[Jay]

Originally Posted by Ohio

Jay, then what do you do with these verses? This short section encapsulates the whole of God’s Economy - God’s Plan of salvation, the goal of His redemption, our Hope and our living in this age, with His final desire that we be “zealous of good works.”

11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, 12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, 13 Looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works. Titus 2.11-14

No mention of “eating” here, rather lots of “doing,” the right kind of “doing.” I’m not demeaning “eating,” but Apostle Paul never focused on it.

I never threw out good works. My point is that if we are not abiding in the Lord (John 15:4) then we cannot produce good fruit (good works). Jesus said 'apart from me you can do nothing' (John 15:5). So as I said before, good works ties into God's economy in the sense that good works or good fruits are the result of God dispensing himself as the spirit in his economy. Also righteousness and sanctification are results of our abiding in the spirit. Otherwise our Christian walk and righteousness would just be an outward performance. Which is a major problem with modern Christianity and the denominations. They do things FOR God but ignore God's method of sanctification and transformation. Essentially they ignore Christ and they ignore their spirit. Or we could probably say that they are ignorant of Christ in their spirit. satan loves to keep people in ignorance

We all have to solemnly read Matthew 23:27-28 and question whether we have God's subjective righteousness through the transformation of the spirit, or our own kind of outward righteousness according to the dead letter of the law. One has life, the other is death-

2 Corinthians 3:6b for the letter (the law) kills, but the spirit gives life

The letter of the law, which only requires of man. It is unable to supply man with life (Galatians 3:21). Because of man's inability to fulfill the requirements of the law, the law kills man (Romans 7:9-11) - Witness Lee, footnote 3:6, 2 Corinthians

The law was able only to demand and condemn; it could not give life. (See note Rom. 7:101.) There is no life in the law; there are only commandments. Life is in Christ (John 1:4). He is the life-giving Spirit (1 Cor. 15:45), the only One who is able to give life. The giving of life is the focal point of the apostle's revelation. We should take only the One who gives life

There must be righteousness in order for life to be given. Righteousness, however, is not of law but in Christ (Rom. 5:17-18). Hence, the law is not able to give life. Furthermore, since the law cannot give life, it has no power to fulfill its requirements so that righteousness may be produced. Hence, in this sense also, righteousness is not of law- Witness Lee, footnotes 3:21, Galatians

What Lee is basically saying here that works (whether righteousness or whatever) that is not out of the spirit, is out of the law. Most Christians fail at this one point. They are unable to gain their good works from out of abiding, and their righteousness doesn't come from the spirit of Christ, it comes from somewhere else. They think they have to DO for God and to be approved by God through their DOING. This is fully wrong according to the Bible. The doing and the working comes out of the spirit (Philippians 2:13). If the spirit is not the source then it's wood, hay, and stubble (1 Corinthians 3:12). Unfortunately most of modern Christians are to some degree caught up in this major error