by Grace and through faith

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.

Soyeong

Active member
Oct 11, 2023
846
101
43
#61
can the Law produce righteousness?
No, that was never the goal of why we should obey it. Character traits in general are not produced by our works, but rather the only way to attain a character trait is through faith that we ought to be doers of that trait, through becoming someone who has a character trait means becoming someone who is a doer of that trait. For example, it is not the case that we produce courageousness as the result of having first done a certain amount of courageous works, but rather the only way to become courageous is through faith that we ouch to be a doer of courageous works, becoming someone who is courageous means become someone who is a doer of courageous works, and the same is true of righteousness, and other character traits. Believing that we ought to be a doer of the character traits of God is what it means to believe in Him.
 

notmyown

Senior Member
May 26, 2016
4,927
1,272
113
#62
No, that was never the goal of why we should obey it. Character traits in general are not produced by our works, but rather the only way to attain a character trait is through faith that we ought to be doers of that trait, through becoming someone who has a character trait means becoming someone who is a doer of that trait. For example, it is not the case that we produce courageousness as the result of having first done a certain amount of courageous works, but rather the only way to become courageous is through faith that we ouch to be a doer of courageous works, becoming someone who is courageous means become someone who is a doer of courageous works, and the same is true of righteousness, and other character traits. Believing that we ought to be a doer of the character traits of God is what it means to believe in Him.
thank you! do you think our faith ought to be in something higher than what we can achieve?
 

Evmur

Well-known member
Feb 28, 2021
5,219
2,618
113
London
christianchat.com
#63
No, that was never the goal of why we should obey it. Character traits in general are not produced by our works, but rather the only way to attain a character trait is through faith that we ought to be doers of that trait, through becoming someone who has a character trait means becoming someone who is a doer of that trait. For example, it is not the case that we produce courageousness as the result of having first done a certain amount of courageous works, but rather the only way to become courageous is through faith that we ouch to be a doer of courageous works, becoming someone who is courageous means become someone who is a doer of courageous works, and the same is true of righteousness, and other character traits. Believing that we ought to be a doer of the character traits of God is what it means to believe in Him.
Using this analogy

Abraham is the Father of our faith ... he was not under the law
 

Evmur

Well-known member
Feb 28, 2021
5,219
2,618
113
London
christianchat.com
#64
“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.

( I could stop now and explain everything I think that verse means could write a whole book or I could share some more scripture about what that statement means in the bible )

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭2:8-10‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved;

but he that believeth not shall be damned.”
‭‭Mark‬ ‭16:15-16‬ ‭KJV‬‬

that is salvation by gods grace in the gospel you find teachings of repentance , obedience to God , we learn about his return and our redemption and we learn what good is in his sight and we learn to actually do the things he’s taught us . Just listening to Jesus preach the gospel will teach us all those elements now listen to Paul the gospel is sent out to all people and so just after Jesus died and rose

“preach the gospel to every creature.

He that believeth and is baptized

shall be saved; “

Now paul some years after he’s made a true statement already “ your saved by grace “

“For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,


teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God our Saviour Jesus Christ;

who gave himself for us,that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.”
‭‭Titus‬ ‭2:11-15‬ ‭KJV‬‬


Through faith

“ So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭10:17‬ ‭KJV‬‬

go preach the gospel to all
People
in the world whoever believes and is baptized shall be saved

whoever doesn’t believe shall be damned “

Gods grace that offers salvation to all men is the gospel that he preached and lived and fuflilled and then sent forth and said tell everyone and believers shall be saved ….

just because the New Testament teaches that we have to repent doesn’t mean it’s not grace paup says specifically Gods grace that saves and has appeared to all teaches us who believe “repentance and obedience

teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world”

If we were to just read a verse that says you’re saved by grace not works And never read what grace means biblically or what gods grace teaches and accomplished in us or tells us why Jesus died for us what was he doing ultimately when he laid down his life for us sinners who were condemned ?

who gave himself for us,that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

The reason Jesus and all of his apostles like Peter and Paul taught that we have to repent and do good is because that’s part of how we’re saved by grace through faith

consider letting the Bible explain what the verses in the Bible mean it always does in these modern times you can download a Bible app type in key words subjects like “ grace “ or salvation “ and you’ll find tens of even hundreds of verses explaining it all well .

