Is losing your life a work?

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brmicke

Senior Member
Sep 6, 2012
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Since Jesus told us that we must lose our lives and live for Him in order to inherit eternal life does this make it a command from the Lord to work for salvation?

Mr 8:35 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it.

I think that this verse demolishes those who say we are not commanded to work for our salvation. We must lose our lives for Christ - this is definitely a work. Do you agree and why or why not.

I will step out of the way and see what this opinion generates.

Brian
 
brmicke said:
Since Jesus told us that we must lose our lives and live for Him in order to inherit eternal life does this make it a command from the Lord to work for salvation?

Mr 8:35 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it.

I think that this verse demolishes those who say we are not commanded to work for our salvation. We must lose our lives for Christ - this is definitely a work. Do you agree and why or why not.

I will step out of the way and see what this opinion generates.

Brian
Click to expand...

Just for an example, a person job is their livelyhood or you can say that it is their life. and if there were a situation at their job that if they has told the truth they'll lose it, but if they lie, their job will be saved. If the person had choose to lie, has surrender their soul to be with the devil; and which they had lose their life.

Matthew 10:28Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
 
It is a great work, it's way is difficult, and their be few that find it. He said knock and the door will be opened. So yes you have to knock, which one could say thats work. Its not really a work, its letting Jesus in your life, until you can say, It is no longer I who live, but Christ that lives in me.
 
It does not demolish the saying "we do not work for our salvation".

That saying is referring to how others view their religions. They must perfect themselves through good WORKS in order to get into 'heaven'.

We must surrender our hearts to Jesus and admit without Him we are nothing. And even given the opportunity of doing an eternities time span of good works will not get us into heaven.

I have not worked for my salvation... It was given to me... I did not take the punishment for my sins... I was forgiven... By God's grace alone...
 
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Like all works that prove our faith, it is not by our efforts, but by God's efforts in us. The only thing we do is to avoid interfering. So that we will know not to interfere, is why Jesus tells us to lose our lives.
 
Peace be with you, this are the LORD's words after a short time HE taught the crowd, saying; Matthew 7;
v24 "Therefore whosoever heareth (hear) these sayings of mine and doeth (does) them, I will liken (alike) him unto a wise man, which (whom) build his house (people under him or her) upon a rock.
v25 ................................................................(tribulations and persecution will come to test foundations)
v26 "And every one that heareth (hear) these saying of mine, and doeth (does) them not, shall be likened (alike) unto a foolish man, which (whom) build his house upon the sand.
v27 .................................................................(same as v25)

1. The wise man's house did not fall upon test and trial because his was founded onto a rock
2. The foolish man's house fell and great was the fall of it because his was only founded on the sand without any foundation support.

Who is the wise and who is the foolish builder among Christians?

May GOD the FATHER of our LORD JESUS CHRIST bless all in spirit and truth.
 
Hi - Just so you know my position I have copied my post from the thread started by "Least" which is called "works", and put it here as well.

It is my opinion that "works" are necessary, but that it begins and ends with God, Just as Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith. Just as Fred referenced the verse which admonishes us to "do the sayings of Jesus", v 24 in the previous post. Similar to the verse that states that God gives a person the ability to gain wealth (gaining wealth could be considered a "work", Deut 8:18).

I feel that "works" are necessary and commanded, but God gives us the ability to do the works. It truly bothers me when people say that there are "no works necessary" or that there is "nothing we can do to inherit eternal life". The verse I most commonly refer to as a proof scripture for the "necessity of works" is the one posted here previously in which Jesus said we must lose our lives to inherit eternal life. A similar verse would be where Paul says He dies daily. "Dying daily" would be a definite work, and God would have through His "Grace" (titus 2:11-12), given the Apostle Paul the ability to do the "work called dying to sin daily".

In addition to asking if you agree with my position on this subject I guess I am also wondering whether you think that this opinion is an accurate way to state the positions of the scriptures, because I certainly don't want to misrepresent the word of God.

I'll state my summary statement again for clarity sake - We are definitely commanded to "work" to inherit eternal life, but it is God who gives us the ability to do these works, we simply decide whether or not to obey and put our faith in God and Christ.

