Not By Works

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PJW

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Oct 6, 2017
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The truth did set us free at conversion. We were crucified with Christ. Risen in His resurrection power. Given a measure of faith to begin with though. Faith grows as we experience His faithfulness. As He answers faith to the promises that we take to Him in sometimes just a small seed. He works with whatever measure we have to bring us to the end of our faith, the results.

So our work is to believe what He tells us. Some of us stop at the words of Jesus. Has anyone moved a mountain yet?
When did the topic of this thread change to sin?
If you had faith as small as a mustard seed...
As for the sin...isn't that a "work", as per the OP?

And on the other hand, are not the exhortations and lessons and commandments given by the writers of the bible considered "works" by some participants here?
Things like repentance from sin, water baptism, belief, faith, confession, prayer, study, resisting temptation, helping the needy, etc. are all works...to some.
But the lack of even one of these "blocks" will insure your destruction at the final judgement.
 

stonesoffire

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If you had faith as small as a mustard seed...




stones: you should read about the mustard plant. It might change your thinking about the "small mustard seed".







As for the sin...isn't that a "work", as per the OP?



Stones:

I said nothing about sin. But, yes it would be the work of the old man. Apparently, sin would be the result of not reckoning oneself dead to it, don't you think? Temptation. Didn't take the way out.




And on the other hand, are not the exhortations and lessons and commandments given by the writers of the bible considered "works" by some participants here?




Stones:

2Pe 1:4 Whereby are givenunto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

This whole chapter is good to heed. Is counseling and giving wisdom. Works? Possibly because of the rhema Word to us personally.




Things like repentance from sin, water baptism, belief, faith, confession, prayer, study, resisting temptation, helping the needy, etc. are all works...to some.




stones:

yes, I know that theses are considered works to some. Not exactly though what I consider the works to be. Jesus did give instruction to the disciples right before His ascension. Some disregard.

But, anything done as to the Lord would be a good work. Not necessarily a work of Holy Spirit though.






But the lack of even one of these "blocks" will insure your destruction at the final judgement.




stones:

what scripture did you find that statement in?
 
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PJW

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Oct 6, 2017
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lighted by Jesus so yep it's darkness all right,hmm wait it's just truth!
"God is light and in Him there is no darkness at all." (1 John 1:5)
Darkness is sin, so those in sin are not in God.

This has just become silly,you believe that you have no sin anymore,that's "easy" enough to believe upon,but how about the other side of this,humbleness are we to be pitied because we humble our selves before God
Nope, as it is our duty to the One we love.

,because whom has done this before oh yeah a man after God's own heart,David a king of Israel,so David served the devil then is clearly your conclusion which is folly because though satan tempted him he still did his best for God overall.
I hope you do realize that David lived in the OT, and was not ever reborn of Godly seed?
He was a man walking in the flesh, but now we can be men walking in the Spirit.

And what of Jesus?
Is he to be known as a fool for dieing for everyone whom had sin?
I don't believe so.
He even went unto those that had many sins and healed them nonetheless was that a waste?
Not at all.
Didn't He then tell some of them..."Go and sin no more."?

Are we all supposed to be egotistical jerks that enjoy pride over meekness?
The meekness sinners exhibit is their cowering to satan.
If you imagine for a second that my labors are influenced by pride, you are wrong.
It is my love for all participants here, so they know they too can live without sin, and as it takes "work", it adheres to the OP.
An OP that says doing anything but believing shows you don't believe in "faith only salvation".
Lets ask the "faith alone" sect if any of them obey God all the time, shall we?
That is the manifestation of faith that God wants...obedience, and power over temptation.

Seeking our own strength instead of Jesus's grace to carry on.
Have you been able to resist ANY temptations "by your own power"?
Me neither, but now that I have been baptized into Christ, God manifests His power in me.

to sin again after accepting Jesus as saviour and receiving baptism makes one a servant of darkness over 1 sin?
Sinners haven't "accepted Jesus". They have accepted a false doctrine that says "it doesn't matter how you treat God or your brother...your still going to be saved".
That doctrine is a lie.

As I recall Jesus was asked the question how many times should we forgive those who wrong us,7 times?
and he replied"I tell you not 7 times but seventy times seven" which means that if Jesus our saviour would speak on forgiveness of wrongdoings(sin) then how much more does he forgive us,is 1 sin enough to tear us away from Jesus?
If you commit sin, you are a servant of sin. (John 8:34)
Jesus died for your past sins, but you advocate we keep pounding in more nails?
It is written..."For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,
And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,
If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame." (Heb 6:4-6)

no for then this would mean that Jesus is not compassionate or merciful,we could bandy words but you can't dance around facts forever you'll have to own up to truth sometime,even if God must humble you himself to do it.
Would that "truth" you reference, be the same truth Jesus said could free you from sin...in John 8:32-34?

You are actively trying to retain sin in your life, and I urge you to "turn from sin".
 

PJW

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Oct 6, 2017
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From that great and useful article...



I see that going on in here. There are those who have attained a higher, a holier, life than Apostle Paul. Or, so they say.... :rolleyes:
The seed will bear the same fruit as its Progenitor.
 

PJW

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Oct 6, 2017
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That's a good article Preacher.