The thing is it’s often not what we thought before we read it plainly and clearly then the challenge becomes “ ca. I believe what the word says even though I thought something else about God ? Or grace ? Or salvstion ? Essentially can I accept a gods word over my own thinking and logic ?

Some seem To see the Bible as just a book but what if it’s Gods only wrotten and witnessed and confirmed message to mankind on earth written over thousands of years and preserved for all .

and what if he promised it and he would remain the same forever so all could hear and be saved ?

maybe the knowledge and understanding that’s already written down in the holy Bible is all true and right and the idea is that we would hear it and take it as gods true word and believe and let it change what we used to think and perceive about God ? Maybe the idea of the Bible is we can all know the same and true God making the same true offer to all so we can hear and choose
Teaching us is a world of difference to commanding us.

We are saved and then we learn how to live before the Lord. But we walk before the Lord either obediently or disobediently ...

you don't like that, so what? this is God's business and you are intruding upon it.

We encourage, we exhort, we may rebuke, crucially we teach good wholesome doctrine. We may even expel from our fellowship but still those who have been saved by grace through faith are in God's hands.
 

Soyeong

Active member
Oct 11, 2023
846
101
43
#65
Using this analogy

Abraham is the Father of our faith ... he was not under the law
God is sovereign, so we are all under His law and obligated to refrain from sin.

In Genesis 18:19, God knew Avraham that he would teach his children and those of his household to walk in His way by doing righteousness and justice that the Lord may bring to him all that He has promised. In Genesis 26:4-5, God will multiply Abraham's children as the stars in the heaven, to his children He will give all of these lands, and through his children all of the nations of the earth will be blessed because he heard God's voice and guarded His statutes, commandments, and laws. In Deuteronomy 30:16, if the children of Abraham will love God with all of their heart by walking in His ways in obedience to His commandments, statutes, and laws, then they will live and multiply and God will bless them in the land that they go to possess. So while Abraham is the Father of our faith in regard to having faith in the promise, the promise was made to him and brought about because walked in God's way in obedience to His law, he taught his children and those of his household to do that in accordance with spreading the Gospel, and because they did that.

Teaching us is a world of difference to commanding us.

We are saved and then we learn how to live before the Lord. But we walk before the Lord either obediently or disobediently ...

you don't like that, so what? this is God's business and you are intruding upon it.

We encourage, we exhort, we may rebuke, crucially we teach good wholesome doctrine. We may even expel from our fellowship but still those who have been saved by grace through faith are in God's hands.
In Titus 2:11-13, it doesn't say that we are saved first and then we are trained to do those works, but rather it describes the content of God's gift of salvation as being trained by grace to do those works.
 

Soyeong

Active member
Oct 11, 2023
846
101
43
#66
thank you! do you think our faith ought to be in something higher than what we can achieve?
If God commanded something that was beyond our ability to achieve, then we could rightly blame God for our failure to achieve it, which is why God gave commands that are not too difficult for us to obey (Deuteronomy 30:11-14, Romans 10:5-8).
 

John146

Senior Member
Jan 13, 2016
17,111
3,687
113
#67
If God commanded something that was beyond our ability to achieve, then we could rightly blame God for our failure to achieve it, which is why God gave commands that are not too difficult for us to obey (Deuteronomy 30:11-14, Romans 10:5-8).
And then he gave the sacrificial system because of man's failure to obey the law. Animal sacrifices could never take away sin.
 

know1

Senior Member
Aug 27, 2012
3,100
180
63
#68
This issue here is salvation.

It says we have been saved. It is a completed act.

