The Ten Commandments are the Covenant, did you know?
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Dear @Mem I had a better version but could not find it this one is not too bad;
In the desert, the Israelites were complaining again about water. God told Moses, “Take the rod; you and your brother Aaron gather the assembly together. Speak to the rock before their eyes, and it will pour out its water”(Numbers 20:8). God’s instructions were clear: speak to the rock, not strike it. This was a test of faith and trust, and also an opportunity for the people to see God’s power and holiness.
But Moses, frustrated with the constant complaining, struck the rock twice with his staff (Numbers 20:11). Water still came out, but God was displeased. He said, “Because you did not believe Me, to honor Me as holy in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them” (Numbers 20:12). This shows that even a faithful servant like Moses can fail if he acts from impatience, anger, or pride rather than complete trust in God.
This incident is different from the first time God provided water from a rock. At Rephidim, God said, “Strike the rock, and water will come out of it, that the people may drink” (Exodus 17:6). Moses obeyed exactly what God commanded then. The difference shows that obedience is measured not only by results but by how faithfully God’s instructions are followed. Doing what God says in the wrong way, even with good results, can be sin.
Looking closely at both events, the lessons become clear. At Rephidim, God instructed Moses to strike the rock, and he did exactly that. Water came out, the people drank, and God’s power was revealed. Faithful obedience brought blessing. At Meribah, God instructed Moses to speak to the rock, but Moses struck it instead. Water still came out, but his partial obedience showed a lack of trust and dishonored God. Because of this, Moses and Aaron were barred from entering the Promised Land (Numbers 20:12).
The Meribah incident has deeper implications. Moses was a leader, so his actions were watched by the people. Acting out of frustration, he risked taking credit for God’s miracle instead of honoring God publicly. It shows that leaders carry extra responsibility, and their failures have lasting consequences. The story also reminds us that faith is not only about action but trusting God fully, and that obedience must follow God’s instructions precisely.
This teaches us about God’s holiness. He wanted to be honored as holy in the eyes of the people. When His instructions are ignored, even with good results, it diminishes His glory. The story also applies to us today: like Moses, we may feel frustration or impatience, but acting from our own ideas instead of God’s word can lead to failure. True faith is trusting God’s instructions completely and giving Him the glory He deserves.
In summary, the Meribah incident teaches that God’s instructions must be followed exactly, faith must be active, and leaders carry extra responsibility to honor God. Even a faithful servant can stumble if he substitutes his own ideas for God’s plan. This story calls us to trust God fully, obey precisely, and give Him the glory He deserves, knowing that partial obedience or prideful action can have serious consequences.
Blessings
We are not saved by performing "works of righteousness" By "works of righteousness," Paul was referring to certain practices of the Law" which the Judaizers believed were meritorious and able by virtue of our practicing them to make us righteous (and therefore acceptable to God).
The word "works" in general can refers to something we DO or CHOOSE to do. Does this mean that we take any action at all? No, even BELIEVING itself is an act of the mind and will which is why the Holy Spirit was sent - to CONVICT men of their sins (John 16:8) and to bear witness to the reality of the Savior and His claims. The Greek word for "convict" is John 16:8 unfolds a threefold ministry of the Holy Spirit who comes—and keeps on coming—to press home the truth about sin, the necessity of Christ’s righteousness, and the certainty of judgment. The AIM of Holy Spirit and the message of the gospel is to PERSUADING men. Jesus and the Apostles never called people to remain passive in this. The gospel calls out to all men to REPENT and BELIEVE the gospel in order to obtain eternal life. These are NOT meritorious legal works but as necessary CONDITIONS which we must meet in order to be saved and reconciled to God through Jesus. This is not about practicing a prescribed set of meritorious works. In fact, Paul CONTRASTS that way with FAITH but faith is not just adopting certain truth propositions. It is a personal transaction between the Person of Christ which reconciles the individual to God.
If the work is a work they undertake to become saved, then by definition, that makes it a work of righteousness, otherwise why do it if they believe their works brings them salvation? Those saved become saved not by anything they do - it is solely by grace as a gift from God.
