Titus 3:5 NASB1995
[5] He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,
After I admitted I wasn’t perfect and I needed a perfect savior and accepted Jesus as the rightous one who died as sacrifice for my sins I became justified in the eyes of God the Father. Following this first step of faith- is the sanctification process of becoming more like Jesus. When I was a child I had the faith of a child. When I became an adult I had to rededicated my life to Christ. I confessed my sins, my idolatry, my utter weakness and foolishness. Leaning on my own understanding wasn’t working for me anymore. Proverbs 3:5-8 NASB1995[5] Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. [6] In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight. [7] Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and turn away from evil. [8] It will be healing to your body And refreshment to your bones. As Dr Phil says: “how’s that working for you?”
The sanctification process is not becoming morally superior to others. The moment our feelings turn to pride and arrogance we have put off the breast plate of righteousness due to the belt of truth slipping. When we feel like we are better than someone else and in position to judge and condemn them we don’t have Jesus’s righteousness- that comes from the sanctification process of knowing truth. Jesus is truth John 14:6. Instead we have put on self righteousness and that’s old nature. Our natural tendency before justification. Ephesians 2:8 NASB1995
[8] For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works so that no man may boast.
2 Corinthians 5:17 NASB1995[17] Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.
We are easily deceived, manipulated and fooled into doing Satan’s bidding. All he has to do is tempt with what we want. We start to act like the father of lies rather than the God of love. When we think we are are own God and live by our own standard we play judge and condemn in unjust ways. We reject, shame, degrade and isolate people we deam inferior. This is how the learders in the temple were like in Jesus’s day, towards Jesus! They gathered fake evidence of evil “blaspheme” We mistreat, hate, violate their rights they have not earned the loss of, exploit them as examples of what evil looks like, but THEY are evil. They have no right to condemn. John the Baptist called the temple leaders a brood of vipers. They were constantly questioning Jesus with trick questions.
Self righteousness is seeking good feelings about ourselves and so we look good to others. So others don’t do this to us. Instead when we humble ourselves under the truth of who God is we are upheld with his righteous right hand. Isaiah 40:10. That’s a promise we can stand on fearlessly.
1 Peter 1:6-9 NASB1995[6] In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, [7] so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; [8] and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, [9] obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.
Psalms 66:10 NASB1995[10] For You have tried us, O God; You have refined us as silver is refined.
Isaiah 48:10 NASB1995[10] Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction.
Angels the original messengers of God and God’s army are present and active from Genesis to Revelation. Angels are still active today in God’s rescue plan for humanity and helping us in the sanctification process just as the holy spirit is. The first time I saw an angel was when a girl in our neighborhood who was my age about 3rd grade who neither me or my other friends in the neighborhood played with because she was weird. I didn’t know her well at all. She was never out playing with the rest of us. She was the oldest of two sisters. She made a police report that a young man had flashed her and he drove a red car. I witnessed angels when two police officers rang the front door of our home. When I opened it the two officers were more surprised to see me than I was to see them. They asked if my dad was here and I told them yes. I asked them about the many officers behind them positioned across our front yard. They barely looked behind them knowing they didn’t bring more officers with them and more sternly asked for my dad. My dad came to the front door and he left with them. I told my mom about the dark figures standing in strategic positions across the front yard, but the officers said weren’t there. She was crying and she asked me why I wasn’t upset about two police officers coming to our home? I said why would I? My dad wore the same uniform and gun belt they did everyday except his his brown because he was a correction officer in the prison system. My dad was traumatized by the interrogation. Years later, he shared that he said he finally stood up, banged his fist on the table and said I’ve answered your questions, if you are going to arrest me, arrest me already! I was an adult by then and as he reenactmented it he was red face, traumatized emotion. I told him about the dark figures who stood in position. He was shocked and processing. Our church stopped talking to us after that questioning. It’s why by the time I was in 8th grade I didn’t know anyone and didn’t want to go to church anymore. My parent’s eventually quit going to church too, but then one day God told them the church needed them and to go back. Soon after this false accusation my dad was in a terrible car accident. He was driving to work and passed in the fog. He was in a comma. He broke 3/4 rib cages and the bones in his face. It looks months for him to recover from that. He said one day afterwards he was driving to work and an angel appeared to him. White light shown all around and him not to fear, that everything will be alright. When my parents returned to the church my dad went up to the pastor to shake his hand and tell him they they were returning. The pastor said: “why would you do that?” My dad and him never got along after that. My dad was still involved with the church as he had been in the church he grew up in with his mother. He however always felt as people were condemning him for that girl’s false accusation. What was he supposed to be embarrassed for? Driving a red car? Having a mustache? Not being above reproach? A false accusation isn’t reproach. He wasn’t arrested or charged for it. He was released after questioning and that was the end of the polices interest in him. But that humiliation tortured my dad for the rest of his life. An accusation isn’t the same as finding fault. When my parents died the parents of that girl still lived in the neighborhood too. The younger daughter lived with them and she said the accuser lives in Miami, is physically beautiful and still falsely accusing men of harming her. The hurt from the rejection of the church is still present. The pastor of the church told me I need to write my book, because they need to hear it. Guilty people without repentance feel no shame. Wrongfully accused people who don’t fight back with a righteousness indignation shy away with shame as a polite way of not burdening others with such ungodliness. My dad was a gentleman and wouldn’t force anyone to address the situation.
1 Corinthians 3:13 GNBDC[13] And the quality of each person’s work will be seen when the Day of Christ exposes it. For on that Day fire will reveal everyone’s work; the fire will test it and show its real quality.
1 Corinthians 4:4-5 GNBDC[4] My conscience is clear, but that does not prove that I am really innocent. The Lord is the one who passes judgement on me. [5] So you should not pass judgement on anyone before the right time comes. Final judgement must wait until the Lord comes; he will bring to light the dark secrets and expose the hidden purposes of people’s minds. And then all will receive from God the praise they deserve.
1 Corinthians 4:14 GNBDC[14] I write this to you, not because I want to make you feel ashamed, but to instruct you as my own dear children.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 GNBDC[16] All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching the truth, rebuking error, correcting faults, and giving instruction for right living, [17] so that the person who serves God may be fully qualified and equipped to do every kind of good deed.
Our church didn’t do what God instructs His church to do when maters arise.
https://youtu.be/lEFNQE76Us4?si=scU9TS1O8HAAdC4V Brandon Lake Wait and See