In this sense, As paul said here and in Romans 4 and titus 3 and other areas. This gift of salvation this gift of rescue, this gift of being made safe, or as scripture said, put in a place of rest, because we have ceased from trying to work to earn Gods favor and be restored with him, a work that was impossible to do..

This is the point at which we are adopted. and made a child of God. this is where our christian walk begins

All the works come after this moment, They are a result of salvation. If we are still trying to work to receive the grace of salvation. we have missed the point of the gospel to begin with. And we will fail to be saved. because we have yet to fully repent and trust God



If you trust in God for salvation. You have come to the point you have confessed and acknowledge that your trust in self and lack of trust in God in your life decisions are why you were dead to begin with. No one is going to trust in God for salvation. and think that is enough, they can go on living like they did.

Anyone who thinks this just proves they have not really repented. And do not really trust God to begin with.

They may have belief, but that belief has not moved to actual saving faith



Once again,

You can not read eph 2: 8-9 about how we have been saved. and add works.

That is a false gospel. and rejects the grace of God.
That would depend on the type of work you are referring to.
There is a work that will keep you from God's grace and there is a work that will put you in the grace of God.
Works of the flesh and works of the law will keep you from being in the grace of God. However, works of faith will put you in the grace of God. The Bible is not referring to works works of faith as, going to church, reading the Bible, giving to the poor and the like. Those are good works, but they are works of the law. A work of faith, in most cases, is a single physical act corresponding to your faith, which causes you to be placed in God's grace, and at the same time, causing God's hand to move in the situation.
This kind of work is what James talks about, and is not the same as that which is mentioned in Ephesians 2:9. Verse 9 is referring to works of the law, not works of faith.
 

Soyeong

Active member
Oct 11, 2023
846
101
43
#69
And then he gave the sacrificial system because of man's failure to obey the law. Animal sacrifices could never take away sin.
If that were the case, then God wouldn’t have needed to give a sacrificial system in the first place because we wouldn’t be the ones who are at fault for failing to do something that was beyond our ability to do.
 

Everlasting-Grace

Well-known member
Dec 18, 2021
5,887
1,863
113
#70
That would depend on the type of work you are referring to.
There is a work that will keep you from God's grace and there is a work that will put you in the grace of God.
Works of the flesh and works of the law will keep you from being in the grace of God. However, works of faith will put you in the grace of God. The Bible is not referring to works works of faith as, going to church, reading the Bible, giving to the poor and the like. Those are good works, but they are works of the law. A work of faith, in most cases, is a single physical act corresponding to your faith, which causes you to be placed in God's grace, and at the same time, causing God's hand to move in the situation.
This kind of work is what James talks about, and is not the same as that which is mentioned in Ephesians 2:9. Verse 9 is referring to works of the law, not works of faith.
Not of works

Jesus said it is the work of God that we believe.

The penalty of sin is death. Not your good works.

Paul makes it clear. it is NOT by works of righteousness which we have done, but by his mercy he saved us.

You can;t save yourselF
 

Soyeong

Active member
Oct 11, 2023
846
101
43
#71
That would depend on the type of work you are referring to.
There is a work that will keep you from God's grace and there is a work that will put you in the grace of God.
Works of the flesh and works of the law will keep you from being in the grace of God. However, works of faith will put you in the grace of God. The Bible is not referring to works works of faith as, going to church, reading the Bible, giving to the poor and the like. Those are good works, but they are works of the law. A work of faith, in most cases, is a single physical act corresponding to your faith, which causes you to be placed in God's grace, and at the same time, causing God's hand to move in the situation.
This kind of work is what James talks about, and is not the same as that which is mentioned in Ephesians 2:9. Verse 9 is referring to works of the law, not works of faith.
In Acts 5:32, the Spirit has been given to those who obey God, so obedience to God is part of the way to receive the Spirit, however, Galatians 3:1-3 denies that “works of the law” are part of the way to receive the Spirit, therefore that phrase does not refer to obedience to God. In Romans 3:27-31, Paul contrasted a law of works with a law of faith, so works of the law are of works he said that our faith upholds God’s law, so it is of faith, and a law that our faith upholds can’t be referring to the same law as the works of the law that are not of faith in Galatians 3:10-12. Furthermore, Galatians 3:10-12 associates a quote from Habakkuk 2:4 saying that the righteous shall live by faith with a quote from Leviticus 18:5 that the one who obeys God’s law will attain life by it, so the righteous who are living by faith does not refer to a manner of living that is not in obedience to God’s law. Likewise, in Isaiah 51:7, the righteous are those on whose heart is God’s law, and in 1 John 3:7, whoever does what is righteous in obedience to it is righteous. In Psalms 119:29-30, he wanted to put false ways far from him, for God to be gracious to him by teaching him to obey His law, and he chose the way of faith by setting it before him, so this has always been the one and only way of salvation by grace through faith.
 

