We are not saved by our works, but by our love for God and Eachother.

  • 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.

newton3003

Senior Member
Feb 4, 2017
437
42
28
#1
[FONT=Calibri, sans-serif]UnderGod, we are not saved by our works, we are saved by our love for Himand each other.[/FONT]


[FONT=Calibri, sans-serif]Micah6:8 may say, “He has told you, O man, what is good; and what doesthe LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, andto walk humbly with your God?” But these things are a matter ofworks, which reflect the Law that God gave to Moses. Galatians 2:16makes it clear as to what is required to be saved, when it says, “yetwe know that a person is not justified by works of the law butthrough faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in ChristJesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by worksof the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.”Similarly, we ask God through Psalm 143:2 to “Enter not intojudgment with your servant, for no one living is righteous beforeyou.”[/FONT]


[FONT=Calibri, sans-serif]Micah6:8 tells us to do the works that God has prescribed in the Law, butit isn't until we are justified by our faith in God through Jesus,that we may be judged to be righteous. Faith in God through Jesusrequires that we abide by the two great commandments that Jesus putforth in passages like Matthew 22:37-40 in which he says, “Youshall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all yoursoul and with all your mind. This is the great and first [/FONT]
[FONT=Calibri, sans-serif]commandment.And ha second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.” [/FONT]


[FONT=Calibri, sans-serif]Whatis the Law but a matter of works. But it is the two greatcommandments that God looks to see have accepted with their minds andhearts. Having done so, they may be deemed to be righteous. [/FONT]


[FONT=Calibri, sans-serif]Soif the Law is a matter of works upon which our righteousness is notto be judged, than what is its purpose? It's purpose, I tell you, isto enable us to stay out of trouble while we are on earth. We may notbe deemed righteous if we abide by the Law, but if we don't abide bythe Law it's a very good indication that we have no desire to loveGod and each other. [/FONT]


[FONT=Calibri, sans-serif]TheBible may say that if you love God you will keep His commandments,but that is only the first step. God won't judge you to be righteousuntil you genuinely love Him and each other. 1 John 4:16 says, “Sowe have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. Godis love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides inhim.” John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world, that he gavehis only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but haveeternal life.” Who would have eternal life but those that havefaith in God through Jesus' love of Him? And what is righteousnessbut a matter of maintaining one's faith in God through the love ofHim and each other?[/FONT]


[FONT=Calibri, sans-serif]Ourlove of God and each other is the prevailing factor in ourrighteousness. It may encompass things like our works, but it willnot be our works alone that will determine our righteousness and ourbeing saved. [/FONT]
 

blue_ladybug

Senior Member
Feb 21, 2014
70,862
9,581
113
#2
We are not saved by our love for others. We are saved by grace through faith and belief in Jesus. :)
 

trofimus

Senior Member
Aug 17, 2015
10,684
794
113
#3
As blue_ladybug corrected it already, we are saved by active faith in Jesus Christ that produces works.

We are not saved by works alone or by love alone.
 
May 13, 2017
2,359
27
0
#5
UnderGod, we are not saved by our works, we are saved by our love for Himand each other.


Micah6:8 may say, “He has told you, O man, what is good; and what doesthe LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, andto walk humbly with your God?” But these things are a matter ofworks, which reflect the Law that God gave to Moses. Galatians 2:16makes it clear as to what is required to be saved, when it says, “yetwe know that a person is not justified by works of the law butthrough faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in ChristJesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by worksof the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.”Similarly, we ask God through Psalm 143:2 to “Enter not intojudgment with your servant, for no one living is righteous beforeyou.”


Micah6:8 tells us to do the works that God has prescribed in the Law, butit isn't until we are justified by our faith in God through Jesus,that we may be judged to be righteous. Faith in God through Jesusrequires that we abide by the two great commandments that Jesus putforth in passages like Matthew 22:37-40 in which he says, “Youshall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all yoursoul and with all your mind. This is the great and first
commandment.And ha second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”


Whatis the Law but a matter of works. But it is the two greatcommandments that God looks to see have accepted with their minds andhearts. Having done so, they may be deemed to be righteous.