No one can of themselves truly believe if they are spiritually dead, and all are spiritually dead until saved.
I agree, but, so often, I have encountered many "Christians" who believe that, at the moment they came to Christ they were forgiven of every sin they would ever commit - PAST, PRESENT and FUTURE. By contrast, Jesus and the Apostles taught that we are forgiven and cleansed on an ONGOING BASIS as we continue to confess our sins to Him.
By this wide definition, since repentance and faith INVOLVE ACTS of the WILL and MIND these too are meritorious "works" equivalent to the Legal works prescribed by the Judaeizers when Paul confronted them in His letters. However, the gospel proclamation urges all men to repent and believe and that IF THEY DO they will be saved.
37When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and asked Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”
Had John Calvin and Martin Luther been around then they might have said "Nothing, you cannot do anything to be saved because you are spiritually dead and corpses cannot make any decisions. They are totally helpless,"
However, the Apostles could answer the question: what shall we DO
38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39This promise belongs to you and your children and to all who are far off—to all whom the Lord our God will call to Himself.”…(Acts 2:38)
The Christians who believe that all sins are forgiven, past, present and future, when one is born from above are correct and this is exactly what scripture teaches.
No, they aren't. They are given as gifts by God. True belief and true repentance are given by God
[Act 11:18 KJV] 18 When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.
[Rom 2:4 KJV] 4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?
[2Ti 2:25 KJV] 25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;
[Phl 1:29 KJV] 29 For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;
[Jhn 6:29 KJV] 29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.
[Act 13:48 KJV] 48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.
It doesn’t say “what shall we do to be saved” but “what shall we do”. While it is they who did the “do”, they did so by having been moved to it by the Holy Spirit. To be “pricked in their heart” means they had become saved because a heart of stone cannot be “pricked”, only a heart of flesh can be, and a heart of flesh is given only from salvation. They repented to believe in Jesus because of God working within them. Only those who were of the “such as should be saved” (of 2:47), are those who repented and became baptized spiritually.
[Act 2:39 KJV] 39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, [even] as many as the Lord our God shall call.
[Act 2:47 KJV] 47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
When we are saved we come into the light which exposes (or "makes manifests") our sin. No one who does not know he is a sinner would take the radical step of trusting in Christ. However, FUTURE sins are only potential sins rather than actual. Because we have not yet done them they do not yet exist. We MIGHT commit those sins at some point but God does not CONVICT, REPROVE or REBUKE anyone for what they MIGHT do only for what they ACTUALLY do.
The word says that in order to be forgiven of our ongoing sins believers must continue to admit to (or confess) our sins to Him. That which was our first step of faith must become our ongoing walk of faith. If we continue being honest about what we have done, He will continue to respond to us by continually forgiving and cleansing us:
…8If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10If we say we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar, and His word is not in us.…(1 John 1:8-9)
The Present tense in Greek
The verbs "confess" and "cleanse" are in the PRESENT TENSE which indicates actions that are continual, ongoing or habitual
In English, we know that the present tense describes something happening right now. It informs us of the time when an action takes place. In Greek, however, the present tense primarily tells us the type of action. The Greek present tense indicates continued action, something that happens continually or repeatedly, or something that is in the process of happening. If you say, for instance, “The sun is rising,” you are talking about a process happening over a period of time, not an instantaneous event. The Greeks use the present tense to express this kind of continued action.
https://ezraproject.com/greek-tenses-explained/
Yes the heart must be ready to receive the word. It is made ready by the influence of the Holy Spirit who convicts us of our sin. God must convict us but, for our part, we must receive His direction rather than hardening our heart - which we are well able to do by resisting the influence of the Spirit.
No, the verse does not mention or imply anything that we must do. It is all done unilaterally by God alone, man is but the beneficiary/recipient of it. A spiritually dead person cannot not contribute.
[Eze 36:26 KJV] 26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.
[Eze 36:27 KJV] 27 And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do [them].
