In the book of Ephesians Paul talks about the riches of God's grace...?
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Primarily Paul is writing about God's grace in redeeming the lost who were His enemies in their minds by sending his Son to die on a cross to pay our sin debt. Included in that grace are the riches of spiritual gifts and eternal life in His presence where there is fullness of joy and pleasures forevermore.\n\nThen there is God's long suffering common grace where He blesses people by meeting their needs whether or not they will eventually come to Him through Jesus.\n\nOne aspect of the "unsearchable riches in Christ" could be what believers have waiting for them when they receive a glorified and eternal body, when God himself will wipe away our tears and there will be no more death or sorrow or pain.\n\nBut as it is also written "eye has not seen nor mind conceived of" what God has planned for us after He creates a new Heaven and earth. I can't wait to find out what it's going to be like. Some people think that Heaven will be boring with people sitting around playing harps and praising God forevermore. But God is too great and loving and wise to ever call us to an eternity that pales into boring repetition. We will be with Him and that certainly won't be boring!
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This was quite likely a song that was sung in the early church.  It's talking about how being a Christian is worth all the suffering that we might have to endure.  Yet it also talks about how God's faithfulness is far superior to our faithfulness.  We can stumble and fall, but he is still faithful.  When he makes a promise, we can count on him to keep it.  His love keeps on going even when we turn away from it.
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Ephesians 3:20-22 \n\n Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
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Everything.\n\nLUKE 8:14\n   And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.\n\nMARK 4:19\n    And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.\n \nMATTHEW 16:24\n    Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.\n \nMARK 10:21\n    Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.\n\nMARK 8:35,36\n   35    For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it.\n   36    For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? \n \nTo find out more, click here...\nhttp://groups.yahoo.com/group/bibletruths_forbelievers/
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That verse describes how difficult it is for rich men to turn AWAY from the worship of money - you cannot have two masters, you cannot have God and money as your masters. You can only have one master:\n\nMatthew 6:24 - "No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money."\n\nThe thing is, back then, the reason men got rich is because they store up treasures on earth for themselves instead of storing up treasures in Heaven for themselves. If you put the money into use in order to expand the kingdom of God, then you are accumulating treasures in Heaven for yourself. If you deliberately keep back the money so to use it for your own luxury, your own comfort, then you show who you worship.\n\nYou can be rich from a high rate of income, but you should not be rich from hoarding treasures for yourself on earth.
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Hah!  I love what punk*rocker* said.  It's true...you can have all the money you could ever want, but still be unhappy.  People all clamoring to get some of that money, you'd have to decide what to do with it, and all those other inconveniences with having lots of riches.  Eternity with Jesus however, is just that.  There are no catches all over; it's simply yet profoundly refreshing and blissful.
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For by grace are we saved through faith and not of ourselves, it is the gift of GOD not of works lest any man should boast. (Eph 2:8-9)\n  Paul coming out of law probably understood the danger's of mixing law and grace better than anyone else. Paul speaks more on the subject of grace vs the law than anything else that he talked about. GOD must do all the work within us... anyone who trust's in their own works to make them righteous will only become frustrated at best...\n  The central theme contained in the epistle to the Galatians was a stern warning not to mix law and grace. \nFor we through the SPIRIT wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.(Gal 5:5) Anyone who trusts in his or her works to make them righteous in addition to what CHRIST has already done on the cross will stay in spiritual kindergarten the duration of their walk... For I have been crucified with CHRIST, it is no longer I who live but CHRIST lives in me; the life that I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the SON OF GOD who loved me and gave himself up for me. I do not frustrate the grace of GOD for if righteousness comes by the law then CHRIST is dead in vain. (Gal 2:20-21) ~GOD BLESS YOU WITH ALL INSIGHT INTO HIMSELF~
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The 3 Gs: Gold, God, and Glory\n\nGold: They wanted wealth.\n\nGod: They wanted to spread Christianity.\n\nGlory: They wanted to be famous.
