It is easy to excuse things occasionally but I think excusing has become permanent. And one reason is because very often we behave like we are alone even in church. We talk about sharing and ideals, but are very scared to begin to walk in this for real. But I think this is the lie we have bought from the world, and are failing to trust Christ in one another.
Maybe one reason is because we buy off our consciences, with these calvanistic ideas, not seeing the fruit is a frozen church and unresolved sin that needs the community to help with, pray for and ask the Lord to bring healing.
I did agree with this part of your post,
inasmuch as there seem to be many that talk alot
about love and forgiveness, yet not only struggle
with putting them into practice,
(which is understandable in some extreme cases,
perhaps, we ARE still fallen ppl),
but often REFUSE to put them into practice.
We are to be ppl who love one another, ...
That is the 'fruit that they shall know us by',
yet ppl in churches, and on-line, are so often
known by how they ignore one another,
and hold fellow christians in unforgiveness,
even while talking all about it.
I don't know how much of that can be blamed on 'calvinism',
but just like salvation is not just 'thinking it in your head'
but believing in your heart and confessing with the mouth,
...loving and forgiving one another is not just thinking it,
but actually reconciling, actually doing something,
making attempts, at least, to love,
and not give up quickly with a wave of the hand.
I can't find in scripture where believers in Jesus
are called to ignore each other,
yet it seems to go on way too often.
It's funny, but it often happens by ppl who are constantly
inspecting the fruit of others, making judgements behind the scenes,
yet not engaging in love for communication with those they judge.
Not accusing anyone in particular on this thread,
just a general observation, but I've seen it sometimes,
in churches of many different types,
and on line even more.
Is that how christians are to treat each other?
The gospel doesn't demand faith...it supplies faith. God is fully persuaded about us and it's the faith of Christ that brought about our salvation. We don't have faith in our faith..we have His faith in us as we hear the gospel. He is our righteousness. Jesus did it all in His finished work on the cross and resurrection and ascension to the right hand of the Father.
Romans 10:17 (NASB)
[SUP]17 [/SUP] So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.
Jesus is the author and finisher of faith. ( hint: there is no "our" in Hebrews 12:2 in Greek as it reads in KJV)
Hebrews 12:2 (NASB)
[SUP]2 [/SUP] fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Yes!
And how amazing it says, FOR THE JOY set before Him.....just amazing grace!
'Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe.
Sin had left s crimson stain, HE washed it white as snow'.
(Can we sing Hallelujah? Now?
Or do we have to do works to prove we have that faith first?)
The righteousness of faith comes through believing into the perfect faith of Christ. It is the latter faith that imputes perfect righteousness. The righteousness of God is revealed through believing out of our faith
into Christ's perfect faith. As it is written,
This is the work of God: that you believe into the one [the father] sent. John 6:29
And again,
For [in the gospel] is the righteousness of God revealed out of faith into faith: as it is written, "The righteous will live out of faith". Romans 1:17
And again, when we abide out of our faith in Christ's perfect faith, we see him as he is.
Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifies himself, even as he is pure. 1 John 3:2-3
So it's not faith itself or acts of faith that make one righteous (for this would just make faith a work of law), but it is through faith that we abide in the perfect faith of Christ, and thereby are declared righteous.
Righteous conduct proves our faith is real.
How much righteous conduct...and how real?
Doesn't all this judging of one anothers conduct
and need to prove things just cause strife among
family. If we have not love (charity, kjv), what are we?
Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.
If we are saved, we must be righteous.
If we are righteous by our own making, we don't need Jesus.
If not, then how are we righteous before God?
By imputation.
Christ in you, the hope of glory.
In Christ.
On Christ the solid Rock we stand.
All other ground, including ourselves, is sinking sand.
I mean people use faith all the time, in prayer, administering healing for the sick and even in obedience to the Lord (trusting in Him by following His lead). You use faith by stepping out and believing God.