Not By Works

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tribesman

Senior Member
Oct 13, 2011
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This is one of those passages that people often apply out of context.

The works in John refers to signs and wonders, and those signs are to point Israel to believe that he is the messiah who was to come. (John 20:31)

It does not mean Israel only needed to believe in him, without having to follow the law, nor was it ever directed to us gentiles.
I couldn't be further from your position on this. Have a nice day! :)
 
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King James Bible
Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.

NASB 1995
Jesus answered and said to them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent."

American Standard Version
Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.

So, whose work is it?
That's right. God does it all. Not man.
 
Aug 3, 2019
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I hate to butt in but you are obeying His commandments when you truly love God and your neighbors as yourself. In other words, when you receive the Holy Spirit, He fills your heart with the same love that is shared by the Father and the Son, which causes you to do everything with love in your heart. If you don't have that love, then your works are useless. Read 1 Cor 13: 1-13.
Also, read Rom 12: 9-21 which describes the works which are exhibited by true Christians that have the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Actually, you are obeying His commandments when you resist the temptation to break them BECAUSE you love God and your neighbor. “...faith which worketh by love.” ;)
 
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Actually, you are obeying His commandments when you resist the temptation to break them BECAUSE you love God and your neighbor. “...faith which worketh by love.” ;)
John 15: 14,17 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatever I command. These things I command you, that ye love one another.

We are no longer under the letter of the Law but the Spirit of the Law under which all the other commandments are based.
 

VCO

Senior Member
Oct 14, 2013
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True, I certainly agree that the OT saints had faith too, no one is denying that.
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But among the scripture you have quoted, is there one that says that OT saints put their faith in "Christ died for MY sins and rose again on the 3rd day for MY justification?

Now if you believe that to be true, even if there is no explicit scripture, I am fine too. We have the right to believe whatever doctrine we want to hold for ourselves.
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YOU have to think outside the box you call Human Life.

Those who Did Believe in the MESSIAH, thought HE would Come to pay for their SINS. IT WAS A DONE DEAL, the moment HE PLANNED SALVATION. That is why HE Can Say HE Saved US BEFORE TIME BEGAN, and HE Can Say Our Names were written in the book of life before the Foundation of the World.

Isaiah 46:10-12 (NCV)

10 From the beginning I told you what would happen in the end. A long time ago I told you things that have not yet happened. When I plan something, it happens. What I want to do, I will do.
11 I am calling a man from the east to carry out my plan; he will come like a hawk from a country far away. I will make what I have said come true; I will do what I have planned.
12 Listen to me, you stubborn people, who are far from what is right.


That is why I can say, when HE PLANS IT, it will happen as sure as if it ALREADY HAPPENED.
 

James71

New member
Feb 27, 2021
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I absolutely can't produce the glory of Yahweh through works alone but my works with grace through faith in Ephesians 2:8-9 with teachings from James 2 and many others will ensure my sanctification. You can't cherry-pick scripture but must study all scripture (2 Timothy 3:16) in context. No one is saved by works or faith alone or it's dead!

Do you believe all scripture or just those that align with your man-made false doctrines?

Romans 2:13 NKJV - (for not the hearers of the law [are] just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be justified;

James 2:24 NKJV - You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.
 
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Please hit REPLY so that all of us will know who you are talking to, and why.
It is this love that perfects us and makes us acceptable for Jesus to present us to the Father.
It is this love that perfects us and makes us acceptable for Jesus to present us to the Father.
John 15: 14,17 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatever I command. These things I command you, that ye love one another.

We are no longer under the letter of the Law but the Spirit of the Law under which all the other commandments are based.
It is this love that perfects us and makes us acceptable for Jesus to present us to the Father,
Please hit REPLY so that all of us will know who you are talking to, and why.
 
Aug 3, 2019
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John 15: 14,17 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatever I command. These things I command you, that ye love one another.

We are no longer under the letter of the Law but the Spirit of the Law under which all the other commandments are based.
So, I can have as much sex with my neighbor's wife as I want, so long as I don't lust after her, right, or kill my neighbor so long as I don't get mad with him?

