Believers really need to understand the Truth

[BCsenior]

Heads up! … Pastors have several different reasons for
NOT telling the sheep what they desperately need to hear.

The NT words “belief” and “faith” are very inadequate!
Because of what the whole of the NT teaches,
it is obvious that one word is completely insufficient
to describe what “belief” and “faith” really mean!
The NT clearly teaches us that simply believing and
having faith is NOT nearly enough to attain salvation.

We know that a mere intellectual belief in Jesus and
the gospel will NOT save anyone … but also, is merely
a deep heart-felt belief really enough to save anyone?

Initially
When believers first receive the Holy Spirit through
God’s free gift of mercy/grace, they receive everything:
reconciliation, justification, righteousness, (positional)
sanctification, holiness, salvation … everything!

But, after initially being born-again
Our free-will co-operation with the Holy Spirit is critically
important during our (continuing) sanctification … as He
tries to sanctify us unto holiness, “for without holiness
no one will see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14).

We read in the NT that believers are tested to prove
their faith is genuine. Our initial salvation is a free gift,
but we see a lot of warnings in the NT that IF our righteous
standing (i.e. salvation) is NOT maintained, it can be lost.

So, let’s not focus on our initial receiving of salvation;
instead let’s focus on the end of our salvation process!

JUSTIFICATION is about taking Jesus as SAVIOR.
SANCTIFICATION is about making Jesus LORD.
Have you been told that BOTH are required for salvation?

If Jesus is our SAVIOR, then we need to treat Him as our LORD!
Paul and Peter both called Him several times, “Savior and LORD”.
If Jesus is LORD, then we need to love and obey Him.
Indeed, He said 4 times: “Those who love Me will
obey My commandments.” (John 14:15,21,23,24).
And, “Those who are My friends will
obey My commandments.” (John 15:14).
Does anyone get to heaven who does NOT love Jesus,
who is NOT His friend, and who does NOT obey His commands?

Many Scriptures are very clear … obedience is NOT an option!

Pastors are responsible for WARNING the sheep about sin!
They need to teach us, for example:
● “God has called us to live holy lives, not impure lives.
Therefore, anyone who refuses to live by these rules …
is rejecting God” (1 Thessalonians 4:7-8)
● “It would be better if they had never known the way
to righteousness than to know it, and then reject
the command to live a holy life” (2 Peter 2:21)

Many NT verses teach each of the following spiritual truths
Believers prove true saving belief through obedience
Believers stay righteous by practicing righteousness
Believers keep salvation by repenting of their sins
Believers faith must endure to the end of their lives
Believers were chosen and called to live holy lives
Believers must come through as victorious overcomers

 

[SpoonJuly]

Heads up! … Pastors have several different reasons for
NOT telling the sheep what they desperately need to hear.

The NT words “belief” and “faith” are very inadequate!
Because of what the whole of the NT teaches,
it is obvious that one word is completely insufficient
to describe what “belief” and “faith” really mean!
The NT clearly teaches us that simply believing and
having faith is NOT nearly enough to attain salvation.

We know that a mere intellectual belief in Jesus and
the gospel will NOT save anyone … but also, is merely
a deep heart-felt belief really enough to save anyone?

Initially
When believers first receive the Holy Spirit through
God’s free gift of mercy/grace, they receive everything:
reconciliation, justification, righteousness, (positional)
sanctification, holiness, salvation … everything!

But, after initially being born-again
Our free-will co-operation with the Holy Spirit is critically
important during our (continuing) sanctification … as He
tries to sanctify us unto holiness, “for without holiness
no one will see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14).

We read in the NT that believers are tested to prove
their faith is genuine. Our initial salvation is a free gift,
but we see a lot of warnings in the NT that IF our righteous
standing (i.e. salvation) is NOT maintained, it can be lost.

So, let’s not focus on our initial receiving of salvation;
instead let’s focus on the end of our salvation process!

JUSTIFICATION is about taking Jesus as SAVIOR.
SANCTIFICATION is about making Jesus LORD.
Have you been told that BOTH are required for salvation?

If Jesus is our SAVIOR, then we need to treat Him as our LORD!
Paul and Peter both called Him several times, “Savior and LORD”.
If Jesus is LORD, then we need to love and obey Him.
Indeed, He said 4 times: “Those who love Me will
obey My commandments.” (John 14:15,21,23,24).
And, “Those who are My friends will
obey My commandments.” (John 15:14).
Does anyone get to heaven who does NOT love Jesus,
who is NOT His friend, and who does NOT obey His commands?

Many Scriptures are very clear … obedience is NOT an option!

