Not By Works

[GodsGrace101]

Guys i want to ask this from all of you reading this:

Do you LIKE doing righteousness? Do you like loving your enemies? Do you like turning the other cheek?

I heard in a sermon that if not, you've never been born again!

Well unfortunately for someone like me, the answer to all those questions is an honest NO. I absolutely hate turning the other cheek when someone offends me. i'd like to tell them how it is, and if they slap me literally, i'd like to KO them.

Over all, listening through that sermon, just made me feel like an unsaved devil, really. Its like, all the qualities that a born again Christian SHOULD HAVE, i do by the skin of my teeth (if thats what the saying was, i forgot the english proverb).

I'll create a fake situation: someone offends me, I wont say anything back to them, and i'll ask God to bless them in prayer, BUT in the mean while im in my mind cussing them out constantly. Then I ask God to forgive me for that, then the SECOND i've said amen, i think about the same things again. IT IS FRUSTRATING TO SAY THE LEAST. I do believe in Jesus and that He shed His blood on the cross for my sins and that its the only payment for my sins......

I dont know if its the STREEEETS that i come from, where i've learned all the wrong things and molded my thinking wrongly, but shouldnt God take care of that for saved people? Make it a JOY to be do righteousness? Instead of a pain!??

Can someone answer my questions honestly. Tell me how it is. PS: i dont believe this is derailing thread, SINCE its related to being born again.

Mark 7:6 He replied, “Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written: “ ‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.

IS MY HEART FAR FROM THE LORD??

Matthew 23:27-28
"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.

Am i full of hypocrisy and wickedness on the inside???

Here's what I believe to be true:
Those that worry about their salvation are saved.
Those that don't care about their salvation, don't worry about it. Like atheists, for instance. They don't go around worrying about whether or not they're saved.
Only SAVED persons worry they may not really be saved.
John 3:16

As for liking to do righteousness:
I've found (I'm a lot older than you) that as you walk with God, you learn more and more.
The change in us could be immediate, or it may take some time.
Some small changes will most probably happen immediately, but some will take longer.
For instance,,, I didn't understand about forgiveness till just about 10 years ago, and I've been Christian a really long time, and studying too. We could get into this more if you want to.
We just can't know everything all at once, but God is patient and loving with us.
2 Peter 3:9

As to the other cheek:
What your pastor was saying, is NOT what Jesus was saying. I could also get into this.
Jesus never said to stand around and take it. He said to be gentle as doves and wise as serpents.
He got mad at things just like we do...a righteous mad. Nothing wrong with that. When we see sin we SHOULD be mad...if someone attacks us, it's like the enemy attacking us....we SHOULD be upset. The devil scours the earth, seeking whom he will devour. We should stand up to him.

Loving our enemies.
What is love anyway?
Is it just a feeling? No.
It's not doing harm to them.
It's helping them if necessary.
It's praying for their soul.
If they give us too much grief,,,it's even OK to keep them out of our life...
however, we are not to hate them or to seek vengeance.
And love is not that lovey dovey feeling we have for a loved one...
Love means doing the right thing.
Try not to cuss them out in your mind.... remember Jesus looks at the heart.
This takes patience and maybe time....but one day you WILL achieve this.
Jesus will always forgive you your shortcomings.
1 John 1:8-10
1 John 2:1


As to Mathew 23....
Are you making believe to be a Christian or do you really desire to be one?
This is what Matthew was talking about re Jesus.
The Pharisees were following the law to a T,,,,but inside they were rotten and did not love God.
The very fact that you're worried about this shows your love for God.

Philippians 4:8-9
8Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.
9The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

 

[GodsGrace101]

So wait, we agree?

If we have real, surrendering and repentant, belief in the blood and work of Jesus Christ, not vain or casual, leaning on our Lord rather than self attained mercy, then our faith and salvation are secure....

What is self-attained mercy?

The above is very true...
You did post a very important word:
surrendering

We do have to surrender ourselves to Jesus and do HIS will not OUR will.
IOW, we can't just sin all we want to and still be saved.
Some do believe this....
just keep away from that belief.

 

[Lafftur]

Answer! Indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Once that happens, Salvation by faith in education is replaced by an undeniable spiritual experience. However it may take a lifetime to unlearn the balderdash way may have been taught. Our sinful nature will die with our bodies and be left behind with our rotting flesh upon resurrection..

Hi calibob,

I enjoyed your post! I agree, once the Holy Spirit indwells us there is an undeniable spiritual experience that solidifies our faith in Yeshua/Jesus Christ as our Savior and King - the Holy Spirit bears witness with our spirit and we know we are saved and we know we are "in Christ," we do not doubt.