Pasted below is my post from the thread mentioned above.
=========================================================
The phrase works vs grace is deceptive. Because grace is what teaches us to do the works. Grace teaches us to abstain from ungodliness, titus 2:11-12.

If we accomplish anything for God it is because He is doing it and letting us be a part of it.

Isa 26:12 ¶ LORD, thou wilt ordain peace for us: for thou also hast wrought all our works in us.

Joh 14:10 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.

Jesus Himself said "the Father in Him did the works. So maybe we should ask God to "work" through us to bring others to Christ.

Pr 24:12 If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it? and he that keepeth thy soul,
doth not he know it? and shall not he render to every man according to his works?

Since God does the work through us and then rewards or disciplines us for that work we should pray that God would be in us to will and do for His good pleasure, Phil 2:13.

Php 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

God does the work through us. We simply ask that His will be done through us and try an cooperate with Him, Thy Kingdom Come Thy Will be done on earth...

By the way we should also pray this way - God please keep me from sinning against you.
====================================================

Respectfully - Brian
 
brmicke said:
I think that this verse demolishes those who say we are not commanded to work for our salvation. We must lose our lives for Christ - this is definitely a work. Do you agree and why or why not.

Brian
Click to expand...

You were implying that WE work to keep our salvation...

You said "this verse demolishes those who say we are not commanded to work for our salvation."

Just letting you know why my post was the way it was...
 
Re: Is losing your life a work? I guess it could be considered so. When we lose our lives, we are giving it all to God so that this life iis not our own anymore. Through our giving it all, the Holy Spirit is able to work through us.
 
Peace be with you, dear Brian your carefulness is respected but do not remain in lack of understanding. of the whole picture of the LORD'S words. HE is our MASTER and Redeemed for all of us, from the FATHER with HIS HOLY SPIRIT. This was a Trinity unity, obedience, work and effort in response, to include and unify the forth member called now the body of CHRIST to be join heir with the Trinity to complete the remaining work, forming a new generation faith with action for the Kingdom of GOD called the church church.
You have quoted your defense Holy Scriptures and i have quoted from the MASTER KING JESUS's command to those who listen and pay attention to HIM, who was sent to HIM by the FATHER who pour out the gift of initial faith in them to abide/keep/continue in the SON's words.
Put them altogether and you will know there are efforts and work from both sides. On one side, the assured promise of GOD through HIS SON's words in the New Covenant. On the other side, is our respond from the initial gift of faith from GOD to draw near to HIS SON the MESSIAH. Then now listen and pay attention to all HIS teachings of GOD, the true manna from Heaven and by the help of the HOLY SPIRIT our Heavenly Teacher. This True Teacher give us spiritual revelational understanding called 'sound doctrine' to the truth in the Holy Bible. Then we will acknowledge in faith because we believe in all of them and is the truth. Since now that is our grown and healthy faith in the knowledge of the Kingdom mentality, then we put them into practices. And in the progress of laboring for the Kingdom in these practices, we are able to, little by little forget 'self' in the process. Then GOD in CHRIST the HOLY SPIRIT, will be our assistant guiding us all the way to the end, to achieve the glorious crown of eternal life.
Here is summed up Holy Scripture for Christian of GOD's help, said by the LORD Himself to all Disciples - John 14;
v21 "Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my FATHER, and I will love him and manifest myself to him."
v22 ?????????
v23 ........."If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and My FATHER will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him."
v24 "Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the FATHER's who sent me."
"Workout your salvation in fear and trembling." (in accordance to the Word, who is CHRIST from GOD)
"Faith without works is alone and dead."
In the natural world itself and it's faith, no one wants to remain alone and die like an alien, and this fears them where are they going to end up. They themselves do something (works) with each other, in order to blend in and measure up, so that they will not remain alone and alienated.
Judge for yourself, born again of the Kingdom of GOD, want to be alone and alienated?
Even in hell, people there will hate you and me, who have been 'lukewarm' while we had the chance.
Do not continue in the opinions and understandings of men and women, even to the very elect, yet we respect them.
But learn from the HOLY SPIRIT the anointing placed in you and me. When you are in trouble, they nor i, cannot or unable to fully help you, even in the day of judgement because we ourselves who have not completely forgotten 'self' are in trouble with the LORD.
Can you identify all of them, when it is hidden in them?
But the Holy Scripture in the Holy Bible and by the help of the HOLY SPIRIT, we can. This is in order, as according to the Word that we are able distinguish between the spirit of error and the spirit of truth, which operates in the church itself and with whom are we associating? How can we grow when mankind draws you back and down?
'But the truth based body of CHRIST, up lifts a person to excel in exceeding righteousness.' This pleases the very Living GOD Himself because we have not failed HIS SON our Redeemer and grief not HIS HOLY SPIRIT our Helper.
May GOD the FATHER of our LORD JESUS CHRIST keep you from deceptions and bless you in spirit and truth.
 
