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.
E

eternally-gratefull

Guest
Being born again is a singular event but salvation is a lifetime occurrence that involves us abiding in Christ and walking with Him.

What are we being saved from if not our sin and rebellion to God?

What are we being saved for if not to abide and walk with Him?

Salvation is having an intimate loving relationship with God. Jesus died to restore that relationship.

So while I agree that being born again only happens once. Salvation is more than being born again...it is learning to walk with God and becoming mature and rooted in Christ.
yet it is eternal the moment we were saved.
 

Stunnedbygrace

Senior Member
Nov 12, 2015
9,112
823
113
Salvation is by faith, it is an act of belief. One cannot trust before belief.
Hmm...I find I must believe someone is telling the truth to me before I can trust them. Although I don't have such a division between the words as you do. They are necessary to remain together for me. If I have faith in you, it means I trust you. If I trust you, it means I have faith in you. If I do not trust you, I don't have faith in you. If I don't have faith in you, I don't trust you.

I am trying to figure out why it is necessary to say faith in someone and trust in someone are two different things...
 
A

Ariel82

Guest
I might differ with a few people on this thread with what I'm about to say. And that's perfectly okay, iron sharpens iron.

But, I personally see and believe that the focus of Scriptures about Salvation isn't to be saved, but to call out to Him as Lord.

As I look at salvation Scriptures I notice a pattern, "if you call out to the Lord you shall be saved."

Or, "If you confess Him as Lord".

Or those who "believe" in Me, this word for believe (pisteau) in the Greek is very closely linked with trust or being persuaded. From my research pisteau is a lot about which "voice is more real to you" who are you being lead by Him or the world. Consider Peter walking on water.

In essence I believe Salvation is a result of calling Him our Lord. And the moment we call Him Lord we declare we will trust in Him. And everything is a fruit of what He does in us, we die to the old, and live to Him. He gets the glory.
There is power in confessing that Jesus is Lord, but I believe scripture speaks of more than just that.

"We die to the old, and live to Him" sounds like a simple statement but isn't because we all have many spiritual strongholds that need to be torn down and that war against God's wisdom.
 

BillG

Senior Member
Feb 15, 2017
9,020
4,439
113
Hi
Being born again is a singular event but salvation is a lifetime occurrence that involves us abiding in Christ and walking with Him.

What are we being saved from if not our sin and rebellion to God?

What are we being saved for if not to abide and walk with Him?

Salvation is having an intimate loving relationship with God. Jesus died to restore that relationship.

So while I agree that being born again only happens once. Salvation is more than being born again...it is learning to walk with God and becoming mature and rooted in Christ.
Not fully sure what you are saying here.
I thought salvation and being born again are of the same, a one time event.
Learning to walk and become mature is sanctification.

Sometimes I think of it this way.

I have been adopted by God into his family.
If I have been adopted that means I belonged to a different family, or am an orphan.

Having been adopted by God then he is now my Father.
Yet I bring with me the ways of my old family.
Now God teaches me new ways, a new way of living.
He is my dad and I'm his kid. That happened the minute saved me and pulled me out of my old family.
 

Cee

Senior Member
May 14, 2010
2,169
473
83
Yes I agree, I don't believe all of Scripture is focused on it. I am saying, the Scriptures that specifically focus on Salvation are usually focused on calling out to Him as Lord.

There is power in confessing that Jesus is Lord, but I believe scripture speaks of more than just that.

"We die to the old, and live to Him" sounds like a simple statement but isn't because we all have many spiritual strongholds that need to be torn down and that war against God's wisdom.
 
A

Ariel82

Guest
Hi

Not fully sure what you are saying here.
I thought salvation and being born again are of the same, a one time event.
Learning to walk and become mature is sanctification.

Sometimes I think of it this way.

I have been adopted by God into his family.
If I have been adopted that means I belonged to a different family, or am an orphan.

Having been adopted by God then he is now my Father.
Yet I bring with me the ways of my old family.
Now God teaches me new ways, a new way of living.
He is my dad and I'm his kid. That happened the minute saved me and pulled me out of my old family.
What happens if the adopted kid runs away and rejoins their old family of drug abusers and pimps because their new brothers and sisters reject them?
 
E

eternally-gratefull

Guest
What happens if the adopted kid runs away and rejoins their old family of drug abusers and pimps because their new brothers and sisters reject them?
Are they still not the adoptive parents kid?
 

BillG

Senior Member
Feb 15, 2017
9,020
4,439
113
i always like to use an example,

if if I am serving the poor, I give lots of money, I help serve food and help provide shelter, I am doing something God has asked me to do, so basically, it should be a good work,

however, let's look at it closely,

if I am doing it hoping to please God and by it and other works hoping it will get me into heaven, it is a bloody rag which will be rejected by God,

if i am saved, and I do it because God blessed me with money to serve, time to serve and the freedoms to serve others, so I want to share what God has given to me and serve others, it is considered a work and will be rewarded (although I did not do it nor would I expect a reward)

If i am saved, yet I do it expecting to get praise of men, be told what a great person. Am, and to get noticed, it is a work of th flesh and will get burnt as wood hay or straw,

Does this make sense?

