Not By Works

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.

benhur

Senior Member
Feb 8, 2018
1,534
121
63
that statement conflates John 14:15 and Mat 19:17 but they are both His words so no real issue IMO.

Well we would have to look at the entire word, particularly what He said. To sum it up:

Mat 5:18, "I say to you; Unless heaven and earth passes away, one yodh; the smallest of the letters will in no way pass from the Law, until all things are perfected."

Revelation 21:1, "I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away."

Yahshua is now High Priest, He is the mediator:


1 Timothy 2:5, "For One is YHWH; and One Mediator between YHWH and men: the Man, Yahshua Messiah."


1 Timothy 2:5, "For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man[a] Christ Jesus."

we sacrifice by accepting His blood

all judgement is givein to His hands:


John 5:21-30,21 “For as the Father raises the dead and makes alive, even so the Son makes alive whom He wishes."22 “For the Father judges no one, but has given all the judgment to the Son,"23 that all should value the Son even as they value the Father. He who does not value the Son does not value the Father who sent Him."24 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me possesses everlasting life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life."25 “Truly, truly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of Elohim. And those having heard shall live."26 “For as the Father possesses life in Himself, so He gave also to the Son to possess life in Himself,"27 and He has given Him authority also to do judgment, because He is the Son of Aḏam."28 “Do not marvel at this, because the hour is coming in which all those in the tombs shall hear His voice,"29 and shall come forth – those who have practiced righteousness, to the resurrection of life, and those who have practised evil matters, to a resurrection of judgment."30 “Of Myself I am unable to do any matter. As I hear, I judge, and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own desire, but the desire of the Father who sent Me."

He gave the perfect example;



John 13:15, “For I (Jesus) gave you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.”




1 Peter 2:21, “This is, in fact, what you were called to do, because Christ also suffered for you and left an example for you to follow in His steps.”





Mat 7:12-14, "Therefore, all things you want men to do to you, do the same to them, for this is the (intent of the) Law and the Prophets. Enter in through the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many are those who go that way. Because straight is the gate, and narrow is the way which leads to life, and few there are who find it."


John 12:48, “He who rejects Me, and does not follow My words has One Who judges him. The word that I have spoken, the same will be used to judge him in the last day.”

He gave perfect example, will we ever be perfect like Him? No Same as will we even walk perfectly and never sin not even once? No

Yet this is still the standard, goal and example we are to seek by His guidance and Spirit.





Matthew 5:18
18 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.

I am under the understanding that Jesus fulfilled the law of Moses on the cross? If the law was fulfilled on the cross, then it is no longer a valid doctrine to be taught today. That is why I asked if the 'law of Moses' was succeeded by the 'law of Christ', (see Galations 6:2)

And so Christians do not live under the law of Moses, but under the law of Christ. When we keep his commandments we are keeping the law of Christ and we must do that in order to have eternal life. So Jesus died for our sins and we have faith in him, we trust in him, we look for his grace to be with us, and we keep the law of Christ and the combination leads us to eternal life.
 
Last edited:

Cee

Senior Member
May 14, 2010
2,169
473
83
Sorry, if I didn't respond to anyone who wrote me back. I wish I could see if anyone commented on my posts without needing to read every single page of the thread since I last posted.
 

BillG

Senior Member
Feb 15, 2017
9,020
4,439
113
Matthew 5:18
18 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.

I am under the understanding that Jesus fulfilled the law of Moses on the cross? If the law was fulfilled on the cross, then it is no longer a valid doctrine to be taught today. That is why I asked if the 'law of Moses' was succeeded by the 'law of Christ', (see Galations 6:2)

And so Christians do not live under the law of Moses, but under the law of Christ. When we keep his commandments we are keeping the law of Christ and we must do that in order to have eternal life. So Jesus died for our sins and we have faith in him, we trust in him, we look for his grace to be with us, and we keep the law of Christ and the combination leads us to eternal life.
Hi benhur,

What is the law of Christ?
What is the law of Moses?
 

