Good thread CAB!
Matthew 7: 15 "Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. 21 "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.22 Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' 23 Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'
Um. Doing the will of the Father. Sounds like works to me. People pervert Epphesians 2:9 to mean that works are unnecessary. When taken in light of Romans 3:23, it simply means that noone can be saved by works "for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God". Works cannot save us, for all of us have sinned, but that doesn't mean that they are unimportant, or unnecessary. And it certainly doesn't mean that conditions, (like water immersion, which is no more a work than the act of saving faith), do not apply.
Everywhere in the N.T. obedience to Jesus' commandments, and producing good fruit, both of which imply works, are preached along with faith in our Lord and Savior. It is important to remember that the "faith only" doctine is no older than Martin Luther. Luther wrote the word "sola" meaning "only" in the margin of his Bible at Romans 3:28 making it read "man is justified by faith only" Modern day preachers have perverted his meaning, which was a reaction to the Roman Catholic penance and indulgence system. He was not trying to exclude "the obedience of faith".
Another question is:
If once saved, always saved, what is the reason for repentence?
Acts 8: 13 Simon himself believed and was baptized. And he followed Philip everywhere, astonished by the great signs and miracles he saw.
Acts 8: 18 When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money 19 and said, "Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit." 20 Peter answered: "May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! 21 You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God. 22 Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord. Perhaps he will forgive you for having such a thought in your heart.
Why would Simon, a believer, need to repent if he was always saved? If I am always saved, I have no need for repentence. That is NOT what the Bible teaches.
