Success and Failure Blog

There are many Christians who take God’s grace and subtly twist it, manipulating it, until finally it produces lasciviousness in God’s people by preaching a false Christ, through a perverted concept of grace. (Jude 1-4). Satan persuades some Christians that they can still hold to God’s truth while indulging a sin because Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

“For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good” (Titus 2:11-14).

Jesus called lasciviousness a sin of the heart, “that which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness” (Mark 7:20-22).

The writer of Hebrews urges us, “Let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear” (Hebrews 12:28).

God hates sin, judges sin & chastises the sinner. No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a man is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient, Eph 5:5-6. The false gospel of grace is empty words, purposed to deceive you – to convince you to do nothing, remaining in your sins, so your soul is destroyed. The workings of grace to teach us how to live are a process of repentance, the process produces purity, righteousness, and the fruit of the Spirit.

We all know Jesus Christ is so forgiving but after forgiveness he says, Sin no more. Repent or perish.

Jesus told Paul he sent him : “To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, release from sin’s slavery, and an inheritance among those who are sanctified and purified by faith in Me.”

What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. Rom 6:15.

By grace, we are shown our sin by the Holy Spirit. We repent by denying ungodliness and lusts, to living soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world. If we are slaves to sin, he can’t be our Lord. You cannot serve two masters. Mat 6:24,Luke 16:13

Some Christians might quote these verses”There is no one righteous, not even one; Romans 3:10

There is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. Romans 3:11

All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.” Romans 3:12

We cannot obtain righteousness by following the Law. They were many righteous men and women in the Bible .Adam, Enoch, Abraham, Joseph, Jacob, Isacc, Rahab, Ruth, Debrorah,Noah Miraim and many others were all found righteous before the Lord.But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. Rom 3:21

This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, Rom 3:22

So grace, is not a license to continue to sin. We are not condemned while we are waiting to be cleansed, but per Paul again, we have to continue to work out our salvation with fear and trembling. Philippians 2:12

True faith results in true works.Faith, grace, and good works are like a three legged stool. If any one is missing, the thing will not stand. God’s grace in us, if we really have it through faith, will always result in good works. Believer dwells upon this grace of God in which he now stands, it will motivate him to do good works. Titus 2:11, 12.

Scripture says about Good works:

(Jude 1:4, 2 Timothy 3:5, Rom 3:8, Rom 6:1-15, Php 2:12-13, Eph 5:5-7, 1 , James 1:21-22, Eph 2:10, 1Pet 1:17, Eccl 9:1, Rom 2:6, 2Cor 11:15, Eccl 12:14, Rom 2:9-10, 1Jn 3:11-12, 1Cor 3:13-15, John 3:21, 1Thes 5:13, 2Tim 2:21, 1Tim 6:18, Tit 3:8, Tit 3:14, Tit 2:13-14, 2Cor 6:1,5, Col 1:10, Gal 6:2-5, John 5:29, 1John 2:29, Jam 4:17, Rev 2:4-5, Rev 3:1-2, 2Tim 4:14, 1Jn 3:18, Rev 2:19, Rev 14:13, Rev 2:2, Rev 20:12, Rev 2:23, Rev 22:12, 1John 2:17, Rev 2:26, Rev 3:8, James 2:14-26

By God’s grace we are saved, forgiven, and our sentence of death is pardoned as we are washed clean of the stain of sin by the blood of Christ, whose sacrificed blood covers us in His righteousness when we put on the breastplate of righteousness, the righteousness of Christ. Those who are in Christ are dead to sin, under no circumstances they continue to live wickedly instead they have been raised to walk in newness and purity of life, lives of righteousness, morality and integrity.

When I talk about American Idols, I’m not talking about the TV show American Idol.  I’m talking about the idea of idols.  Idols can be anything.  Some people might have money, a big house, fame, sex as their idol.  Wikipedia’s definition for Idol is “An idol is a man-made object that is worshiped in some way.”

Now, let me stress that there is nothing wrong with sex, fame or having money, etc. in the right context.  Let’s take money for example.  Many well known godly people in the Bible had lots of money and wealth, like Abraham, Solomon, David and many others.  The question is, where is your heart?  Is your money controlling you?  Are you a slave to your money?  Are you focused on just on the accumulation of money?   When money becomes your focus, in other words your idol, it is then when you’re getting into real trouble.

It’s worth thinking about.  First of all, you will never experience lasting fulfilling success if your focus is on money.  Bill Gates did not make his money by focusing on money.  He had a passion for computers and software and money was a side effect of his passion.  Besides failure, having the wrong attitude about money can cost you everything including your soul?  Here is what the Bible says about money and success.

“For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?
Matthew 16:26 (NKJV)

Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory.  And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.”  Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve.’ “  Matthew 4:8-10 (NKJV)

Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?  1 Corinthians 1:20 (NKJV)

But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence.  1 Corinthians 1:27-29 (NKJV)

You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men.  1 Corinthians 7:23 (NKJV)

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.  Romans 12:2 (NKJV)

Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy.  1 Timothy 6:17 (NKJV)

Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.  James 4:4 (NKJV)

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.  For all that is in the world–the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life–is not of the Father but is of the world.  And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.  1 John 2:15-17 (NKJV)

“He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.  John 12:25 (NKJV)

The amazing thing is that when we focus on God, he takes care of us.  His promises are amazing for people that focus on him.  He provides true, lasting and enjoyable success.

“This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.  Josh 1:8 (NKJV)

And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.  2 Cor 9:8 (NKJV)

But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night.  He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper.   Psalms 1:2-3 (NKJV)

The name of the LORD is a strong tower; The righteous run to it and are safe.   Prov 18:10 (NKJV)

then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment,
2 Peter 2:9 (NKJV)

And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.  Phil 4:19 (NKJV)

Frankly, it’s hard to change some of our attitudes like the one about money by ourselves, however, if we ask God, he promises to help us change from the inside out.

Other related articles Success Stories, Addictions and Struggles, Money, How to succeed in tough economic times.