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James Kraft
This is great. We are saved by just believing on His name. First Corinthians 15:1-4 That our sin debt is paid in full, and we can never be condemned again. John 3:18 We accept His free gift of eternal life. Romans 6:23 and Ephesians 2:8-9. The GIFT of God is eternal life because no man can earn it.
But after we have believed and have eternal life, if we obey Him, we are fit for service and can earn rewards in heaven. First Corinthians 3:11-21
God may test our faith to see if we are fit for service. If we keep the faith we will have a reward in heaven. When we go through trials and tribulation and keep the faith, like Job, we will have a reward.
If we lose our faith, we are still saved but our reward will be lost. Second Timothy 2:13 If we believe not, He abideth faithful, He can not deny Himself. His Holy Spirit that lives in the believer.
God may send things in to our lives to test our faith to see if we are fit for service.
I have lost one son and three grandchildren. But my faith never waivered. 8 years ago I had a sudden death cardiac arrest. I have had a bad heart valve since birth. I was working at doing something with the boy scouts that was causing me heart pain but no difference than many other times.
I was about to stop and rest, when the Lord said, just continue what you are doing. I said, OK Lord. Shortly after I got done with my project I fell to the ground dead. My heart stopped.
I did not know it at the time, but one of the boys dads was my ear doctor. He started CPR on me right away while the others called for the EMT's. He kept me alive until they got their 15 minutes later and started my heart again with the defibrillator.
I was taken to the hospital where three days later I was having open heart surgery. Before surgery I was at complete peace. I was totally in the hands of my savior, to whether I lived or died. And I left it to Him and all my cares were dissolved.
I came out of surgery so well I did not even need to be on any medication such as blood thinners because they replaced my heart valve with a donner valve.
If I had had that heart attack at any other time, I would have died. God knew that my ear doctor knew CPR, and had the stamina to keep it up until they could get my heart started again.
That is why the Lord said, just keep doing what you are doing. He knew that doctor was there. I did not. But, I trusted what the Lord said to me. He knew I was going to have cardiac arrest. I did not, but was concerned that I was.
The Lord does work in mysterious ways His wonders to perform. I am a sinner just like everybody else. First John 1:8, but Jesus paid my sin debt in full when I believed on Him 72 years ago.
But my rewards in heaven are based on what I do or do not do, and keeping the faith. Salvation is free, rewards are earned. If we go off and live in sin after we have believed, or continue in some sins, we will be chastened by the Lord. But He will never condemn us or leave us. Hebrews 13:5 He will never leave us or forsake us. John 6:37 He will never cast us out.
Salvation is free. No one can earn eternal life. Rewards in heaven are for our faithfulness to Him after we have accepted His free gift of eternal life. But we still reap what we sow. And we still all sin because the flesh is not made perfect, only the Spirit. Ephesians 1:13.
If we trust Him in the little things, we will trust him in bigger things. God is faithful even when I am not.
Abraham was justified by faith, 430 years before Moses gave the law. Romans 4:2 If Abraham were justified by works, he would have something to glory in, but not before God. Abraham was justified by faith in Gods promise and had nothing to boast in.
Romans 4:5 But to him that worketh not, but believe on Him who justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. Faith alone apart from any works for salvation by grace. Romans 11:6 All grace, no works. Free gift by faith alone is Jesus finished work on the cross alone.
James Kraft
If I could do one thing that would save me, then Jesus died in vain. No, I am a sinner saved by grace. My sin debt is paid it full, and I can no longer be condemned, John 3:18 Once saved, saved forever.
John 10:28-29 And I give unto them eternal life, and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. And My Father who is greater than all, no one can pluck them out of His hand. Jesus said it, I believe it, and that settles it. John 6:47 Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that believeth on me, HATH EVERLASTING LIFE. Jesus can not lie.
AMAZING GRACE,JESUS PAID IT ALL AND I PAID 0. IT IS FREE.
First John 5:13 These things have I written unto you that BELIEVE on the name of the Son of God, that ye may KNOW YE HAVE ETERNAL LIFE. We do not earn it by works. We accept the free gift and are saved forever and ever and ever. Based on First Corinthians 15:1-4 John 1:12 and Romans 1:16. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation to EVERYONE WHO BELEIVETH, to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.