Not By Works

[SovereignGrace]

And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.[Galatians 6:9]

She won't reap, seeing she fainted. She lost her faith. Oh no!!!

 

[preacher4truth]

Howdy!!


Nope.


And those who are truly His will do them. I trust God's word when Apostle Paul wrote For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.[Philippians 1:6]


Nope.

Yep.......

 

[PeterJens]

Howdy!!
Nope.
And those who are truly His will do them. I trust God's word when Apostle Paul wrote For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.[Philippians 1:6]
Nope.

Nope is not helpful, just obtuse.
Ofcourse if I do things without being born again, and seeing God working in me, I will fail.

But if you want to say doing things in Gods strength is different than obeying His word,
learning to express love and the life in Christ, you need to spit it out.

Do I wake up in Gods strength every morning? When I see someone in need, do I help
them in Gods strength or my own?

If I am Christs, and am washed clean, depending only on His grace and love, all I do is
in Gods strength. If I let worldly motivations take a hold, then I am doing it for the
worlds benefit and not the Lords. So a clear heart and a good conscience help with
this.

God has given us authority to be His expression of His will and love to the world here
today. Abiding in Christ, walking in His ways, is walking in His strength.

Maybe you have never experienced it so it is very new to you.

 

[1ofthem]

VERY GOOD SONG! Please post that song on my thread "WHAT KIND OF CHRISTIAN MUSIC BLESSES YOUR HEART?"
http://christianchat.com/christian-...nd-christian-music-blesses-your-heart-27.html

That song is an INSTANT CLASSIC! It definitely blessed my heart.

Thanks VCO...I've always found that song a blessing as well....I posted it on your thread. I don't think I had ever saw your thread before....Your thread really is a blessing...I am always looking for good Christian music so thanks for pointing your thread out

 

[PeterJens]

The odd thing about some believers, they just have one concept lodged in their mind.

We are called to live in Gods strength in everything we do.
Do you pray the presence of God wherever you walk, in every conversation, over
every person you meet? Do their concerns touch your heart, and the desire to open
up and encourage them along the way?

The problem is not failing to find Gods strength, it is in taking it seriously and knowing
it encompasses every attitude and approach to everyone we meet.

 

[preacher4truth]

The odd thing about some...they just have one concept lodged in their mind.

I hear that! Yours is the incessant false assumption and accusation that none do anything for God at all, while, of course you yourself do.

Luke 18:9, 11.

 

[PeterJens]

I think what might be helpful for you guys is to think of things that I am a blessing
about.

It can be had to realise we write people off, because we only actually accept a small
group of like minded people into our lives. But one simple test of this is to find good
things to say about everyone you meet. If you find it impossible to do about someone,
it shows your own bias and judgementalism, that needs to be brought before the cross.

On cc I remember reading a few sentences which were very condemnatory, to which I
responded. It was like I was the worst thing ever. But the truth is we are so scared to
open up, we close down to only those we feel safe about. No wonder love has such a hard
time in our hearts, and we find fruitfulness such a difficult issue.

 

[PeterJens]

I hear that! Yours is the incessant false assumption and accusation that none do anything for God at all, while, of course you yourself do.

Luke 18:9, 11.

p4t - Hello. Are you listening? God uses everyone, and millions of people are doing things
for God. I am holding up the cause, we are called to encourage, to share, to be open, to
be welcoming, to think the best of others, to walk in the light, to deal with sin in our lives,
and help serve one another.

So my friend, you want to say things very strongly, but what happens if they are wrong?
Does that not undermine the force with which you say it, and somewhat shows your lack
of insight?

I once shared to a small home group about the garden of eden. They thought I was nuts
because I talked about Adam and Eve as historical characters. It was not very helpful, but
I was young and did not pay much attention to the audience. So how much attention are you
paying to me, and what are your goals? Demolish or build up, lead to the Lord, or rebuke and
chastise?

