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.

mailmandan

Senior Member
Apr 7, 2014
25,460
13,399
113
58
Hi Ben...I am sure time and time again it has been said to you that good works will follow , good works that God has planned for us to do , but these good works have absolutely nothing to do with being saved...

Ephesians 2:8-9 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—9 not by works, so that no one can boast...

Ben , if you do not understand that Scripture , then this is why you are missing it , works follow but do not save...xox...
Amen! Good works are the fruit of salvation but never the root of it. Faith is the root of salvation and good works are the fruit. No fruit at all demonstrates there is no root. All genuine believers are fruitful, but not all are equally fruitful.
 

Seohce

Senior Member
Jul 15, 2016
1,386
54
48
John 15:18-25 The World Hates the Disciples “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. Remember the words I spoke to you: ‘No servant is greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the One who sent me. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin. Now, however, they have no excuse for their sin. He who hates me hates my Father as well. If I had not done among them what no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin. But now they have seen these miracles, and yet they have hated both me and my Father. But this is to fulfill what is written in their Law: ‘They hated me without reason.’

John 12:42-50 Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not confess their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; for they loved praise from men more than praise from God. Then Jesus cried out, “When a man believes in me, he does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me. When he looks at me, he sees the one who sent me. I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness. “As for the person who hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge him. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save it. There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; that very word which I spoke will condemn him at the last day. For I did not speak of my own accord, but the Father who sent me commanded me what to say and how to say it. I know that his command leads to eternal life. So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say.”

Matthew 12:33-37 “Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit. You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”

WHY DO YOU CURSE AND MOCK GOD???
 

Seohce

Senior Member
Jul 15, 2016
1,386
54
48
John 3:21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God.”

2 Corinthians 4:2 Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by SETTING FORTH THE TRUTH PLAINLY we commend ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.

2 Timothy 3:12-17 In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil men and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

2 Timothy 2:25 Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth,

1 Corinthians 4:4-7 My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me. Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God. Now, brothers, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us the meaning of the saying, “Do not go beyond what is written.” Then you will not take pride in one man over against another. For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?

1 Peter 2:1-12 Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good. As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him— you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For in Scripture it says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.” Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, “The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone,” and, “A stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall.” They stumble because they disobey the message—which is also what they were destined for. But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.

Romans 16:17-20 I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people. Everyone has heard about your obedience, so I am full of joy over you; but I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil. The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.
 

VCO

Senior Member
Oct 14, 2013
11,995
4,615
113
Has anyone told benhur what his lack of understanding really is?


1 Corinthians 2:14 (NIV)
[SUP]14 [/SUP] The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.
 

Zmouth

Senior Member
Nov 21, 2012
3,391
134
63
Has anyone told benhur what his lack of understanding really is?


1 Corinthians 2:14 (NIV)
[SUP]14 [/SUP] The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.
Actually a lie that is spoken without words is heard by nobody.

So if the flesh without the spirit is dead, literally dead an in corpse, then if God is a Spirit then what is the Spirit of Spirit
 

VCO

Senior Member
Oct 14, 2013
11,995
4,615
113
Actually a lie that is spoken without words is heard by nobody.

So if the flesh without the spirit is dead, literally dead an in corpse, then if God is a Spirit then what is the Spirit of Spirit

Born Again! We are made in HIS IMAGE, in that we are an example of what a Trinity is!

How Three Parts, can make up a WHOLE human being, each having a different function!

Every man is made up of Body, Soul, and a Human Spirit. People before they are Born

Again, are born at Natural Birth with a Dead Spirit, which functions but it is DEAD,

because it has a Sin Nature, inherited from ADAM. Only when you have that born again

experience, will that human spirit be birthed into ETERNAL LIFE. You think it is all

foolishness don't you? Until you come to a deep remorse over your SINFULNESS,

and Receive Jesus Christ, out of LOVE FOR HIM, as LORD, meaning MASTER;

will you be able to Understand.