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The works of God are to believe on Him whom He sent.

When the Lord says you must lose your life he means that you must put Him first before everyone and everything. When the Lords will comes before your own you've lost your life for the sake of Christ.
 
brmicke said:
Since Jesus told us that we must lose our lives and live for Him in order to inherit eternal life does this make it a command from the Lord to work for salvation?

Mr 8:35 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it.

I think that this verse demolishes those who say we are not commanded to work for our salvation. We must lose our lives for Christ - this is definitely a work. Do you agree and why or why not.

I will step out of the way and see what this opinion generates.

Brian
Click to expand...


Hi Brian,
Surely you've read .. Eph 2:8-10By grace are you saved through faith, and that not of your selves, it is the Gift of God,(9) not of works, least any man should boast(10)for we are His workmanship....
Yes I agree it's a work, but not unto salvation. Salvation is a gift, do you work for your gifts? I don't I just recieve them.
Your true Faith produces works. We are under grace not works of the law for salvation.
 
A person is dieing in the hospital. His friend comes and visits him. They both claim to be of the spirit.
The friend prays to the Lord and asks if he could exchange places with the dieing man.
Now Jesus says there is no greater love than for a man to give his life for another.
Now the dieing person died. The friend lived. But...the friend offered his life in exchange for the dieing man.
My question: Would you say the friends prayer was a work of faith through the HS even though the friend was denied his request? It does say one of the fruits of the Spirit is LOVE and if you answer yes, that would prove through his loving works that he indeed had the HS abiding in him Yes?

And if the Lord had approved his request, the work was and is the Lords not the friends. For the friend has no power in himself to pull that one off.
 
Losing your life doesn't mean literally dying, though it can include that too. Losing things while you are still alive is "losing your life", much more hardcore. And whether it's a work you set yourself to or something that just happens, either way, if you follow Jesus, it's gonna happen.
 
brmicke said:
Since Jesus told us that we must lose our lives and live for Him in order to inherit eternal life does this make it a command from the Lord to work for salvation?

Mr 8:35 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it.

I think that this verse demolishes those who say we are not commanded to work for our salvation. We must lose our lives for Christ - this is definitely a work. Do you agree and why or why not.

I will step out of the way and see what this opinion generates.

Brian
Click to expand...

I think losing one's life in service to God is indeed a work of faith.:)
 
reject-tech said:
Losing your life doesn't mean literally dying, though it can include that too. Losing things while you are still alive is "losing your life", much more hardcore. And whether it's a work you set yourself to or something that just happens, either way, if you follow Jesus, it's gonna happen.
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My friend you miss the spiritual side of this. You lose your life in Christ yet gain it through Christ. Chew on that my friend.
 
What I said above is good meat better than a t-bone, But no offense milk is given where milk is needed. In some points I still drink milk.
 
reject-tech said:
Losing your life doesn't mean literally dying, though it can include that too. Losing things while you are still alive is "losing your life", much more hardcore. And whether it's a work you set yourself to or something that just happens, either way, if you follow Jesus, it's gonna happen.
Click to expand...

WoW losing your life literally isn't hardcore. Try it some time Like the Lord did on the cross, then you'll know what hard core is friend. And yes I know what you're saying for the unliteral meaning and that's hard, but not hardcore. I've done it for years and His grace is sufficient for me.
 
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