We take up our cross (the flesh) and follow Him, our Lord, Savior and King - Yeshua/Jesus. We learn to deny our flesh and choose the Father's Will.

Regarding resurrection, our bodies shall be changed, however, just like the caterpillar into the butterfly. No one can find the bodily remains of the caterpillar in the empty cocoon/chryalis, likewise, our tombs and graves will be just as empty as the cocoon/chryalis and just as empty as Yeshua/Jesus' tomb. Our bodies will not be left behind, they will be changed. Hallelujah!! This is the Lord's Work and it is marvelous in our eyes!!

 

[unclesilas]

Here's what I believe to be true:
Those that worry about their salvation are saved.
Those that don't care about their salvation, don't worry about it. Like atheists, for instance. They don't go around worrying about whether or not they're saved.
Only SAVED persons worry they may not really be saved.

Well put

 

[Goodnewsman]

I thought we were too until you got proud and thought you had answered in a way to shut me up, in all caps. At that point you stopped discussing and started enforcing.

i'm sorry for typing some of my answer/questions in all caps. i honestly did not know that meant i was yelling until today. it certainly wasn't "pride" thinking i had "shut you up"........i've been here long enough to know, that isn't possible. Lol. nor my intention

 

[GodsGrace101]

i'm sorry for typing some of my answer/questions in all caps. i honestly did not know that meant i was yelling until today. it certainly wasn't "pride" thinking i had "shut you up"........i've been here long enough to know, that isn't possible. Lol. nor my intention

Caps could also mean you want to bring special attention to a word or phrase.
It's like highlighting...
It's, like, we get called all names, and then get complaints because we use caps!
It's rather silly.

 

[GodsGrace101]

Put it this way

If paul feared losing salvation, most of his writtings are utter nonsense, in fact we may as well just take all his books and throw them out and burn them, because that is about how reputable they are, because paul is one of the most contradictory people ever known

Paul went through being stoned and left for dead, being shipwrecked, beaten jailed most of his life, and through all these sufferimgs, in his word he considered them all a light affliction which is momentary when comsidered against the eternal glory which is to come.

Paul could not say or believe these things if he thought for even a second there was any possibility of him losing salvation in the future, noone could because no one knows the future.

You want paul to comtradict, and a bible that is useless, feel free

And as far as you yelling, chill out dude, of course paul wants people to examine themselves,

Once again not eveyone who claims to be gods child IS GODS CHiLD.

You wanna earn your salvation, feel free

As for me and my family, we will serve the lord without fear, because we know in the end, GOD WILL WIN, and he wil NEVER LET ME GO.

You need to study up on what seperates us from god and get it into your head that every night you go to bed, every day you wake up, you deserve hell, because you have failed to live up to gods standard.

When you do that, you will finally see what paul saw. And understamd the teue undeniable grace of god.

Oh don't be so sensitive EG.
You seemed more thick-skinned to me.
Chill.

 

[Goodnewsman]

Caps could also mean you want to bring special attention to a word or phrase.
It's like highlighting...
It's, like, we get called all names, and then get complaints because we use caps!
It's rather silly.

i was accused of yelling, and i thought "how could i be yelling when i'm typing"........my teenage daughter straightened me out. your right, it is silly. i type all my sermons in "all caps" because its easier for me to see. this whole time i been "yelling" at myself and didn't know it. lol

 

[Argueless]

You do know that when you came on board as Godsgrace101 that there are tell tail signs right.....like let's say....email addresses with your first and last name...............

And you are right....there is one GOD, ONE correct GOSPEL message and ONE way to be saved forever....called FAITH......!!

... 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.” Romans 3:3-4

Would you be acceptable to God by having FAITH ALONE? What are you in God's sight if you say that you have faith yet have no love?

...If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and IF I HAVE A FAITH that can move mountains, but have not love, I AM NOTHING..
1 Corinthians 13:2

And the bible never said that salvation is BY FAITH ALONE but James otherwise said thar it is "not by faith alone" and Paul agrees to this by writing chapter 13 of 1 Corinthians and thereby also addressing and warning the Ephesians not to be DECEIVED.

...Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things GOD'S WRATH COMES ON THOSE WHO ARE DISOBEDIENT. Therefore do not be partners with them. Ephesians 5:6-7

Because as Jude said and warned us...

... For certain men whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are godless men, WHO CHANGE THE GRACE OF GOD INTO A LICENSE FOR IMMORALITY and DENY JESUS CHRIST our only Sovereign and Lord. Jude 1:4

Everyone can CLAIM to HAVE FAITH and KNOW GOD but not everyone would obey God. Thus a tree is known by it's fruit.

