Hello Cherie, I appreciate the question. Been getting a lot of heat on here, but very few fervent dicsiples who are willing to discuss the things of God's Kingdom in a mature manner, where we can glean from each other.
This is a much greater topic than can be properly expressed in an online forum. Personally, I've often engaged with the saints for 3- 4 hours (even up to 8 hours!) in fellowship, prayer and study of the Word.
But let me briefly share this...
No I do not believe "works" of the "Law" are required for salvation. To begin our Journey is a gift of God to those who "believe, repent, and are baptized." (Mark 16:16, Acts 2:38, among many others.)
What I do believe and have been teaching for years, and which is fully supported by the whole of Scripture, is that to receive the promises of God in Rev 2 & 3, we must prove ourselves by Obedience to God's commands given through Christ, and we must Repent, Walk Worthy, and Overcome.
We know from the Bible that God will not judge us by what we claim to believe, or by a statement of faith, in that Day.
The Scripture does tell us many times that Jesus is coming to "judge and reward" saint and sinner alike "according to our works" . (Psalm 62:12, Prov 24:12, Jer 17:10, Jer 32:19, Eze 33:20, Lam 3:64, Matt 16:27, John 5:28-29, Rom 2:6, Rom 14:12, 2 Cor 5:10, 1Pet 1:17, Rev 20:12, and Rev 22:12 for starters)
Though many have tried, these portions of God's Word cannot be explained away; nor can any verse negate what these passages proclaim. Understanding that "salvation" is not a one time event really helps us grasp a Truer vision of God's great plan and purpose for Creation. Been covering this at our church quite a bit recently - 1Corinthians 10 Bible Study
Peace & Blessings to you as you walk with Jesus,
Michael
This is a much greater topic than can be properly expressed in an online forum. Personally, I've often engaged with the saints for 3- 4 hours (even up to 8 hours!) in fellowship, prayer and study of the Word.
But let me briefly share this...
No I do not believe "works" of the "Law" are required for salvation. To begin our Journey is a gift of God to those who "believe, repent, and are baptized." (Mark 16:16, Acts 2:38, among many others.)
What I do believe and have been teaching for years, and which is fully supported by the whole of Scripture, is that to receive the promises of God in Rev 2 & 3, we must prove ourselves by Obedience to God's commands given through Christ, and we must Repent, Walk Worthy, and Overcome.
We know from the Bible that God will not judge us by what we claim to believe, or by a statement of faith, in that Day.
The Scripture does tell us many times that Jesus is coming to "judge and reward" saint and sinner alike "according to our works" . (Psalm 62:12, Prov 24:12, Jer 17:10, Jer 32:19, Eze 33:20, Lam 3:64, Matt 16:27, John 5:28-29, Rom 2:6, Rom 14:12, 2 Cor 5:10, 1Pet 1:17, Rev 20:12, and Rev 22:12 for starters)
Though many have tried, these portions of God's Word cannot be explained away; nor can any verse negate what these passages proclaim. Understanding that "salvation" is not a one time event really helps us grasp a Truer vision of God's great plan and purpose for Creation. Been covering this at our church quite a bit recently - 1Corinthians 10 Bible Study
Peace & Blessings to you as you walk with Jesus,
Michael
I am not yelling, but I use colors as EMPHASIS, to make my point clear.
Let's see how WRONG YOU ARE ABOUT SALVATION:
2 Timothy 1:9 (HCSB)
9 He has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began.
LOOK HOW WRONG YOU ARE! WE WERE SAVED before time began, WHICH IS WHEN HE WROTE OUR NAMES IN THE BOOK OF LIFE.
Salvation has nothing to do with anything we DO. HE SAVED US, PERIOD before time began.
John 14:15 (HCSB)
15 “If you love Me, you will keep My commands.
See how confused you are, you credit Repentance and Christian Water Baptism as BEING PART OF SALVATION.
It is not part of SALVATION, but AFTER SALVATION, WE WILL BE CHANGED, and IS PART OF OUR LOVE FOR HIM. IN FACT THAT LOVE FOR HIM WAS POURED INTO OUR HEARTS BY THAT HOLY SPIRIT. SO BECAUSE OF OUR LOVE FOR HIM, WE WILL REPENT, and Follow HIS EXAMPLE OF BEING BAPTIZED IN WATER.
Romans 5:5 (HCSB)
5 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.
So we do not get the CREDIT for LOVING GOD, HE PUT THAT IN US.
So, while we are on the subject, the BAPTISM that has any PART OF SALVATION, is something that is a WORK of THE HOLY SPIRIT, that HE DID IN OUR HEARTS TO GET IS TO BELIEVE. HE IMMERSED US INTO THE SPIRITUAL BODY OF JESUS CHRIST.
1 Corinthians 12:12-13 (HCSB)
12 For as the body is one and has many parts, and all the parts of that body, though many, are one body—so also is Christ.
13 For we were all {includes the Thief on the Cross} baptized by one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.
- 3
- Show all