Give God all the glory, honor, and praise.
Revelation 4:11 YLT
Worthy art thou, O Lord, to receive the glory and the honor, and the power, because Thou - Thou didst create the all things, and because of Thy will are they, and they were created.

Jesus said,
Mat_5:20  For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

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No One Is Righteous
Rom 3:9  What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; 
Rom 3:10  As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: 
Rom 3:11  There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. 
Rom 3:12  They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. 
Rom 3:13  Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: 
Rom 3:14  Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: 
Rom 3:15  Their feet are swift to shed blood: 
Rom 3:16  Destruction and misery are in their ways: 
Rom 3:17  And the way of peace have they not known: 
Rom 3:18  There is no fear of God before their eyes. 
Rom 3:19  Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. 
Rom 3:20  Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. 
The Righteousness of God Through Faith
Rom 3:21  But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; 
Rom 3:22  Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: 
Rom 3:23  For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 
Rom 3:24  Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 
Rom 3:25  Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; 
Rom 3:26  To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. 
Rom 3:27  Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. 
Rom 3:28  Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. 
Rom 3:29  Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also: 
Rom 3:30  Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith. 
Rom 3:31  Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law. 

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Like you said Dave: "There is nothing we can do to obtain salvation other than believe in Jesus' death burial and resurrection as our savior. The law and good works do not give us salvation."

We had a discussion in Sunday School class this morning about law verses grace. The study began with a look at Galatians 3:10 - 14.
Gal 3:10  For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.
Gal 3:11  But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.
Gal 3:12  And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.
Gal 3:13  Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:
Gal 3:14  That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
KJV through E Sword website

Salvation through grace not the law was the topic of discussion. We wrapped up the class with Galatians 2: 21
Gal 2:21  I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.
KJV through E Sword website

There is nothing we can do to obtain salvation other than believe in Jesus' death burial and resurrection as our savior. The law and good works do not give us salvation.

I was reading in the daily devotional, Our Daily Bread, and the verse of the day was Galatians 2:20. I read it from the Bible so I could get a greater context and found the surrounding verses very interesting. It is not the Law. It is not the good works. It the Grace of God by which we are saved. Thank you Biblegateway.com for providing the following passages.

Galations 2: 19 - 21 (NASB)

19 For through [r]the Law I died to the Law, so that I might live to God. 20 I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and [t]the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. 21 I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly.?

Jesus said to them, ?I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.
John 6: 35 ESV

Greg, Dave T and Mike:D jump right in to a discussion about the 1000 year reign of Christ as prophesied within the twentieth chapter in the book of Revelation. Is it going on now? Is it going to happen sometime in the not too distant future? A topic that has served to divide many in Christendom into several various camps. Not surprisingly unanimity is illusive in this group as well. An interesting discussion that is sure to have you choosing sides (or at least wondering where you stand.)    


Please listen in...

Throughout the history of mankind God has had secrets that he revealed in His time. Are there still things out there that God the Father has chosen to not yet reveal to mankind?  I think up to this point the greatest secret revealed to mankind is twofold. They are Jesus Christ our savior and salvation by grace and grace alone.

Colossians Chapter 1
21 And you -- once being alienated, and enemies in the mind, in the evil works, yet now did he reconcile,
22 in the body of his flesh through the death, to present you holy, and unblemished, and unblameable before himself,
23 if also ye remain in the faith, being founded and settled, and not moved away from the hope of the good news, which ye heard, which was preached in all the creation that [is] under the heaven, of which I became -- I Paul -- a ministrant.
24 I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and do fill up the things lacking of the tribulations of the Christ in my flesh for his body, which is the assembly,
25 of which I -- I did become a ministrant according to the dispensation of God, that was given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God,
26 the secret that hath been hid from the ages and from the generations, but now was manifested to his saints,
27 to whom God did will to make known what [is] the riches of the glory of this secret among the nations -- which is Christ in you, the hope of the glory,
28 whom we proclaim, warning every man, and teaching every man, in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus,
29 for which also I labour, striving according to his working that is working in me in power.
Young's Literal Translation (YLT)
by Public Domain

Ephesians 2:7-9 Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

7 that He might show, in the ages that are coming, the exceeding riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus,
8 for by grace ye are having been saved, through faith, and this not of you -- of God the gift,
9 not of works, that no one may boast;

Young's Literal Translation (YLT)
by Public Domain

Today in Sunday School we discussed God's will. As I taught the class I gave my thoughts on what I felt were the two most prominent examples.
The first was Jesus in the Garden Of Gethsamane. Matthew 26: 36 - 56.

