Justification by Faith

Depends on how you look at it, I don't take up my cross daily for my salvation. I take it up daily because of my Faith and gratitude for the one that saved me.

Quote: """Depends on how you look at it, I don't take up my cross daily for my salvation. I take it up daily because of my Faith and gratitude for the one that saved me."""

Especially when my cross is His Cross He hung on for us.

figuratively, exposure to death, i.e. self-denial; by implication, the atonement of Christ:--cross.

I will take up my crucifixion with Him and being dead to sin completely in spirit and self=denial in the flesh, come alive unto His resurrection and birth in me by which I am raised up from the Cross and death unto life.

His atonement is my atonement as I take up His Cross daily which is my cross also, now and forever.

In Christ: Phillip

Can I ask what church you go to Phillip?

Quote: """Can I ask what church you go to Phillip?"""

"River Valley Christian Fellowship", Yuba City, Ca.

Also, "Church in the Home"; at: Christ-Life.org .
understanding Paul's writings "my gospel".

Also, "Melissa Scott Ministries", online.

In Christ: Phillip

6 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

17 But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid.

18 For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor.

19 For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God.

20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

i think the point Paul is making is that no man is justified by keeping the works of the law, but rather through putting faith in what Christ has done. reference Romans 7 for commentary on galatians vs 19. the law brought death in that it condemned us. so, through the law condemning me, i have realization that i cannot be right through keeping the law. thus the law fulfills its purpose of working death and pointing me toa savior. i don't think this verse speaks of dying to self. however the next verse tells me that i am now dead to sin (see Romans 6) and my life comes through Christ in me. i don't think this is dying to self as in the work of consecration but rather being baptized into Christ.

hi, there is no faith without obedience... by faith abram left his country to seek a city,,,, by faith noah built an ark for the saving of his family(seed line)faith is hearing a directive word from God believing it and obeying it.God spoke to my heart that he died for me (after hearing it told many times)that day i responded to God in obedience to His wooing.unless the Holy Spirit moves with the ramah word(personal prompting)it is flesh. this prompting produces an intimate relationship with Jesus(the one who died for me personally)this love relationship with me being in Jesus and the holy Spirit in me produces wisdom and works that are not always of the flesh.jimp

hi, there is no faith without obedience... by faith abram left his country to seek a city,,,, by faith noah built an ark for the saving of his family(seed line)faith is hearing a directive word from God believing it and obeying it.God spoke to my heart that he died for me (after hearing it told many times)that day i responded to God in obedience to His wooing.unless the Holy Spirit moves with the ramah word(personal prompting)it is flesh. this prompting produces an intimate relationship with Jesus(the one who died for me personally)this love relationship with me being in Jesus and the holy Spirit in me produces wisdom and works that are not always of the flesh.jimp

noah, jimp: I am in total agreement. James points out that works are the evidence of faith. These works, in my opinion, are works of obedience. The proof of my faith is my obedience. If I really believe God, I will do what God says to do. But the basis of my justification is the fact that I put faith on what Christ has done. The obedience is the evidence of my faith that is visible in the flesh.

Edit for analogy sake: The analogy of a horse and a cart just came to me. The horse and the cart are one unit. They go together and cannot be separated. Where the horse goes, the cart follows. But I would not think that it was the cart that provided the power by which both reach their destination. Faith comes first and works of obedience follow. They are necessarily and inextricably connected, but the horse provides the power by which the cart follows to the destination.

Justification is only by faith in Jesus Christ. But there is no use of faith without repentance. Without repentance there is no Justification, no matter which Jesus you believe in.
This is what Jesus preached and the apostles preached. Sadly repentance is totally ignored in most of Churches today, because if they need to speak on Repentance then they need to speak on what to repent from and if they speak of what to repent from then their members will get offended and stop coming to church, Church will lose its NUMBER.

sree , when you make Jesus Lord of your life,you repent.you turn from you being Lord to Him being Lord and He will lead us away from sin which He conquered at the cross.jimp

sree , when you make Jesus Lord of your life,you repent.you turn from you being Lord to Him being Lord and He will lead us away from sin which He conquered at the cross.jimp

What you are saying here is Sanctification. Repentance is to hate your past life and to come out of it. Without repentance there is no Justification, period. This is where all your Church teaching gets worldly. Deception.

