I'm Not Trying To Get to Heaven!!!

  • 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.
Cee

Cee

Senior Member
#21
May 14, 2010
2,169
473
83
#21
phil36 said:
If your carefully read post #12 both mine and Bens comments, you may get it.
Click to expand...
Got it. So the idea you're presenting is that "resting from works" doesn't mean we don't work. I agree with that, especially since His grace empowers us to do it. Like I said works come as a result of His salvation. And they are empowered by His empowerment. Our "work" is to believe/faith. And how does Scripture tell us about faith? Believing He is a rewarder of those who seek Him. So yeah, we "seek Him" or "strive" or "press forward", but it's not work, it's a joy set before us when we know His goodness and kindness.

C.
 
phil36

phil36

Senior Member
#22
Feb 12, 2009
8,260
2,111
113
51
#22
Cee said:
Got it. So the idea you're presenting is that "resting from works" doesn't mean we don't work. I agree with that, especially since His grace empowers us to do it. Like I said works come as a result of His salvation. And they are empowered by His empowerment. Our "work" is to believe/faith. And how does Scripture tell us about faith? Believing He is a rewarder of those who seek Him. So yeah, we "seek Him" or "strive" or "press forward", but it's not work, it's a joy set before us when we know His goodness and kindness.


C.
Click to expand...



Of course its work... its just not works righteousness. do you see the difference? Our 'work' is not just faith, it involves all of our lives, even our jobs which is a work were God has graciously put you to be a light. It could be being a missionary, it could be the hard task of being a mother ... now that's hard work but joyous and gloryfing to God.

again Apples and Oranges, you need to understand the difference between works righteousness and that which flows from being born again. Call it bearing good fruit... you have to work at it... Now here is the balance these things are all works that we would all want to glorify God in, yet it is more than that, it is the walking in the new life.

It is synergistic, that is (after being born again) both God and you work together. Now I know the Hyer grace guys will say...no no no, its Christ in me that lives my life.. and to an extent that is true (again balance is needed) - Yet let me ask you this question and you will maybe see the point more clearly, When you sin who does the sinning...you or God?

And I would agree with you that it is a joy knowing the Lord, and as I have found, it is an even greater joy when we learn to obey Him, and glorify His name in that joyful, grace filled obedience.
 
S

samuel23

Banned
#24
Dec 2, 2016
1,652
26
0
#24
Good messages. A few warnings, never assume, also never underestimate the flesh nature . He that thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. We are to rejoice in our relationship with God through Christ, however never get over confident, if you are a human you can fall away.
 
resurrection33

resurrection33

Banned
#25
Dec 19, 2009
27,513
128
0
71
#25
BenFTW said:
I have Jesus Christ, for what reason would I strive for that which He gives freely? I am not trying to get to Heaven, I am in Christ and therefore have arrived. I do not strive towards Heaven for I know that day will arrive, and it is because of Christ. Most men fight to stay saved, they sweat blood and tears striving for a place in eternity when the Gospel is a matter of receiving from the great giver known as God. All that men seek He is giving, for how much longer will they strive for that which He is bestowing gracefully? Salvation? Forgiveness? Liberty from sin? They are yours, for those that believe.
Click to expand...
The Lord led me to repent of sins I was committing, years ago, and when I did, my life was transformed. I cannot ignore that.
 
88

88

Senior Member
#26
Nov 14, 2016
3,517
77
48
#26
We should spend our strength rather serving Christ (hungry to do His Will) not "getting" saved---strive to enter His rest...Hebrews 3:7-19---taking the kingdom by force----(Matthew 11:12)...Grace and Peace
 
OneFaith

OneFaith

Senior Member
#27
Sep 5, 2016
2,270
369
83
#27
BenFTW said:
I have Jesus Christ, for what reason would I strive for that which He gives freely? I am not trying to get to Heaven, I am in Christ and therefore have arrived. I do not strive towards Heaven for I know that day will arrive, and it is because of Christ. Most men fight to stay saved, they sweat blood and tears striving for a place in eternity when the Gospel is a matter of receiving from the great giver known as God. All that men seek He is giving, for how much longer will they strive for that which He is bestowing gracefully? Salvation? Forgiveness? Liberty from sin? They are yours, for those that believe.
Click to expand...
Believing that God exists does not automatically put you in Christ and result in salvation. Those to whom He will say "Depart from Me" obviously believed in Him since they called Him "Lord", but Jesus said "only those who do the Will of My Father" - which proves obedience is required.

