Not By Works
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Yes, of course. Haters pounce on anything they can 
============================================
and that's to our advantage, big-time': could there be an end to Jesus' refining process?
'haters', they're mostly always toasting their own toast...
we must embrace them..,when it will mostly profit them instead of us...'embracing forgivness'...a very Godly trait...
'hard learned for many of us'...along and along as we grow and go forward, ever towards our
SAVIOUR...
just learn to Love our OWN, Jesus' creations, US', - it won't happen for many, until the 2nd. Resurrection,
we see every day
just how much satan's influence is creating havoc, all over the world!!!
Let's pray, brothers and sisters, kneel, bow before our Maker/Creator, in humility and thankfulness,,,
for here 'we are', witnesses, to today and tomorrow,..witnesses, partakers, of what the prophets
spoke in certain ears...
P
It's true that we are saved not by our works but only by His grace so that no one can boast.
After salvation, we should do good works, knowing that everything we do, we do it for the Lord. Part of the good works that we should do is to help others, by helping and loving others, by doing this, we are showing them who Jesus really is. As Christians we are His representatives here on earth, His hands and feet. Whatever we do, we do for His glory.
God bless.
After salvation, we should do good works, knowing that everything we do, we do it for the Lord. Part of the good works that we should do is to help others, by helping and loving others, by doing this, we are showing them who Jesus really is. As Christians we are His representatives here on earth, His hands and feet. Whatever we do, we do for His glory.
God bless.
You say:
Bible states:
3 And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.
2 Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.
3 Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.
4 Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.
5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.
6 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
7 And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;
8 I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.
9 Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.
10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.
11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.
12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.
So much instruction that refutes what you say.
Partaking in the works of the law of Moses was not of Faith and much was written to Provoke people to remain Faithful to the Messiah and not be yoked in to bondage with the Old Testament..
So here we see that the Messiah is giving further instructions and we should listen and believe.
So while you are set in your ways others I pray will listen to the Messiah.
Bible states:
3 And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.
2 Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.
3 Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.
4 Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.
5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.
6 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
7 And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;
8 I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.
9 Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.
10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.
11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.
12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.
So much instruction that refutes what you say.
Partaking in the works of the law of Moses was not of Faith and much was written to Provoke people to remain Faithful to the Messiah and not be yoked in to bondage with the Old Testament..
So here we see that the Messiah is giving further instructions and we should listen and believe.
So while you are set in your ways others I pray will listen to the Messiah.
I'll address one of the verses you posted.
Just so you don't think I'm ignoring verses in the Bible.
But before I do that, let me equally add that while there are a few Scriptures like you posted, there are far far more for eternal security that you have not posted.
Now let's analyze 1 Co 15:2 together. And how this is received will determine if I take the time to do anymore.
First off let's begin at 1 Co 15 and ask ourselves is Paul saying if we don't "continue to believe" we are saved that we will lose our salvation?
Let's crack open 1 Corinthians 15!
1Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.
Here we see Paul saying, I am reminding you of the gospel I preached to you. His goal at the outset is to say hey... do you remember the gospel *I, Paul* your father in the faith, preached do you?? You know the one you received and are being saved by... if you hold fast to the word *I* preached to you... unless you believed in vain? Let's hope together that Paul explains what "believing in vain" is because that's some serious stuff!
But back to Corinthians Chapter 15.
Paul's focus here is on the gospel that he gave them. And what the true gospel is. Not opening up a theological can of worms saying, hey keep believing are you're going to burn in hell forever. Because if Paul WAS opening up this can of worms, you better believe he would spend a couple chapters on it. Let's see what he says next to see what Paul's focus is.
Moving on to the next verse...
3For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, 5and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.
Notice with me, that Paul begins to stress again, what *I* delivered to you. It appears someone is trying to give ANOTHER gospel! Because Paul feels the need to stress the foundational components again... Christ died for our sins, he was buried, he was raised, and there was proof of his raising by the disciples that saw Him.
It appears Paul is stressing the word that they need to hold fast to, is the word *Paul* gave them. And not this OTHER gospel... Well, if that's the case I'm sure Paul will go further into what gospel means... Let's find out together.
10But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.
Here we Paul once again using the word, "in vain." Ahh I love Paul he always explains himself. What does Paul say here? He says BY THE GRACE of God, He is what he is (identity) and His grace toward me was not in vain. In fact, Paul worked harder than any (proving his apostleship and thus his gospel), but why did Paul work so hard? Because he kept believing? No but because the GRACE of God was in him to work harder than anyone.
Whoa, hold the phone Paul. Are you saying that you, the apostle of apostles, the 2/3 writer of the New Testament, who have went through beatings, lashes, fought off wild beasts, the one brought before Kings, are you truly saying, that it was GRACE that made you a harder worker than any?? Wow, that sounds like heresy to some believers now a-days. Grace actually empowered him and he gave all the credit to God's grace in him, to outwork every single other disciple. Write that down on the fridge.
But I digress let's move to the next verse...
11Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.
Paul is once again going back to the word that they need to hold fast to. The one he preached or the other disciples, the word they FIRST believed.
I think you're getting the picture of what it means to hold fast to the word, but I'll go through one more little chunk in Chapter 15.
12Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 14And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. 15We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. 16For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. 17And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. 18Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19If in Christ we have hopein this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.
Notice what believed in vain is:
- How can you say there is no resurrection from the dead?
- Christ wasn't raised if not.
- If Christ wasn't raised then OUR PREACHING is VAIN and your FAITH IS VAIN.