If we just keep looking at Jesus like it says in the Word...looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith...hopefully we won't fall into this spirit of error.

It's good to have these debates and it helps to guard our hearts from deception by the fellowship of believers. We need each other to keep us straight.
What's your definition of "straight"?
 

PJW

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Oct 6, 2017
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Colossians 1

3We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, 4Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints, 5For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel; 6Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth: 7As ye also learned of Epaphras our dear fellowservant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ; 8Who also declared unto us your love in the Spirit.9For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 10That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; 12Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
13Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: 14In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
This is such a lovely Piece of how they pray for believers to grow and to walk worthy of the Lord.
It's a shame some don't think it necessary to be "worthy of the Lord".
 

PJW

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Oct 6, 2017
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Yep I suppose so because it is apart of judgement day,just like I think it was a parable of Jesus's of a gentile and a pharisee,the gentile admitting his sin and being forgiven his sin and the pharisee declaring a bunch of reasons that he should have forgiveness instead of confessing sin,and the same shall continue to happen,people declaring their greatness not only in works but of themselves,it's always been the same story since the beginning"make excuses to hide one's sins as if God can be fooled,and then declare how they have done right by God in order to not suffer any punishment because many believe that if they feign innocence then they can just wait until it's convenient for them to seek getting saved or they can look good to others for so many years as if God is a respector to persons.
And lo and behold we who believe that being saved is through Jesus and not boasting of works but still doing works of faith somehow aren't doing right because we don't believe in "hiding from God" yet they declare all they can that this is foolishness,thinking that once sin is taken away through Jesus that we never sin,we never say things we don't mean,how strange a thing Jesus is the way the truth and the light but perfection is more important sounds awfully familiar too,how many people have come here focusing upon 1 particular thing we supposedly must focus on above Jesus because this is the truth or that is the truth,it's like saying "be as we are because our way is perfect" instead of seek Jesus who did what no person even on this earth today can do,die willingly for those who despised him,take the keys of hell from satan,exit hell and resurrect.
Now It's strange I don't see where Jesus died for the "perfect" instead he died for the sinful,even the thief on the cross who spoke well of Jesus andand believed in him entered unto paradise being "far less than perfect" and was "humble" admitting that he was getting what he deserved and yet when he could have died in his sins,he was given paradise,not because he was perfect and deserved it but because he was "honest" had "faith" and humbled himself to Jesus.
Do sinners "humble themselves before Jesus"?
 

PJW

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Oct 6, 2017
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This whole topic and thread reminds me of what one of my teachers in school said"I've got lies and I've got truths which would you prefer"?
I prefer "truth".
Especially the "truth" that freed me from service to sin. (John 8:32-34)
Thanks be to God!
 

PJW

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Oct 6, 2017
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Okay. Because if you know to do good, and you dont do it, you are sinning. And how many of us can honestly say we always did the right thing, always helped everyone to the best of our abiltiies? No impairment of judgment ever?
If you can't say that, it is manifested that you don't love your neighbor as you love yourself.
Why do you think nobody loves their neighbor as themself?
 

PJW

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Oct 6, 2017
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Yeah.....not quite........I suggest a re-evaluation of your stance........Peter was saved, immersed and being disciple by JESUS.....your cart before the ox dogma misses the mark by about 20 light years....
Peter didn't have the Holy Ghost till the day of Pentecost.
And salvation isn't assured till the day of the final judgement.

The natural man cannot receive, understand and or spiritually judge the word of GOD...
Hence the need for rebirth.
Even before that, though, men yearn to know God, and search for the things of God.
Cornelius the centurion is a good example of that.

JESUS told PETER before the 50th day, which was the Holy Spirit taking the place of JESUS and empowering the church collectively that FLESH AND BLOOD HAD NOT taught him or instructed him in his UNDERSTANDING of WHO JESUS was......
Yet, Peter was still a "natural" man.

You should take more time and think about your stance before you post....many things disagrees with your view....
Let's be clear about what my "view" is...
I believe we can obey God all the time.
I believe that God has made a way for us to remain faithful and without offense.
If you argue against those two points, you infer that you don't believe God has the power to do this.
 

PJW

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Oct 6, 2017
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Yep and they were still trusting into their law keeping, Pharisee, I don't sin attitude......<------several on here still possess this approach and claim that they never sin.......
Who is "they"?
The ones freed from service to sin by the "truth"?
 

PJW

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Oct 6, 2017
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John is addressing believers and the context is fellowship not salvation.......wake up
Those walking in darkness have neither fellowship with God nor hope of salvation at the final judgement seat of God.
Proverbs 4:19 defines "darkness" this way..."[FONT=&quot]The way of the wicked is as darkness:"
Darkness is sin.[/FONT]
 

PJW

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Oct 6, 2017
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Jesus was the one who said it and USED the word MANY<--plenteous in number...so who do you think he is talking about when he NAMES specific claims by these people who CLAIM to know him

a. WORKS
b. Casting out demons
c. Foretelling the future

MOST so called Christian religions push one or all of the above while claiming to know JESUS
And yet He specifically mentioned "iniquity".
Why didn't that even get mentioned in your a. b. c.s?