Cee

Senior Member
May 14, 2010
2,169
473
83
I have seen some Scriptures posted completely out of context. So I figured it would be fun to actually look at the entire context of Romans 3-5. to determine what Paul is really saying about establishing the Law in Romans 3:31. And I believe this study will really help cement the need for Christ and what the Law was for in comparison to Him.

How do we by faith establish the Law in Romans 3:31?


First let's check out Romans 3:30-31:

30since God is one—who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith. 31Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law.

Romans 3:31 is obviously not saying the Law establishes us, it is saying we establish it. This is a big distinction. It might appear to be saying we need to follow the Law in order to be established, but this isn't what Paul is teaching.

First Paul lays the groundwork in v30, with this statement, He "will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised by faith". Why does Paul use these terms? It's because circumcision is the sign of the Old Covenant between the Jews and God.

Genesis 17:10 "This is My covenant, which you shall keep, between Me and you and your descendants after you: every male among you shall be circumcised.

In v30 Paul has joined those in Covenant with God and those not in Covenant with Him. And put both groups under the need to receive the Savior by faith.

So we know that v31 can't be saying that the Law establishes us, it is saying that our faith in Christ justifies us and thus establishes the Law.

So how does FAITH establish the Law?

Paul explains this in the next chapter, Romans 4.

Romans 4:1 1What then shall we say was gained by Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh? 2For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God.

Paul continues his letter with another statement, works don't justify us before God. Not one bit. This doesn't mean that we don't have works, it means that faith is what justifies us, and then because of our new connection with God - good works are a result. The fruit of the branch reveals the nature of the Vine.

So then we see that works do not justify us. Paul drives this home with this statement here regarding circumcision.

Romans 4:11He received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. The purpose was to make him the father of all who believe without being circumcised, so that righteousness would be counted to them as well

So follow Paul's thought here. He's saying that the sign of circumcision came after Abraham had faith before he was circumcised. This is super important. Because it shows those who aren't circumcised can still be in by faith.

Now when Paul is saying the circumcised here, he's talking about the Old Covenant between man and God. And those who are not in it. We are not in it. Because we haven't been given the Old Covenant. We never were given it. When the Temple was destroyed the Old Covenant went with it. And the New Covenant was all that was left. We are His temples now.

And here is how faith establishes the Law, but the Law doesn't establish us.

Romans 4:13
For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith. 14For if it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void. 15For the law brings wrath, but where there is no law there is no transgression.

The promise didn't come through the Law. It came through the RIGHTEOUSNESS of Faith. So if we try to be righteous through adhering the Law, faith is NULL and the promise is VOID. This is how we establish the Law. It was always because of Faith.

Even the entrance of the Law came through Faith. Abraham believed God and then God made covenant with Him. It was faith that came first not the covenant of the Law. And now that Christ has come the Law has served it's purpose.
16That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his offspring—not only to the adherent of the law but also to the one who shares the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all,Paul isn't putting Gentiles under the Law. He's putting those under the Law under Faith. He's telling them look, you've followed the Law, but the Law never established anyone. We establish the Law through our Faith in Him! Because the promise must rest on GRACE so that it come to all through Abraham as the Father of our Faith.

Which moves us to Romans 5, which is the effect of being justified by FAITH.

Romans 5:1Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

So being justified by faith means we NOW have peace with God. We are not trying to get peace with God by following the Law or any other set of instruction. NO! We follow His ways because WE do have Peace not in order to get peace. Once again it is FAITH that comes before the covenant with God. So if we are still trying to get peace, we are not living in the effect of being justified by faith.

Now let's follow what Paul has done here.
1) Paul has spoken to those under the Law and said you need faith.
2) Paul has spoken to those not under the Law and said you need faith.

And now that Paul shown that we are all weak, ungodly, and in need of Christ he begins to magnify Christ. Please note the absolute absence of the Law from now on. Because now Paul is showing them what faith in Christ looks like for all.

Romans 5:6For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— 8but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Paul just shocked the nation with these statements. He called those who knew the Law and those who didn't ungodly. He said they were sinners. But the Jews called the Gentiles sinners. They thought they were righteous by the Law, but Paul says no, WE, are sinners. Even throwing himself in the comparison.

