Not By Works

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Rosemaryx

Senior Member
May 3, 2017
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Hi all...Ii keep seeing Faith without works is dead , so I am going to tell you what i think this actually means...

A few weeks ago , my good friend ( Non believer ) messaged me at 5.30 pm , it was raining , cold , and dark outside , i had just had my nice hot bath and had eaten my dinner , i was ready to curl up for the night and watch some sermons , so when i got her message telling me how down she was due to problems with her son , my first reaction was to message her and say " Jenny , I will come ver tomorrow " , but I knew that was selfish of me...

I ended getting up and walking out in the dark cold evening , wind blowing etc , and I ended up getting back home near on 1.00 am early hours of the morning , now my point of the story is , if I had not chose to meet my friends needs , love her less that night , put myself before her , left her in pain , then my faith that night would of been dead , but I myself would still be saved , so to me , faith without works has nothing to do with salvation , I would still be Gods child , but i would of been a very selfish child , but this is how I see it , sometimes our faith without works can be dead , just my point...xox...
 

Endoscopy

Senior Member
Oct 13, 2017
4,028
400
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I understand the scriptures differently...I believe God wants us to test the doctrines others teach us and look at the fruit it produces in our own hearts and minds.


Does the doctrine make us more prideful or more humble? More loving or more condemning? More adapt to forgive or seek revenge?

People prefer to look at the speck in another's eyes and not remove the plank out of their own.
Then why did Jesus say, "By their fruits you shall know them." We are to watch out for wolves in sheep's clothing. Too many churches have been taken over by secular ministers. The way you know them is the never mention the gospel message. That is their works you can validate. All of the major denominations have turned secular with only a few ministers still fighting to reclaim them. I talked to a minister in a Presbyterian USA church years ago and he was one of those. I talked to a man from a Lutheran church in a fellowship after a special invitation evening service and he heard the gospel message for the first time.
 

tourist

Senior Member
Mar 13, 2014
41,313
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Tennessee
I have been told that the reward may take the form of a compliment, but I'm not sure it will give me a free coffee at Starbucks in heaven.

This compliment/reward you receive for your good works here on earth, does that do anything for you in heaven, other than getting an at-a-boy slap on the back? Otherwise if you do good works or you don't, are your positions in heaven just the same?
Personally, any good works that I do for my heavenly father who prepared for me to do beforehand I do for the love of God. I'm not here to receive accolades and rewards on earth or crowns and treasure in heaven for that matter. Having said that, I would gladly receive the complimentary cup of Starbucks coffee. A nice touch also would be if the coffee were in a cup with my name written on it, a name that right now is known only to God.
 

Studyman

Senior Member
Oct 11, 2017
3,570
516
113
Hey people.

I am now 6 weeks without smoking.

Is that a good work?
If I died tonight does that mean I'm going to heaven?

I have been told in the past that I'm going to hell and smell like it on the way?
Good for you,

Yes, one side effect of quitting is you can smell cig. smoke on everything.

There will come a day when you will say, "Did I really smell like that?" You will remember this post if you haven't already discovered this ex-smokers phenomenon yet. :)

I quit in '96 and have never regretted a day of it. Especially since I now have Grandkids.

Good for you :)
 

ljs

Member
Jan 13, 2018
310
443
63
Hey people.

I am now 6 weeks without smoking.

Is that a good work?
If I died tonight does that mean I'm going to heaven?

I have been told in the past that I'm going to hell and smell like it on the way?
Congrats Bill !!!!
That is awesome , Im in the process right now , its so hard !!
 

TruthTalk

Senior Member
Jul 17, 2017
2,904
2,262
113
Personally, any good works that I do for my heavenly father who prepared for me to do beforehand I do for the love of God. I'm not here to receive accolades and rewards on earth or crowns and treasure in heaven for that matter. Having said that, I would gladly receive the complimentary cup of Starbucks coffee. A nice touch also would be if the coffee were in a cup with my name written on it, a name that right now is known only to God.
Amen tourist, casting crowns,

“ ‘Holy, holy, holy
is the Lord God Almighty,’[SUP]b[/SUP]
who was, and is, and is to come.”

Rev4:10

9) Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever,
10) the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say:
11)“You are worthy, our Lord and God,
to receive glory and honor and power,
for you created all things,
and by your will they were created
and have their being.”


God bless!
 
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Chester

Senior Member
May 23, 2016
4,275
1,410
113
Hey people.

I am now 6 weeks without smoking.

Is that a good work?
If I died tonight does that mean I'm going to heaven?

I have been told in the past that I'm going to hell and smell like it on the way?
Hey, Bill, that is good - but be careful -keep at it - work hard: you can do it!
If you do fall and smoke another one, just be sure to keep careful track: God will forgive you up until 490 cigarettes! (70 x 7)
After that it would be ongoing sin and God will send you to hell! :p ;)

(Disclaimer: The above is 100% pure satire!)
 

tourist

Senior Member
Mar 13, 2014
41,313
16,301
113
69
Tennessee
Hey people.

I am now 6 weeks without smoking.

Is that a good work?
If I died tonight does that mean I'm going to heaven?