1 Corinthians 2:6-16 (NIV)
[SUP]6 [/SUP] We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing.
[SUP]7 [/SUP] No, we speak of God's secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began.
[SUP]8 [/SUP] None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
[SUP]9 [/SUP] However, as it is written: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him"--
[SUP]10 [/SUP] but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.
[SUP]11 [/SUP] For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man's spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.
[SUP]12 [/SUP] We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us.
[SUP]13 [/SUP] This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words.
[SUP]14 [/SUP] The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.
[SUP]15 [/SUP] The spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man's judgment:
[SUP]16 [/SUP] "For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him?" But we have the mind of Christ.


1 Thessalonians 5:23 (HCSB)
[SUP]23 [/SUP] Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely. And may your spirit, soul, and body be kept sound and blameless for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.


John 3:5-7 (HCSB)
[SUP]5 [/SUP] Jesus answered, “I assure you: Unless someone is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
[SUP]6 [/SUP] Whatever is born of the flesh is flesh, and whatever is born of the Spirit is spirit.
[SUP]7 [/SUP] Do not be amazed that I told you that you must be born again.
 
Dec 12, 2013
46,515
20,401
113
Of course Jesus has a monopoly on grace. I did not say otherwise. What I said was gracers do not hold a monopoly on the 'grace doctrine'. That is different than saying gracers do not hold a monopoly on grace. We both know that Jesus holds the monopoly on grace.

Many Christian denominations have different 'grace doctrines'. Your little group on this forum is just a few people with a view on how faith and grace works in salvation, so you do not hold a monopoly on 'grace doctrine'. Hope that helps to clarify.
Embellish with one micro gram of work, law keeping or religious hoop jumping = no longer grace and a false dogma with no power to save!
 

Seohce

Senior Member
Jul 15, 2016
1,386
54
48
Isaiah 5:20-24 Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter. Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and clever in their own sight. Woe to those who are heroes at drinking wine and champions at mixing drinks, who acquit the guilty for a bribe, but deny justice to the innocent. Therefore, as tongues of fire lick up straw and as dry grass sinks down in the flames, so their roots will decay and their flowers blow away like dust; for hthey have rejected the law of the Lord Almighty and spurned the word of the Holy One of Israel.

1 John 2:3-6 We know that we have come to know him if we OBEY his commands. The man who says, “I know him,” but DOES NOT DO what he commands is a LIAR, and the truth is not in him. But if anyone OBEYS HIS WORD, God’s LOVE is truly made COMPLETE in him. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever CLAIMS to live in him must WALK as Jesus did.

2 John 1:4-11 It has given me great joy to find some of your children WALKING IN THE TRUTH, just as the Father commanded us. And now, dear lady, I am not writing you a new command but one we have had from the beginning. I ask that we LOVE one another. And this is love: that we WALK IN OBEDIENCE TO HIS COMMANDS. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you WALK IN LOVE. Many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is THE DECEIVER AND THE ANTICHRIST. Watch out that you do not lose what you have WORKED FOR, but that you may be rewarded fully. Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take him into your house or welcome him. Anyone who welcomes him shares in his wicked work.

John 14:15 “If you love me, you will OBEY WHAT I COMMAND.

John 14:15,21-24 “Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him.” Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, “But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?” Jesus replied, “If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.

WHY DO YOU CALL ME LORD, LORD AND DO NOT DO WHAT I SAY? (john 6:46)

Matthew 25:26-30,41-46 “His master replied, ‘You WICKED, LAZY SERVANT! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest. “‘Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, INTO THE ETERNAL FIRE prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’ “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ “He will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ “Then they will go away to ETERNAL PUNISHMENT, but the RIGHTEOUS TO ETERNAL LIFE.”

Galatians 6:7-8 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.
 