9
Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. 10For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.11More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

Paul's focus here is on Christ. We are justified by His blood, we are saved by His life, we are reconciled to God. These are things the Jews thought the Law did, but Paul shows them no. Christ is the fulfillment of the Law.

But some people are thinking, but Paul why the Law then? If faith in Christ has always been what justifies us... why the Law? And here Paul explains the purpose of the Law.

12Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned— 13for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law. 14Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come.

Now this my friends is going to really blow your mind. Sin was in the Earth because of Adam's trespass and because of this death entered also. So yes, sin was in the world before the Law was ever given. And it is the Law that puts the REQUIREMENT of not sinning on us. People were dying, but they didn't know why they were dying.

But here's the nuclear bomb: "Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses"... why does Paul use this time frame? Because it was THROUGH Moses who the Law was given. The Law was not given before Moses and we as Gentiles were never under Moses, we came in through uncircumcised Abraham.

Last part I'll cover in Romans 5 here.

Romans 5:19For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.

Paul is saying sin and thus death entered through one man's disobedience, so by one Man (Jesus) made are made righteous. Paul is flatly saying here that we are RIGHTEOUS through His obedience. Notice Paul doesn't say our obedience. Because we are FIRST righteous before we even desire to be truly obedient. It is our righteousness that even allows us to be obedient.

So why the Law???

Romans 5:20Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, 21so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

The Law was given to increase the account for sin. Not to decrease it. It was given because we CAN'T follow it. It was given so that we desperately cry out for the Lord to save us. So that God might have mercy on us, that we might have His righteousness, and enter in to eternal life with Jesus Christ our Lord.
 
Last edited:

Studyman

Senior Member
Oct 11, 2017
3,570
516
113
Matthew 5:18
18 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.

I am under the understanding that Jesus fulfilled the law of Moses on the cross? If the law was fulfilled on the cross, then it is no longer a valid doctrine to be taught today. That is why I asked if the 'law of Moses' was succeeded by the 'law of Christ', (see Galations 6:2)

And so Christians do not live under the law of Moses, but under the law of Christ. When we keep his commandments we are keeping the law of Christ and we must do that in order to have eternal life. So Jesus died for our sins and we have faith in him, we trust in him, we look for his grace to be with us, and we keep the law of Christ and the combination leads us to eternal life.
According to the Bible, The Christ is the Word which became Flesh is He not? He spoke with Abraham, He gave Moses God's Laws, created the Priesthood that He said would change in Jer. 31.

If the Christ people worship is a different One than the Word which became Flesh, can he save you? Is there another Christ the Bible doesn't teach about? One who didn't create "ALL Things"?

Did Moses create his own laws? Have we been warned about people who come in Christ's name to deceive? These are valid questions.
 
Dec 12, 2013
46,515
20,401
113
Still waiting for an answer Shamah...
His answer will be...I HAVE SINNED (PAST TENSE) AND MIGHT SIN (POSSIBLY WON'T BREAK THE LAW) IN THE FUTURE......he absolutely refuses to come out and say that he is and does break the very law he espouses and pushes......a grace/law blend which like oil and water does not, yea cannot be mixed and or biblical!
 
Dec 12, 2013
46,515
20,401
113
He has already answered these questions over and over in the last year and you have ignored it. He knows you will just ignore him again.

Fortunately there will be no such questions from God in the first resurrection. Maybe from the accuser, but not God. His people will be looking at the ground with dirty garments in silence. But in the first resurrection the Father will have already deemed those resurrected "well done good and Faithful servant". So the accuser will once again be denied its scalp and the filthy clothes will be removed and replaced with clean clothes.

Zech. 3:1 And he shewed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him.
2 And the LORD said unto Satan, The LORD rebuke thee, O Satan; even the LORD that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?

3 Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the angel.

4 And he answered and spake unto those that stood before him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment.


I understand your frustration, I don't share it. He only posts scriptures for the most part, and it is the scriptures themselves which anger you and your friends so much.