Soif the Law is a matter of works upon which our righteousness is notto be judged, than what is its purpose? It's purpose, I tell you, isto enable us to stay out of trouble while we are on earth. We may notbe deemed righteous if we abide by the Law, but if we don't abide bythe Law it's a very good indication that we have no desire to loveGod and each other.


TheBible may say that if you love God you will keep His commandments,but that is only the first step. God won't judge you to be righteousuntil you genuinely love Him and each other. 1 John 4:16 says, “Sowe have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. Godis love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides inhim.” John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world, that he gavehis only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but haveeternal life.” Who would have eternal life but those that havefaith in God through Jesus' love of Him? And what is righteousnessbut a matter of maintaining one's faith in God through the love ofHim and each other?


Ourlove of God and each other is the prevailing factor in ourrighteousness. It may encompass things like our works, but it willnot be our works alone that will determine our righteousness and ourbeing saved.
We are NOT saved because of how much we love God.
[h=1]Ephesians 2:8-9 (KJV)[/h] [SUP]8 [/SUP]For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
[SUP]9 [/SUP]Not of works, lest any man should boast.


Ephesians 2:8-9 (CJB)
[SUP]8 [/SUP]For you have been delivered by grace through trusting, and even this is not your accomplishment but God’s gift. [SUP]9 [/SUP]You were not delivered by your own actions; therefore no one should boast.



Ephesians 2:8-9 (CEB)
[SUP]8 [/SUP]You are saved by God’s grace because of your faith.[SUP][a][/SUP] This salvation is God’s gift. It’s not something you possessed. [SUP]9 [/SUP]It’s not something you did that you can be proud of.


Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV)
[SUP]8 [/SUP]For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— [SUP]9 [/SUP]not by works, so that no one can boast.

By the empowering Presence of God are ye saved through faith.!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
Dec 2, 2016
1,652
26
0
#6
Well, IF we are saved then it is because God saved us. When we take that last breath and slip out of our physical body, then we will go where God decides that we go. There are a lot of folks out there who know they are going to Heaven but there is a good chance that God does not agree with their opinion. At the bottom of the day we are not saved because we say we are saved, we are saved if God says we are saved.
 

beta

Senior Member
Aug 8, 2016
2,782
332
83
#7
UnderGod, we are not saved by our works, we are saved by our love for Himand each other.


Micah6:8 may say, “He has told you, O man, what is good; and what doesthe LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, andto walk humbly with your God?” But these things are a matter ofworks, which reflect the Law that God gave to Moses. Galatians 2:16makes it clear as to what is required to be saved, when it says, “yetwe know that a person is not justified by works of the law butthrough faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in ChristJesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by worksof the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.”Similarly, we ask God through Psalm 143:2 to “Enter not intojudgment with your servant, for no one living is righteous beforeyou.”


Micah6:8 tells us to do the works that God has prescribed in the Law, butit isn't until we are justified by our faith in God through Jesus,that we may be judged to be righteous. Faith in God through Jesusrequires that we abide by the two great commandments that Jesus putforth in passages like Matthew 22:37-40 in which he says, “Youshall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all yoursoul and with all your mind. This is the great and first
commandment.And ha second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”


Whatis the Law but a matter of works. But it is the two greatcommandments that God looks to see have accepted with their minds andhearts. Having done so, they may be deemed to be righteous.


Soif the Law is a matter of works upon which our righteousness is notto be judged, than what is its purpose? It's purpose, I tell you, isto enable us to stay out of trouble while we are on earth. We may notbe deemed righteous if we abide by the Law, but if we don't abide bythe Law it's a very good indication that we have no desire to loveGod and each other.


TheBible may say that if you love God you will keep His commandments,but that is only the first step. God won't judge you to be righteousuntil you genuinely love Him and each other. 1 John 4:16 says, “Sowe have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. Godis love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides inhim.” John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world, that he gavehis only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but haveeternal life.” Who would have eternal life but those that havefaith in God through Jesus' love of Him? And what is righteousnessbut a matter of maintaining one's faith in God through the love ofHim and each other?


