How we are born again and how to keep it.
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Not only specific works which fall under the ceremonial aspect of the LAW, but also good works in general, which fall under the MORAL aspect of the LAW (Deuteronomy 6:5; Leviticus 19:18; Matthew 22:37-40). We are not saved by works, not by works of righteousness which we have done, not according to our works (Ephesians 2:9; Titus 3:5; 2 Timothy 1:9).
There is a GOD who knows all. I think sometimes we forget that.
Two people could be doing the exact same thing and there end will be different because of their heart.
Take person A - He is having an affair he realizes his error confesses to GOD and honestly desires to live a holy life unto GOD Though he may fall many times after, because GOD is faithful and just to forgive, he repents and he moves on.
Person B- is also having an affair and gradually gets lets sin take him over, he doesn't repent or even think to himself "how can I do this thing and sin against GOD" he grows in his sin until he believes its OK.
They are both susceptible to the same sins but they are two completely different people. In GOD's eyes one has a wicked heart and the other.
that's y he said David was a man after his own heart. the minute he found his error, he falls before GOD and repents. People who love GOD will repent for their sin. Its natural if you hurt someone you love to offer apologies.
Two people could be doing the exact same thing and there end will be different because of their heart.
Take person A - He is having an affair he realizes his error confesses to GOD and honestly desires to live a holy life unto GOD Though he may fall many times after, because GOD is faithful and just to forgive, he repents and he moves on.
Person B- is also having an affair and gradually gets lets sin take him over, he doesn't repent or even think to himself "how can I do this thing and sin against GOD" he grows in his sin until he believes its OK.
They are both susceptible to the same sins but they are two completely different people. In GOD's eyes one has a wicked heart and the other.
that's y he said David was a man after his own heart. the minute he found his error, he falls before GOD and repents. People who love GOD will repent for their sin. Its natural if you hurt someone you love to offer apologies.
we are saved by grace through faith...faith without works is dead...can faith save...???....
James 2:14
What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
James 2:14
What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
You are trying to change what Paul said to "saved by works." Which translations below say saved by works?
Ephesians 2:9 American Standard Version - not of works, that no man should glory.
Ephesians 2:9 Bible in Basic English - Not by works, so that no man may take glory to himself.
Ephesians 2:9 English Standard Version - not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
Ephesians 2:9 King James Version - Not of works, lest any man should boast .
Ephesians 2:9 - New American Standard - not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.
Ephesians 2:9 New Century Version - It was not the result of your own efforts, so you cannot brag about it.
Ephesians 2:9 New International Version - not by works, so that no one can boast.
Ephesians 2:9 New King James Version - not of works, lest anyone should boast.
We are saved by grace through faith and not by works. Period. Are you taking inventory of your works and hoping they measure up? Is that what you are trusting in for salvation? Your works and not exclusively in Christ?
Where did Paul say that obedient works justify/save in Romans 6:16-18? You are reading your own preconceived theology into what Paul said.
In Romans 6:16, there is a contrast here between servants. We are either servants of sin unto death (lost-unbelievers) or else we are servants of obedience unto righteousness (saved-believers). If Paul wanted to teach that we are saved based on our obedience/works then he simply would have said in Ephesians 2:8 that we have been saved through faith and obedience. In Romans 5:1, Paul would have said that we have been justifed by faith and obedience, but of course, that is not what Paul said.
Paul said "servants of obedience unto righteousness" (Romans 6:16) in contrast to "servants of sin unto death." There is a contrast here between servants/slaves. There are only two kinds of servants/slaves in this world, in the spiritual sense; servants/slaves of sin unto death, or servants/slaves of obedience unto righteousness. When we place our faith exclusively in Christ for salvation/believe the gospel by trusting in His finished work of redemption as the all sufficient means of our salvation, we then become "servants of obedience unto righteousness." Being slaves of sin is put in the past tense. Paul goes on in Romans 6:18 - "You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness."
Notice in Romans 10:10 - For with the heart one believes unto righteousness..
Notice in Romans 4:5 - But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith (not works) is accounted for righteousness.
In Romans 6:17, before they obeyed that form of doctrine by choosing to believe the gospel (Romans 1:16; 10:16), they had been slaves to sin. Obeying that form of doctrine may have been evidenced by getting water baptized and further acts of obedience/works, but baptism and further acts of obedience/works were not the cause of being made free from sin. 1 Peter 1:22 notice - "Purified your souls in obeying the truth" and notice in Acts 15:9 - "Purified their hearts by FAITH." Choosing to believe the gospel is the act of obedience that saves us.
Not of works includes ALL works in regards to how we receive salvation, which is by grace through faith, not works. I'm not backing off at all. We are saved FOR good works and not by good works. There is a huge difference.
Christians don't do obedient works in order to become a Christian, but BECAUSE they are a Christian. Again, The "whole picture" rests on cause and effect. Do believers do good works TO QUALIFY for God's grace? Or is God's grace received through faith (Romans 5:2; Ephesians 2:8) which then consequently leads TO good works? Which is cause and which is effect?
If someone claims to have faith/be a Christian/be saved yet does not do any obedient works, what does that say about their claim? It's bogus. Works are not necessary to become a Christian, but they are necessary to demonstrate that you are a Christian. You shall know them by their fruit. You keep putting the cart before the horse.