But as Jesus said, Mark 13: 13 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

Even so, may the Word which became Flesh be with Shamah, and anyone else who puts their hands to the plow.
Try again ........he tap dances around it and implies that he MIGHT NOT BREAK THE LAW IN THE FUTURE and states clearly he has SINNED IN THE PAST..........you working for and law keeper guys are a joke......instead of resting 100% in the righteousness of Christ you attempt the proverbial gates of heaven based upon your own faltering attempt......tragically I might add!
 

benhur

Senior Member
Feb 8, 2018
1,534
121
63
Hi benhur,

What is the law of Christ?
What is the law of Moses?
What is the law of Christ? That is a good question.

We do have a pretty good idea what the law of Moses was. 600 + rules that Jesus taught the Israelites about how to be good people and how to worship him.

So study up on the law of Christ. Let me know what you find, and I will let you know what I find.
 
Dec 12, 2013
46,515
20,401
113
common man, you just need to read the bible. you will have a flesh with the sin nature till the day you die, it will always want to conform to the world and sin. when you are born again you have the Spirit of God in you, and as you grow in the spirit by that word so does the desires of the spirit in your life. naturally making you want to conform to God, the law, and the works of the Spirit. but you will always have that flesh till God gives you the new body.
The problem with workers for, sinless perfectionists, lawyers and Pharisees.....they actually believe in their minds that their righteous works in the name of Jesus will punch their ticket and HELP gain entrance into the Kingdom......oblivious to the fact it is 100% Jesus by faith or depart from me you worker of iniquity for I NEVER KNEW YOU!!!
 
Dec 12, 2013
46,515
20,401
113
I have never said the Law or keeoing it saves, as a matter of fact I have said many times the Law does not save, yet we are to keep/guard His commands. I have also told you many times I have broken the Law this is not motivation to reject His ways, His mercy is motivation to turn back to Him and seek to do His will.

the pharisees made their own laws;

[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Mat 15:3-9, “But He answering, said to them, “Why do you also transgress the command of YHWH because of your tradition? For YHWH has commanded, saying, ‘Respect your father and your mother,’ ‘He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.’ But you say, ‘Whoever says to his father or mother, “Whatever profit you might have received from me has been dedicated, is certainly released from respecting his father or mother.’ So you have nullified the command of YHWH by your tradition."Hypocrites! Well did Isayah (29:13-14*) prophesy of you, saying: These people draw near to Me with their mouth and honor Me with their lips, but have removed their hearts far from Me. But in vain they do worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men."

Yah writes His Law on the heart:

[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Ezekiel 36:26-28, "A new heart, will I also give you, and a new spirit will I put within you; and I will take away the heart of stone out of your flesh, and will give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments, and do them. And you will dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and you will be My people, and I will be your Father."

[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Jeremiah 31:33, "For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israyl: After those days, says [/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]יהוה[/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]: I will put My Law (Torah/Instructions) in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts, and I will be their Strength, and they will be My people."[/FONT]


[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Hebrews 10:16, "“This is the covenant that I shall make with them after those days, says [/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]יהוה[/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif], giving My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I shall write them.”[/FONT]

[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]

[/FONT]

[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]
[/FONT]
We have danced this dance before....Paul said, "Concerning THE LAW" outwardly he was blameless......the definite article "THE" does not point to man made laws pal.....it points to THE LAW.....wake up man!
 

Cee

Senior Member
May 14, 2010
2,169
473
83
Another interesting point about James 2:14-17...

14What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?

Many times people point to this Scripture in order to say that we need works to save us, but what's interesting is that James isn't actually talking about works for God, but actually loving people around them.

15
If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, 16and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good[SUP]b[/SUP] is that? 17So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

James letter is written to believers who said they loved Jesus, but they didn't love the people around them. The focus is saying look if you say you bless God why do you curse your brothers?

Which lines up with 1 John 4:20:

If anyone says, “I love God,” and
hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.

To those who preach we need works with our faith, realize that what James is saying, is to take care of those who can't take care of themselves. Our brothers and sisters who are naked and destitute. And to love everyone equally with no partiality. Just as God loves us.

This isn't to be saved, but it is to reveal who is saved. Which is why I believe we need balance, our Faith in God equips us to love one another.

