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.

FollowHisSteps

Well-known member
Feb 15, 2019
3,674
1,201
113
Definition of sin https://www.gotquestions.org/definition-sin.html

Some attempt to use defining sin, to block the idea we can walk like Jesus.

Poor in spirit, mourning, meek, hungering after righteousness, merciful, pure in heart, peacemakers.
Their treasure is in heaven, they are not angry, but bless, they do not lust after sexual desire, they love their
enemies, they do their acts of righteousness in private not for show, they pray meaningful prayers expecting
the Lord hears and will answer, they forgive from the heart, they do not worry about wealth but the Lords ways,
they do not judge but desire to help and encourage others.
Matt 5 - 7
Jesus's example

So if Christs approach is our calling, what is so difficult, unless of course this reality is rebelled against
so strongly, to be like Christ is thought of becoming irrelevant or nothing.

The reality of personality, is like the apostles though they walked like Jesus, they were very much
individuals with their way of expressing themselves.

So the possibility is it is really just unbelievers are trying to push their own faith, and have no real
handle of Jesus and Christ himself.
 
E

eternally-gratefull

Guest
Go study what Jesus says is a sin.
Jesus said anything noty done out of lobve us sin

The bible says we LOVE because GOD LOVED US FIRST

Conclusion

No one can love (not sin) UNTIL they have first experienced the love of God in salvation.

But you think you are more powerful than everyone ese and can some how conjur enough love to not sin and thus earn your salvation

Good luck!
 
E

eternally-gratefull

Guest
Look at it again:
Acts 5:32 We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him."
For the umpteenth time

That is a DESCRIPTIVE PASSAGE,, not a PRESCRIPTIVE\

It tells you what those who has the holy spirit. Not how to get it..
 

FollowHisSteps

Well-known member
Feb 15, 2019
3,674
1,201
113
A hard hearted faith

Israel became hard hearted and would not resolve their sinful behaviour even when warned
about the judgement that was coming.

They stayed religious, did all the ceremonies yet no longer believed God or obeyed His word.

And the sign this is happening is they reject anyone who talks about obedience and love.
What also confirms this, is even when Gods word clearly declares the same it is still rejected.

After this there is no excuse.

And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.
Luke 14:27

This verse is part of counting the cost of following Jesus. To hard hearted folk, staying in the
world and also going to heaven are all included, no problems.
 
E

eternally-gratefull

Guest
I cannot see how you ever get that being saved is not salvation, and how love can be done without obedience.
So being saved is not salvation????

And again, You got it wrong. Obedience cannot be done without love

And no one can LOVE until GOD LOVES THEM FIRST by SAVING THEM/
 
E

eternally-gratefull

Guest
I think that is the key- they reject the actual definition of sin.

I have told peter the actual definition of sin many times, he won't even mention it.

the other guy says he no longer sins, but makes " little mistakes "
Thats what they all say
They do not realise. Their little mistakes? The penalty of those mistakes is death.

By those little mistakes. They deserve hell just as much as hitler does

That is what breaks them, thats their stumbling block, they refuse to admit they are just as guilty as evel men.
 

FollowHisSteps

Well-known member
Feb 15, 2019
3,674
1,201
113
Jesus said anything noty done out of lobve us sin
The bible says we LOVE because GOD LOVED US FIRST
Conclusion
No one can love (not sin) UNTIL they have first experienced the love of God in salvation.

But you think you are more powerful than everyone ese and can some how conjur enough love to not sin and thus earn your salvation
Good luck!
Amen. Christs love in us overcomes the world, Halleluyah, when are hearts are pure and cleansed, then
we know victory.

This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome,
for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.
Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.
1 John 5:3-5

Unbelief. Can Jesus bring us to His likeness. Yes He can.

May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones
1 Thess 3:13

Sadly each time the word of God is spoken, the more you shut the word of God out,
the harder your hearts become. It is a spiritual reality, until the word of God is totally
closed to you.
 

FollowHisSteps

Well-known member
Feb 15, 2019
3,674
1,201
113
Thats what they all say
They do not realise. Their little mistakes? The penalty of those mistakes is death.
By those little mistakes. They deserve hell just as much as hitler does

That is what breaks them, thats their stumbling block, they refuse to admit they are just as guilty as evel men.
Here is the joke. Those who believe in transformation and growth to the likeness of Christ,
count truly Gods work in their hearts, and overcoming. Grace overcomes the stumbles and trials.

Those who believe they are as they are in their sin, intractable and not victorious, stay were they
are and believe grace covers their state while believing change is irrelevant, because they have
eternal life, and when the flesh is removed they are this perfect spirit entering heaven.

