Works for Salvation: Humility

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0

07-07-07

Active member
#1
Jun 13, 2023
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#1
Jesus said that without the works of humility, one cannot enter into the kingdom of Heaven.

Matthew 18
[1] At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?
[2] And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,
[3] And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
[4] Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
 
E

Everlasting-Grace

Well-known member
#2
Dec 18, 2021
5,843
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#2
07-07-07 said:
Jesus said that without the works of humility, one cannot enter into the kingdom of Heaven.

Matthew 18
[1] At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?
[2] And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,
[3] And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
[4] Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
Click to expand...
Read the passage again.

it says one must be converted.

We cannot convert ourself..

Jesus is speaking a truth. Unless we become humble like the child. we will never recieve christ in Gods terms.. Jesus said the same thing in his sermon. Unless we become poor in spirit (bankrupt) we will nto see the kingdom..
 
mailmandan

mailmandan

Senior Member
#3
Apr 7, 2014
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#3
In regard to Matthew 18:3, "unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven," is how Jesus characterized conversion. It pictures faith as the simple, helpless, trusting, dependence of those who have no resources or achievements to offer or commend themselves with. Jesus is pointing to the need to have the same type of faith that little children exhibit. The most trusting people in the world are children.

Children have not acquired the obstructions to faith that often come with advanced education and philosophies of men. Jesus calls us to have the same kind of trust that little children naturally have, which takes a humble heart. People must become as little children in humbly recognizing their helplessness in attaining the kingdon in their own strength. We are 100% dependent on Jesus Christ to save us.
 
notmyown

notmyown

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#4
May 26, 2016
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#4
where, and how can i obtain a humble heart?

does every good and perfect gift come down from the Father?
 
Aaron56

Aaron56

Well-known member
#5
Jul 12, 2021
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#5
07-07-07 said:
Jesus said that without the works of humility, one cannot enter into the kingdom of Heaven.

Matthew 18
[1] At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?
[2] And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,
[3] And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
[4] Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
Click to expand...

The Roman church equates "Heaven when we die" with "the kingdom of heaven". They did this to secure exclusive rights to anyone's entrance into heaven upon their death. This, among other things, was an effective fundraising tool and also why "St. Peter" is found at the gates heaven in the all the jokes.

But the scriptures teach a different understanding of "kingdom of heaven".

"For the kingdom of God is not food nor drink, but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit."

The kingdom is righteous, peace and joy (this next part is crucial) in the holy Spirit. The world has a form of these three things, but only "..righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit" gives us access to the Kingdom.

The kingdom of heaven or God should be thought of as a way of life, not as a location.

Jesus warned against the latter:

"Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God does not come with observation; nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.”

Learning to set aside the soul's right to govern our own lives, succumbing to the mandates of self-provision and self-protection, and walking by the light of the Truth and the Spirit is an act of humility. In humility we admit that our self-serving ways are not the ways of the kingdom and are only reflective of a fallen world. In humility we give up the right to be Lord of our own lives and receive the Lord Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior (He is both Lord, because He is the ruler of All, and Savior, because He saves us from the kingdom of darkness and transfers us into the Kingdom of God.) Unless we receive Him as Lord and Savior we can never receive righteous, peace, or Joy in the Holy Spirit.

Why "..in the Holy Spirit"? Because He is the delegate of the Lord, given the full authority of Christ, to distribute resources and direction to all who are in Christ:

"I still have much to tell you, but you cannot yet bear to hear it. However, when the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth. For He will not speak on His own (here is an example of the Spirit humbling Himself to speak only what He hears from Christ), but He will speak what He hears, and He will declare to you what is to come. He will glorify Me by taking from what is Mine and disclosing it to you. Everything that belongs to the Father is Mine. That is why I said that the Spirit will take from what is Mine and disclose it to you."



 
0

07-07-07

Active member
#6
Jun 13, 2023
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#6
Everlasting-Grace said:
Jesus is speaking a truth. Unless we become humble like the child. we will never recieve christ in Gods terms.. Jesus said the same thing in his sermon. Unless we become poor in spirit (bankrupt) we will nto see the kingdom..
Click to expand...
So, you concede that works are indeed needed for Salvation. Mere belief in humility won't grant someone eternal life. One must actually manifest the work of humility.
 
E

Everlasting-Grace

Well-known member
#7
Dec 18, 2021
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#7
07-07-07 said:
So, you concede that works are indeed needed for Salvation. Mere belief in humility won't grant someone eternal life. One must actually manifest the work of humility.
Click to expand...
um, no I do not concede any such thing. Belief in Humility? what is this?