...They claim to know God, but BY THEIR ACTIONS THEY DENY HIM. They are detestable, DISOBEDIENT and unfit for doing anything good. Titus 1:16

...You see that a person is justified by what he does and NOT BY FAITH ALONE. James 2:24

 

[UnderGrace]

Here's what I believe to be true:
Those that worry about their salvation are saved.
Those that don't care about their salvation, don't worry about it. Like atheists, for instance. They don't go around worrying about whether or not they're saved.
Only SAVED persons worry they may not really be saved.
John 3:16

That is absolutely false and completely unbiblical.

If you do not know you are saved then you probably are not, as per the teachings of scripture.

Romans 8 (KJV)

38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

 

[GodsGrace101]

i was accused of yelling, and i thought "how could i be yelling when i'm typing"........my teenage daughter straightened me out. your right, it is silly. i type all my sermons in "all caps" because its easier for me to see. this whole time i been "yelling" at myself and didn't know it. lol

Pretty funny!
To young ones it's yelling because they don't talk about very important things, do they?
And, they seem to be the ones making all the rules.
I use caps a lot and I think once people get to know you,,,they'll know what you mean.
OTOH. They should also be gracious enough to give the benefit of the doubt.
Are you in the ministry?

 

[unclesilas]

That is absolutely false and completely unbiblical.

If you do not know you are saved then you probably are not, as per the teachings of scripture.

So no Christian can ever have any nagging doubts as to whether they are saved, not one? Satan cannot put those thoughts in anyones head at all. I think you have just condemned a lot of people on this website to being in an unsaved state, hope they do not believe you

 

[GodsGrace101]

So no Christian can ever have any nagging doubts as to whether they are saved, not one? Satan cannot put those thoughts in anyones head at all. I think you have just condemned a lot of people on this website to being in an unsaved state, hope they dpo not believe you

The poster didn't even grasp my point.
So intent on arguing,,,,no attention is properly given to posts of those with whom they disagree.

 

[unclesilas]

The poster didn't even grasp my point.
So intent on arguing,,,,no attention is properly given to posts of those with whom they disagree.

I don't know if the theology is getting worse, or peoples desire to prove themselves correct at all costs is getting worse

 

[dcontroversal]

Here's what I believe to be true:
Those that worry about their salvation are saved.
Those that don't care about their salvation, don't worry about it. Like atheists, for instance. They don't go around worrying about whether or not they're saved.
Only SAVED persons worry they may not really be saved.
John 3:16

I cut this part out to address the bolded.....I do not believe this and John totally contradicts this view....THESE things are written that you may KNOW that you have eternal life......I do not have to worry about being saved.....and that is the HOPE the bible portrays....a CONFIDENT expectation of something GUARANTEED.....

New American Standard Bible
These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.

King James Bible
These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

 

[GodsGrace101]

I don't know if the theology is getting worse, or peoples desire to prove themselves correct at all costs is getting worse

Both.
Stuff that is believed today did not even exist just, maybe, 50 years ago.

 

[Hevosmies]

I cut this part out to address the bolded.....I do not believe this and John totally contradicts this view....THESE things are written that you may KNOW that you have eternal life......I do not have to worry about being saved.....and that is the HOPE the bible portrays....a CONFIDENT expectation of something GUARANTEED.....

New American Standard Bible
These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.

King James Bible
These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

I have to admit i sometimes worry, but thats mostly because im just reading through my bible like a good trooper and sometimes come across a verse like 1 John 3:10!

 

[GodsGrace101]

I cut this part out to address the bolded.....I do not believe this and John totally contradicts this view....THESE things are written that you may KNOW that you have eternal life......I do not have to worry about being saved.....and that is the HOPE the bible portrays....a CONFIDENT expectation of something GUARANTEED.....

New American Standard Bible
These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.

King James Bible
These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

Just like UG, you didn't understand my point.
Maybe it's not worded correctly...
Maybe you two just love to argue.
I'm on a phone now....can't write too much.

 

[GodsGrace101]

I just hope @Hevosmies understood it.

 

[Goodnewsman]

Pretty funny!
To young ones it's yelling because they don't talk about very important things, do they?
And, they seem to be the ones making all the rules.
I use caps a lot and I think once people get to know you,,,they'll know what you mean.
OTOH. They should also be gracious enough to give the benefit of the doubt.
Are you in the ministry?

Amen........yes, been in the ministry almost 25 yrs