 
Dec 12, 2013
46,515
20,401
113
DO you guys freak out when Paul said he is subject to the Law and keeps it?

[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Romans 7:25, "Thanks be to YHWH, I have deliverance through Yahshua Messiah our King! So then, with this same mind, I myself serve the Law of YHWH, while in the flesh that is yet subject to the law of sin."

[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Acts 21:24, "Take them, and be purified with them, and pay their expenses so that they may shave their heads. Then everyone will know that those things they were informed about you (forsaking the Law), were lies, and that you (Paul), yourself, walk orderly, and keep the Law."

DO you freak out when it says Zach and Eli kept His Law?

Luke 1:5-6,
In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord's commands and decrees blamelessly.

DO you freak out when it says Abraham kept His Law?


Genesis 26:4-5, “And I shall increase your seed like the stars of the heavens, and I shall give all these lands to your seed. And in your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because Aḇraham obeyed My voice and guarded My Charge: My commands, My laws, and My Torah.”

and no I am not saying I am as good as these people, I showing the Book says they were obedient to His COmmands, so are they self justified lawyer pharisees?
[/FONT]

[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]
[/FONT]
So which is it....look at this tap dance....I JUST ANSWERED a post of yours where you said the Pharisees "including Paul" we not following the laws of God but man made laws....now you twist it back around to prove your stance.....and you call me dishonest....wow!
 

gb9

Senior Member
Jan 18, 2011
12,284
6,656
113
We have danced this dance before....Paul said, "Concerning THE LAW" outwardly he was blameless......the definite article "THE" does not point to man made laws pal.....it points to THE LAW.....wake up man!
remember , they divide the Law into half a dozen parts, and then are flexible in which to keep, and which we are no longer under.

this allows them to dance and duck and dodge.
 

BillG

Senior Member
Feb 15, 2017
9,020
4,439
113
What is the law of Christ? That is a good question.

We do have a pretty good idea what the law of Moses was. 600 + rules that Jesus taught the Israelites about how to be good people and how to worship him.

So study up on the law of Christ. Let me know what you find, and I will let you know what I find.
My thoughts

Galatians 6:1-2
Chapter 6
Bear and Share the Burdens
1 Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. 2 Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

With regards to the law of Moses

I don't think of the 613 but the 10 commandments which Jesus summed up as

Luke 10:25-27
The Parable of the Good Samaritan
25 And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested Him, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”
26 He said to him, “What is written in the law? What is your reading of it?”
27 So he answered and said, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,’ and ‘your neighbor as yourself.’ ”

Yet interestingly to the Jews Samaritans were not neighbours.

To me it's to do with love.
Even loving our enemies which I think Jesus addressed in the parable of the good Samaritan as well.
 

Shamah

Senior Member
Jan 6, 2018
2,735
692
113
So which is it....look at this tap dance....I JUST ANSWERED a post of yours where you said the Pharisees "including Paul" we not following the laws of God but man made laws....now you twist it back around to prove your stance.....and you call me dishonest....wow!
can you quote where I said Paul was following man made laws post conversion? As a pharisee of course he did, are you conflating 2 statements as one? Im curious what you are talking about here.

Also yes we have gone through this and ever time I have answered you.

because I have sinned does that now make His Instructions null and void? No, His mercy makes me want to seek obedience no matter how many times I fall.

Does my sin nullify this?

So which is it....look at this tap dance....I JUST ANSWERED a post of yours where you said the Pharisees "including Paul" we not following the laws of God but man made laws....now you twist it back around to prove your stance.....and you call me dishonest....wow!
can you quote where I said Paul was following man made laws post conversion? As a pharisee of course he did, are you conflating 2 statements as one? Im curious what you are talking about here.

Also yes we have gone through this and ever time I have answered you.

because I have sinned does that now make His Instructions null and void? No, His mercy makes me want to seek obedience no matter how many times I fall.

Dos my sin nullify this?

[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]1 John/Yahanan 3:24, “And the one guarding His commands stays in Him, and He in him. And by this we know that He stays in us, by the Spirit which He gave us.”[/FONT]
 

Seohce

Senior Member
Jul 15, 2016
1,386
54
48
originally posted by Seohce


WERE YOU SENT BY GOD?