What matters is those who are moving to Christ, from one state of glory to the next and those
who are happy to stay in their sins and state and see nothing changing because there is no point.
 
E

eternally-gratefull

Guest
Just for the record

NO ONE HERE states they are in their sin, Intractable and not victorious. Stay where they are.

If people can not humble themselves to understand what other people are saying, Don’t get MAD when people refuse to talk to you. No one wants to talk to people who are so proud they think they know what everyone else believes, And will not refuse to admit they are wrong, even when EVERYONE tells them otherwise.
 

FollowHisSteps

Well-known member
Feb 15, 2019
3,674
1,201
113
Here is the problem.
If one stands saying we can know what it means to walk like Jesus, to have victory over sin
through the Holy Spirit working in hearts, one is called evil, deceived and wrong,
it is a lie to suggest no one is not against such an idea.

The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?
Jer 17:9

Those who feel guilt and condemnation reading the words of Christ, their hearts need
working on, and letting Gods word dwell within them.

Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.
Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.
"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men's bones and everything unclean
Matt 23:25-27

Look at our hearts, and make sure we have humbled ourselves and become cleansed of
the sin that lies within. Then we will be able to judge correctly.
 

FollowHisSteps

Well-known member
Feb 15, 2019
3,674
1,201
113
Listen to this verse

And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.
Luke 14:27

Is this verse gibberish to you, or is it crystal clear?
This will show where your loyalties lie and where you are headed, as a disciple or as something else.
 
E

eternally-gratefull

Guest
Ok petey..lol And you say your not peter!! Why do you not confess your sin of being here when your under a current bann? Before you go judging others.

As for everyone else.. Who here feels condemned when they are under grace?

Grace is what keeps me believing in Jesus. Not condemnation.

Either way. Can I get a hand of people who feel condemned because of their sins? (Noting that believeing one would be condemned where they stand, and feeling condemned are two different things.
 
E

eternally-gratefull

Guest
Carrying a cross will not save you. Keep you saved, Maintian your salvation. Or as paul said “perfect” your salvation.

Carrying your cross is what soldiers of Christ due to help them be successful in the kingdom of God. Because refusing to do this, just makes your life so miserable.

But to people who have not yet repented and come to christ, i understand, they can not understand this basic gospel fact
 

FollowHisSteps

Well-known member
Feb 15, 2019
3,674
1,201
113
What is amazing?

I read scripture

If you love me, you will obey what I command.
John 14:15

Jesus simply is saying obedience shows where your love is.
So do you desire to obey Jesus or just claim the promise of eternal life?

If you desire just eternal life without obedience, you are lying to yourself and do not love
Jesus and will not receive the promise to His sheep, who listen, follow and obey.

My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.
I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.
John 10:27-28

The truth is people want the security of being in Christ without the cost, and to even think
this might not be true, is so shattering, obedience must be a lie. Sad, sad day.
 

mailmandan

Senior Member
Apr 7, 2014
25,571
13,548
113
58
Isaiah 59:20 “The Redeemer will come to Zion, to those in Jacob who repent of their sins,” declares the Lord.

Luke 17:4 Even if they sin against you seven times in a day and seven times come back to you saying ‘I repent,’ you must forgive them.”

Luke 24:47 and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

Revelation 9:20 The rest of mankind who were not killed by these plagues still did not repent of the works of their hands. They did not stop worshiping demons and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone, and wood, which cannot see or hear or walk. 21 Furthermore, they did not repent of their murder, sorcery, sexual immorality, and theft.

Jeremiah 8:6 I have listened attentively, but they do not say what is right. None of them repent of their wickedness, saying, “What have I done?” Each pursues their own course like a horse charging into battle.

Ezekiel 18:30 “Therefore, you Israelites, I will judge each of you according to your own ways, declares the Sovereign Lord. Repent! Turn away from all your offenses; then sin will not be your downfall.

Revelation 16:11 and cursed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, but they refused to repent of what they had done.

Revelation 16:10 The fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and its kingdom was plunged into darkness. People gnawed their tongues in agony because of their sufferings and because of their sores, but nevertheless they still refused to repent of their deeds.

Acts 8:32 Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord in the hope that he may forgive you for having such a thought in your heart.