*Hint: If you're keeping the "spirit of the law" by default you automatically are keeping the letter* :)

What Paul means is that if you're trying to keep the letter WITHOUT keeping the spirit, you're grasping at ropes of sand.
 

tribesman

Senior Member
Oct 13, 2011
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Countless of times has this been discussed. You can't abide to the vine unless you are in it, and it was not you who got there by some "free will choice". It was God's doing. The very same One who brought you into the vine is able to KEEP you there (2Tim.1:12). No matter what the weather.

You see, there are plants, there are tares among the wheat, who will continue to grow there until the very end (Matt.13:24-30). All these scriptures about apostates and falling away are all about such souls. Not about the Elect.

Needless to say God knows who are His. As for you, if you are one of His, He won't let you go away and He will make you to abide in Him. It's a work that He does.

Now, get this. Rest in this.
 

tribesman

Senior Member
Oct 13, 2011
4,622
282
83
John 15: 14,17 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatever I command. These things I command you, that ye love one another.

We are no longer under the letter of the Law but the Spirit of the Law under which all the other commandments are based.
Well. Yes. But let's not make the mistake that the "the letter of the law" has no relevance for us anymore. Antinomianism is misleading, dear.
 
Dec 30, 2020
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So, I can have as much sex with my neighbor's wife as I want, so long as I don't lust after her, right, or kill my neighbor so long as I don't get mad with him?

*Hint: If you're keeping the "spirit of the law" by default you automatically are keeping the letter* :)

What Paul means is that if you're trying to keep the letter WITHOUT keeping the spirit, you're grasping at ropes of sand.
Your comment is kind of rediculous. If you do those things that you mentioned, you don't have the love for your neighbor and are not filled with the Holy Spirit of God. Also, you must be a miracle worker. How can you have sex without lust?
 

VCO

Senior Member
Oct 14, 2013
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It is this love that perfects us and makes us acceptable for Jesus to present us to the Father,

AND HE POURED THAT LOVE INTO OUR HEARTS.

Romans 5:5 (HCSB)
5 This hope will not disappoint ⌊us⌋, because God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

Like a SEED, that LOVE produces the same kind of AGAPE LOVE for GOD and the Brethren.
 

VCO

Senior Member
Oct 14, 2013
11,995
4,615
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I absolutely can't produce the glory of Yahweh through works alone but my works with grace through faith in Ephesians 2:8-9 with teachings from James 2 and many others will ensure my sanctification. You can't cherry-pick scripture but must study all scripture (2 Timothy 3:16) in context. No one is saved by works or faith alone or it's dead!

Do you believe all scripture or just those that align with your man-made false doctrines?

Romans 2:13 NKJV - (for not the hearers of the law [are] just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be justified;

James 2:24 NKJV - You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.

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For those who do not know I use Colors and CAPITALIZATIONS for emphasis ONLY, the way I was taught in HIGH SCHOOL TYPING CLASS in 1967. I refuse to bow to FACE BOOK RULES, and I have never had a Face Book account in my life.

When you INTERPRET IT THAT WAY YOU CREATE CONTRADICTIONS.

2 Timothy 1:9 (HCSB)
9 He has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began.

Titus 3:5-7 (HCSB)
5 He saved usnot by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to His mercy, through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit.
6 He poured out this ⌊Spirit⌋ on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior,
7 so that having been justified by His grace, we may become heirs with the hope of eternal life.

Romans 5:10 (HCSB)
10 For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, ⌊then how⌋ much more, having been reconciled, will we be saved by His life!

Ephesians 2:8-9 (NJB)
8 Because it is by grace that you have been saved, through faith; not by anything of your own, but by a gift from God;
9 not by anything that you have done, so that nobody can claim the credit.

Romans 11:6 (NASB)
6 But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace is no longer grace.


QUOTE:
The only conceivable way of obtaining justification under the law would be to keep it in its entirety. But since all men are sinners, it is impossible for them to do this. So this verse is really setting forth an ideal condition rather than something that is capable of human attainment.
Believer's Bible Commentary: A Thorough, Yet Easy-to-Read Bible Commentary That Turns Complicated Theology Into Practical Understanding. :End Quote.

And to find out that JAMES is talking about the extreme impossible way of thinking you can please GOD by being 100% commited to doing the LAW, all you have to do is look a VERSE 10 in the same Chapter. We are to depend on HIS GRACE and MERCY, not think we can keep the LAW PERFECTLY.

James 2:10 (HCSB)
10 For whoever keeps the entire law, yet fails in one point, is guilty of ⌊breaking it⌋ all.