Last edited:

Endoscopy

Senior Member
Oct 13, 2017
4,028
400
83
Sometimes I wonder if people can discern their thoughts and beliefs from what is actually written in the Bible?
The problem is there are differences of opinion about the meaning of issues in the scripture. The early church had this issue. To seperate heretical issues from legitimate differences the Roman Creed was created in the 200s and updated to the Apostles Creed by 390. That Creed is a doctrinal statement defining who is and isn't a Christian. Every issue outside that is agree to disagree. Method of baptism for example.
 

Endoscopy

Senior Member
Oct 13, 2017
4,028
400
83
Isaiah 5:20-24 Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter. Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and clever in their own sight. Woe to those who are heroes at drinking wine and champions at mixing drinks, who acquit the guilty for a bribe, but deny justice to the innocent. Therefore, as tongues of fire lick up straw and as dry grass sinks down in the flames, so their roots will decay and their flowers blow away like dust; for hthey have rejected the law of the Lord Almighty and spurned the word of the Holy One of Israel.

1 John 2:3-6 We know that we have come to know him if we OBEY his commands. The man who says, “I know him,” but DOES NOT DO what he commands is a LIAR, and the truth is not in him. But if anyone OBEYS HIS WORD, God’s LOVE is truly made COMPLETE in him. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever CLAIMS to live in him must WALK as Jesus did.

2 John 1:4-11 It has given me great joy to find some of your children WALKING IN THE TRUTH, just as the Father commanded us. And now, dear lady, I am not writing you a new command but one we have had from the beginning. I ask that we LOVE one another. And this is love: that we WALK IN OBEDIENCE TO HIS COMMANDS. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you WALK IN LOVE. Many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is THE DECEIVER AND THE ANTICHRIST. Watch out that you do not lose what you have WORKED FOR, but that you may be rewarded fully. Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take him into your house or welcome him. Anyone who welcomes him shares in his wicked work.

John 14:15 “If you love me, you will OBEY WHAT I COMMAND.

John 14:15,21-24 “Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him.” Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, “But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?” Jesus replied, “If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.

WHY DO YOU CALL ME LORD, LORD AND DO NOT DO WHAT I SAY? (john 6:46)

Matthew 25:26-30,41-46 “His master replied, ‘You WICKED, LAZY SERVANT! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest. “‘Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, INTO THE ETERNAL FIRE prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’ “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ “He will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ “Then they will go away to ETERNAL PUNISHMENT, but the RIGHTEOUS TO ETERNAL LIFE.”

Galatians 6:7-8 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.
The law is the standard we all fail to adhere to. Paul complained that while in his mind he desired to keep the law his sin nature caused him to fail. All of us live with that problem. If anyone thinks they can keep the law here it is.

In addition to the 10 commandments there are the laws scattered through the Torah.

List of the 613 laws in the Torah
All 613 Commandments in the Old Testament Law of Moses

Discussion about the 613 laws in the Torah
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/613_commandments
 

mailmandan

Senior Member
Apr 7, 2014
25,460
13,399
113
58
Matthew 25:26-30,41-46 “His master replied, ‘You WICKED, LAZY SERVANT! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest. “‘Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
So you believe the wicked, lazy, worthless servant was saved? The talents represent monetary value and are distibuted according to ability (verse 15). The requirement is to invest in Christ. The first two servants deposited their money with the bankers (Matthew 25:27) but the third servant buried his money in the ground (verse 25). The third servant had been given abilities and the opportunity to believe and bear fruit in accordance, but had chosen to reject it.

The fact that the latter man in this parable is called wicked, lazy and worthless (Matthew 25:30) who is cast out into outer darkness, certainly indicates that he was not a true disciple of the master. The idea of this illustrative parable is that all true believers will produce fruit in varying degress. All believers are fruitful, but not all are equally fruitful (Matthew 13:23). Those who produce no results are not truly converted. The man’s destiny also shows that he is a lost man. He is cast into outer darkness, which is a description of hell. Does this passage actually say that this so-called servant was saved and lost his salvation or is that your preconceived belief?