When Peter spoke on the day of Pentecost.
Acts 2:37:-
Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brethren, what shall we do?”
Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Peter did not tell them to accept Jesus and you will automatically repent like how all modern day money loving Church (that rejoices in NUMBER) preaches. He said Repent first and then be baptized. Even before they receive the Holy Spirit, Peter wanted them to repent.

This is why Christianity is so shallow today, what God has united (Repentance and faith) has been separated to make more money. At least now acknowledge the truth.

dear sree, ithink that we have a very alive church in the midst of some charlitans. Jesus is still the head of the church.you get saved when the Holy Spirit woos you and you obey that wooing by giving your life to Jesus.a sinner cannot of himself stop being a sinner,he must have the Holy Spirit in him to convict and be our comforter(cum forte means with strength in latin)jimp

I think the scripture speaks for itself. Anything other than that is a lie. Well if you believe your Church is above God's word then please go ahead. let God alone be true and every man a liar.

The problem with this kind of wrong teaching is you show a person about Salvation without showing him he is a wretched sinner and asking him to repent.

A quote from Paris Reidhead,

Please don't use John 3:16 with an unawakened sinner. Because, if you tell a sinner how to be saved, before he knows he needs to be saved, you only succeed in hardening him toward the gospel.

This is exactly what such churches who have seperated repentance is achieving, they are producing people who are hard hearted towards the Gospel but keep believing some how they are going to heaven. They are only lead into the broader way of hell.

sree, you have little no nothing to do with a sinners response to the gospel.you are born from above not from mans technics.unless the H.S.comes on the scene...nothing happens.jimp

Repentance is to believe on Him whom God has sent.

John 6:29-40 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent. They said therefore unto him, What sign shewest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? what dost thou work? Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat. Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world. Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread. And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not. All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.

Romans 2:4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?

John 6:27-29 Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed. Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, ((((((This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.))))))_

Who gives us and grants us repentance unto life?

2 Timothy 2:25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;

Romans 2:4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?

The same as by faith; Galatians 3:23 But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.

All Faith and Repentance unto life and Salvation must come from God.

1 Corinthians 1:23-31 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence. (((((But of him are ye in Christ Jesus,))))) (((((who of God is made))))) unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

We cannot glory in our faith or our repentance, for if it is unto enternal life, it does not come from us.

This is our glory and repentance, that we believe on Him whom God has sent, Jesus Christ the Son of God.

In Christ: Phillip

If repentance is to believe in Jesus then what is faith? the word believe is very lightly used by such deceived teachings. Believe in Jesus means to believe like how a newly married wife believes completely in her husband and gives her life for him. A wife who says I believe in her husband but walks in her own way is a liar.

Repentance means change of heart. Our heart which was originally set on the needs of flesh will be changed to be set on the ways of God. But repentance alone cannot produce God's ways in us. The best example of Repentance is when the Prodigal son turned himself from longing for Pigs food to the direction of his fathers house. And only after he started walking towards the father's house, the father started running towards him. If the Son never turned towards the father then there is no redemption for him, he will die living with pigs.

Sadly all the Churches who preach faith alone without repentance are telling the Prodigal son that though he is longing for Pigs food he is still redeemed. How is it possible? Deception. Their life will bear witness for it. There will not be any light in either those who are in such church or those who even preach such stuff. There will be divorce and all darkness in their testimony that is not common even with unbelievers. Deception.

How did the Prodigal son turn? He turned because there was a clear conviction in his heart that his status is worse and he needs his father to save him from this condition. Same way the 3000 souls that got added on the day of Pentecost were first pierced to their heart by the word that Peter Shared which brought conviction in their heart that they need to be saved. Peter spoke about their sins and showed them they were sinners. But all the money loving churches of today does not want to speak of the sins of people because they will not get the NUMBERs that bring in money. Deception.

sree,what caused the hearts to be pricked?why were the disciples in the upper room?to recieve what for what reason?THE HOLY SPIRIT so they can be witnesses with power.who's power?it isn't man who makes thesechoices on their own. jimp

Quote: """If repentance is to believe in Jesus then what is faith? the word believe is very lightly used by such deceived teachings."""

