Well David, let me ask you, are you saved? And if yes, how long have you been saved?
Next question: Have you sinned since the time you got saved???
Salvation is a free gift. God gave us the commandments as a Law for us to obey for our own good on this earth. Furthermore, the Law, the Ten Commandments were a schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ (Gal. 3:24-25).
Are getting to Heaven is not based on us following the Law though.
Romans 3:27
Authorized (King James) Version (AKJV)
[SUP]27 [/SUP]Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.
Galatians 2:21
Authorized (King James) Version (AKJV)
[SUP]21 [/SUP]I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.
Titus 3:4-8
Authorized (King James) Version (AKJV)
[SUP]4 [/SUP]But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, [SUP]5 [/SUP]not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; [SUP]6 [/SUP]which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; [SUP]7 [/SUP]that being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. [SUP]8 [/SUP]This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.
Galatians 3:11
Authorized (King James) Version (AKJV)
[SUP]11 [/SUP]But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.
The goats mentioned in Matthew 25:31-46 are not Christians. The goats are Gentile nations made up of individuals which did not help out Israel (Christ's brethren) during the time of Jacob's trouble.
The goats are also made up of individuals who took the mark of the beast.
There are no Christians in the time of Jacob's trouble. The Body of Christ is removed from off of the Earth before the time of Daniel's 70th week starts.
One other thing David, Matthew 25 is written Doctrinally to Israel. It is not written doctrinally to Born again Christians.
In this Dispensation; if one wants to go to Heaven, then they need to simply believe on the Lord Jesus Christ for their salvation. They need to trust Christ and Him only to get them to Heaven. The Bible teaches that salvation in this Dispensation is by greace through faith alone.
Once that person is saved, he is regenerated, and he is a new creature in Christ Jesus (2 Cor. 5:17 & Gal. 6:15).
No it is not.
It is Bible Doctrine.
David, again, Matthew 25 is pointed Doctrinally at Jews in the time of Jacob's trouble (7 year tribulation period).
There will not be one Christian in the time of Jacob's trouble. The Body of Christ is caught up. Every true born again Christian will be raptured and will meet the Lord in the air (1 Thess. 4:16-18) prior to the beginning of Daniel's 70th week.
No it does not go against those Scriptures.
The only thing it goes against is the self rightoues man who is counting on his good works to save him instead of the blood of Jesus Christ.
No Christian will ever go to Hell. No Christian can ever lose his salvation. We Christians do good works because we are saved. Not to stay saved. Our good works could not keep us saved, no matter how many good works we did. It is the power of the Lord that keeps us saved (1 Peter 1:5).
Once again; Matthew 25 is not talking about Christians.
As a matter of fact; Matthew 25 is doctrinally in the Old Testament. Which is just another reason why it is pointed doctrinally at Jews. And not Christians.
Matthew 25:31-46 shows that salvation in the time of Jacob's trouble will be by faith AND works. If one wants to be given entrance into the Millennial Kingdom, he must endure unto the end ( Matt. 24:13). And he does that by keeping the faith of Jesus AND the commandments of God (Rev. 14:9-12). One of the commandments being that he cannot at all take the mark of the beast, because if he does, he forfeits his salvation.
Works are important. Our works will be judged, revealed and tried by fire at the Judgement Seat of Christ (1 Cor. 3:11-15).
But our works in this dispensation have no part in our salvation.
Our works for the Lord here on this earth and the motivation behind our service to the Lord be a factor in our level of rewards at the Judgment Seat of Christ (Again, see 1 Cor. 3:11-15). And also 2 Cor. 5:10.
Galatians 1:6-9
Authorized (King James) Version (AKJV)
[SUP]6 [/SUP]I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: [SUP]7 [/SUP]which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. [SUP]8 [/SUP]But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. [SUP]9 [/SUP]As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
The curse is for any man that preaches any other gospel other than the Gospel which was delivered unto Paul (Gal. 1:11-13).
The Gospel that every preacher should be preaching in this Dispensation (the Church Age), is the Gospel of the grace of God (Acts 20:24). Which is also called the Gospel of the death, burial and resurrection (1 Cor. 15:1-6).
I think time is unnecessary but yes I am a Christian Of course I still sin we all do, I'd be a liar if I said I didn't sin. However as for when I was saved I think it's unnecessary to say when I became a Christian even though it was 2 years ago but the reasoning is is because I can always fail and fall away if I'm not careful. The Bible warns us about that in many places.
Okay so this is going to take a while. Your first batch of quotes I agree with. No need to say anything, the Bible says it all on its own. I am wrong for that part.
As for your opinion on Matthew 25 I disagree with you. It is your perspective that it is said in that way, and I quoted Mark 16:16-18 to show they were real Christians. If you can show with Bible quotes that you are right, I will believe you like your quotes on the first point. However, this comment is just your opinion and you have not showed any proof as of yet.
As for part 3, yes I agree. Your first point agrees with your perspective. I do conclude though good works are needed though. Good works are in a way obiding by treating thy neighbours as thyself. If you aren't doing any good works, then it shows you are not abiding by things Jesus taught us to do. That is my perspective on that but we can talk about this more since we have different opinions.
Once again on Matthew 25 I disagree with you. If you can post scripture that explains your point I would happily admit to my wrong perspective. As for now, I disagree with you.
As for my point on the book of life, etc. I disagree with you. However, let me reiterate my point better because I did not post it correctly or in a wording that would be understood properly. What I am saying is that you can't just have faith in Jesus, believe he died for our sins, and then go and kill people. You show your love and obedience for God by obeying his laws and doing good works (the good works part is in James I believe somewhere, I'd have to take time and find it I am not 100% where it is in the NT).
On the part on Mark 16:16-18 was well as Matthew 25:31-46, I disagree with you again. There are many stories in the Bible of people who had accepted God, but then failed. Let me cite a few aand if you want I can go grab the Bible verses for ya:
- Saul. He had the spirit of God in him yet failed and went against God
- The people in Jesus' parable. The people who accepted the Word of God but when they went through troubles/tribulation/tough times they gave up faith.
- A person in the NT who was with one of the apostles. I forget the example I need to re-watch a video of a pastor who debunks Calvinism to find it. It'll take me about 20 mins but I can get it. Basically a guy was with one of the apostles who was with Christ but fell.
Also what you are talking about Christians can never lose their Salvation is Calvinistic doctrine. If people were once saved always saved, then that means they have no free will. There are people in the Bible who I can cite who have fallen who were believers in Christ and correlated with Mark 16:16-18's definition of true Christians so to speak. Therefore, Once you are a saved always saved is wrong. I can re-post my entire post on another thread about this, but thats if you want to debate it. OR I can post the video of the pastor who completely debunks it. It's your choice.
Exactly. I agree with you. Just because I fast all the time and someone else doesnt, doesnt mean Im any better then him (im referring to the parable Jesus spoke of). What I am saying though, is if you don't do any works and think you're going to Heaven its not true. Im not saying you need say 100 pounds worth of works to get into Heaven. What Im saying is, is that if there is the opportunity to help someone and do God's work and you never do it, then you aren't being Christian. I forget the Bible quote, but I can find it [referring to the one earlier] where it basically says that if you are a Christian you will do good deeds not to save yourself but because you love God and love people. How can you love your neighbours and then just do nothing to help them? Or say know people are going to go to hell for sodomy yet never warn them? See my point?
On the last point, yep I agree with you. Its the Gospel of Christ, the same that we are reading. It basically means don't pervert what Jesus taught, thats all. [for example] If Jesus taught x and you teach y, then you will be accursed.