This man's characterization of the master maligns him as a cruel and ruthless opportunist, "reaping and gathering" what he had no right to claim as his own. This slothful so-called servant does not represent a genuine believer, for it is obvious that this man had no true knowledge of the master. Two of these servants were children of God, but not the third. Children of God are not cast out into outer darkness. The fact that this man is called a "servant" does not mean necessarily that he is saved. The Jews are called the Lord’s servants, but they were NOT all saved (Isaiah 43:10).

In Matthew 8:12 we read: But the "children/subjects of the kingdom" will be cast out into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Being "children/subjects of the kingdom" did not mean they were saved. This term refers to those to whom the kingdom rightfully belongs. The natural claim to that kingdom had been given to the JEWS. Matthew 25 is being addressed to JEWS. These were children of the kingdom only in an external sense just as this third servant was a servant to his master only in an external sense.

Galatians 6:7-8 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.
The one who is continuously (Greek present tense) sowing to his own corrupt, sinful nature which is opposed to God and unrenewed by the Holy Spirit shall of the flesh reap corruption. Our life here is sowing of one kind or another. But he who sows to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap everlasting life. In opposition to corruption, eternal life is produced by the Holy Spirit in those who put their faith (belief, trust, reliance) in Jesus Christ for salvation.
 

Rosemaryx

Senior Member
May 3, 2017
3,754
4,119
113
63
I believe that, thank you. My only suggestion is that if good works do not follow, then you were not saved in the first place. Am I correct about that?
Hi Ben...When we are born again , we all have the Holy Spirit in us...We can do many good works off our own back , but that is from the flesh , then we can do many good works when we are led by the Holy Spirit...Now there are able people like you and I that can do many works for the Lord in and out of season , and there are people who are born again and are bed bound , wheelchair bound , depressed , mentally ill , physically disabled , deaf , dumb , blind that do no works but are still saved...

It is God alone who leads us to do His works , He alone knows those of us who are capable of certain things we can and can not do...Some people are called to travel the world and go to the other side of the earth to preach the good news , my role I believe is to be a good example to my children , my children's children and my great grand children...

God looks at our hearts , when we have the Love of God poured in our hearts , then of coarse we will act according to God`s Will , but if I chose to sit on my backside all day and do nothing , does that mean I become unsaved , to be honest , I just do not get how people think works are added to salvation...Works follow we know that , some seasons nothing , some seasons plenty , how many ?...xox...
 

Seohce

Senior Member
Jul 15, 2016
1,386
54
48
Matthew 7:15-23 “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. by their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, BY THEIR FRUIT YOU WILL RECOGNIZE THEM. “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 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 perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

Romans 11:17-22 If some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root, do not boast over those branches. If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you. You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in.” Granted. But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but be afraid. For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either. Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, PROVIDED THAT YOU CONTINUE in his kindness. Otherwise, YOU ALSO WILL BE CUT OFF.

James 2:26 As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

2 Peter 2:4-12 For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them into gloomy dungeons to be held for judgment; if he did not spare the ancient world when he brought the flood on its ungodly people, but protected Noah, a preacher of righteousness, and seven others; if he condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah by burning them to ashes, and made them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly; and if he rescued Lot, a righteous man, who was distressed by the filthy lives of lawless men (for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard)— if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue godly men from trials and to hold the unrighteous for the day of judgment, while continuing their punishment. This is especially true of those who follow the corrupt desire of the sinful nature and despise authority. Bold and arrogant, these men are not afraid to slander celestial beings; yet even angels, although they are stronger and more powerful, do not bring slanderous accusations against such beings in the presence of the Lord. But these men blaspheme in matters they do not understand. They are like brute beasts, creatures of instinct, born only to be caught and destroyed, and like beasts they too will perish.

Isaiah 5:24 ...for they have rejected the law of the Lord Almighty and spurned the word of the Holy One of Israel.

GOD CANNOT BE MOCKED
...WHAT YOU SOW IS WHAT YOU REAP.