Ourlove of God and each other is the prevailing factor in ourrighteousness. It may encompass things like our works, but it willnot be our works alone that will determine our righteousness and ourbeing saved.
Another very enlightening and helpful post worthy of consideration !
What we are being shown is 'not to make snap judgements re our salvation. So when we have posts on different topics many decide 'No-this is not right OR No-that is not right---INSTEAD of considering that

'ALL scripture is given by inspiration of God, and 'is profitable for doctrine, for reprove, for correction, for instruction in righteousness;
that 'the man of God may be perfect, 'thoroughly furnished unto all good works. 2Tim 3v16

We should learn to 'string them all together like a string of costly Pearls and not look at them singly only.

We have this example in Jas 2v10 where we are reminded to keep intact law/commandments that are given as a complete set in and by themselves as are the 10 given by God to which He added no more Deut 5v22. The rest came through Moses , are physical/carnal and obsolete. If we reject one of the 10 the string is broken ! So let us be more circumspect and not reject things 'out of hand !
 

breno785au

Senior Member
Jul 23, 2013
6,002
764
113
39
Australia
#8
Well, IF we are saved then it is because God saved us. When we take that last breath and slip out of our physical body, then we will go where God decides that we go. There are a lot of folks out there who know they are going to Heaven but there is a good chance that God does not agree with their opinion. At the bottom of the day we are not saved because we say we are saved, we are saved if God says we are saved.
I'm saved because Jesus saved me.
 
Mar 23, 2016
6,732
1,630
113
#9
We are saved by God (Who is rich in mercy) because of His great love wherewith He loves us and it is by His grace we have been saved:


[NIV] Ephesians 2:4-5 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.



We love because He first loved us:


[NIV] 1 John 4:19 We love because he first loved us
 

Zmouth

Senior Member
Nov 21, 2012
3,391
134
63
#10
[h=2]We are not saved by our works, but by our love for God and Eachother.[/h]
So does God justify the ungodly?

[NIV] 1 John 4:19 We love because he first loved us
Amen.

By His Faith in you, By His Works for you that it might be by His Grace bestowed upon you that you might come to the knowledge of the love He has for you.
 

beta

Senior Member
Aug 8, 2016
2,782
332
83
#11
I'm saved because Jesus saved me.
That is TRUE !!! but once we are IN Christ we are being re-created into a 'new man' to do good works !!!
We do not remain as we were when first coming to Him. This is something that seems to escape most people as they hang on to their old beliefs and habits...they have not yet 'died to self.
 

Dan58

Senior Member
Nov 13, 2013
1,991
337
83
#12
Our works are evidence of what we love.. If a person produces nothing but evil works, I'd question whether or not the love of Christ actually abides in them; "Ye shall know them by their fruits" (Matthew 7:16). I don't believe you can have faith without works; "Faith without works is dead" (James 2:20). Nor do I believe you can have love without works; "He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me" (John 14:21). The 3 work in unison, we demonstrate our love via our works. If a man is unfaithful to his wife and also beats her every night, he is not demonstrating love. Works matter, where none exist, hypocrisy usually does.. jmo
 

beta

Senior Member
Aug 8, 2016
2,782
332
83
#14
Our works are evidence of what we love.. If a person produces nothing but evil works, I'd question whether or not the love of Christ actually abides in them; "Ye shall know them by their fruits" (Matthew 7:16). I don't believe you can have faith without works; "Faith without works is dead" (James 2:20). Nor do I believe you can have love without works; "He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me" (John 14:21). The 3 work in unison, we demonstrate our love via our works. If a man is unfaithful to his wife and also beats her every night, he is not demonstrating love. Works matter, where none exist, hypocrisy usually does.. jmo
Agreed ! ALL things work together for our perfection ! there is no separation of law-love-works ---unless so stated in scripture !
 

Jackson123

Senior Member
Feb 6, 2014
11,769
1,370
113
#15
John 15

5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.