Pastors are responsible for WARNING the sheep about sin!
They need to teach us, for example:
● “God has called us to live holy lives, not impure lives.
Therefore, anyone who refuses to live by these rules …
is rejecting God” (1 Thessalonians 4:7-8)
● “It would be better if they had never known the way
to righteousness than to know it, and then reject
the command to live a holy life” (2 Peter 2:21)

Many NT verses teach each of the following spiritual truths
Believers prove true saving belief through obedience
Believers stay righteous by practicing righteousness
Believers keep salvation by repenting of their sins
Believers faith must endure to the end of their lives
Believers were chosen and called to live holy lives
Believers must come through as victorious overcomers

Heads up!
You are wrong about what is necessary for salvation.
It is all about what Jesus did, not what you are doing.
You can keep working for your salvation if you wish---
But I will trust Jesus.

 

[Poinsetta]

Your article is excellent you are quoting scripture for every point good job!

This is what my mother says too:
● “It would be better if they had never known the way
to righteousness than to know it, and then reject
the command to live a holy life” (2 Peter 2:21)

 

[eternally-gratefull]

Justification is God declaring us innocent of all guilt

Sanctification is about us growing to be more like christ.

You did not even get these two terms right, how is anyone to believe the rest of your stuff>

 

[UnderGrace]

“for without holiness
no one will see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14).

And that holiness is Christ Jesus..... He supplies it all!!

 

[TheDivineWatermark]

“for without holiness
no one will see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14).

And that holiness is Christ Jesus..... He supplies it all!!

Yep, that's kinda how I understand this verse, as well.

Heb12:14 - "...without/apart from which ['the holiness'/Christ-in-us (which is His doing)] no one will see the Lord"... in us.


Kinda reminds me of the following passage (as an example of this, played out), similarly:

1Cor14:24 But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all:
25 And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth.

 

[BCsenior]

Justification is God declaring us innocent of all guilt
Sanctification is about us growing to be more like christ.

And both are required for salvation!

Isn't justification tied in with righteousness?

Here's an example of a short NT passage that you reject ...

“… let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous just as He is righteous.
He who sins is of the devil … Whoever has been born of God does not sin (habitually)
… In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest:
whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God” (1 John 3:7-10)

So, are you a child of the devil?

 

[BCsenior]

“for without holiness no one will see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14).
And that holiness is Christ Jesus..... He supplies it all!!

Yep, that's kinda how I understand this verse, as well.

How do you understand these 2 verses? ...

"... you are that one’s slaves whom you obey,
whether (slaves) of sin leading to (eternal) death,
OR (slaves) of obedience leading to righteousness?
... so now present your members as slaves of
righteousness for holiness." (Romans 6:16, 19)

 

[eternally-gratefull]

And both are required for salvation!

Isn't justification tied in with righteousness?

Here's an example of a short NT passage that you reject ...

“… let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous just as He is righteous.
He who sins is of the devil … Whoever has been born of God does not sin (habitually)
… In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest:
whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God” (1 John 3:7-10)

So, are you a child of the devil?

False

Your either justified or your not

Sanctification is a process and your sanctification will never match your justification in this lifetime

 

[TheDivineWatermark]

How do you understand these 2 verses? ...

"... you are that one’s slaves whom you obey,
whether (slaves) of sin leading to (eternal) death,
OR (slaves) of obedience leading to righteousness?
... so now present your members as slaves of
righteousness for holiness." (Romans 6:16, 19)

I see it kinda like this (a few things to note):

1) Romans 1 through 5:11 covers the subject of "sinS" [sins we commit, etc]; whereas Romans 5:12 through end of chpt 8 covers the subject of "Sin" [exactly 40x btw 5:12 and 8:3, if I recall]


2) Romans 6:19-21 [ylt] (in the second section of the aforementioned two ^ )-

17 and thanks to God, that ye were servants of the sin, and — were obedient from the heart to the form of teaching to which ye were delivered up; 18 and having been freed from the sin, ye became servants to the righteousness. 19 In the manner of men I speak, because of the weakness of your flesh, for even as ye did present your members servants to the uncleanness and to the lawlessness — to the lawlessness, so now present your members servants to the righteousness — to sanctification,

20 for when ye were servants of the sin, ye were free from the righteousness, 21 what fruit, therefore, were ye having then, in the things of which ye are now ashamed? for the end of those [is] death. 22 And now, having been freed from the sin, and having become servants to God, ye have your fruit — to sanctification, and the end life age-during; 23 for the wages of the sin [is] death, and the gift of God [is] life age-during in Christ Jesus our Lord.