Amen!
I didn't kill my own argument at all. Good works are a necessity to demonstrate that you are a Christian, not to become a Christian. Good works give evidence that we have genuine faith and not a dead empty profession of faith. We become Christians first by grace through faith, then we are created in Christ Jesus unto/for good works. Notice the order. Stop putting the cart before the horse.
I'm not saying that a saved person must do obedient/good works in order to become saved, but they will do obedient works/good works IF they are truly saved. Obedience is not forced or legalistic for genuine Christians.
Works neither attain our salvation or maintain our salvation. From beginning "have been saved through faith" (Ephesians 2:8) to end "receiving the end of your faith--the salvation of your souls (1 Peter 1:9) salvation is through faith and is not by works.
Ephesians 2:9 American Standard Version - not of works, that no man should glory.
Ephesians 2:9 Bible in Basic English - Not by works, so that no man may take glory to himself.
Ephesians 2:9 English Standard Version - not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
Ephesians 2:9 King James Version - Not of works, lest any man should boast .
Ephesians 2:9 - New American Standard - not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.
Ephesians 2:9 New Century Version - It was not the result of your own efforts, so you cannot brag about it.
Ephesians 2:9 New International Version - not by works, so that no one can boast.
Ephesians 2:9 New King James Version - not of works, lest anyone should boast.
We are saved by grace through faith and not by works. Period. Are you taking inventory of your works and hoping they measure up? Is that what you are trusting in for salvation? Your works and not exclusively in Christ?
Where did Paul say that obedient works justify/save in Romans 6:16-18? You are reading your own preconceived theology into what Paul said.
In Romans 6:16, there is a contrast here between servants. We are either servants of sin unto death (lost-unbelievers) or else we are servants of obedience unto righteousness (saved-believers). If Paul wanted to teach that we are saved based on our obedience/works then he simply would have said in Ephesians 2:8 that we have been saved through faith and obedience. In Romans 5:1, Paul would have said that we have been justifed by faith and obedience, but of course, that is not what Paul said.
Paul said "servants of obedience unto righteousness" (Romans 6:16) in contrast to "servants of sin unto death." There is a contrast here between servants/slaves. There are only two kinds of servants/slaves in this world, in the spiritual sense; servants/slaves of sin unto death, or servants/slaves of obedience unto righteousness. When we place our faith exclusively in Christ for salvation/believe the gospel by trusting in His finished work of redemption as the all sufficient means of our salvation, we then become "servants of obedience unto righteousness." Being slaves of sin is put in the past tense. Paul goes on in Romans 6:18 - "You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness."
Notice in Romans 10:10 - For with the heart one believes unto righteousness..
Notice in Romans 4:5 - But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith (not works) is accounted for righteousness.
In Romans 6:17, before they obeyed that form of doctrine by choosing to believe the gospel (Romans 1:16; 10:16), they had been slaves to sin. Obeying that form of doctrine may have been evidenced by getting water baptized and further acts of obedience/works, but baptism and further acts of obedience/works were not the cause of being made free from sin. 1 Peter 1:22 notice - "Purified your souls in obeying the truth" and notice in Acts 15:9 - "Purified their hearts by FAITH." Choosing to believe the gospel is the act of obedience that saves us.
Not of works includes ALL works in regards to how we receive salvation, which is by grace through faith, not works. I'm not backing off at all. We are saved FOR good works and not by good works. There is a huge difference.
Christians don't do obedient works in order to become a Christian, but BECAUSE they are a Christian. Again, The "whole picture" rests on cause and effect. Do believers do good works TO QUALIFY for God's grace? Or is God's grace received through faith (Romans 5:2; Ephesians 2:8) which then consequently leads TO good works? Which is cause and which is effect?
If someone claims to have faith/be a Christian/be saved yet does not do any obedient works, what does that say about their claim? It's bogus. Works are not necessary to become a Christian, but they are necessary to demonstrate that you are a Christian. You shall know them by their fruit. You keep putting the cart before the horse.
Amen!
I didn't kill my own argument at all. Good works are a necessity to demonstrate that you are a Christian, not to become a Christian. Good works give evidence that we have genuine faith and not a dead empty profession of faith. We become Christians first by grace through faith, then we are created in Christ Jesus unto/for good works. Notice the order. Stop putting the cart before the horse.
I'm not saying that a saved person must do obedient/good works in order to become saved, but they will do obedient works/good works IF they are truly saved. Obedience is not forced or legalistic for genuine Christians.
Works neither attain our salvation or maintain our salvation. From beginning "have been saved through faith" (Ephesians 2:8) to end "receiving the end of your faith--the salvation of your souls (1 Peter 1:9) salvation is through faith and is not by works.
We are not saved by an empty profession of faith that demonstrates by the lack of works that it's dead.
In James 2:14, we read of one who says/claims he has faith but has no works. This is not genuine faith, but a bare profession of faith. So when James asks, "Can that faith save him?" he is saying nothing against genuine faith, but only against an empty profession of faith.
In James 2:14, we read of one who says/claims he has faith but has no works. This is not genuine faith, but a bare profession of faith. So when James asks, "Can that faith save him?" he is saying nothing against genuine faith, but only against an empty profession of faith.