Good morning M,
The above statement was in response to my stating that salvation is earned and is not a gift.
I've stated this before and will do so again....
Salvation is a free.
It cannot be earned.
Ephesians 2:8-9
It is earned by grace through faith.
Siince our faith is a gift,,,salvation is also a gift because it comes from faith.
This is called Justification.
The problem I have with this thread is that there is no distinction made between
Justification
Sanctification
Sanctification IS EARNED.
It's a cooperative effort between man and God. Jesus did His part on the cross, now it's up to us to do our part.
Jesus said:
Mathew 16:24
Discipleship Is Costly
24Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.
Jesus said the gate is narrow exactly because being a disciple is costly....the wide road is easy.
Many here say they are following Jesus and yet they seem to state that it's OK to be on the wide road simply by not agreeing.
You said it's easy to say Jesus is God....
Shouldn't it be as easy to say Jesus is to be obeyed?
It's the same.
If we want to say we have a relationship with God,,,then we must also accept our part.
It takes two person to create a relationship.....not one walking alone. It's you and Jesus walking together.
John 12:48 Jesus said:
48“He who rejects Me and does not receive My sayings, has one who judges him; the word I spoke is what will judge him at the last day.
1. We must accept Jesus as Savior and not reject Him.
2. We must receive His sayings.
3. His word is what will judge us in the last day. (whether or not we obeyed Him).
I agree sanctification is important, but I think this verse says so much..
He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
Titus 3:5-7 NASB
Sanctification and relationship are important and they come with repentance, right? Believing in Him brings us to our knees, filled with shame and guilt, ready to repent, asking Him to save us.
He is all about sanctification. Yes, it is so important. We just get ourselves in a dog paddling estate, in the middle of shark (satan) infested waters, when we forget we are innocent by association with Him, not because we anything. Do we get to contribute...yes. Do we get to be a part of His plan...yes. Does He want and expect us to obey...yes. But we see in so many places, ours is to repent, His is to save..
For God has shut up all in disobedience so that He may show mercy to all. Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who became his counselor ? Or who has first given to Him that it might be paid back to him again ? For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.
Romans 11:32-36 NASB
But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, so that, just as it is written, " Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord ."
1 Corinthians 1:30-31 NASB
We are told not to engage in disputes over laws because it is fruitless, but as long as we do this...
with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth,
2 Timothy 2:25 NASB
We should be ok. I will be. You, however, may end up with a hardened, reprobated, heart if you keep arguing.
Just kidding...
I still believe you are my Sister, that you too call on the name of the Lord, that we both agree obeying Him is fundamental to our Salvation. I think the difference we have is that for me, He gets all the Glory, for even our repentance. We must keep our eyes on the Savior. It is wise to know He is. Holy and Just, able to squash our souls like a bug, and so comforting knowing He wants instead to give us life. He is so good, ours is to accept His calling.
Him mercy towards us propels our mission towards His.
For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.
Ephesians 2:8-10 NASB
Yes, He wants our commitment and fellowship. He died for it. Talk about selfless love. May we all walk in it.