The Trap of Being "Too Good" for God

The Trap of Being "Too Good" for God

Imagine working your entire life to build a flawless reputation, only to find out that your hard work was actually keeping you from what you needed most. Most of us think the greatest danger to our souls is outright rebellion—doing things we know are wrong. But there is a much quieter, far more subtle trap that catches well-meaning people every day: the trap of inward self-sufficiency.

It is the danger of being so focused on your own goodness that you miss out on God's mercy.

The Turning Point

This exact scenario played out during the Apostle Paul’s missionary travels. When confronting a group of deeply religious people who refused the free gift of salvation, he delivered a startling wake-up call:

"Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles." (Acts 13:46)

The Issue: Evaluating by the Wrong Standard

The irony in this moment is massive. These people didn't walk away because they thought they were too sinful for God. They walked away because they thought they were too good.

They were judging themselves by a flawed metric: their own ability to keep rules, maintain an immaculate image, and earn their standing. When you live by a spiritual checklist, you naturally start comparing yourself to those around you. You look down at others, feel pretty good about your own efforts, and conclude that you are doing just fine on your own.

Exposing the Wiles of the Devil: How Satan Twisted Scripture Then and Now

Exposing the Wiles of the Devil: How Satan Twisted Scripture Then and Now

Throughout history, Satan has persistently sought to distort God's truth and lead humanity astray. His strategies, from the temptations he presented to Jesus in the wilderness to today's tactics that sow confusion and false doctrine, remain as cunning as ever. By understanding these methods, we can better guard against deception and remain steadfast in the truth revealed in Scripture.

Satan’s cunning is notably evident in his temptation of Jesus in the wilderness, as described in Matthew 4. By selectively quoting and twisting Scripture, he attempted to manipulate Jesus into sinning or misusing His divine authority. These events not only provide insight into Satan’s strategies during Jesus' time but also shed light on how his deceptive tactics continue to lead people into darkness today.

Be careful of bad understanding and bad advice concerning our grace doctrine

Be careful of bad understanding and bad advice concerning our grace doctrine

The following post is in response to a comment made on one of my posts in this lesson series concerning the process of salvation. A comment like this is a good illustration of the lack of good biblical knowledge and understanding concerning our grace doctrine today. These types of comments, although they have a measure of truth, are also harmful, as they can make people ignorant of truth and rob them of knowledge and inheritance. 

In my reply, I will prove that there is more to salvation than just what this comment suggests. If you truly believe that the Bible is God’s words and instruction to us, and if you truly believe that God has done much more for you through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ than ‘just saving you from hell’, then I appeal to you to read my rely and go and do a study on Romans and Ephesians that clearly shows the value and greater truth of salvation than just the first step of escaping the flames. God has SO MUCH MORE for you if you simply turn to His word, read it, and believe it.

Social media comment on one of my posts:

SALVATION IS A GIFT – NOT PROGRESSIVE

My response to the above comment:

Rejection of the authority and ministry of the Apostle Paul

Educating you through comparing false doctrines and unbelief with truth and faith

It is heart-wrenching to see the lack of knowledge and understanding of God's Word. The New Testament is short enough to be read over a few days, and its content is not difficult to understand. The problem is that people are either so brainwashed in bad teachings or so rigid in the doctrines they have been exposed to that they refuse to see the truth that is so plainly set out before them, or they claim to be believers but do not really believe that the Bible is God's words. If one does not TRULY believe that the Bible is God's words, then twisting them, adding to them, or scrapping parts of the scripture to make it say what one wants is the order of the day.

It is my heartfelt pray that people will come back to believing that the King James Bible is TRULY God's words and that is they simply read the book without preconceived notions or prejudice, but rather with humility and with a heart that wants to hear what God says, then they will come to see the truth and discover the glories, the wonders, and the majesty in the Word of God.

The following is documented for your learning. There are many who are still in darkness of the truth and do not even know it. Please recognize the false doctrines they proclaim; learn what language they speak and educate yourself to avoid falling into these traps. 

Edification through Reaction and Response

Edification through Reaction and Response

There have been a number of reactions, comments, and statements made from this post. I thought I'd post these for some reading and contemplation. I trust my replies will provide a suitable dispensational interpretation and correction on the doctrinal confusions or inconsistencies that come from mixing or blended dispensational content together. This post is purely educational. I trust you will either be edified by it, or that it will get you digging into the scriptures to prove that what I say is scripturally true. By no means to I try to appear arrogant or boastful. My motivation is to bring us all into seeking truth that is consistent and contextually correct. God bless.

For convenience, I apply bullets and italics to each comment or statement, and I respond to them below each.

Let's begin...

• I suggest anyone reading this thread put their faith in Christ and the Apostles over your new revelations. How God shows His approval of his saints is through the working of miracles. This was evident in the Book of Acts. There have been many saints over the last 2000 years who God has used to perform miracles.