Acts 20:18-21 And when they were come to him, he said unto them, Ye know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons, Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews: And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house, (((((Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.)))))

Repentance without faith is self works. Faith without repentance is to not take what God has said about His Son and truly believe.

These Scribes need true repentance which is to believe God of what He says about His Son.

Mark 12:35 And Jesus answered and said, while he taught in the temple, How say the scribes that Christ is the Son of David? Man's belief in his own works.

This is true repentance with the Faith of the Son of God the Father has given to those that repent and believe God.

Joh 20:31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.
Ac 8:37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
2Ti 2:1 Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
1Jo 1:3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.
1Jo 2:22 Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.
1Jo 3:23 And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.
1Jo 5:20 And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.

This Faith allowing true Repentance is unto eternal life.

Galatians 2:16-21 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid. For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God. I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

The Low produces human repentance. The Faith of the Son of God produces repentance from above and unto salvation.

In Christ by His Faith that gives me Godly repentance:

Phillip

One of the first convictions a person will experience is that they have no good works at all (Romans 3:10-18). When it says our righteousness is like filthy rags, it's not only in comparison to the righteousness of Christ, but it is saying they are absolutely filthy.

It's good to follow Paul's order in Romans. The first 2 1/2 chapters are all about man's sinful condition, concluding in Rom. 3:10-18 that man is [i]entirely[/i] wicked, no good works at all. The first real act of repentance then is to admit that. Everyone wants to believe he is somehow good, but true conviction of sin will reveal that the person has nothing to offer God. I myself before conversion, I was willing to leave off any number of things, but I was not willing to leave off self-righteousness.

Paul then jumps into justification by faith, and the language is undoubtable: Unmerited, undeserved, freely given (Isaiah 55:1). He spends two and a half chapters talking about free grace apart from works, peace with God, and the redemption of Christ imputed to His church in a fashion similar to the imputation of Adam's sin onto all mankind.

Then Romans 6:1 he answers a hypothetical counterargument: "Shall we sin so that grace may abound?" The very fact someone would object that way shows that the grace really is apart from any works at all. It's given, not earned, and so it will never go to anyone deserving of it.

Paul's counter-argument to the antinomian objection is that the believer is not only justified by Christ, but [i]united[/i] with Christ, both in death and resurrection. It's very mysterious, but maybe a good example is an ingrafted branch; while severed it would not grow like the tree; but when it became united with the tree it received the sap of the tree and became fruitful. And how could anyone be united to Christ but not be like Him? In that way, the sanctification will come as a result of our unity with Him, and through the power of the Holy Spirit. Apart from Christ there will be no holiness at all. When united to Christ you cannot help but be holy. Very mysterious union.

http://dogmadoxa.blogspot.ca/2012/02/dont-seek-repentance-seek-christ.html

Don't Seek Repentance: Seek Christ

In April 1983 Jack Miller wrote to a young woman, responding to her concerns as to whether she is truly repentant, a real Christian. Here is the opening to Jack's letter.

Dear Elise,

Thank you for your recent letter concerning your desire to know whether you have had a God-centered repentance. So set aside any fears that I might be unwilling to take time to help you. Perhaps I can help you if you will recognize that all I can do is be a small finger pointing to a large Christ. But if you trust yourself to Him be confident He is not only willing to help you but has the power to help you.

What do you need to know? . . . When you turn to Christ, you don't have a repentance apart from Christ, you just have Christ. Therefore don't seek repentance or faith as such but seek Christ. When you have Christ you have repentance and faith. Beware of seeking an experience of repentance; just seek an experience of Christ.

The Devil can be pretty tricky. He doesn't mind you thinking much about repentance and faith if you do not think about Jesus Christ. . . . Seek Christ, and relate to Christ as a loving Savior and Lord who wants to invite you to know him.
------------------------------------------------------------

