By and Without

 

 

By and without:

What is he talking about?

I will get to it in minute,

No need to shout.

 

Works and salvation:

We’ve been here before

But since the last time,

There is more.

 

By and without

Are key prepositions

In the relationship between

Works and salvation.

 

Examine with me

The following statement

Concerning the content therein

As well as its intent.

 

We are not saved

By our works

But we are certainly not saved

Without them.

 

 

Transformed from:

Prior unrighteous works

To: a life of righteousness

And good works.

 

To say one is saved

Is to speak of good works,

No change in a so-called believer

Should really hurt.

 

Paul’s “not by works”

Speaks to the acquisition,

James “without works” speaks to

Walking in salvation.

 

 

The tree is identified

By the fruit it bears,

The born-again believer’s fruit

Must appear.

 

Ephesians 2:8-9; James 2:26

 

I was not saved by

By the works that I do

But without righteous works

Neither are you.

 

Works is a testament

To a believer’s salvation

Though it is not by these works

He attains salvation.

 

Salvation is God’s gift

To a born-again believer

And of the enablement for works

The believer is a receiver.

 

The Father worked

And His Son worked too,

So too the Holy Spirit

In me and in you.

 

We are not saved

By our works

But we are certainly not saved

Without them.

 

Here ends today’s lesson.

 

Stewart Russell © March 28, 2025

“The Called”

 

 

What am I called to be?

How can I know?

You are called to be a Christian,

That’s for sure!

 

By whom am I called?

Is it the church?

The church is not a person,

Ouch, that hurts!

 

What am I called to do?

It’s not the same question,

To be and to do are not the same

By my comprehension.

 

Don’t mix up the two!

They are quite distinct,

You should never get drawn in

Before you think!

 

So, it is called to be:

Let’s get right back there,

We’ll get through this somehow

Don’t you fear!

 

Go to Romans chapter 8!

Start at verse 28

And if you are “the called”,

Therein is your fate.

 

It is not about doing,

But rather, it is a call to be

And it is clearly delineated

For you and for me.

 

 

Called according to purpose

The purpose of God,

Note the definite article:

It is “the called”.

 

That makes it a noun

Though the verb is implied:

What “the called” does

Is what the "to be" decides.

 

Whom God did foreknow

God also did predestinate:

Conformity to Christ’s image

Is the believer’s estate.

 

By the believer I mean

Any of the “born-again”:

Not them of physical birth,

But of the spiritual strain.

 

Born of the Holy Spirit

And indwelt by the same,

This is the “called to be”:

Aka born-again!

 

 

Whom He also did predestinate

Them God also called:

And these He justified

But this is not all…

 

For whom God justified,

Them He also glorified:

In His perfect foreknowledge

God did decide.

 

I choose to say no more

Than these verses say,

I dare not let my reasoning

Get in the way.

 

God’s knowledge is infallible

Whereas mine is flawed

I can only say what He says

Concerning “the called”.

 

“Called to be” is first

And determines what to do:

The fruit evidences “the called”

If in me and you.

 

Stewart Russell © October 26, 2022

 

Called to be Sowers

 

A farmer went out to work

Not caring where he sowed,

He flung the seed far and wide

In all the places it showed.

Some fell by the wayside

Some fell in the road

Some fell among thorns

But he sowed and he sowed.

Some fell on good ground

And bore much fruit

Having been nourished

From its roots to its shoots.

We are called to sow

Meaning those who believe,

We have been given the word

Which is the Gospel seed.

As spiritual farmers therefore

We must fling it far and wide,

Not a single person 

Must ever be denied.

We must not be partial

In our sowing of the word,

We must sow it everywhere

Even where it appears absurd.

By the wayside and on the bus

To whom we we trust and distrust,

In the calm and where there’s fuss

Spreading the word is a must.

Where we sit down to eat

Or where we take a sip

We must sow the word

By our life and with our lip.

Remember it is the word

Of God’s glorious kingdom

And we be sowers of His word

Until he comes.

Sowing in the morning

Sowing in the evening

Sowing with every opportunity

To the believing and unbelieving.

Sowing the word liberally

Not bogged down by outcomes

But doing the Master’s bidding

As He builds His kingdom.

Sowing in our little way

Handling the seed we can

But as much as anyone else

Being a part of God’s plan.

Sowing for the harvest

That one of these days will come,

Sowing for heaven 

And the return of God’s Son.

Bearing in our mind 

That we cannot save a soul

But we can lead him to the one

That can make him whole.

We can trust the Holy Spirit

To draw that one to God

Once we have been faithful

To sowing the word at home and abroad.

In the Bible we read 

God’s word won’t return void

So that when results are not visible

We shouldn’t be annoyed.

For more on this 

Read Matthew, Mark and Luke

And remember the word is eternal

And without disrepute.

So do the Master’s bidding

And propagate the word

Even in the places 

Where it might appear absurd.

Stewart Russell © May 2018