Matthew 26:36-56New American Standard Bible (NASB)
The Garden of Gethsemane
36 Then Jesus *came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and *said to His disciples, ?Sit here while I go over there and pray.? 37 And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be grieved and distressed. 38 Then He *said to them, ?My soul is deeply grieved, to the point of death; remain here and keep watch with Me.?
39 And He went a little beyond them, and fell on His face and prayed, saying, ?My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will.? 40 And He *came to the disciples and *found them sleeping, and *said to Peter, ?So, you men could not keep watch with Me for one hour?41 Keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.?
42 He went away again a second time and prayed, saying, ?My Father, if this cannot pass away unless I drink it, Your will be done.? 43 Again He came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. 44 And He left them again, and went away and prayed a third time, saying the same thing once more.45 Then He *came to the disciples and *said to them, ?[a]Are you still sleeping and resting? Behold, the hour is at hand and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners.46 Get up, let us be going; behold, the one who betrays Me is at hand!?

Jesus praying and submitting Himself to God's will not His.

The second is Genesis 22: 1 -18, the offering of Issac.

Now it came about after these things, that God tested Abraham, and said to him, ?Abraham!? And he said, ?Here I am.? 2 He said, ?Take now your son, your only son, whom you love, Isaac, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I will tell you.? 3 So Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him and Isaac his son; and he split wood for the burnt offering, and arose and went to the place of which God had told him. 4 On the third day Abraham raised his eyes and saw the place from a distance. 5 Abraham said to his young men, ?Stay here with the donkey, and I and the lad will go over there; and we will worship and return to you.? 6 Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son, and he took in his hand the fire and the knife. So the two of them walked on together. 7 Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, ?My father!? And he said, ?Here I am, my son.? And he said, ?Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?? 8 Abraham said, ?God will [a]provide for Himself the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.? So the two of them walked on together.

9 Then they came to the place of which God had told him; and Abraham built the altar there and arranged the wood, and bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. 10 Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. 11 But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, ?Abraham, Abraham!? And he said, ?Here I am.? 12 He said, ?Do not stretch out your hand against the lad, and do nothing to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.? 13 Then Abraham raised his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him a ram caught in the thicket by his horns; and Abraham went and took the ram and offered him up for a burnt offering in the place of his son. 14 Abraham called the name of that place [c]The Lord Will Provide, as it is said to this day, ?In the mount of the Lord it will [d]be provided.?

15 Then the angel of the Lord called to Abraham a second time from heaven, 16 and said, ?By Myself I have sworn, declares the Lord, because you have done this thing and have not withheld your son, your only son, 17 indeed I will greatly bless you, and I will greatly multiply your [e]seed as the stars of the heavens and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your [f]seed shall possess the gate of [g]their enemies. 18 In your [h]seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.?

Abraham has submitted himself to the will of God to the point he was willing to sacrifice his only son.

Ephisians 2: 11 - 13 (YLT)
11 Wherefore, remember, that ye [were] once the nations in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that called Circumcision in the flesh made by hands,
12 that ye were at that time apart from Christ, having been alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of the promise, having no hope, and without God, in the world;
13 and now, in Christ Jesus, ye being once afar off became nigh in the blood of the Christ,

Thank you Les Feldick.

http://www.lesfeldick.org/lesbk72.html

Romans 15:8

"Now I say that Jesus Christ was (What?) a minister (a sent one) of the circumcision (Israel) for the truth of God, to confirm (or to bring to fruition, or to fulfill) the promises made unto the fathers:" Now that was the purpose of Christ’s ministry in coming to the Nation of Israel at His first advent.

All right, now back here at Colossians, Paul, too, is a sent one - not to Israel, but to the Gentile world.  That’s what I want folks to see.  You don't just jumble this all up together.  Christ had His ministry to Israel.  This man’s ministry is to the non-Jewish world.    All right, so he says in verse 23.

Colossians 1:23b

"whereof I, Paul am made a minister;" By whom?  By the ascended Christ.  He’s the one that designated him.  He’s the one who spoke to Ananias back there in Acts chapter 9, and what did He tell him?  Don’t be afraid of him, Ananias, I’m going to send this man far hence to the Gentiles.  So, that’s been the name of the game since it started.  All right, now verse 24.