Soyeong

Active member
Oct 11, 2023
846
101
43
#72
Not of works

Jesus said it is the work of God that we believe.

The penalty of sin is death. Not your good works.

Paul makes it clear. it is NOT by works of righteousness which we have done, but by his mercy he saved us.

You can;t save yourselF
Someone who is trying to save themselves is not relying on anyone else, so it is contradictory to think that someone is trying to save themselves by obediently relying on God’s instructions. God’s law was not given as instructions for how to save ourselves, but rather God graciously teaching us to live in obedience to it is the way that He saves us from not living in obedience to it (Titus 2:11-13).
 

Everlasting-Grace

Well-known member
Dec 18, 2021
5,887
1,863
113
#73
Someone who is trying to save themselves is not relying on anyone else, so it is contradictory to think that someone is trying to save themselves by obediently relying on God’s instructions. God’s law was not given as instructions for how to save ourselves, but rather God graciously teaching us to live in obedience to it is the way that He saves us from not living in obedience to it (Titus 2:11-13).
Um no

He said we can not save ourselves. We need saved.

Thats what the cross did
 

know1

Senior Member
Aug 27, 2012
3,100
180
63
#74
Not of works

Jesus said it is the work of God that we believe.

The penalty of sin is death. Not your good works.

Paul makes it clear. it is NOT by works of righteousness which we have done, but by his mercy he saved us.

You can;t save yourselF
That is true concerning works of the law and of the flesh as well as moral works, but you failed to mention or acknowledge works of faith, which is contrary to the above mentioned works.
For example, a person who verbally says what he believes in his heart, is an act of Faith, also known as a work of faith.
Failure to act on what you believe in your heart will give you zero results, as in, no change to the current status quo.
In other words, God does not act on what you believe until you act on what you believe, and speaking what you believe is a simple form of a work done in faith.
Paul calls that, the word of faith.
Once that is accomplished, you have just entered into God's kingdom and his grace thereby moving the hand of God in that which you are believing for.
Just as we are not constantly forgiven automatically without the believer's repentance, I believe, neither are we constantly and automatically in the Kingdom of God and in his grace and favor. Even as we are not constantly walking in faith or in the Spirit.
Works of The flesh and of the law, you can do without God's help or helping hand in the situation, but works of Faith, only God can perform, after you act on it. Such as one receiving salvation, or healing, or Deliverance, or answered prayers. And God will perform that which we believe in our heart, if we act on what we believe, as Abraham did with Isaac.
 