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I was kind of wondering the same thing but then I found this: Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolators nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor theives nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.\n1 Corinthians 6:9-11 NIV (New Testament)
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For by grace are ye saved through faith... not of works lest any man should boast.\n- Ephesians 2:8-9\n\n(Most Biblical scholars believe that Paul did not actually write Ephesians, btw. Most believe it was written by one of his lackeys after his death.)\n\n"What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?" - James 2:14 \n\nYe see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by\nfaith only.\n- James 2:24\n\nSo I guess it comes down to who you find to be more reliable. Bear in mind that Paul says God found the bloody smell of his sons crucifiction a "sweet-smelling savor", and that whether we go to Heaven or Hell is predestined.\n\nJames on the other hand refers to his readers as adulterers and adultresses, and that if your prayers go unanswered, it's not Gods fault, it's yours...\n\nThey both sound like goobers to me.\n-SD-
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Hello happylife22842.. :)\n\nJesus said this:\n\nMatthew 5\n\n3  ¶ Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.\n \n4  ¶ Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Is. 61.2 \n \n5  ¶ Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. Ps. 37.11 \n \n6  ¶ Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Is. 55.1, 2 \n \n7  ¶ Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.\n \n8  ¶ Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. Ps. 24.4, 5 \n \n9  ¶ Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.\n \n10  ¶ Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: 1 Pet. 3.14 for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.\n \n11  ¶ Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 1 Pet. 4.14 \n \n12  Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets 2 Chr. 36.16 · Acts 7.52 which were before you.\n \n\nThe Salt of the Earth \n13  ¶ Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savor, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Mk. 9.50 · Lk. 14.34, 35 \n \n\nThe Light of the World \n14  ¶ Ye are the light of the world. Joh. 8.12 ; 9.5 A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid.\n \n15  Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; Mk. 4.21 · Lk. 8.16 ; 11.33 and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.\n \n16  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. 1 Pet. 2.12 \n \n\nJesus' Attitude toward the Law \n17  ¶ Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.\n \n18  For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Lk. 16.17 \n \n19  Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.\n \n20  For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.\n \n\nJesus' Attitude toward Anger \nLk. 12.57-59  \n21  ¶ Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; Ex. 20.13 · Deut. 5.17 and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:\n \n22  but I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.\n \n23  Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath aught against thee;\n \n24  leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.\n \n25  Agree with thine adversary quickly, while thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison.\n \n26  Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing.\n \n===========================================================\n\nMatthew 5\n\nLove for Enemies \nLk. 6.27-36  \n38  ¶ Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: Ex. 21.24 · Lev. 24.20 · Deut. 19.21 \n \n39  but I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.\n \n40  And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take aw
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That is an epistle from Paul   1 Corinthians 13.\n\nAnd I hope you get a bible of your very own...soon..\n\nGod's leading you ...to read...and to remember...by LOVE!
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No, they are not at odds with each other.  In fact, they are reinforcing each other.  What Paul is saying to the Ephesians is that you cannot save your own soul (gain eternal life in Heaven) by doing good deeds alone.\n\nIn James we see the same professions about faith, but he elaborates a little further.  If we have faith, but do nothing with it what good is faith?  It's just like having the ability to do something...i.e. if you have the ability to sing beautifully, but choose not to sing what good is it to have that talent?  That talent might as well be dead to you.\n\nDoes not the Bible also say, "Let your light shine before men so that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in Heaven"?  It is those works, through faith and by faith, that allow our light to shine before men.  But no man can save his own soul by doing good work, unless he has faith in the Lord, Jesus Christ.
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Jesus says: "Give all your wealth to the poor."\n\nThe Pharisees reply: "...so you become poor. good solution. not."
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Christians don't fall from grace, they reject it.\n\nJonah 2:8\n"Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs.
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SAVED BY GOD'S GRACE\nBECAUSE I DONT DESERVE IT
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I have never meet a man so good as you are.. Not even Paul the Apostle has been able to live at the same level of purity that you have been able to ascend to:\nRom 7:19-20\nFor the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.\nNow if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.\nWow is me, I am more like Paul I sin daily. That's why Jesus came, to save me from my sin...   Jim