2 Corinthians 12:21 I am afraid that when I come again my God will humble me before you, and I will be grieved over many who have sinned earlier and have not repented of the impurity, sexual sin and debauchery in which they have indulged.
Not one of these verses says repent and become sinless. The Greek word for "repent" is "metanoia" (noun) and "matanoeo" (verb) you see as defined in the Strongs #3340, 3341: to think differently or afterwards, reconsider. After thought, change of mind. Repentance basically means a "change of mind" and the context must determine what is involved in this change of mind. Where salvation is in view, repentance precedes saving faith in Christ.

Matthew 21:32 - For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.

Mark 1:15 - Repent and believe the gospel.

Acts 20:21 - testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.

If repent meant turn away from all sinning/become sinless, then people could only be saved if they completely stopped sinning. And in that case, it is unlikely that anyone will be saved, since we don't know anyone who has ever completely stopped sinning, although there are some people who believe they live a sinless, perfect life 100% of the time (exactly as Jesus lived) who are suffering from a terminal case of self righteousness. (1 John 1:8-10)

In 1 Corinthians 3:1-3, we read - And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. 2 I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; 3 for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men? So according to YOUR definition of repentance - "become sinless," these Corinthians who Paul referred to as "babes in Christ" never truly repented because they have not become sinless and were struggling with envy, strife and divisions among them (which is sin) and they needed to grow up.

Also, the apostle Peter, who was a genuine believer (Matthew 16:16-17) denied Christ three times (Matthew 26:69-74) which is sin and also in Galatians 2:11-15, we see that the apostle Peter played the part of a hypocrite and was not being straightforward about the truth of the gospel in from of the Jews (which is also sin) and Paul even had to rebuke him! Apparently, Peter did not become sinless after his conversion, so according to YOUR definition of repentance - "become sinless" Peter never truly repented.
 

FollowHisSteps

Well-known member
Feb 15, 2019
3,674
1,201
113
Listen my friends.

What I am writing is aimed at no individual. I do not know you, or you me.
I share the word of God, and it is your heart that responds to His word. And it is this
response that tells you where you are.

So when people say someone is judging another, they are lying, into empty air.
It is Gods Holy Spirit that convicts us so that we might repent in sorrow and walk in His ways.

Poor in spirit, mourning, meek, hungering after righteousness, merciful, pure in heart, peacemakers.
Their treasure is in heaven, they are not angry, but bless, they do not lust after sexual desire, they love their
enemies, they do their acts of righteousness in private not for show, they pray meaningful prayers expecting
the Lord hears and will answer, they forgive from the heart, they do not worry about wealth but the Lords ways,
they do not judge but desire to help and encourage others.
Matt 5 - 7
Jesus's example

Do you admire someone who walks like this, or would you condemn them as hypocrites?

If your heart condemns them as hypocrites that is your view of Jesus.
You need to repent, to admit the sin that is dominating your life and come to Christ and the cross for
the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive eternal life, a walk with Jesus, Amen.

Suddenly your view will change, what was a joke will become your heart, what was your enemy will
become your friend. This is why this is a kingdom heart issue and not an opinion or intellectual viewpoint.

I cannot persuade you, or change you, only God can do that. I can but testify to this reality.
 
E

eternally-gratefull

Guest
Love

1 John 4:
Knowing God Through Love
7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 9 In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. 10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

Seeing God Through Love
12 No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us. 13 By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. 14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son asSavior of the world. 15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 16 And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.

The Consummation of Love
17 Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. 19 We love [c]Him because He first loved us.


John makes it clear.

1. Our love is based or rooted on the fact that God has sent his only begotten son to the world. So that we MAY live IN HIM,
2. It is not that we loved God, but that GOD LOVED S
3. It is based ont he fact, God made propitiation for our sins (we are saved)
4. It is based on the fact he gave his spirit to us
5. Only those who KNOW (EXPERIENCE) The Love God for us can love ohters
6. The consumation of love us that all fear of eternal judgment has been removed, we can stand before God on judgment day with boldness, Because it is not based on us, BUT ON GOD
7. WE LOVE BECAUSE GOD LOVED US
 

Hevosmies

Well-known member
Sep 8, 2018
3,612
2,633
113
I am just going to have to write out my testimony so people will not ask such things of me. I have confessed and repented of being in false denominations.
I wonder what would be too long of a testimony and if anyone would read it and whether they would trample it.
I already read your testimony, the short one you wrote recently.
 

FollowHisSteps

Well-known member
Feb 15, 2019
3,674
1,201
113
To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.
"He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth."
When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.
1 Peter 2:21-23

Nevertheless, God's solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription:
"The Lord knows those who are his," and,
"Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness."
2 Tim 2:19

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace
that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.
Eph 1:7-8

For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves,
in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.
Col 1:13-15

Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.
1 Cor 11:1