know1

Senior Member
Aug 27, 2012
3,100
180
63
#75
In Acts 5:32, the Spirit has been given to those who obey God, so obedience to God is part of the way to receive the Spirit, however, Galatians 3:1-3 denies that “works of the law” are part of the way to receive the Spirit, therefore that phrase does not refer to obedience to God. In Romans 3:27-31, Paul contrasted a law of works with a law of faith, so works of the law are of works he said that our faith upholds God’s law, so it is of faith, and a law that our faith upholds can’t be referring to the same law as the works of the law that are not of faith in Galatians 3:10-12. Furthermore, Galatians 3:10-12 associates a quote from Habakkuk 2:4 saying that the righteous shall live by faith with a quote from Leviticus 18:5 that the one who obeys God’s law will attain life by it, so the righteous who are living by faith does not refer to a manner of living that is not in obedience to God’s law. Likewise, in Isaiah 51:7, the righteous are those on whose heart is God’s law, and in 1 John 3:7, whoever does what is righteous in obedience to it is righteous. In Psalms 119:29-30, he wanted to put false ways far from him, for God to be gracious to him by teaching him to obey His law, and he chose the way of faith by setting it before him, so this has always been the one and only way of salvation by grace through faith.
Paul simplified what a work of faith is in Romans 10:8-10, and that being, One believes unto righteousness but salvation or answered prayer, is made or granted, only until after they have acted on what they believe in their heart.
 

Everlasting-Grace

Well-known member
Dec 18, 2021
5,887
1,863
113
#76
That is true concerning works of the law and of the flesh as well as moral works, but you failed to mention or acknowledge works of faith, which is contrary to the above mentioned works.
For example, a person who verbally says what he believes in his heart, is an act of Faith, also known as a work of faith.
Failure to act on what you believe in your heart will give you zero results, as in, no change to the current status quo.
In other words, God does not act on what you believe until you act on what you believe, and speaking what you believe is a simple form of a work done in faith.
Paul calls that, the word of faith.
Once that is accomplished, you have just entered into God's kingdom and his grace thereby moving the hand of God in that which you are believing for.
Just as we are not constantly forgiven automatically without the believer's repentance, I believe, neither are we constantly and automatically in the Kingdom of God and in his grace and favor. Even as we are not constantly walking in faith or in the Spirit.
Works of The flesh and of the law, you can do without God's help or helping hand in the situation, but works of Faith, only God can perform, after you act on it. Such as one receiving salvation, or healing, or Deliverance, or answered prayers. And God will perform that which we believe in our heart, if we act on what we believe, as Abraham did with Isaac.
a work Is a work is a work

You work to earn a wage

A gift is freely given, but the one who works for it
 

John146

Senior Member
Jan 13, 2016
17,111
3,687
113
#77
If that were the case, then God wouldn’t have needed to give a sacrificial system in the first place because we wouldn’t be the ones who are at fault for failing to do something that was beyond our ability to do.
That's the whole point. The law showed us our need for a Savior!

Galatians 3:
24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.
26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
 

turbosixx

Active member
Sep 16, 2023
541
123
43
#78
Using this analogy

Abraham is the Father of our faith ... he was not under the law
He wasn't under the gospel either.
Heb. 11:39 And all these, having gained approval through their faith, did not receive what was promised, 40 because God had provided something better for us, so that apart from us they would not be made perfect.

We are saved by the gospel and we must obey the gospel.
2 Thess. 1: when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels 8 in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.
 

Soyeong

Active member
Oct 11, 2023
846
101
43
#80
Um no

He said we can not save ourselves. We need saved.

Thats what the cross did
In Titus 2:11-13, it doesn't say that we save ourselves. by doing those works, but rather it describes our salvation as God be gracious to us by teaching us to do those works. If you don't accept the truth of those verses, then you should be straightforward about it.

a work Is a work is a work

You work to earn a wage

A gift is freely given, but the one who works for it
Works can be done for any number of reasons other than in order to earn a wage that are compatible with gifts. For example, the content of a gift can itself be the experience of doing something, such as giving someone the opportunity to experience driving a Ferrari for an hour, where the gift requires them to do the work of driving it in order to have that experience, but where doing that work has nothing to do with earning the opportunity to drive it as a wage. Similarly, the content of God's gift of eternal life is the experience of knowing God and Jesus (John 17:3) and the gift of God's law is His instructions for how that have that experience (Exodus 33:13, Matthew 7:23), not for how to earn eternal life as a wage.