This article has been such a blessing to me because it reveals that Christ Himself is the source of all repentance, faith, and holiness. If you are seeking Christ, you are essentially repenting of your sins. God does not accept you on the basis of your repentance. He accepts you on the basis of Christ's finished work on your behalf. Repentance is simply giving up on your self-effort of trying to fight sin or submit to God and trusting/faith in Christ to save you (repentance and faith). You cannot change your own mind if you are naturally inclined to your sin/love your sin. As one brother said to me yesterday, "You cannot change your own mind, God has to do it for you." That's what it means to come to Christ and Him giving rest for your soul. It reveals that repentance and faith happens simultaneously. Romans 5:6 explains this scenario very clearly, "while we were WITHOUT STRENGTH, Christ died for the ungodly." Without strength does not mean that I'm just weak, it means that I am dead; dead in sin and there is not a drop of strength for righteousness; not a drop of strength to even clean yourself up; not a drop of strength to change your own mind about sin and about Christ (repentance); and there for we rest in/turn to God believing that He is merciful enough to intervene and save us in our wretched and miserable condition. "So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy." (Romans 9:16) Since I have no righteousness of my own, I must rest in the Finished Work of Christ. It's just that simple. God legally declares me righteous because of Christ and what He did, not what I have done. That's Justification by Faith Alone. It is not faith "itself", but the Object of our faith: Christ. It is not repentance "itself", but the One who is the source of all holiness: Christ. "When you have Christ you have repentance and faith."

Here are some videos to explain this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNSau4jwbKI - Freedom from Pornography by Being Satisfied in Christ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=0IzkQXVLbHU - Will You Trust in Christ or Yourself? (Vlog)

http://illbehonest.com/i-finally-trusted-in-christ-and-he-saved-me-eddie-karisch - I Finally Trusted in Christ and He Saved Me

May the LORD bless you all through what I have said and I pray that this will be the greatest Christmas present to you all, that it is simply Christ. That's the Christ-centred life.

Your Servant in Jesus' Name,

- Michael Liao

hi, what a great truth... seek Christ is the answer... the only answer.jimp

So very true NoahJD, I found also that if access is limited it greatly reduces temptation. Jesus said if you hand causes you to sin cut it off, which is figuratively what I have done which is cutting access to pornography off. Doing this has greatly helped me in my struggles and battle not just with pornography but with my battle against biproducts of such sin like shame.

As soon as I acknowledged it as a real battle and actively used the Word ie my Sword, it became much less of a problem. As a soldier we can't let our guard down or we will stumble and fall every time.

Hello NoahJD,

Merry Christmas Brother! I'm glad the Lord is setting you free with the truth of Christ. Here's another video to encourage you to seek more of Christ:

http://vimeo.com/5446339 - Give up on self, Trust in Christ Alone by James Jennings

Psalm 63:1, "O God, You are my God! Earnestly I seek YOU."

Your Joyful Servant in Jesus' Name,

- Michael Liao

I agree limitations are limited but for me, things like the computer can take my focus off of Him and thus leave me vulnerable.

hi, it was Jesuson the cross that brought victory over sin.whaat else can we look to. looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of my faith.jimp

I used to listen alot to the teachings of Zac Poonen.
Then I got exposed of my sins but I was stil scared of judgement etc.
But then I listen to R.C Sprouls teaching on justification.
Then I understood the gospel.

I belive thats a good combo to understand justificatoin by faith alone.
Listen to alot of preaching that exposes your sins and makes u the most sinfull man on earth.
Then listen to R.C Sprouls and his teaching on Justification.
Or read Luthers commentaries on romans.

I think something that many forget with justification by faith is that just because you are Justified by Faith doesn't mean you are exempt from the battle against sin. Not saying our salvation is won by our own strength but that we are relying daily on Jesus Christ and that is where our strength to stand against temptation comes from. We are still called to battle, we are still called to put on armor, and we are still called to stand firm in the faith.

Most posts here indicate that they have no clue about the meaning of repentance. They confuse repentance with victory over sin. Victory over sin and repentance are two different things, one leads to another but are not the same.

Repentance means to hate sin. The moment we recognize ourselves as sinner due to a sin conviction that comes by hearing the word of God from an anointed speaker like Apostle Peter. I am not referring to modern-day TV preachers who deliver dead sermons that is devoid of any sin conviction. Once an unbeliever gets this conviction he starts hating his sinful life. With this hatred desire comes into him for a savior who could save him from this life of sin. With this desire if he is pointed to Christ then he will receive justification by faith in Jesus. If this hatred towards sin (repentance) is not there then there is no Justification, no matter which Jesus he turns to. This is what the scripture says. This is the reason the father sent John the baptist even before Jesus was sent, to preach repentance.

