Not By Works

[DorothyMae]

To those who are satisfied with merely being saved, I haven’t much to say except don’t stop those who want more.

To those who want to know God, that is, understand Him, I can tell them what is required. And, make no mistake, this pearl of great price costs you and that will involve work. Same as any deep relationship involves some work. Doesn’t get you the relationship but you find it or maintain it without work.

 

[DorothyMae]

I sense that you are thinking I should be striving for more but you do not know me nor do you know my walk with God. He knows me and he leads and directs my steps. Yes, all is well with my soul...

I don’t think that at all. I merely meant what I said. You are satisfied and that’s OK. Not many want to know God.

 

[eyes2c]

Hello mailman....

 

[Pulie]

Yes experience

Experiences can be deceiving. We don't know what went on in their lives at that particular moment. What we do have is the word of God, in black and white. Experience should be backed up by scripture first and foremost. That doesn't mean every story will play out exactly as it did in scripture, however we need to take experiences and stories of them in the context that they happened.

For what it's worth, while I believe people can be given visions of hell and the afterlife, I don't believe that anyone can actually go there and return.

Habrews 9:27

Yes experiences can be decieving and everything must be viewed from a biblical point.

Yes every story will not be similar to those in scripture.
I agree with what you said, but what should one do when the Bible is not explicit?

Do you believe that Lazarus rose from the dead?That is his experience, however, the Bible does not tell us wether he went to heaven or hell.

Who in the Bible is described as dying and going to heaven besides the man in the story Jesus told, that is, Lazarus, which some people think doesn't describe a real man anyway?

Who in the Bible is described as dying and going to heaven besides the man in the story Jesus told, that is, Lazarus, which some people think doesn't describe a real man anyway?

Then why would you claim a person in your position and belief may in the end, not be saved?

Apostacy.

 

[mailmandan]

I don’t think that at all. I merely meant what I said. You are satisfied and that’s OK. Not many want to know God.

John 17:3 - And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent (which is an intimate, experiential knowledge, found only in a relationship). The term "know" implies intimate, experiential knowledge, through a relationship with Him, not merely theoretical knowledge.

Being saved isn't about just being saved, then going about our merry way having no interest in knowing God.

 

[ToastAndTea]

Yes experience


Yes experiences can be decieving and everything must be viewed from a biblical point.

Yes every story will not be similar to those in scripture.
I agree with what you said, but what should one do when the Bible is not explicit?

Do you believe that Lazarus rose from the dead?That is his experience, however, the Bible does not tell us wether he went to heaven or hell.

And to answer your question plainly, yes. Because scripture says so (missed this in my original answer)

 

[mailmandan]

Hello mailman....

Hello and good morning.

 

[walknlight]

You are to follow peace.

There is no peace outside of God and His Christ......

It’s the command form for the reader alone to do.

BY HIS SPIRIT, again ,nothing in and of ourselves.....

Doesn’t say God is to pursue giving us peace. Says we are to do the action.

Yahweh has given those who are His, His peace, to walk BY HIS SPIRIT, nothing we DO in and of ourselves.

Same with holiness.

Yahweh sets men apart (HOLY) to walk in HOLINESS, BY HIS SPIRIT, nothing we do in and of ourselves.

God Bless...

 

[eyes2c]

Hello and good morning.

I think we can all be misunderstood at one point in our lives. Lol! This is Angelina. I came to visit...

 

[DorothyMae]

There is no peace outside of God and His Christ......

The verse tells YOU to pursue peace and holiness with all men. That what it says. Now we can do what it says or we can wiggle out if it by rationalizing the meaning/instructions away. But one will never understand God.

BY HIS SPIRIT, again ,nothing in and of ourselves.....

If we fail to pursue holiness we will fail to understand God.

Yahweh has given those who are His, His peace, to walk BY HIS SPIRIT, nothing we DO in and of ourselves.

I’m not a Hebrew for one and for two, I pray as Jesus instructed calling Him “Father.” Calling a father by a common name is disrespectful.

Yahweh sets men apart (HOLY) to walk in HOLINESS, BY HIS SPIRIT, nothing we do in and of ourselves.

I don’t have dealings with foreign deities.

The Father, the One True God, requires WE pursue holiness as in obeying Him. If we refuse we will never come to “see” (understand) Him. You can wait passively for this to happen painlessly but you will never understand God.

Believe? Yes Understand? No

 

[Pulie]

Who in the Bible is described as dying and going to heaven besides the man in the story Jesus told, that is, Lazarus, which some people think doesn't describe a real man anyway?

To be honest with you, I just realized that what I said was not well thought out.

Let me just say that when we look closely at the lives of the Apostles, we can see an evidence of good works. They did not do as they pleased, even Paul talks about pleasing God. The good works were their present reality etc(Past, Present, future=salvation). However, they also struggled with sin, always praying to God to have victory over sin.

Yes sin was paid for at the cross, but Paul still prayed that God should help him. I believe everything in the Bible has the same value and we should not value something over the other.

The Apostles set a good example for us to follow, they inspire us to be like Christ. I don't see anyone who sought to be evil and their lives don't condone evil. They were people who loved God yet struggled with sin and always depended on God as their source for victory over sin.

Yes we are new creations by grace through faith in Christ but we should also become new creations through the process of being sanctified by His word. God works in us to will and to act according to His good purpose.