You are given the Holy Spirit when you believe in Jesus Christ.
The Holy Spirit is the God given seal, pledge, a gold plated guarantee, that you are saved.
Ephesians 1:13-14
In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed,
you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with
a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.
If God has sealed you in Jesus and pledged that your going to heaven.
Then that is God's guarantee that you are saved and what God has promised will take place.
No one is saved based on some attempt at repentance as repentance is not the gospel.
So how does a person behave knowing that their salvation is guaranteed by Jesus?
When someone says all sins are forgiven past, present, and future the moment a person is born again, this is not what Jesus taught. He never said future sins are automatically forgiven. He taught that forgiveness is given, but it must be kept by walking in His word.
Jesus said that God forgives us as we forgive others (Matthew 6:14 to 15). This is a daily condition, not a one time event that covers all future sins. Jesus also told people to repent, to turn from sin, and to remain faithful. He warned that a person can fall away if they stop doing His will (Matthew 7:21 to 23 ). If all future sins were already forgiven, these warnings would make no sense.
Jesus said “he that endureth to the end shall be saved” (Matthew 24:13 ). Endurance means we keep walking in His truth. It is not automatic. Jesus also said “If ye keep my word, ye shall never see death” (John 8:51 ). Keeping His word is ongoing. It shows our faith stays alive.
So Scripture does teach full forgiveness, but Jesus shows this forgiveness is something we must continue in. It is not a blanket promise for every future sin no matter how a person lives. It is a living relationship with Him.
Or, in other words, there aren't any. There is only your "man-made reasoning".
Your whole point depends on one passage from Paul. But Jesus is the One who gives the truth of salvation, and Jesus never said that a person is automatically guaranteed heaven the moment they believe. He never said that repentance is not part of the gospel. In fact, Jesus preached repentance from the very beginning. “Repent ye, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 4:17 ). His apostles preached the same message. Peter said “Repent ye, and be baptized… unto the remission of your sins” (Acts 2:38). So repentance is part of the good news, not something to throw away.
Jesus taught that the Father gives the Spirit to those who obey Him and ask Him (Luke 11:13 ). He never said the Spirit is a guarantee no matter how a person lives. Jesus warned that a branch in Him can be cut off if it stops bearing fruit (John 15:2 ). If salvation were a guaranteed gold seal, Jesus would not warn His own disciples like that.
Jesus also said “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven but he that doeth the will of my Father” (Matthew 7:21 ). If entrance were guaranteed by one moment of belief, Jesus would not say this. He also said “He that endureth to the end, the same shall be saved” (Matthew 24:13). Endurance is not automatic, it is a daily walk with Christ.
So how should a person behave if they truly believe in Jesus? Jesus answered it Himself. A true disciple keeps His word (John 8:31 ), loves God and neighbor (Matthew 22:37 to 39) , forgives others to be forgiven (Matthew 6:14 to 15 ), turns from sin (John 8:11 ), and walks in the light (John 12:35 to 36 ). This is the life of someone saved by God’s grace.
Jesus never promised a sealed, unconditional future. He promised eternal life to those who follow Him and remain in His word.
That is the truth He taught.
Although I'm not sure that we are exactly on the same page yet in regard to applying this knowledge, I do appreciate the correction on the details of the account of Moses,' I'll call it, 'misobedience.'
God bless
Acts 13:38 - Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through this Man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins; 39 and by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.
Colossians 2:13 - When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins.
If you read John 14:15 a command (as presented per the KJV), it is at the risk of missing the declaration.
"If you love Me, you will keep My commandments."
"you will keep" is future indicative active Greek
The future active indicative in Greek describes actions that will occur, formed by adding a sigma to the verb stem and using specific personal endings (from copilot search citing 3 sources).
"If you love Me, you will keep My commandments."
"you will keep" is future indicative active Greek
The future active indicative in Greek describes actions that will occur, formed by adding a sigma to the verb stem and using specific personal endings (from copilot search citing 3 sources).