I can imagine you want to make your points and they must be FORCEFUL or no one will listen.
But you have good things to share, and force can destroy the meaning. I hope this helps.

God bless you, my friend.

 

[Rosemaryx]

Hi all...I am just in the middle of reading Luke, but I have a rising coming up in me to learn more about who I am in Christ...I have learned so much from my bible about me being saved, and I have learned tons from posters in here that I am saved by Gods Grace through faith, and nothing that I do can be added to that, I am sealed, I am His child...But now I want to read about who I am, I know a bit but I know there is so much more but not sure where to read, I thought I would ask in here because I know someone will help me, now I know how I am saved, I want to know who I am...I believe this is what the Holy Spirit is wanting to show me, because as I keep reading through Luke, I keep asking Who am i ...xox...

 

[eternally-gratefull]

Hi all...I am just in the middle of reading Luke, but I have a rising coming up in me to learn more about who I am in Christ...I have learned so much from my bible about me being saved, and I have learned tons from posters in here that I am saved by Gods Grace through faith, and nothing that I do can be added to that, I am sealed, I am His child...But now I want to read about who I am, I know a bit but I know there is so much more but not sure where to read, I thought I would ask in here because I know someone will help me, now I know how I am saved, I want to know who I am...I believe this is what the Holy Spirit is wanting to show me, because as I keep reading through Luke, I keep asking Who am i ...xox...

Ephesians is a great place to start. First few chapters, study them hard.

 

[1ofthem]

p4t - Hello. Are you listening? God uses everyone, and millions of people are doing things
for God. I am holding up the cause, we are called to encourage, to share, to be open, to
be welcoming, to think the best of others, to walk in the light, to deal with sin in our lives,
and help serve one another.

So my friend, you want to say things very strongly, but what happens if they are wrong?
Does that not undermine the force with which you say it, and somewhat shows your lack
of insight?

I once shared to a small home group about the garden of eden. They thought I was nuts
because I talked about Adam and Eve as historical characters. It was not very helpful, but
I was young and did not pay much attention to the audience. So how much attention are you
paying to me, and what are your goals? Demolish or build up, lead to the Lord, or rebuke and
chastise?

I can imagine you want to make your points and they must be FORCEFUL or no one will listen.
But you have good things to share, and force can destroy the meaning. I hope this helps.

God bless you, my friend.

Amen…To me it’s all about love. God loves us and has called us to love each other and care about each other. He has not called us to beat others with his Word but to encourage and uplift others.

His word speaks for its self. We should show love for all of our brothers and sister in Christ. We may have different backgrounds, upbringings, and be in a different level of understanding, but God loves all of his children and knows perfectly how to teach and guide each one of us. He don’t need me or anyone else to go around beating it in to others.

 

[Rosemaryx]

Ephesians is a great place to start. First few chapters, study them hard.

Thank you EG...I am looking forward to it, I feel the Holy Spirit is urging me forward now I know about what it means to be saved, next step is who am I in Christ, there are so many words that I read other people posting that I do not understand through lack of knowledge, Gods wisdom will show me...This thread has been a great help to me and you have been one of them so I thank you...xox...

 

[1ofthem]

Thank you EG...I am looking forward to it, I feel the Holy Spirit is urging me forward now I know about what it means to be saved, next step is who am I in Christ, there are so many words that I read other people posting that I do not understand through lack of knowledge, Gods wisdom will show me...This thread has been a great help to me and you have been one of them so I thank you...xox...

Amen sister...God bless you...Ephesians is a great place to start...I started to post it, but EG beat me to the Draw...lol
Seriously though, the Lord led me to read it everyday for a long time. I still read other parts of the Bible and studied them daily, but I was led to read Ephesians everyday. It was and still is a great help.

 

[BillG]

I think what might be helpful for you guys is to think of things that I am a blessing
about.

It can be had to realise we write people off, because we only actually accept a small
group of like minded people into our lives. But one simple test of this is to find good
things to say about everyone you meet. If you find it impossible to do about someone,
it shows your own bias and judgementalism, that needs to be brought before the cross.