In all honesty I must inform that you are operating under the wrong dispensation. Today we walk by faith, not sight, 2Co.5:7. It was the Jews in the prophetic program that required signs in order to believe their prophets and apostles, 1Co.1:22; Joh.4:48. Why, because God made a covenant with them to do signs and wonders before them, Ex.34:10. He did not make this covenant with us. In addition to that, consider truthfully what the real value of signs and miracles are. During Israel’s exodus they witnessed some of the greatest signs ever recorded, like the parting of the Red Sea and so forth. But soon after they forgot all about that spectacle and worshipped a golden calf. The value of these miracles for them appeared to mean nothing! Jesus performed more miracles than what books can contain, Joh.21:25, yet only 120 were in the upper room at Pentecost. What was the value of his miracles in the eyes of those Jews who wanted to crucify him? Nothing. Zero! Miracles might have a temporary hype and be beneficial to a few, but they are quickly forgotten. Today, there is something more perfect than signs. The completed canon of scripture, Col.1:25, which provides us knowledge and insights into God and His plan for humanity and creation. By studying this book, believing it, and applying it to one’s life it more profound, more powerful, and more permanent than any physical and temporary miracles.

What if I believe in The Lord God but not Jesus? Jesus was a messenger. A prophet in my belief.

QUESTION:

What if I believe in The Lord God but not Jesus? Jesus was a messenger. A prophet in my belief.

ANSWER:

The message and focus of the grace gospel, which is the only gospel by which we can be saved today, proclaims the cross of Christ, see 1Cor 15:1–4. The focus is on what Jesus Christ did for us. It does not focus on His identity, which is of great importance in the Kingdom gospel.

However, I must add that if you are going to believe in the cross work of Christ; that His death is for the forgiveness of our sins, and His resurrection is for our justification before God, then it goes hand in hand that this sinless and utterly righteous life that Jesus lived is proof of His deity.

It’s not really viable to separate His deity from the cross. No man can die for my sins because all men have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory. How can a sinner die for my sins??

How does one understand the salvation and destiny of Jews living today?

How does one understand the salvation and destiny of Jews living today?

QUESTION:

Are Jews who are living today under the Torah part of the Kingdom program to inherit the earth? What about Messianic Jews who are saved by the grace gospel? How does one understand their salvation and destiny?

ANSWER:

In order to answer these questions, we must first understand two very important things:

Number 1

Israel is blinded today, Rom 11:25, and they are not the special people of God (as in the Old Testament and in the Gospels when Jesus was on earth). When God blinded them, He actually disowned them. We find this in Hosea's prophecy,

Hosea 1:9 Then said God, Call his name Loammi: for ye are not my people, and I will not be your God.

Loammi was one of Hosea's children born from a prostitute according to God's will. Loammi represented Israel according to this prophecy. God was using this scenario to show Hosea that He would later abandon Israel due to their unbelief. So, since Acts 7, after Israel killed Stephan, God strated to lift His hand off them and abandon them. Paul's ministry towards the Gentiles was further proof of this blinding. keep this in mind as we progress through this reply.

Grace Gospel 101 (Part 1): Man’s Sin Condition

Grace Gospel 101 (Part 1): Man’s Sin Condition

The Fall of Man

The first man ever to live was Adam and the first woman was Eve. They lived in the Garden in Eden. God had provided for all of the needs of Adam and Eve. They were given great freedom in the Garden. However, God put Adam to the test in one area: "And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die" (Genesis 2:16-17). The only restriction placed upon Adam was that he must not eat of "the tree of the knowledge of good and evil."

God was testing Adam to see if he would obey. Adam failed the test: "And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat" (Genesis 3:6). Thus, Adam disobeyed God and ate of the forbidden fruit.

As simple as that

The simplicity that is in Christ

Gen.2:16  And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:  17  But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

God gave Adam and Eve only one command to adhere to. Other than this one command, they could enjoy the garden and all of creation. When the serpent came along, it homed in on God’s one command and subtly twisted its truth to deceive them.

Similarly, in our dispensation of grace, God gave us only one instruction,

Act.16:31  And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

The Journey: Part 6 - Get out the map book and confirm the course

Start here at the Introduction: The Journey Begins

The Journey: Part 6 - Get out the map book and confirm the course

Taking a long road trip means that you get onto roads you have not travelled before. Every now and then you meet people on the way and in conversation you might ask for directions to confirm your course.  Though the intentions of that person, in some cases, might be good, there is always a risk in blindly following bad directions without referring to the map book.

This short analogy is true, even more so, in your spiritual journey. Getting instructions from others, without referring to the Bible for your spiritual heading, can have consequences far worse than just a wrong turn on an actual road.

False Teachers and Bad Directions