The only thing am confident about is that Lazarus died but I don't know if he went to heaven or not. I believe he was a real man.

 

[Pulie]

So you can be saved and do those things?

john tells us we who are born of god can’t live in sin, whoever lives in sin has never seen or known God
I am actually suprised you think that person was ever saved,

I confessed with my mouth and believed in my heart that Jesus died on the cross... but that did not automatically renew my mind nor did it help in changing my ways.
Some people only end here
Question: Am I really saved?

Every stage is crucial.

I read the Bible, my mind became renewed and my ways were changed through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Something terrible might happen to me on this phase of my life and I might suddenly resort to my old ways or even indulge in certain evil practices that I never experienced before. My conscience is now dead and I am no longer sensitive to the Holy Spirit until I die.
Question: Did I loose my salvation?


Then I repent and my ways are changed(that is before I die)
Question: Am I saved again?

 

[Duskey]

So I am going to heaven if I am saved but found guilty of being a serial killer and don't even care about my actions? If yes please provide me with scripture so I can do thorough investigation.

I think that was my question

Answer my question adequately, support it with scriptures.

I see you’re a snarky little nit. Your original question regarded being a murderer but now you’ve conveniently upped the ante to serial murderer. That’s nothing more than you trying to prove a point without simply stating your point.

Tell me snarky one, why would you, an alleged Christian, desire to be an unrepentant serial killer? What kind of barbaric ideas lie within your head? You should do in Scripture teaches us, and that is to keep your eyes focused on the Lord.

 

[Duskey]

Well I don know what semantics is but hopefully your not amused by the Bible when it says we should stir each other to good works.

Big in this context is very complicated but thanks for the tip. So every scripture that says good works you substitute with Kingdom of heaven so that you are not amused.

I wonder what happens to you when you read the book of Revelation because I see good works/ deeds mentioned a lot. You also laugh?

Your problem, which is one of many, is that you try to pigeonhole Christians into one book of the Bible, in the above post that would be revelation. You lack confidence in God’s grace.

 

[Duskey]

They are not in the Bible.

I know they’re not. Don’t forget snarky one, this is the BIBLE Discussion Forum, not your personal likes forum.

 

[EleventhHour]

I confessed with my mouth and believed in my heart that Jesus died on the cross... but that did not automatically renew my mind nor did it help in changing my ways.
Some people only end here
Question: Am I really saved?

Every stage is crucial.

I read the Bible, my mind became renewed and my ways were changed through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Something terrible might happen to me on this phase of my life and I might suddenly resort to my old ways or even indulge in certain evil practices that I never experienced before. My conscience is now dead and I am no longer sensitive to the Holy Spirit until I die.
Question: Did I loose my salvation?


Then I repent and my ways are changed(that is before I die)
Question: Am I saved again?

You are saved when you accept there is nothing you can do to save yourself and accept the gift of salvation from Jesus.

 

[EleventhHour]

Where is the preaching encouraging good works which the Bible tells us to do? All I read is we will (automatically) want to do good works although some admit this is a process (meaning some day in the future they’ll do good works when they feel like it (are changed.))

“Stir one another up to good works” not “discourage one another from doing good works for others trying to earn something” is the scripture.

I would agree that good works are not automatic, and yes we are to encourage each other.
However I am still unsure if you see a dividing line between the fact that works do not save and yes works are to be the outpouring of our new life in Christ.

You have yet to make this clear?

Do you think works are necessary part of salvation?

 

[eternally-gratefull]

I tell those who want to see God to obey Him. You preach over and over “works won’t save you” as though someone thinks they do.

you do

You just got some reason can not admit it

 

[DorothyMae]

To be honest with you, I just realized that what I said was not well thought out.

Let me just say that when we look closely at the lives of the Apostles, we can see an evidence of good works. They did not do as they pleased, even Paul talks about pleasing God. The good works were their present reality etc(Past, Present, future=salvation). However, they also struggled with sin, always praying to God to have victory over sin.

Yes sin was paid for at the cross, but Paul still prayed that God should help him. I believe everything in the Bible has the same value and we should not value something over the other.

The Apostles set a good example for us to follow, they inspire us to be like Christ. I don't see anyone who sought to be evil and their lives don't condone evil. They were people who loved God yet struggled with sin and always depended on God as their source for victory over sin.

Yes we are new creations by grace through faith in Christ but we should also become new creations through the process of being sanctified by His word. God works in us to will and to act according to His good purpose.

The only thing am confident about is that Lazarus died but I don't know if he went to heaven or not. I believe he was a real man.

Pretty good Pulie,

I think sin is a choice we make. When we ask forgiveness we admit it was a free choice we made. The struggle against sins in our lives doesn’t remain the same if we walk close to Him. As we walk closer to Him the victory over some sin happens. But the standard gets higher as a greater degree of holiness is required. That is how the apostles continued to see the sin in their lives and get ceased from other sins. They weren’t the same men decades after following the Lord. The Holy Spirit is always convicting but progress is made as we yield and seek a way out of temptation before sin is chosen. It’s a cooperative effort. We can do nothing alone and He doesn’t reach in and change us so here is no struggle on our part. That’s how we work out our salvation all the while He is alongside enabling.

 

[DorothyMae]

you do

You just got some reason can not admit it

Makes me laugh. I don’t but you got some reason you cannot admit that you don’t know what I believe.