3) [quoting from Gaebelein's Commentary on Romans 6]

"Romans 6:15-23

"Another question is asked. “What then, shall we sin because we are not under the law, but under grace?” Another, “God forbid”--perish the very thought of it--is the answer. Whoever yields to sin falls under the mastery of sin. Then follows a word of praise. He thanks God that the believers to whom he writes, once servants of sin, but having obeyed from the heart ['that form of doctrine which was delivered you'] (and true faith is obedience), they were made free from sin and became servants of righteousness. “Free from sin” does not mean, as often taught, free from the old nature, but free from the domineering power of indwelling sin. Then there is the contrast between the former state in sin and the place of deliverance into which grace has brought the believer. In the former life as unsaved, slaves of sin, there was an awful fruit and the end of it is death. But now as servants of God, freed from sin’s awful slavery, there is another fruit, the fruit of holiness and the end eternal life. How this fruit of the justified believer is to be produced we shall learn in the next chapter. Sin’s wages is death; that is what man receives in payment for sin. Eternal life, the great and inestimable gift of God is bestowed through Jesus Christ our Lord."

--Gaebelein, Commentary on Romans 6 [source: BibleHub]

[end quoting Gaebelein; bold and underline mine; bracketed insert mine supplying the rest of the verse there]

___________________


So, the distinction between "sinS" and "Sin" in Romans...


Hope this helps.

 

[UnderGrace]

How do you understand these 2 verses? ...

"... you are that one’s slaves whom you obey,
whether (slaves) of sin leading to (eternal) death,
OR (slaves) of obedience leading to righteousness?
... so now present your members as slaves of
righteousness for holiness." (Romans 6:16, 19)

Paul is telling his readers to walk in their new nature as slaves of righteousness.

This is not about gaining or maintaining salvation.

And the word "eternal" does not appear in the text, so your corrupt the Word to support a false doctrine...smh!!

 

[eternally-gratefull]

It is good to know that mr waggles (red X master) thinks his own person sanctification can meet his own personal justification (perfect righteousness)

Mr waggles must be planning on doing something only Christ ever accomplished. I wish him luck in his endeavor.

 

[eternally-gratefull]

Paul is telling his readers to walk in their new nature as slaves of righteousness.

This is not about gaining or maintaining salvation.

And the word "eternal" does not appear in the text, so your corrupt the Word to support a false doctrine...smh!!

I love how they always forget to leave the “but you” vrse out of the equation.

17 But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were [e]delivered. 18 And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.

As paul differentiates between true believers. And those who have yet to be delivered.

 

[UnderGrace]

It is good to know that mr waggles (red X master) thinks his own person sanctification can meet his own personal justification (perfect righteousness)

Mr waggles must be planning on doing something only Christ ever accomplished. I wish him luck in his endeavor.

How coincidental I keep wishing people luck as well

 

[dcontroversal]

Your article is excellent you are quoting scripture for every point good job!

This is what my mother says too:
● “It would be better if they had never known the way
to righteousness than to know it, and then reject
the command to live a holy life” (2 Peter 2:21)

Excellent??? It peddles a false gospel with no power to save! I would call it heretical.

Faith plus works for = a false gospel of a different kind with no power to save and all that peddle it are double cursed and all that believe it are called fools and bewitched....See Galatians, Romans, Ephesians....

 

[dcontroversal]

How coincidental I keep wishing people luck as well

Workers for and gospel devaluers can have all the luck from a million bags of fortune cookies and they will still not make the cut in the end......!

 

[dcontroversal]

Justification is God declaring us innocent of all guilt

Sanctification is about us growing to be more like christ.

You did not even get these two terms right, how is anyone to believe the rest of your stuff>

Not to mention the dual usage of sanctification....one eternally and positionally in Christ at the micro second of genuine belief and the other as a daily process based upon growth and maturity while being subject to successes and or failure....

 

[JohnRH]

Our initial salvation is a free gift,
but we see a lot of warnings in the NT that IF our righteous
standing (i.e. salvation) is NOT maintained, it can be lost.

baloney

 

[dcontroversal]

I love how they always forget to leave the “but you” vrse out of the equation.

17 But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were [e]delivered. 18 And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.

As paul differentiates between true believers. And those who have yet to be delivered.

Modus operandi of all workers for, salvation losers and Cainologists

a. Leave out words
b Disregard context
c. Skew truth
d. Deny Greek verb tense
e. Deny or disregard the definition of words
f. Pit the bible against itself or Paul against Jesus
g. Seem to have a total lack of honesty
f. Etc....

 

[UnderGrace]

Workers for and gospel devaluers can have all the luck from a million bags of fortune cookies and they will still not make the cut in the end......!

Yup, no such thing as luck, trusting one's work has the same value......zero!