Luke 6:43-45 A Tree and Its Fruit “No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. FOR OUT OF THE OVERFLOW OF HIS HEART , HIS MOUTH SPEAKS..

WHO ARE CLAIMING TO BE “STILL SINNERS” OUT OF THE OVERFLOW OF THEIR HEART???

John 3:34 For the one whom GOD HAS SENT speaks the words of God,
for God gives the Spirit without limit.



This thread and it’s author implies that there’s no need for works to a FAITH ALONE that SAVES(faith void of works).

SALVATION IS NOT BY WORKS IF IT’S APART FROM FAITH (eph 2:8-9) JUST AS FAITH ALONE APART FROM WORKS OF LOVE,OBEDIENCE AND FAITH IS DEAD (james 2:14-26)

IF WE ARE THE BODY OF CHRIST WHOM HE WILL SAVE (eph 5:23) AREN’T WE EXPECTED TO OBEY HIS COMMANDS (john 14:12-15)AND DO HIS WORKS OF SALVATION (1cor 3:9, 12:28 mat 25:21-30, 9:37-38 eph 4:12-13, rom 12: 3-8, 1 tim 4:16) AS WE ARE TO DO HIS WILL HERE ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN (mat 6:10)

John 4:34-38 “My food,” said Jesus, “is TO DO THE WILL OF HIM WHO SENT ME AND TO FINISH HIS WORK. Do you not say, ‘Four months more and then the harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. Even now the reaper draws his wages, even now HE HARVESTS THE CROP FOR ETERNAL LIFE, so that the sower and the reaper may be GLAD TOGETHER. Thus the saying ‘One sows and another reaps’ is true. I SENT YOU to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and YOU HAVE REAPED THE BENEFITS OF THEIR LABOR.”

John 5:36 “I have testimony weightier than that of John. For the very work that the Father has given me to finish, and WHICH I AM DOING, TESTIFIES that the Father has SENT me.

John 6:39-40 And this is the will of him who SENT me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and BELIEVES IN HIM, SHALL HAVE ETERNAL LIFE, and I will raise him up at the last day.”

John 7:18 HE WHO SPEAKS ON HIS OWN does so to gain honor for himself, but HE WHO WORKS FOR THE HONOR OF THE ONE WHO SENT HIM IS A MAN OF TRUTH; there is nothing false about him.

John 9:4-5 As long as it is day, WE MUST DO THE WORK OF HIM WHO SENT ME. Night is coming, when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

John 17:18 As you sent me into the world, I have SENT THEM into the world.

John 20:21-22 Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I AM SENDING YOU.” And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.

Matthew 28:19-20 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and TEACHING THEM TO OBEY EVERYTHING I HAVE COMMANDED YOU. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

ONE SURE WAY TO RECOGNIZE THOSE WHO WERE NOT SENT ACCORDING TO THE VERSES ABOVE IS TO KNOW WHAT THEY DO.

DO THEY PREACH AGAINST THE WORKS THAT GOD HAS PREPARED IN ADVANCE FOR US TO DO BY SAYING THAT: “FAITH ALONE SAVES AND IT IS VOID OF WORKS.”?

DO THEY PREACH THAT; “WORKS ARE WORKS ARE WORKS.”?
THAT OBEDIENCE TO GOD’S COMMANDMENTS CANNOT SAVE EVEN THOSE BELIEVERS WHO CONFESS WITH THEIR MOUTHS THAT JESUS IS LORD AND BELIEVE IN THEIR HEARTS THAT GOD RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD.

DO THEY PREACH THAT SINCE THEY WERE ALREADY SAVED, THEY WILL ALWAYS BE SAVED REGARDLESS OF THEIR WILLFUL AND CONTINUOUS SINNING(manifested by their arguments against those who push for continuous faith and are against willful sinning).

