lowing of cattle I hear?” Samuel demanded. “It’s true that the army spared the best of the sheep, goats, and cattle,” Saul admitted. “But they are going to sacrifice them to the Lord your God. We...
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