Makes total sense and I stand side by side with you.
Even in Jesus we can get it wrong and I'm sure this will raise a few heckles but we will get it wrong.
If we never got it wrong then there would have been no reason for Paul to write what he did.

But to me he is saying, build on the foundation of Christ, that should be your focus but if you get it wrong you are still saved.

I actually fell foul of this and I know of others who do but for a different reason than mine.

For me it was like work hard, do what you are told and if you work hard enough you are ok.
No one ever told me that Jesus was my foundation, so I built my own foundation which was me and hoped Jesus would cover that, notice I say hoped he would.

Thats what I consider works orientated gospel.

On the flip side I have know of people who go to the other extreme.
Use it as an excuse to cover sin.
 

Stunnedbygrace

Senior Member
Nov 12, 2015
9,112
823
113
I think the point being made is that you cant judge others salvation or your own based on how much fruit you bear...,God doesn't love you more or less because of good works.

.you don't do things to EARN God's love but as an expression of the love you get from God to others.

It helps people who never feel that they can measure up to the standards set to realize that God loves them where they are and as long as they try their best, then that is all God asks of them. Sometimes God asks them to stop trying so hard and rest in His love.
Ah...I think there is a fracture here...

First, I don't WANT to judge anothers salvation. I hate it when I see it being done in here (from both "sides.")
But secondly, I know my brothers and sisters by their fruit. Yes, it is imperfect in many ways, but I can see it. A burst of true humility here or there, a meekness that is woeful when any offense has been taken, even if they really didn't mean it to be taken that way and didn't walk or talk in their flesh but out of love.

We can see when someone is walking in the Spirit, in truth, in honesty, in light. We catch glimpses of our Lord in them by their fruits. I especially like to see someone begin to really start trucking along in the Spirit, bearing offenses with grace, leaving off accusations and seeking peace, not reviling back when reviled. It's like watching a baby take it's first steps. And you fret when you see them take a tumble but then you cheer when they get back up and begin to glide along again man!

But if they try to teach others, we should judge whether they are trustworthy by their fruit. They should have that consistency of walking in the Spirit without leaving off. If they don't impress me with my seeing my Lord in them, I don't take much stock in what they say really.

I don't know of any other way to know if someone is my brother or a false teacher and professor other than by their fruit. Perfection? No. Some fruits of the Spirit? Yes. Otherwise, I would have to just assume that everyone in the world is walking in the Spirit with no way to know who walks with God and who doesn't. But it's said we will know them by their fruit. Judge their salvation? No, I refuse to. Judge whether they are walking in the Spirit/abiding and whether they are trustworthy to listen to? Yes.
 
U

UnderGrace

Guest
Interesting that those who also called him Lord, Lord were cast away from.

Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?'

Matthew 7:22

He is Lord we do not make Him Lord.

Yes I agree, I don't believe all of Scripture is focused on it. I am saying, the Scriptures that specifically focus on Salvation are usually focused on calling out to Him as Lord.
 

TruthTalk

Senior Member
Jul 17, 2017
2,904
2,262
113
I think the point being made is that you cant judge others salvation or your own based on how much fruit you bear...,God doesn't love you more or less because of good works.

.you don't do things to EARN God's love but as an expression of the love you get from God to others.

It helps people who never feel that they can measure up to the standards set to realize that God loves them where they are and as long as they try their best, then that is all God asks of them. Sometimes God asks them to stop trying so hard and rest in His love.
Even if we are a raisin on the vine Jesus Love's us, and He will reward us when the awards are given out. I'd rather be a raisin in God's family than a huge mango tree and not saved. :)



Rev. 22:12 Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done.
 

Jackson123

Senior Member
Feb 6, 2014
11,769
1,371
113
i always like to use an example,

if if I am serving the poor, I give lots of money, I help serve food and help provide shelter, I am doing something God has asked me to do, so basically, it should be a good work,

however, let's look at it closely,

if I am doing it hoping to please God and by it and other works hoping it will get me into heaven, it is a bloody rag which will be rejected by God,

if i am saved, and I do it because God blessed me with money to serve, time to serve and the freedoms to serve others, so I want to share what God has given to me and serve others, it is considered a work and will be rewarded (although I did not do it nor would I expect a reward)

If i am saved, yet I do it expecting to get praise of men, be told what a great person. Am, and to get noticed, it is a work of th flesh and will get burnt as wood hay or straw,

Does this make sense?

I believe,If Holy Spirit in us, He couse us to love other, not because we able to love other with agape love, but He couse us to do so. Branch not able bear fruit of itself.

Fruit/ helping the poor is not product of us. But evident we have Holy Spirit in us.

ON the contrary, If a man confessing a Christian but not loving the poor, he ia liar and not chrostian and not save

He is not save not because salvation by work, but because he is not Christian

1 John 4:20

“If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?”
 
May 12, 2017
2,641
65
0
Interesting that those who also called him Lord, Lord were cast away from.

Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?'