"Work out your salvation with fear and trembling."
 
Stephen63

Stephen63

Banned
#29
Aug 15, 2009
9,745
179
0
#29
BenFTW said:
I have Jesus Christ, for what reason would I strive for that which He gives freely? I am not trying to get to Heaven, I am in Christ and therefore have arrived. I do not strive towards Heaven for I know that day will arrive, and it is because of Christ. Most men fight to stay saved, they sweat blood and tears striving for a place in eternity when the Gospel is a matter of receiving from the great giver known as God. All that men seek He is giving, for how much longer will they strive for that which He is bestowing gracefully? Salvation? Forgiveness? Liberty from sin? They are yours, for those that believe.
Click to expand...
It is obvious you don't know the scriptures, for your method of choice won't let you in.

Luke 13:24
​
New Living Translation
"Work hard to enter the narrow door to God's Kingdom, for many will try to enter but will fail.
New American Standard Bible
"Strive to enter through the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able.

[TABLE="align: center"]
[TR]
[TD]

​
(24) Strive to enter in at the strait gate.—See Notes on Matthew 7:13-14. Another instance of general teaching adapted to a special occasion. We note, however, the variation, “strive to enter in”—i.e., struggle as the wrestler struggles (the word being the same as that in 1Corinthians 9:25; 1Timothy 6:12), instead of the simple “enter ye in,” and the compression of the whole illustration.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible
Strive - Literally, "agonize." The word is taken from the Grecian games. In their races, and wrestlings, and various athletic exercises, they "strove or agonized," or put forth all their powers to gain the victory. Thousands witnessed them. They were long trained for the conflict, and the honor of victory was one of the highest honors among the people. So Jesus says that we should strive to enter in; and he means by it that we should be diligent, be active, be earnest; that we should make it our first and chief business to overcome our sinful propensities, and to endeavor to enter into heaven. This same figure or allusion to the Grecian games is often used in the New Testament, 1 Corinthians 9:24-26; Philippians 2:16; Hebrews 12:1.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
24. Strive—The word signifies to "contend" as for the mastery, to "struggle," expressive of the difficulty of being saved, as if one would have to force his way in.strait gate—another figure of the same. (See on [1659]Mt 7:13, 14).
for many … will seek—"desire," that is, with a mere wish or slothful endeavor.
and shall not be able—because it must be made a life-and-death struggle.

Understanding what the scripture & commentaries say, you really aren't trying to get to Heaven.:(
[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
 
Stephen63

Stephen63

Banned
#31
Aug 15, 2009
9,745
179
0
#31
As believers in Christ we are already blessed and are seated with Christ in the heavenly places at the right hand of the gospel. The works-based religion is "trying to obtain" what is already ours in Christ. It is by grace through faith that we receive the things of Christ in our lives.
Click to expand...
I'm sorry, the only "works" that I see on this thread is this individual convincing us of his false doctrine. If you watch him, he "works" all day long to convince the weak & unknowing of his damnable doctrine that will send you to Hell.
 
Stephen63

Stephen63

Banned
#32
Aug 15, 2009
9,745
179
0
#32
88 said:
We should spend our strength rather serving Christ (hungry to do His Will) not "getting" saved---strive to enter His rest...Hebrews 3:7-19---taking the kingdom by force----(Matthew 11:12)...Grace and Peace
Click to expand...
You, friend have it right.:)
 
Utah

Utah

Banned
#33
Dec 1, 2014
9,701
251
0
#33
Stephen63 said:
This scripture, by itself is useless, for it can be twisted to suit one's taste, as it often is.
Click to expand...
The very words of Jesus Christ are useless. You heard it here first, folks.
 
tourist

tourist

Senior Member
#34
Mar 13, 2014
41,313
16,301
113
69
Tennessee
#34
Stephen63 said:
This scripture, by itself is useless, for it can be twisted to suit one's taste, as it often is.
Click to expand...
This passage describes the very essence of the love that God has for us. The fact that scripture, any chapter or verse, can be wrested and twisted to suit one's taste does not render it useless.
 
Stephen63

Stephen63

Banned
#35
Aug 15, 2009
9,745
179
0
#35
Utah said:
The very words of Jesus Christ are useless. You heard it here first, folks.
Click to expand...
That's right, you did.

