God Is Good: And We That Believe Are To Be, Too

  God Is Good: And We That Believe Are To Be, Too

If the goodness of God is just about unmerited favor, then righteousness, by faith and by righteous works, is of no value. 

We apparently do NOT have to seek the Kingdom of God first and all its righteousness, to have things added. And righteousness does NOT exalt the nation. I surely speak as a natural man, and one without understanding.

Some are teaching, everything is done and received by grace through faith, and then we are rewarded by favor, whether we do good or not. The goodness of God can come, God rains on the just and the unjust, but it is to draw all to repentance, not to leave them in a state of error. And there does come a time when God says, enough is enough. If it is just favor regardless of actions, then there is no responsibility.  Let us all rob banks, rape, and kill.

In the Old Testament, there were many graced or anointed to be king, but were evil. While they were legitamately ordained by God to be on the thrones, they enjoyed favor with their subjects and other kings, favor as in God opening/closing doors to get them to the throne, prosperity and gifts. They also enjoyed mercy that kept them there, even when they messed up. All of this happened in concert; every tool of God working together, for their good, even while commiting evil acts, primarily because they had faith that they were rightfully the kings of God and they were. (I'm trying to break down each word. How did I do?) They were in their godly purpose, but as Roberta and Donnie would sing, "Where is the Love"? These did not fulfil their part of the conditional promise, ALL THINGS WORK TOGETHER FOR THE GOOD OF THOSE THAT LOVE THE LORD AND ARE CALLED ACCORDING TO HIS PURPOSE. None was immediately kicked off the throne, but they were all held accountable for all they did or didn't do; good or evil; rewarded or disgraced (a great word), dishonored, and punished. It not only didn't end well for evil kings, however, but many times it didn't end well for who they ruled. This is the most hurtful thing to God.  We can also see it takes more than grace and anointing in the betrayal and fall of Judas, and not just in OT evil Kings of Israel.

So, what is it then? Surely I'm not discounting grace, favor, mercy and faith. They are how and why we receive salvation and all that we are and were made to be, even before the very foundations of the world. But if it's just grace and not how we act because of grace and using favor and strength to act right; if it's just God's mercy and our faith and regardless of our overall behavior, we are rewarded, then why bother doing right at all?  What right does God have to ever judge any of us? But God does judge; everyday and in the end He'll judge our life's sum total. He also has appointed others to judge, and we are all to examine ourselves, and correct one another, lest a fault over takes us.

God judges whether or not we've received Christ Jesus and are made the righteousness of Him by faith, first. But after that, there's not only calling Jesus Lord, but there is did you treat Him as Lord. Was it just lip and eye service, or a true change. Then, did you continue there in. It is in the last stages we need grace and faith the most. We see these as initial tools only, but they are to sustain us. We have free will, and as surely as we freely received, we can freely "unreceive". Sometimes with out knowing that, that is what we have done. We slowly just drift away. (Dr. D.J. shout out!) This happens when many use mercy as a safety net, though they are intentionally sinning. It happens when we refuse to hear, accept, and retain truth, and also when we refuse to use grace (strength), by faith to keep us from falling in the first place. You have to desire; lust after NEVER FALLING, more than you desire God's mercy IF you fall.

So the answer to all is transformation through Jesus (being born-again), and being just like God (Good), manifested through thought, speech and works, by Jesus Christ (His grace, faith, favor, and mercy), now and forever! This is the whole picture and the accurate account of the gospel of the Kingdom of God. And its all because He loves us. His yolk is easy and His burden is light. Don't get worried or anxious. You can do this!

Let me further explain it another way. We CAN make a thousand mistakes in one day and still be righteous and saved. We can make ONE mistake, and be unrighteous and left behind, even confessing Christ. I know it can be confusing to the natural mind. But I will keep saying it every way I know, until all has it, even a child.

There is no actual accounting/weighing of good acts verses bad acts that constitutes a righteous person, or an evil one, after receiving Christ. You are new and whole, immediatly. But as you live life and do or don't do, the heart is judged according to what you know, should've known, could've known by diligently seeking to know, and then fought by faith to do and be and sustain, accomplishing it by grace, because God does give you the desires of your heart.

If you listen. People get this when it comes to Purpose and Positions and Promotions and Prosperity and Promises. They'll get knocked down many times and get up, until they claim and have what they want and maintain that status. Great! Passion for the 5 "P"s is good.  But they dismiss this, when it comes to character, good works, treating others right, and Love. Passion for the 6th "P"; People, before the other "P"s, is Perfection, another "P".  And I'll add Power, just for fun.

Please (another "p" :-), meditate and study.

-Yulanda K.
I know I repeat myself again and again, even in the same writings, but it is necessary. Too close. Can't stop now.

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