Romans 3:3-4 What if some did not have faith? Will their lack of faith nullify God’s faithfulness? Not at all! Let God be true, and every man a liar. As it is written: “So that you may be proved right when you speak and prevail when you judge.”
 
Last edited:

Seohce

Senior Member
Jul 15, 2016
1,386
54
48
dcon said;

Take 1 second and actually think about and ponder what this thread is about.....serious.....it is about HOW ONE IS SAVED not WHAT THEY DO AFTER THEY ARE SAVED.....it IS FAITH ALONE THAT SAVES.....end of story........!

ElAmor said:

To get this over with, i want to ask dcon “HOW IS ONE SAVED"?

the bible tells us about it this way;

Romans 10:8-18 But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: THAT IF YOU CONFESS WITH YOUR MOUTH, “JESUS IS LORD,” AND BELIEVE IN YOUR HEART THAT GOD RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD, YOU WILL BE SAVED. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. As the Scripture says, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.” For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And HOW CAN THEY BELIEVE in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear WITHOUT SOMEONE PREACHING TO THEM? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” But not all the Israelites accepted the good news. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our message?” Consequently, FAITH COMES FROM HEARING THE MESSAGE, and the message is heard through the word of Christ. But I ask: Did they not hear? Of course they did: “Their voice has gone out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.”

It is clear that PREACHING is a WORK necessary for one to BELIEVE and have FAITH and therefore be SAVED.

Another thing we need to notice is that WITH THE HEART WE BELIEVE AND ARE JUSTIFIED and WITH OUR MOUTH WE CONFESS AND ARE SAVED.

Believe and confess are two different words with different meaning, the same as justified and saved.

Romans 10 clearly proves that Salvation is not through Faith ALONE.

BELIEF,, CONFESSION, REPENTANCE, PREACHING, BAPTISM, OBEDIENCE , FAITH, HOPE, LOVE, WISDOM, HOLINESS, RIGHTEOUSNESS, GOOD WORKS, SERVICE, WORSHIP ETC. ARE ALL WORKS OF SALVATION THAT THE BODY OF CHRIST POSSESS AND DO FOR THE HONOR AND GLORY AND PRAISE OF GOD OUR FATHER AND HIS ONLY SON JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD AND SAVIOR.

Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

IF ONE CLAIMS TO HAVE RECEIVED THE HOLY SPIRIT THROUGH FAITH, (gal 3:14) AND THEN SAY THAT HIS/HER FAITH ALONE SAVED HIM/HER AND THAT WITHOUT WORKS, DOESN’T HE/SHE REJECTS AND TRAMPLES UNDER FOOT THE SON OF GOD AND INSULTS THE SPIRIT OF GRACE?

Hebrews 10:28-29 Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. How much more severely do you think a man deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God under foot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace?

IF THE WORKS OF GOD WHO IS LOVE (1john 4:8 & 16) THE SON WHO IS TRUTH (john 14:6) AND THE HOLY SPIRIT WHO IS THE POWER (acts 1:8) HAVE NO POWER TO SAVE AND EVEN OBEDIENCE TO THESE WORKS IS REJECTED BY SAYING THAT FAITH “ALONE” SAVES VOID OF WORKS, ARE YOU NOT A LIAR AND THE TRUTH IS NOT IN YOU?

1 John 2:3-6 We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands. The man who says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But if anyone obeys his word, God’s love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.

I CAN CLAIM THAT I HAVE FAITH AND I AM SAVED FOREVER BUT WITHOUT “LOVE”, I AM NOTHING AND I AM NOT WORTHY OF GOD’S LOVE.

2 John 1:4-11 It has given me great joy to find some of your children WALKING IN THE TRUTH, just as the Father commanded us. And now, dear lady, I am not writing you a new command but one we have had from the beginning. I ask that we love one another. And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love. Many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist. Watch out that you do not lose what you have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully. Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take him into your house or welcome him. Anyone who welcomes him shares in his wicked work.