DO THEY PROMOTE SIN BY SAYING THAT THOSE WHO ARE CLAIMING THAT THOSE BORN AGAIN IN THE SPIRIT IS A NEW CREATION AND THEREFORE MUST NOT SIN OR CEASE FROM SINNING, ARE LIARS ACCDG. TO 1JOHN 1:8 WHICH THEY LOVE TO QUOTE BUT REJECTING THE WHOLE TRUTH EXPRESSED IN THE BIBLE? WHICH ONLY PROVES THIS VERSES BELOW TO BE TRUE:

Romans 8:5-9 Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds SET ON WHAT THE SPIRIT DESIRES. The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; the sinful mind is hostile to God. IT DOES NOT SUBMIT TO GOD’S LAW, nor can it do so. Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God. You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, HE DOES NOT BELONG TO CHRIST.

WOULD THE SPIRIT OF GOD DESIRE SIN?

Galatians 2:17-18 “If, while we seek to be justified in Christ, it becomes EVIDENT that we ourselves are SINNERS, does that mean that Christ PROMOTES SIN? Absolutely not! If I rebuild what I destroyed, I prove that I am a lawbreaker.

Romans 6:15 What then? SHALL WE SIN because we are not under law but under grace? By no means!

1 Corinthians 6:17 But he who unites himself with the Lord is ONE WITH HIM IN SPIRIT.

John 16:13 But when he, THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.

1 Corinthians 6:9-11,15-20 Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? DO NOT BE DECEIVED: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. AND THAT IS WHAT SOME OF YOU WERE. But you were WASHED, you were SANCTIFIED, you were JUSTIFIED in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never! Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, “The two will become one flesh.” But he who unites himself with the Lord is one with him in spirit. Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body. Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.

Galatians 6:7-8 DO NOT BE DECEIVED, GOD CANNOT BE MOCKED. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.

1 John 2:3-6 We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands. The man who says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But if anyone obeys his word, God’s love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.

John 14:31 but the world must learn that I love the Father and that I DO EXACTLY WHAT .MY FATHER HAS COMMANDED ME. “Come now; let us leave.

Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were STILL SINNERS, Christ died for us.

Romans 6:21-23 What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ASHAMED OF? Those things result in death! But NOW that you have been SET FREE FROM SIN and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to HOLINESS, and the result is ETERNAL LIFE. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life IN CHRIST JESUS OUR LORD.

Romans 1:32 Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only CONTINUE TO DO these very things but also APPROVE of those who practice them.

John 15:22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin. Now, however, they have no excuse for their sin.

Psalm 49:13-14 This is the fate of those who trust in themselves, and of THEIR FOLLOWERS, who APPROVE their sayings. Selah Like sheep they are destined for the grave, and death will feed on them. The upright will rule over them in the morning; their forms will decay in the grave, far from their princely mansions.

THEREFORE:

Romans 10:14-15 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? AND HOW CAN THEY PREACH UNLESS THEY ARE SENT? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”
 

Seohce

Senior Member
Jul 15, 2016
1,386
54
48
IT’S DISAPPOINTING TO LEARN THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE CLAIMING TO BE CHRISTIANS CLING OR TRUST MAN MADE DOCTRINES MORE THAN THE TRUTH IN THE SCRIPTURES.

2 Timothy 3:15-17 and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

THESE SELF-PROCLAIMED CHRISTIANS WOULD REJECT GOD’S WORDS, LAWS AND COMMANDS TO DEFEND WHAT WAS TAUGHT TO THEM BY THEIR CHURCH LEADERS.

Mark 7:6-13 He replied, “Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you HYPOCRITES; as it is written: “‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; THEIR TEACHINGS ARE BUT RULES TAUGHT BY MEN.’ You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to the traditions of men.” And he said to them: “YOU HAVE A FINE WAY OF SETTING ASIDE THE COMMANDS OF GOD in order to observe your own traditions! For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘Anyone who CURSES his father or mother must be put to death.’ But you say that if a man says to his father or mother: ‘Whatever help you might otherwise have received from me is Corban’ (that is, a gift devoted to God), then YOU NO LONGER LET HIM DO ANYTHING for his father or mother. Thus YOU NULLIFY THE WORD OF GOD by your tradition that you have handed down. And YOU DO MANY THINGS LIKE THAT”

TO THEIR SHAME, THESE PEOPLE CLAIM TO KNOW GOD BUT BY THEIR ACTIONS THEY DENY HIM.( titus 1:16)

THEY CLAIM TO BE ETERNALLY SAVED ALTHOUGH THEY ARE DEAD IN THE EYES OF GOD (rev 3:1-6)

THEY NOT ONLY APPROVE OF THOSE WHO MOCK GOD AND TRAMPLED THE SON OF GOD UNDER FOOT.(psalms 49:13-15)

Hebrews 10:28-29 Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. How much more severely do you think a man deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God under foot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace?