I have been told in the past that I'm going to hell and smell like it on the way?
It may not be a good work but it certainly is a good thing. Congrats to you. Yes, if you died tonight you will go to heaven, regardless if you smell like an ashtray or not. I did 3 months once smoke-free a couple years then I snapped one day and bought a pack of L & M's and a Bic lighter to go with my morning coffee. I hope that you are able to go the distance. I'm rooting for you.
 

tourist

Senior Member
Mar 13, 2014
41,313
16,301
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Tennessee
Hey, Bill, that is good - but be careful -keep at it - work hard: you can do it!
If you do fall and smoke another one, just be sure to keep careful track: God will forgive you up until 490 cigarettes! (70 x 7)
After that it would be ongoing sin and God will send you to hell! :p ;)

(Disclaimer: The above is 100% pure satire!)
That's over two cartons, plenty of time to think about it. :)
 

benhur

Senior Member
Feb 8, 2018
1,534
121
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Personally, any good works that I do for my heavenly father who prepared for me to do beforehand I do for the love of God. I'm not here to receive accolades and rewards on earth or crowns and treasure in heaven for that matter. Having said that, I would gladly receive the complimentary cup of Starbucks coffee. A nice touch also would be if the coffee were in a cup with my name written on it, a name that right now is known only to God.
I hope that you are not implying that my good works are for my own selfish gain.

You do realize that the scriptures do indeed talk about a reward in heaven for our good works here on earth. So if God is about giving awards for helping his people in need here on earth, who am I to sneer at it as if it were some kind of man made sham?
 

tourist

Senior Member
Mar 13, 2014
41,313
16,301
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Tennessee
I hope that you are not implying that my good works are for my own selfish gain.

You do realize that the scriptures do indeed talk about a reward in heaven for their good works here on earth. So if God is about giving awards for helping his people in need here on earth, who am I to sneer at it as if it were some kind of man made sham?
I'm saying no such thing my friend but merely stating how I operate in this current realm. I was serious about the coffee mug too. :)
 

Seohce

Senior Member
Jul 15, 2016
1,386
54
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2 Timothy 4:3-5 For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say WHAT THEIR ITCHING EARS WANT TO HEAR. They will turn their ears AWAY FROM THE TRUTH and turn aside to myths. But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.
 

Endoscopy

Senior Member
Oct 13, 2017
4,028
400
83
Personally, any good works that I do for my heavenly father who prepared for me to do beforehand I do for the love of God. I'm not here to receive accolades and rewards on earth or crowns and treasure in heaven for that matter. Having said that, I would gladly receive the complimentary cup of Starbucks coffee. A nice touch also would be if the coffee were in a cup with my name written on it, a name that right now is known only to God.
That is how we should do it. The results however will be seen by others and tells them what you are!
 

TruthTalk

Senior Member
Jul 17, 2017
2,904
2,262
113
Hey people.

I am now 6 weeks without smoking.

Is that a good work?
If I died tonight does that mean I'm going to heaven?

I have been told in the past that I'm going to hell and smell like it on the way?
Congratulations BillG, from and ex-non-smoker-today, praise God, The further away you get from that blasted habit, the easer it will get. I cannot imagine today putting on of those nasty cigs in my mouth. resist the temptation and you will get stronger and stronger, it is true.

God bless!
 

Endoscopy

Senior Member
Oct 13, 2017
4,028
400
83
Congrats, Bill, that is awesome!






























I love the racoon. Where I live in Florida we have raccoons galore. Put a garbage bag out not in a closed garbage can and someone will have to pick up the debris.
 

tourist

Senior Member
Mar 13, 2014
41,313
16,301
113
69
Tennessee
Hi all...Ii keep seeing Faith without works is dead , so I am going to tell you what i think this actually means...

A few weeks ago , my good friend ( Non believer ) messaged me at 5.30 pm , it was raining , cold , and dark outside , i had just had my nice hot bath and had eaten my dinner , i was ready to curl up for the night and watch some sermons , so when i got her message telling me how down she was due to problems with her son , my first reaction was to message her and say " Jenny , I will come ver tomorrow " , but I knew that was selfish of me...

I ended getting up and walking out in the dark cold evening , wind blowing etc , and I ended up getting back home near on 1.00 am early hours of the morning , now my point of the story is , if I had not chose to meet my friends needs , love her less that night , put myself before her , left her in pain , then my faith that night would of been dead , but I myself would still be saved , so to me , faith without works has nothing to do with salvation , I would still be Gods child , but i would of been a very selfish child , but this is how I see it , sometimes our faith without works can be dead , just my point...xox...
That's a wonderful testimony on humble service to the Lord, even when it's painful, uncomfortable or inconvenient. Very commendable and a fine example of genuine Christian love and concern.
 

Magenta

Senior Member
Jul 3, 2015
55,885
26,046
113
I love the racoon. Where I live in Florida we have raccoons galore. Put a garbage bag out not in a closed garbage can and someone will have to pick up the debris.
We have raccoons here, too :D

I also had raccoons as pets when I was a child :eek:




When I was nine years old, my dad rescued four baby raccoons.



We kept two of them; I looked after Charlie and Ferocious for four years.




Ferocious was the nice one :)
 

tourist

Senior Member
Mar 13, 2014
41,313
16,301
113
69
Tennessee
We have raccoons here, too :D

I also had raccoons as pets when I was a child :eek:




When I was nine years old, my dad rescued four baby raccoons.



We kept two of them; I looked after Charlie and Ferocious for four years.




Ferocious was the nice one :)
Those are darling photos of you and the little critters.
 

Magenta

Senior Member
Jul 3, 2015
55,885
26,046
113
Those are darling photos of you and the little critters.
Thank you, Jerry. What gets me when I look at those pics now, is how big the raccoon is, covering pretty much my whole torso, and how much we trusted each other :eek: She could have easily ripped my face off if she was so inclined.