Isaiah 5:20-24 Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter. Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and clever in their own sight. Woe to those who are heroes at drinking wine and champions at mixing drinks, who acquit the guilty for a bribe, but deny justice to the innocent. Therefore, as tongues of fire lick up straw and as dry grass sinks down in the flames, so their roots will decay and their flowers blow away like dust; for they have rejected the law of the Lord Almighty and spurned the word of the Holy One of Israel.

EVEN DEVILS BELIEVE...
 

Katy-follower

Senior Member
Jun 25, 2011
2,719
155
63
In James 2:19, we see that the demons believe "mental assent" that "there is one God" but they do not believe/entrust their spiritual well being to Christ; have faith/reliance upon Christ for salvation.

In other words, they do not believe on the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 16:31) and are not saved. *Their trust and reliance is in Satan, as demonstrated by their rebellion in heaven and continuous evil works.
I agree with your point, and just to add that there is no plan of salvation for the fallen angels. Interesting too is how God refers to the angels who stayed as being His elect angels.

There will be many people on judgment day saying "Lord, Lord" who "believed" and called themselves christians, but they never had faith in Jesus alone for salvation. They were always trying to add something to the cross.

They were still IN Adam... never made alive in Christ.
 

Katy-follower

Senior Member
Jun 25, 2011
2,719
155
63
I've noticed that among those who believe we can lose our salvation.... many of them (if not all) do not believe that there are tares among the wheat in the church congregations. When you quote the scriptures of those who "come out from among us but are not of us" they claim that these people are believers who have just "stopped believing" and now lose their salvation. And some of us have also noticed that they will claim those people on judgment day (who say "Lord, Lord") are also believers who lost their salvation, despite the fact it's evident that Jesus never knew them.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but this is what I've noticed. Never acknowledging tares among the wheat, but always quick to say a believer can still be condemned and lose what was given to us as a gift. Why is it difficult to accept that those who are born of the Spirit are no longer enemies.

Romans 5:8-11: "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation"
 

Endoscopy

Senior Member
Oct 13, 2017
4,028
400
83
Dcon keeps talking about saved by grace through faith. He keeps ignoring that faith without works is dead. Works therefore is a require result of faith!
No works no faith.
Jesus said we are known by our works. It is the good fruit. If we have bad fruit (works) then we are of Satan. This is how we are to discern the wolves among the sheep. Ministers never telling the gospel message, those promoting big bang evolution, and any denial of any the truth in the Bible for instance! I'm not talking about differences of opinion but total rejection of that part of the Bible.
 

benhur

Senior Member
Feb 8, 2018
1,534
121
63
Just a note to those who believe works save us. Unbelievers do good works sometimes, even better works than believers. So, how can it be that only works save our souls?

God has a plan for His children and special works for them to accomplish, which He equips them with the ability to do so
I am not sure how you can say that there are those who believe works save us. Nobody believes that. But I will say that if you know unbelievers that do more good works than the faith-filled believers, then I would assess my faith.
 

benhur

Senior Member
Feb 8, 2018
1,534
121
63
Sometimes I wonder if people can discern their thoughts and beliefs from what is actually written in the Bible?
Do you believe this: If you do not forgive all men their trespasses against you, your God will not forgive your trespasses against Him. No forgiveness of sin, no eternal life.
 

benhur

Senior Member
Feb 8, 2018
1,534
121
63
How many good works are required, Ben?
Paul tells us this:
[h=1]Galatians 6:9 King James Version (KJV)[/h][FONT=&quot]9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

The words 'well doing' are other words for 'good works'. So I would be less focused on how many good works must be done, (which lends itself to the law of Moses) and focus more on not being weary of doing good works in the name of Jesus Christ and for the love of his needy people and for the love and faith you have for Jesus Christ.

Remenber live/vibrant faith is always accompanied by all good works in the love of Jesus.[/FONT]