1. verse 6. If a man not abide in Me will cast into fhe fire/not save.
so this verse said we are save by abide in Jesus

2. Verse 5. If we abideth in Jesus will produce a fruit, the fruit of Holy Spirit is love, work of agape love

so work is a sign of salvation

salvation is a grace not by work, but we have to understand the correlation between salvation and work

Good work is product of salvation not all the way around.

if salvation product of good work, than no body save, because Jesus said, without me ye can do nothing

no body can do good work by itself

good work mean work base on agape love.

stephen forgive and pray for his killer, that is work base on agape love, because he abide in Him

Jesus said love your enemy. This is agape love, no body able to honestly love his enemy without Holy Spirit help

If we only love our son or wife or good friend, we are not different with non believer, this kind of love does not require the help of the Holy Spirit

 
Mar 23, 2016
6,732
1,630
113
#16
So does God justify the ungodly?
Romans 5:

6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.

7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.

8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
 

notmyown

Senior Member
May 26, 2016
4,586
1,047
113
#17
what did the Lord Jesus say "love God, love your neighbor" is?

a summation of the Law. it's the Law, not the Gospel.
 
Feb 28, 2016
11,311
2,972
113
#18
as Galations 3:8. says,
the Gospel was first preached to Abraham, so the Gospel was first preached in the Law,
the first (5)Books...it was also preached in the prophets, 'He was wounded for our transgressions'. -
and also in the Psalms;

Faith was also preached in the Law - in the below Matthew scripture it is mentioned, as a matter of fact,
it is a 'weightier matter of the Law...and Paul quotes out of Deut. that the Word of Faith
speaks on this wise, so in summation; the Law, the Prophets, the writings, the gospel, and
the Letters of the NT, are all 'inter-twined'...the scriptures bear witness of this, over, and over, and over...
if ONE scripture 'over-turns' another, something is wrong in the understanding of it,
for it is written: The Scripture cannot be broken',
and again it is written: Your Word, O Lord, is settled in heaven forever'...

GAL. 3:8.
And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith,
preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.

ISA. 53:5.
But He was wounded for our transgressions, was bruised for our iniquities:
the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed.

PS. 32:1.
[A Psalm of David, Maschil.] Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.

MATT. 23:23.
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin,
and have omitted the weightier matters of the Law, judgment, mercy, and faith:
these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.

 
Nov 22, 2015
20,436
1,430
0
#19
what did the Lord Jesus say "love God, love your neighbor" is?

a summation of the Law. it's the Law, not the Gospel.
Amen...well said.

And Jesus has loved the Father with all His might, soul and strength and mind and He has loved His neighbor.

We live in Him and He in us and the new creation will manifest His life in loving God because He first loved us and in loving others and thus fulfill the intent of the law without "following the law" in our own fleshly self-effort.

Understanding who we are in Christ now - joined as one spirit with Him for eternity releases His life to be manifested in and through us. This is completely different then the carnal following of the law of Moses.

The law demands - the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ supplies.
 
Nov 22, 2015
20,436
1,430
0
#20
The 10 commandments were called the ministry of condemnation and of death by Paul.

We can trust the life of Christ in us to live godly in this world.

The grace of God "teaches" now in the New Covenant how to deny ungodliness and to live sensibly, righteous and godly in this present age - NOT the law of Moses. Titus 2:11-12

The 10 commandments are called the "letter that kills" and the "ministry of death" - The New Covenant is called the "ministry of the Spirit" that brings Life.

The 10 commandments were called "the ministry of condemnation" - the New Covenant is called "the ministry of righteousness." This is Christ's righteousness given to us that believe.

2 Corinthians 3:6-9 (NASB)
[SUP]6 [/SUP] who also made us adequate as servants of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

[SUP]7 [/SUP] But if the ministry of death, in letters engraved on stones, came with glory, so that the sons of Israel could not look intently at the face of Moses because of the glory of his face, fading as it was,

[SUP]8 [/SUP] how will the ministry of the Spirit fail to be even more with glory?

[SUP]9 [/SUP] For if the ministry of condemnation has glory, much more does the ministry of righteousness abound in glory.

The law of Moses including the 10 commandments are like an x-ray machine - they show up things that are wrong but the x-ray machine has no power to "fix it".

It just reveals what is wrong. It's the same here for us in Christ for Christ Himself and His life in our new hearts is the only thing that can "fix us" with a transformed life.