BUT THEY EVEN PRAISE THE ONE WHO CALLS JESUS “CURSED" WHILE MOCKING AND INSULTING THOSE WHO PROMOTE OBEDIENCE TO GOD AND HIS WORD THROUGH THE GOSPEL OF OUR SALVATION.

Isaiah 5:20-24 Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter. Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and clever in their own sight. Woe to those who are heroes at drinking wine and champions at mixing drinks, who acquit the guilty for a bribe, but deny justice to the innocent. Therefore, as tongues of fire lick up straw and as dry grass sinks down in the flames, so their roots will decay and their flowers blow away like dust; for THEY HAVE REJECTED THE LAW OF THE LORD ALMIGHTY AND SPURNED THE WORD OF THE HOLY ONE OF ISRAEL..

“WOE TO THOSE WHO CALL JESUS “CURSED” AND TEACHES DISOBEDIENCE TO GOD’S WORDS AND COMMANDS.”

2 John 1:5-11 And now, dear lady, I am not writing you a new command but one we have had from the beginning. I ask that we love one another. And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love. Many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. ANY SUCH PERSON IS THE DECEIVER AND THE ANTICHRIST. Watch out that you do not lose what you have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully. Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take him into your house or welcome him. Anyone who welcomes him shares in his wicked work.

Corinthians 11:13-15 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.

“GOD CANNOT BE MOCKED"

“LET GOD BE TRUE AND EVERY MAN A LIAR.”
 

VCO

Senior Member
Oct 14, 2013
11,995
4,615
113
Another interesting point about James 2:14-17...

14What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?

Many times people point to this Scripture in order to say that we need works to save us, but what's interesting is that James isn't actually talking about works for God, but actually loving people around them.

15
If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, 16and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good[SUP]b[/SUP] is that? 17So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

James letter is written to believers who said they loved Jesus, but they didn't love the people around them. The focus is saying look if you say you bless God why do you curse your brothers?

Which lines up with 1 John 4:20:

If anyone says, “I love God,” and
hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.

To those who preach we need works with our faith, realize that what James is saying, is to take care of those who can't take care of themselves. Our brothers and sisters who are naked and destitute. And to love everyone equally with no partiality. Just as God loves us.

This isn't to be saved, but it is to reveal who is saved. Which is why I believe we need balance, our Faith in God equips us to love one another.


It is a Parallel portion of Scripture, as 1 John 3:14-19, and THAT DEFINES IT AS PART OF OUR LOVE, NOT SALVATION.



1 John 3:14-19 (HCSB)
[SUP]14 [/SUP] We know that we have passed from death to life because we love our brothers. The one who does not love remains in death.
[SUP]15 [/SUP] Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him.
[SUP]16 [/SUP] This is how we have come to know love: He laid down His life for us. We should also lay down our lives for our brothers.
[SUP]17 [/SUP] If anyone has this world’s goods and sees his brother in need but closes his eyes to his ⌊need⌋—how can God’s love reside in him?
[SUP]18 [/SUP] Little children, we must not love with word or speech, but with truth and action.
[SUP]19 [/SUP] This is how we will know we belong to the truth and will convince our conscience in His presence,


Back that Up with Rom. 5:5, and we find out WHERE THAT KIND OF LOVE COMES FROM:


Romans 5:5 (HCSB)
[SUP]5 [/SUP] This hope will not disappoint ⌊us⌋, because God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
 

VCO

Senior Member
Oct 14, 2013
11,995
4,615
113
I like the gentle soft blue background, it is a lot easier on the eyes.