On cc I remember reading a few sentences which were very condemnatory, to which I
responded. It was like I was the worst thing ever. But the truth is we are so scared to
open up, we close down to only those we feel safe about. No wonder love has such a hard
time in our hearts, and we find fruitfulness such a difficult issue.

It can be easy to fall foul of what you have said above.
Afterall none of us are all perfect.
Hopefully we are all seeking to grow in love, compassion, kindness and gentleness that is required of us by our Lord.

I am not saying life should be a love fest as such but it can be. Even when we disagree there is a way to do it and if we feel that someone needs correction there is a way to do it.

I remember once on a retreat in one meeting the person said "If you were asked to say 100 things about someone one and you said 99 good things and 1 bad thing they are going to concentrate on that 1 bad thing"

As for me PJ there are things that you have said and done that have blessed me.
I know your heart is for people to grow in Jesus, hurting damaged people healed. The prisoner set free.

Your brother in Christ

Bill

 

[Rosemaryx]

Amen sister...God bless you...Ephesians is a great place to start...I started to post it, but EG beat me to the Draw...lol
Seriously though, the Lord led me to read it everyday for a long time. I still read other parts of the Bible and studied them daily, but I was led to read Ephesians everyday. It was and still is a great help.

Thank you 1ofthem ...This is a great help, I now know what to focus on...I was worrying slightly because my head was going round and round with how I am saved to the point I felt full up with it if you get my meaning, I believe this is why the Holy Spirit is showing me I need to walk on now and start chewing some meat...Even as I type I feel ready for more, I know longer have to go over and over about am I saved or not, this is written in my heart, it can not be snatched, the evil one has tried to take this many times and I have fallen for his lies, not no more, it is grounded in me, now I am ready to know who I am in Christ \o/...xox...

 

[dcontroversal]

the wisdom of men is folly.....you can make the bible say whatever you want, then by superstition (the power of suggestion) you perceive it to be so..........

Hilarious that you say this....because this is what you do with the very verbiage and inspired word of God, you reject the truth and then interject your own faulty reasoning and or uninspired words to push a false dogma that would be akin to being found within the pages of the National Enquirer........

 

[dcontroversal]

I know that if I had children, I'd never let you within 100 miles of them with a bible in your hands.

I heard that.....not less than a few on this site would that rule apply unto..........like the Pharisees of old....they would be made two fold the children of hell.......not only would they have to get over being lost they would also have to get over the peddled false dogma which reminds me of a street organ and a dancing monkey in the streets of Bombay.......

 

[PHart]

You're so far off track it's remarkable what you miss in your endeavor to propagate your man-centric false gospel.

The term οὐ ou in 1 John 2:19 is an absolute negative. This shows these were never of us, i.e. "it is absolutely negative that they were ever of us." Thus they were never truly converted.

The huge mistake you are making is saying that 'ou' implies categorically and without exception 'never'. Look here to see how the vast majority of Bible versions do not translate 'ou' in 1 John 2:19 as 'never': 1 John 2:19 They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us.. They can't. Why? Because that would negate John's exhortation to the believers he's writing to not also leave, but rather abide (continue) in the faith:

"24As for you, let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father." (1 John 2:24 NASB)
​

Understand? If vs. 19 means categorically and without exception that those who leave and do not continue in the gospel 'never' abode in the gospel to begin with then he would not exhort those who are abiding in the gospel to continue to do so because they could 'never' stop abiding.

Just for those paying attention: No one loses salvation, and no one maintains it. Persons such as above go out of their way to attempt to disprove plain teachings of texts. The word never does not need to be their, but it is very strongly implied by the text.

vs. 24 shows 'never' can't be implied. As I've shown, the vast majority of Bible translations agree that 'never' is NOT implied in vs. 19.

"19They went out from us, but they were not really of us..." (1 John 2:19 NASB really is italicized because it's not in the original either)​

Bottom line: If you are in Christ, you will never be out of Christ.