Matthew 7:22

He is Lord we do not make Him Lord.
Romans 10.9-10
[SUP]9 [/SUP]that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; [SUP]10 [/SUP]for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.


[SUP]9 [/SUP]That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

[SUP]10 [/SUP]For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.



we will be waiting for the usual backpedal snicker, snort you give or maybe shows us some integrity and provide a retraction of your statements...
 
E

eternally-gratefull

Guest
Makes total sense and I stand side by side with you.
Even in Jesus we can get it wrong and I'm sure this will raise a few heckles but we will get it wrong.
If we never got it wrong then there would have been no reason for Paul to write what he did.

But to me he is saying, build on the foundation of Christ, that should be your focus but if you get it wrong you are still saved.

I actually fell foul of this and I know of others who do but for a different reason than mine.

For me it was like work hard, do what you are told and if you work hard enough you are ok.
No one ever told me that Jesus was my foundation, so I built my own foundation which was me and hoped Jesus would cover that, notice I say hoped he would.

Thats what I consider works orientated gospel.

On the flip side I have know of people who go to the other extreme.
Use it as an excuse to cover sin.
for me, it was always knowledge, learn all you can, and you will not sin. The only issue is it never worked, I still sinned, And of course, then the thing must be your not trusting God. if you did you would use the word and not sin.

Again that never worked.

What they forgot is all the rest, Prayer, Fellowship. Discipleship. Accountability partners. Serving and loving others And the most important. God loves you no matter what, He will remain faithful. and the many other things required for true sanctification (1st and formost. trusting that he who began a good work will complete it.)

That is what is missing in most traditional churches, they are all about the traditions and the things that do not work, and that's why so many non denominational churches are sprouting, because the status quo has lost its light, and is not working.
 

BillG

Senior Member
Feb 15, 2017
9,020
4,439
113
What happens if the adopted kid runs away and rejoins their old family of drug abusers and pimps because their new brothers and sisters reject them?
What do you think?
 

Stunnedbygrace

Senior Member
Nov 12, 2015
9,112
823
113
As always, I have enjoyed talking with you guys so much today! I never want to go do the things I have to do because I love talking with you! I'll sneak back tonight. :) There better be the promised sweet tea and pie or ELSE! :D
 
E

eternally-gratefull

Guest
I believe,If Holy Spirit in us, He couse us to love other, not because we able to love other with agape love, but He couse us to do so. Branch not able bear fruit of itself.

Fruit/ helping the poor is not product of us. But evident we have Holy Spirit in us.

ON the contrary, If a man confessing a Christian but not loving the poor, he ia liar and not chrostian and not save

He is not save not because salvation by work, but because he is not Christian

1 John 4:20

“If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?”


I spoke of an event, not a lifestyle..

I can serve the poor and do it out of Gods love, I can also serve the poor and expect something in return. it does not mean I do not love the poor. it means in that moment, I chose to serve self and not the poor.

Now. In the example of someone serving to save himself. your right,, He is not saved, and he does not love the poor. he is doing it for self gain, in this case, the gain is eternal life.. To keep it, to earn it or to have it.. same difference.
 
U

UnderGrace

Guest
If you mean trust as an act of faith, a singular event, than yes I agree, you are trusting the truth of what Jesus has done and said and that is saving faith/trust in the work of Christ.

Again this is separate from abiding in Christ, that is part of the dynamic relationship with Jesus after being saved.

We trust in what He says is true, from faith to faith, abiding in Him as a source of grace, love and peace.


Hmm...I find I must believe someone is telling the truth to me before I can trust them. Although I don't have such a division between the words as you do. They are necessary to remain together for me. If I have faith in you, it means I trust you. If I trust you, it means I have faith in you. If I do not trust you, I don't have faith in you. If I don't have faith in you, I don't trust you.

I am trying to figure out why it is necessary to say faith in someone and trust in someone are two different things...
 
E

eternally-gratefull

Guest
Romans 10.9-10
[SUP]9 [/SUP]that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; [SUP]10 [/SUP]for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.


[SUP]9 [/SUP]That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

[SUP]10 [/SUP]For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.



we will be waiting for the usual backpedal snicker, snort you give or maybe shows us some integrity and provide a retraction of your statements...
Those people did not confess the lord. They professed their works.

Your continued attempts to try to discredit people just gets worse.

Jesus said he NEVER KNEW THEM, please do not try to tell us that a person can be saved, And God will say he NEVER knew them..

They also practiced unrighteousness, John says that he who does this has never seen God or known him. So those people also have never known God, if they did, they would not be trying to use their works to gain entrance into heaven, they would KNOW God woul not accept them as payment.
 
U

UnderGrace

Guest
Salvation is being born again into eternal life. Jesus said this when He spoke to Nicodemus.


Being born again is a singular event but salvation is a lifetime occurrence that involves us abiding in Christ and walking with Him.

What are we being saved from if not our sin and rebellion to God?

What are we being saved for if not to abide and walk with Him?

Salvation is having an intimate loving relationship with God. Jesus died to restore that relationship.

So while I agree that being born again only happens once. Salvation is more than being born again...it is learning to walk with God and becoming mature and rooted in Christ.