Taking any good verse out of it's context weakens it. I don't think it's a good practice to weaken God's word.

New American Standard Bible
For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not in cleverness of speech, so that the cross of Christ would not be made void.

 9He was also saying to them, “You are experts at setting aside the commandment of God in order to keep your tradition. 10“For Moses said, ‘HONOR YOUR FATHER AND YOUR MOTHER’; and, ‘HE WHO SPEAKS EVIL OF FATHER OR MOTHER, IS TO BE PUT TO DEATH’; 11but you say, ‘If a man says to his father or his mother, whatever I have that would help you is Corban (that is to say, given to God),’ 12you no longer permit him to do anything for his father or his mother; 13thus invalidating the word of God by your tradition which you have handed down; and you do many things such as that.”

I find that it's those doing the quick quotes invalidate the Word of God thru either their ignorance or thru teaching false doctrine.

Be sure of this very thing, that he who spreads false doctrine WILL reap a false teacher's reward. He who handles God's word foolishly will reap a fool's reward. He who blasphemes God's people will reap a blasphemer's reward. All of God's children are His anointed. Touch not His anointed.
 
Stephen63

Stephen63

Banned
#36
Aug 15, 2009
9,745
179
0
#36
tourist said:
This passage describes the very essence of the love that God has for us. The fact that scripture, any chapter or verse, can be wrested and twisted to suit one's taste does not render it useless.
Click to expand...
See #35.....
 
Utah

Utah

Banned
#38
Dec 1, 2014
9,701
251
0
#38
Stephen63 said:
That's right, you did.

Taking any good verse out of it's context weakens it. I don't think it's a good practice to weaken God's word.

New American Standard Bible
For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not in cleverness of speech, so that the cross of Christ would not be made void.

9He was also saying to them, “You are experts at setting aside the commandment of God in order to keep your tradition.10“For Moses said, ‘HONOR YOUR FATHER AND YOUR MOTHER’; and, ‘HE WHO SPEAKS EVIL OF FATHER OR MOTHER, IS TOBE PUT TO DEATH’; 11but you say, ‘If a man says to his father or his mother, whatever I have that would help you is Corban (that is to say, given to God),’ 12you no longer permit him to do anything for his father or his mother; 13thus invalidating the word of God by your tradition which you have handed down; and you do many things such as that.”

I find that it's those doing the quick quotes invalidate the Word of God thru either their ignorance or thru teaching false doctrine.

Be sure of this very thing, that he who spreads false doctrine WILL reap a false teacher's reward. He who handles God's word foolishly will reap a fool's reward. He who blasphemes God's people will reap a blasphemer's reward. All of God's children are His anointed. Touch not His anointed.
Click to expand...
The magnitude of God's love could not be more clear or precise than what we see in John 3:16, yet you somehow attempt to malign His love and saving grace with your works based, self righteousness. Quit working for the devil, stevie.
 
S

samuel23

Banned
#39
Dec 2, 2016
1,652
26
0
#39
One is saved entirely by the grace of God because there in nothing we can do to save ourselves. I am speaking here of the salvation experience when we first come to the Lord, our part is to commit to God with all our heart and to call on Jesus to be our Savior. So we got saved and are now a child of God so now I can set back and relax while God does everything through me until I arrive in Heaven...NOT GOING TO HAPPEN!!! The next day after I got saved, Satan attacked me viciously through another man, and my flesh rose up and had to be controlled. After you get saved it is war! The world, the flesh, and the Devil will do everything in their power to get you to back off from your commitment to God. You win by keeping your thoughts on God the Father and Jesus Christ His Son and moment by moment you CHOSE to do what you can see is the will of God.
 
J

JesusFreak31

Guest
#40
#40
BenFTW said:
I have Jesus Christ, for what reason would I strive for that which He gives freely? I am not trying to get to Heaven, I am in Christ and therefore have arrived. I do not strive towards Heaven for I know that day will arrive, and it is because of Christ. Most men fight to stay saved, they sweat blood and tears striving for a place in eternity when the Gospel is a matter of receiving from the great giver known as God. All that men seek He is giving, for how much longer will they strive for that which He is bestowing gracefully? Salvation? Forgiveness? Liberty from sin? They are yours, for those that believe.
Click to expand...
Amen! Our God is GREAT! Let us praise His holy name!!!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.