Now this repentance (hatred towards sin) by itself cannot bring him any victory over sin. It will only bring him a longing to be saved, a need for a savior. It is Christ who makes him an overcomer if he is willing to walk with Christ everyday.

I see most posters here think that repentance is to be free from Sin and hence they totally take repentance away from faith. It is because you do not read scriptures carefully.

There are so many examples of repentance in New testament, for example Zacchaeus repaying 4 times as much has he has stolen from people is a sign of repentance, a hatred towards the stolen money. Now did it make him not to cheat people? NO, it is Christ whom he welcomed into his house gave him strength to live a life that does not involve cheating others. The thief on the Cross said that he deserve the punishment of Crucifixion, which is repentance. One cannot accept such a punishment unless he hates what he has done to deserve it. This repentance coupled with faith in Jesus, got him an entry into God's kingdom.

An example of coming to Christ without repentance is Judas Iscariot, he was with Christ all his life and sat in the best Church with Jesus himself as the preacher. But never repented from love of Money. He was then destined to death.

I used to listen alot to the teachings of Zac Poonen.
Then I got exposed of my sins but I was stil scared of judgement etc.
But then I listen to R.C Sprouls teaching on justification.
Then I understood the gospel.

I belive thats a good combo to understand justificatoin by faith alone.

We need to thank God for men like Zac Poonen who could expose sin inside us. Men who live a life walking with God that they have authority to talk about Sin and expose it. Most of the so called preachers of Today cannot talk about sin is because they themselves are not free from it.

Though I agree with your point, I also want to tell you that Brother Zac always finishes his message talking about Grace of God as a solution to our sins. I have never head a sermon from him where he has not pointed to the Grace from Jesus. The problem is with we who listen, we get so much into the sin conviction that we fail to listen about the solution, our flesh starts finding solution in work. But by the work of Flesh no man can be justified. It is only through Christ.

I think there is some pretty big confusion going on here. No man can repent without the Holy Spirit, why? Because we can't see our true wretched self without the Holy Spirit. Whether the Holy Spirit is speaking directly to or through a brother or sister in Christ Jesus.

Repentance from the greek Metanoya literally means "Change of Mind" My mind was not change of in and of its own design but the Holy Spirit caused it and so I cannot count it as a work I did to earn salvation. When you have faith Repentance occurs and when repentance occurs you know you have faith. Its a paradox in itself that we tend to over complicate. Repentance isn't a distinct act or event it is gradual as you fall more and more in Love with Christ, and Sanctification (being set apart) happens when you acknowledge God's Word (confession) ALL of this is the Work of the Holy Spirit which is through Faith.

repentance is turning the rule of your life over to Jesus;thus the term Lordof your life.jimp

Brother I'm not sure what the difference between your definition and my definition would be or if there is even a difference? Could you help me with that?

*edited* for proper grammar

Dear NoahJD,

When you say, "I feel" forgiven when I am walking in the Spirit," I have a genuine concern about this statement. Because what you are essentially saying is "if I do this or that, I will feel forgiven." Yes, we must walk in the light. But we do it in appreciation and liberty because of what Christ has done for us. Salvation is not dependent upon what we do or even how you feel. If that is the case, your faith is not upon Christ, but your faith is in what you do or how you feel. That is dangerous!

Even if you are doing a righteous thing, as Charles Spurgeon once said, "if, I say, your heart has been so tender towards the poor and the sick and the needy that you would have been willing to suffer with them, to bear all their loathsome diseases, nay, if adding all this you could give your body to be burned, yet if you trusted in any one of these things your damnation would be as sure as though you were thief or drunkard."

Forgiveness will never be found in all that I do, but in Christ, as far as the east is from the west, my sins are gone. Forgiveness will forever be found in what Christ has done. The more you focus on that, the more you will be strengthened and encouraged in your battles against the sins in your life, because the more satisfied you are in Christ, the less you want your sins, and you begin to forsake them for the One who is Highest in His glory. I encourage you Brother, not to even trust in the changes that the Holy Spirit has worked in your life or how you walk, just simply look to Christ. There is repentance, faith, victory, holiness, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and self-control In Christ Alone!

God help us all.....

Your Joyful Servant in Jesus' Name,

- Michael Liao