Not By Works

I would like some thoughts on 1 John 5:3-4...

“For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.”

Could this mean that God’s commandments are a joy and delight to the Christian? For example that when we follow Jesus we find joy in that?

If the husband got upset about his wife's infidelity, she could just remind him about OMAM and all would be hunky-dory.

Salvation is not based on good works, but it is based upon faithfulness. A good marriage is the picture of this. The wedding is not the end of the story. It takes fidelity and commitment and faithfulness on both sides, not just God's side.

God knows we are not capable of perfection, but He also knows we are capable of repenting when we err. We are capable of daily surrender and cross bearing. That is why He commands it...

Luke 9:23 And he said to [them] all, If any [man] will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

Salvation is a free gift , discipleship is costly

I would rather say salvation is a free gift but rewards come from works.

because he was always a dog. He was not changed, he went through the motions of being a christian but in the end left and returned to sin, because that’s what he was, the new life did not taste good, so he left,

...but rewards come from works.

I can show you where "works" are the evidence that one is saved, and the lack thereof is evidence one is bound for hell:

"Hereby we do know that we know Him if we keep His commandments. He that saith, I know Him, and keepeth not His commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him." - 1 John 2:3-4 KJV

Is this correct, or is there another way to interpret this verse?

As sure and true as this seems to the human mind it is not true

... it only depends upon God's faithfulness

... else how could any of us be saved?

I would like some thoughts on 1 John 5:3-4...

“For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.”

Could this mean that God’s commandments are a joy and delight to the Christian? For example that when we follow Jesus we find joy in that?

You're conclusions are false for these two reasons:

1) A person can't be simultaneously "escaped" and "entangled" any more than a woman can be simultaneously pregnant and not pregnant, so your claim these people were "never changed" is total bulldookey.

2 The dog and sow are part of a Hebrew Chiasm, a form of Hebrew poetry in which ideas -- not words -- are rhymed...which means there's a parallelism between the dog and sow.

The "washed" sow presents to us a change from it's wretched state in the mire to a risen, ennobled stature -- and the Chiasm demands the same experience apply to the dog - he went from eating vomit to an obviously more nutritious, wholesome diet.

When you stop trusting in that illegit OSAS License to Sin, you'll accept Jesus' words that saved, blood-washed, heaven-bound saints who kill their agape cold and dead through the practice of iniquity will not "endure unto the end" and will be lost.

I am thinking keep in this sense could also mean observe the commandments. So, it isn’t about perfection.

I am open to thoughts on this. I don’t know Greek.

I am thinking keep in this sense could also mean observe the commandments. So, it isn’t about perfection.

I am open to thoughts on this. I don’t know Greek.

It’s a waste of time trying to explain spiritual truths to you, your hatred of a doctrine has blinded you to truth.

What's the hard part? The text is so plain, even a child can understand. We know that we know Jesus if we're keeping His law because "the carnal mind...is not subject to the law", and we are lying if we say we know Jesus but continue in commandment breaking.

IOW, the sinner has no hope of keeping the law because he has no indwelling power of the Savior to keep it, while the saint has no excuse for breaking the law because victory over all sin and temptation is guaranteed.

For the saint, it's not a matter of skill, but the will.

Except what you seem to be implying is close to perfectionism. Where then is the dividing line where you fell from his commands to far since all sin?

Because God said he who began a good work will complete it

because God said we have been given the spirit as a seal

because God said he will never leave nor forsake us,

because god said if one of his sheep leaves he will leave the whole flock to go find that lost sheep, and the sheep hears his voice and returns,

because God said he will chasten those who are his,

because God said he has perfected forever those who are being sanctified

because god said whoever believes in him will not be put to shame

because God said whoever eats the bread from heaven will never hunger, will never die, will live forever has eternal life and his assurance he will raise them on the last day,

because God said we have been given every spiritual blessing in Christ the moment we hear the word of truth the gospel of our salvation, and entrusted our eternity to him

because God said whoever walked away in unbelief is an antichrist, and never was part of the church, if they were, they never would have left

i can go on and on and on,

if one can leave and surrender salvation and end up in hell after being born again, adopted and given the spirit, then all the things I just mentioned are lies, and God failed,

I think we all agree that no one can kidnap us or steal us out of the hand of God, but I am addressing the fact that we must abide in the vine and not voluntarily walk away from Him. You will simply insist that such a person was not saved in the first place. You write your own dictionaries and completely ignore the true meanings of words like "apostate". Not much I can say to people who go to those lengths to forge their own doctrines.

Yes he does,

but if this is required for salvation, then we are basically under law, you better get those animal sacrifices started, because Jesus died once for all, and if you cant have faith in that, all you have left is the law,