How is a branch that is cut out of Christ still in Christ???? Even John says the condition for abiding (continuing) in Christ is that you abide (continue) in the word you heard in the beginning, showing that you are not still in Christ if you are not abiding in Christ:

If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father." (1 John 2:24 NASB)
​

Paul says the same thing:

"the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, 2by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word" (1 Corinthians 15:1-2 NASB)​

One last thing and think it through brothers and sisters who hold to the true Gospel: the Holy Spirit always exalts Christ, not man, He is always glorifying Christ; John 16:14 and what He has accomplished, not man.

When you see a gospel shared which is not focusing on that, on glorifying Christ, well, enough said. Look at the Scripture and think about it, the true Gospel glorifies Christ, glories in Christ, not in man, nor does it take the focus off of Christ and place it on man.

If it's true that the exhortation to continue to believe in order to continue to be saved is nothing but a man centered works gospel, why are the authors of the Bible exhorting us to take our focus off Jesus and place it on ourselves in a man centered works gospel in the following passages?

"23Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful" (Hebrews 10:23 NASB)

"24As for you, let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning." (1 John 2:24 NASB)

"6but Christ was faithful as a Son over His house—whose house we are, if we hold fast our confidence and the boast of our hope firm until the end." (Hebrews 3:6 NASB)

14For we have become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our assurance firm until the end...

"He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach— 23if indeed you continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel that you have heard" (Colossians 2:22-23 NASB)

"9Anyone who goes too far and does not abide (continue) in the teaching of Christ, does not have God; the one who abides (continues) in the teaching, he has both the Father and the Son." (2 John 1:9 NASB)


​

If what you say is true, can you explain why these Biblical authors are telling us to focus on us instead of Christ? Of course you can't, because that's not what they're saying. The words are plain: You must continue to believe to continue to be saved. And if you think that's a man centered 'works save' false gospel, then we can all throw our Bibles away because that makes the Bible contradict itself and we can all go back to our sins.

 

[dcontroversal]

The reason why I remain saved is because He clings onto me harder than I do Him. When I sin, I realize what I did was an affront to Him. Yet, He said While I was with them, I was keeping them in Your name which You have given Me; and I guarded them and not one of them perished but the son of perdition, so that the Scripture would be fulfilled.[John 17:12] He also said and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand.[John 10:28] And then there is Behold, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands; Your walls are continually before Me."[Isaiah 49:16]

He who saved me, is able to keep me saved. As Apostle Paul so poignantly wrote For this reason I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day.[2 Timothy 1:12]

AMEN...end of story----->for one to lose salvation the God of HEAVEN must fail to keep his promises and his word......period!

 

[dcontroversal]

Belief: "is not", how you access the "mercy" of God in salvation​.

Mercy is; God not giving us what we do deserve, "hell". - and; it is God's Sovereign will to whom He will bestow Mercy.

Grace is; God giving us what we do not deserve, eternal salvation" -- and this is freely given to those who believe.

Point: The opposite is true of which is stated in the post above; belief is not how we access,
the mercy of God;

It is through Jesus that we have gained access, by faith, into this grace in which all believer's, now stand. "Rom5:2" The poster is confusing God's Grace, with, God's Mercy.

"through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God." Romans 5:2

First comes God's Grace through faith; then comes God's mercy. - see how that works,
belief, faith, grace, then mercy. The posters exegesis on Romans 5:2 is wrong.

"For he says to Moses, "I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion." So then, it does not depend on man’s desire or effort, but on God’s mercy." Romans 9:15,16

If you start out with a wrong premise; how to access God's mercy, you will always come to a false conclusion.

God bless

AMEN....the mercy and grace of God were given freely in Christ before God even cast down the world.......and the faith it takes to believe is also GIVEN by GOD.......JESUS BEGINS and FINISHES our FAITH and brings it to fruition and COMPLETES the good work began in us......!