Daniel 8, 1 John 2:1-17, Psalms 120, Proverbs 28:25-26
What God said to me – There is an age-old philosophical question, “which came first, the chicken or the egg?” For those who know My word, the answer is easy – the chicken came first – I created it. The egg came forth as a natural result of the chicken growing and maturing and reproducing. There is a similar question with regards to salvation – are you saved because you do good works and keep My commandments or do you do good works and keep My commandments because you are saved? Again, for those who know My word, the answer is easy – salvation comes first, by grace through faith. My Son, Himself was the propitiation for your sin – He satisfied My wrath and judgment by His sacrifice on the cross. It is natural and human to think you must do good and be good in order to be saved, but My word tells you that you can’t be good and do good or even keep My commandments until you are saved – all your righteousness is like filthy rags. That said – those who are saved will do good works and keep My commandments – this is a natural result of believers growing and maturing and reproducing. One of the assurances of your salvation is that you keep My word and you are broken hearted and repentant when you don’t. The one who is My child will strive to walk in the same manner that My Son walked.