Glory of glories, here is Paul once again explaining what holding fast to the word, *he* preached looks like or else they believed in vain.
Let me sum it up: If you don't believe Jesus is raised from the dead. Why would you be raised from the dead? And if we're not getting raised from the dead, then this life is a bummer for us, look at all the persecution we're facing to give you this gospel! Do you really not believing there is life after this? Then you my friends have believed in vain. Aka, not believed the true gospel.
But Paul sums himself here:
58Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.
Paul isn't writing this so they question their salvation as many use. He's writing this so they will know their labor ISN'T in vain. And that they will abound in every good works of the Lord as beloved brothers.
He writes for them to not believe in vain, so they would realize that there is life after this life, and to continue on in every good work by the GRACE of God.
One thing we must notice is that GRACE many times is released through Scripture into the readers who are open to it. This is why we see Paul continually pray that the GRACE of God would be multiplied to them. Paul is literally empowering readers here to follow the Lord because of the GRACE that he himself walks in.
So let's hold fast to the gospel Paul gave which is that because Christ was risen so will WE be risen. We ARE reborn in Christ now. New Creations, BE-LOVED of the Son, and we are partakers of Christ.
Yes if we "hold fast" this reality will be seen through our lives, but this isn't a "mental belief" but a spiritual result that we have already received. We HAVE passed from death into life - unless you have believed in vain?
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Mag,
we have to learn and obey, Jesus' ways....,
it's our 'job'...
we have to 'forgive', immediately, before moving-on...
Mag,
we have to learn and obey, Jesus' ways....,
it's our 'job'...
we have to 'forgive', immediately, before moving-on...
There are times when I feel like a hypocrite posting certain scriptures, and I just don't post anything. Maybe others feel the same way? Or is it just me?
So it's hard to believe some embrace sinless perfectionism. Unless of course they're not getting any convictions at all, in which case they're in the same group as the lost. There is a scripture in 1 John that says if we say we have no sin then we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.
So it's hard to believe some embrace sinless perfectionism. Unless of course they're not getting any convictions at all, in which case they're in the same group as the lost. There is a scripture in 1 John that says if we say we have no sin then we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.
As I see it... the IF is not confirmation that a true believer will fall away, it was used as an example in this case. The focus seems to be more on the fact that it's not possible for a person to be born again, unborn, born again, etc, etc. Because we're born again one time, not multiple times. We have eternal life.
When you look at the works based system mentioned in Hebrews, it speaks of the priests that stand ministering daily, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices that can never take away sins. History does repeat itself because we see this happening today. Actually, whenever I read that scripture I get the visual of priests with their eucharist wafers, which they class as a non bloody sacrifice/offering.
So because it's only through Jesus' ONE perfect sacrifice that we can be saved, there is no back and forth with salvation. No saved, lost, saved, lost. This makes a mockery of His perfect sacrifice on the cross and I believe puts Him to open shame.
If the lost reject this one way of salvation, there is no other way for them to be saved. Because Jesus is the only way.
When you look at the works based system mentioned in Hebrews, it speaks of the priests that stand ministering daily, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices that can never take away sins. History does repeat itself because we see this happening today. Actually, whenever I read that scripture I get the visual of priests with their eucharist wafers, which they class as a non bloody sacrifice/offering.
So because it's only through Jesus' ONE perfect sacrifice that we can be saved, there is no back and forth with salvation. No saved, lost, saved, lost. This makes a mockery of His perfect sacrifice on the cross and I believe puts Him to open shame.
If the lost reject this one way of salvation, there is no other way for them to be saved. Because Jesus is the only way.
There are a mix of wheat and tares in the churches.
Connection to this scripture...
1 John 2:19-21: "They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us. But you (believers) have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things. I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and that no lie is of the truth"
Connection to this scripture...
1 John 2:19-21: "They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us. But you (believers) have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things. I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and that no lie is of the truth"
Ephesians 2
7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
The New Covenant of Our Gracious and kind GOD.
7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
The New Covenant of Our Gracious and kind GOD.
Hebrews 12
[TABLE="class: passage-cols"]
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[TD="class: passage-col col-xs-12 first last"]Hebrews 12King James Version (KJV)
12 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.
4 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.
5 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:
6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?
----------------
For those who are patiently running the race looking to the Lord who is the author and finisher of our Faith.
Some believe they are at the finish line with their crown of life... and that is their belief.
But for those of us that are striving and labouring in love let us continue hearing and doing what the Lord instructs us to do.
Verses used to accuse you of working for salvation.. and statements of not Trusting GOD to complete what He started are to be set aside.
Because while you have the Lord in front of you and following Him on the path of Righteousness you are being Faithful and are most certainly Trusting GOD.
[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
[TABLE="class: passage-cols"]
[TR]
[TD="class: passage-col col-xs-12 first last"]Hebrews 12King James Version (KJV)
12 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.
4 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.
5 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:
6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?
----------------
For those who are patiently running the race looking to the Lord who is the author and finisher of our Faith.
Some believe they are at the finish line with their crown of life... and that is their belief.
But for those of us that are striving and labouring in love let us continue hearing and doing what the Lord instructs us to do.
Verses used to accuse you of working for salvation.. and statements of not Trusting GOD to complete what He started are to be set aside.
Because while you have the Lord in front of you and following Him on the path of Righteousness you are being Faithful and are most certainly Trusting GOD.
[/TD]
[/TR]
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