A humble person calls out in brokenness

A proud person tries to work to earn something
 
0

07-07-07

Active member
#8
Jun 13, 2023
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#8
notmyown said:
where, and how can i obtain a humble heart?

does every good and perfect gift come down from the Father?
Click to expand...
Jesus said that except YOU become like a little child, not the Father making you a little child.
 
p_rehbein

p_rehbein

Senior Member
#9
Sep 4, 2013
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#9
07-07-07 said:
Jesus said that without the works of humility, one cannot enter into the kingdom of Heaven.

Matthew 18
[1] At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?
[2] And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,
[3] And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
[4] Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
Click to expand...
Your combining works for salvation with this passage of Scripture makes no sense. Wjhy? because those people are ALREADY IN HEAVEN, ERGO, THEY ARE ALREADY SAVED before their actions on earth after salvation are judged/rewarded.

Thus, your putting this in the context "of salvation" is wrong
 
0

07-07-07

Active member
#10
Jun 13, 2023
240
48
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#10
p_rehbein said:
Your combining works for salvation with this passage of Scripture makes no sense. Wjhy? because those people are ALREADY IN HEAVEN, ERGO, THEY ARE ALREADY SAVED before their actions on earth after salvation are judged/rewarded.

Thus, your putting this in the context "of salvation" is wrong
Click to expand...
What? Jesus said there was something for a person to do, i.e., a work, to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.
 
Cameron143

Cameron143

Well-known member
#11
Mar 1, 2022
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#11
07-07-07 said:
So, you concede that works are indeed needed for Salvation. Mere belief in humility won't grant someone eternal life. One must actually manifest the work of humility.
Click to expand...
Works are necessary for salvation. But not our works, but the works of God. He produces in us conditions of salvation. One of these is a godly sorrow...a sorrow that is given by God Himself.
 
Mem

Mem

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#12
Sep 23, 2014
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#12
Nice try though.
You just can't make something, that is at rest, work.
 
0

07-07-07

Active member
#13
Jun 13, 2023
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#13
Cameron143 said:
Works are necessary for salvation. But not our works, but the works of God. He produces in us conditions of salvation. One of these is a godly sorrow...a sorrow that is given by God Himself.
Click to expand...
I agree. It's the Lord working through us, fulfilling Ephesians 2:10.

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
 
0

07-07-07

Active member
#14
Jun 13, 2023
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#14
Mem said:
Nice try though.
You just can't make something, that is at rest, work.
Click to expand...
We are co-partners in Salvation. We yield to God, and then become His workmanship unto good works.
 
Cameron143

Cameron143

Well-known member
#15
Mar 1, 2022
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#15
07-07-07 said:
I agree. It's the Lord working through us, fulfilling Ephesians 2:10.

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Click to expand...
This actually comes before...Ephesians 2:8-9.
 
Mem

Mem

Senior Member
#16
Sep 23, 2014
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#16
07-07-07 said:
We are co-partners in Salvation. We yield to God, and then become His workmanship unto good works.
Click to expand...
We are created in Him for good works. That is, we are made longsuffering, we are made kind, we are made peaceful, full of grace, made like Him.
 
E

Everlasting-Grace

Well-known member
#17
Dec 18, 2021
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#17
07-07-07 said:
I agree. It's the Lord working through us, fulfilling Ephesians 2:10.

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Click to expand...
but once we hit Eph 2: 10 we are already saved by grace through faith. Not of works. lest anyone should boast
 
selahsays

selahsays

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#18
May 31, 2023
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#18
notmyown said:
where, and how can i obtain a humble heart?

does every good and perfect gift come down from the Father?
Click to expand...
Yes! As a Christian, you already have a humble heart and all the good works that Jesus, when He died for you, created for you to have. What a gracious God we serve!

That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

- Ephesians 2:7-10 (KJV)
 
Magenta

Magenta

Senior Member
#19
Jul 3, 2015
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#19
07-07-07 said:
Jesus said that except YOU become like a little child, not the Father making you a little child.
Click to expand...
Deuteronomy 30:6~ The LORD your God will circumcise your hearts and the hearts of your descendants, so that you may love Him with all your heart and with all your soul, and live.:)
 
Nehemiah6

Nehemiah6

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#20
Jul 18, 2017
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#20
07-07-07 said:
So, you concede that works are indeed needed for Salvation. Mere belief in humility won't grant someone eternal life. One must actually manifest the work of humility.
Click to expand...
Why do you keep calling humility a "work"? It is no such thing. Christ did not call it a work. So when you begin with false premises you end up with false conclusions.
 
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