Not By Works

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CherieR

Senior Member
May 6, 2017
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There was a guy who used to post on CC who said that being a Christian isn’t always easy. Sometimes you have to hug a drunk who just threw up all over himself.

The actual act of hugging such a person is a work; its a physical act that helps someone. Having the love, compassion and desire to hug such a person is a fruit. IOWs a work is an act; a fruit is the essence of a person’s heart, mind and spirit that has been transformed and nurtured by God.

Forgiving someone is a fruit, not a work, because the forgiveness in and of itself is the essence of a person’s heart. I hope I wasn’t too confusing.
Not really confusing. I take that you are saying that the forgiveness comes from love in the heart. Love is the first mentioned in the list of the fruit of the Spirit.
 

PS

Senior Member
Jan 11, 2013
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Not really confusing. I take that you are saying that the forgiveness comes from love in the heart. Love is the first mentioned in the list of the fruit of the Spirit.
Who are you talking to please CR?
 

OneOfHis

Well-known member
Mar 24, 2019
1,430
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Not really confusing. I take that you are saying that the forgiveness comes from love in the heart. Love is the first mentioned in the list of the fruit of the Spirit.
I have not been able to hold a grudge since as long as I have been a Christian... there is never malice


definitely anger against lies or injustice

but never some sort of unrighteous desire for harm or any sort of malice

that being said

if I had some seeds in me of ... wrongful anger or unforgiveness

my Father is still my Father

and it is still Jesus who justifies me

but He will see where I am in error and not take it lightly

who knows how He will correct me to deliver me from anything He wants out of my life


and for as long as i hold on to whatever this is (even if it is unforgiveness aginst something that should make us angry like injustice) I can't expect to be a shining example or one who is about to recieve anything other than correction from a Holy and righteous Father...
 
E

eternally-gratefull

Guest
Forgiving is a work. I have never heard such nonsense.
if your forgiving in order to earn salvation or keep it

Your doing a work, and expecting a wage (salvation).

is this really a foreign concept to you?
 

PS

Senior Member
Jan 11, 2013
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695
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if your forgiving in order to earn salvation or keep it

Your doing a work, and expecting a wage (salvation).

is this really a foreign concept to you?
So if my neighbour hits me over the head with a cricket bat, as a Christian and I not allowed to forgive him because it is 'works.'
 

PS

Senior Member
Jan 11, 2013
5,399
695
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how are going to know what you find, or if you find it, if you can't define it?
You people are always talking about God's grace which includes forgiveness and goodwill to others.

But on here forgiveness has been banned because it is works, and I do not see an ounce of goodwill anywhere.
 

OneOfHis

Well-known member
Mar 24, 2019
1,430
2,208
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So if my neighbour hits me over the head with a cricket bat, as a Christian and I not allowed to forgive him because it is 'works.'

If you forgive him to save yourself or keep yourself saved it is not a work of God, it is a fleshly attempt to earn something only HE can GIVE....


If it was God working in you it is a natural response of following the new desires He puts in you paired with His leadership.... it is a fruit of His works


opposed to attempt to gain or maintain His gift which is of grace (he gets the credit) and not of works (where you can point to what you did as an example of why you are saved)
 

PS

Senior Member
Jan 11, 2013
5,399
695
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Dog walk time. When I come back I want to know where Christian love and goodwill has gone.
 
E

eternally-gratefull

Guest
So if my neighbour hits me over the head with a cricket bat, as a Christian and I not allowed to forgive him because it is 'works.'
Where did I even suggest what you said? Don’t you get sick if misunderstanding people and having to be called out for it?

If your forgiving your neighbor as a means of doing things to keep your salvation you are doing a work (the wage is salvation)

If your doing it because God has forgives you continually. Thus you are empowered to love and forgive your neighbor it’s a fruit of the spirit

there is a huge difference here