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Galatians 2:16 (ESV)
[SUP]16 [/SUP] yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.
[SUP]16 [/SUP] yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.
I feel like this may go along with what you are saying:
Matt 20:1-16 “For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. [SUP]2 [/SUP]When he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius for the day, he sent them into his vineyard. [SUP]3 [/SUP]And he went out about the third hour and saw others standing idle in the market place; [SUP]4 [/SUP]and to those he said, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right I will give you.’ And so they went. [SUP]5 [/SUP]Again he went out about the sixth and the ninth hour, and did the same thing. [SUP]6 [/SUP]And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing around; and he said to them, ‘Why have you been standing here idle all day long?’ [SUP]7 [/SUP]They said to him, ‘Because no one hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You go into the vineyard too.’
[SUP]8 [/SUP]“When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last group to the first.’ [SUP]9 [/SUP]When those hired about the eleventh hour came, each one received a denarius. [SUP]10 [/SUP]When those hired first came, they thought that they would receive more; but each of them also received a denarius. [SUP]11 [/SUP]When they received it, they grumbled at the landowner, [SUP]12 [/SUP]saying, ‘These last men have worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the scorching heat of the day.’ [SUP]13 [/SUP]But he answered and said to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for a denarius? [SUP]14 [/SUP]Take what is yours and go, but I wish to give to this last man the same as to you. [SUP]15 [/SUP]Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with what is my own? Or is your eye envious because I am generous?’ [SUP]16 [/SUP]So the last shall be first, and the first last.”
We work because God has extended grace to us (and in return must extend grace to others). Yes, we work but not to be saved, but because we were saved. And God will reward the one who does a little work in the same way that he rewards the one who does a little work. And if He feels that someone needs extra reward that is between God and the one who receives whatever God considers just.
Matt 20:1-16 “For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. [SUP]2 [/SUP]When he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius for the day, he sent them into his vineyard. [SUP]3 [/SUP]And he went out about the third hour and saw others standing idle in the market place; [SUP]4 [/SUP]and to those he said, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right I will give you.’ And so they went. [SUP]5 [/SUP]Again he went out about the sixth and the ninth hour, and did the same thing. [SUP]6 [/SUP]And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing around; and he said to them, ‘Why have you been standing here idle all day long?’ [SUP]7 [/SUP]They said to him, ‘Because no one hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You go into the vineyard too.’
[SUP]8 [/SUP]“When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last group to the first.’ [SUP]9 [/SUP]When those hired about the eleventh hour came, each one received a denarius. [SUP]10 [/SUP]When those hired first came, they thought that they would receive more; but each of them also received a denarius. [SUP]11 [/SUP]When they received it, they grumbled at the landowner, [SUP]12 [/SUP]saying, ‘These last men have worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the scorching heat of the day.’ [SUP]13 [/SUP]But he answered and said to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for a denarius? [SUP]14 [/SUP]Take what is yours and go, but I wish to give to this last man the same as to you. [SUP]15 [/SUP]Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with what is my own? Or is your eye envious because I am generous?’ [SUP]16 [/SUP]So the last shall be first, and the first last.”
We work because God has extended grace to us (and in return must extend grace to others). Yes, we work but not to be saved, but because we were saved. And God will reward the one who does a little work in the same way that he rewards the one who does a little work. And if He feels that someone needs extra reward that is between God and the one who receives whatever God considers just.
[SUP]
1 Corinthians 9:15-18
15 [/SUP]But I have used none of these things. And I am not writing these things so that it will be done so in my case; for it would be better for me to die than have any man make my boast an empty one. [SUP]16 [/SUP]For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for I am under compulsion; for woe is me if I do not preach the gospel. [SUP]17 [/SUP]For if I do this voluntarily, I have a reward; but if against my will, I have a stewardship entrusted to me. [SUP]18 [/SUP]What then is my reward? That, when I preach the gospel, I may offer the gospel without charge, so as not to make full use of my right in the gospel.
Work because you are grateful not because you are required to.
1 Corinthians 9:15-18
15 [/SUP]But I have used none of these things. And I am not writing these things so that it will be done so in my case; for it would be better for me to die than have any man make my boast an empty one. [SUP]16 [/SUP]For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for I am under compulsion; for woe is me if I do not preach the gospel. [SUP]17 [/SUP]For if I do this voluntarily, I have a reward; but if against my will, I have a stewardship entrusted to me. [SUP]18 [/SUP]What then is my reward? That, when I preach the gospel, I may offer the gospel without charge, so as not to make full use of my right in the gospel.
Work because you are grateful not because you are required to.
I find gold nuggets in every believer and non believer, why? always something to learn if one relates everything they do to Father through Son Christ, we get taught and led, for that is where truth from error is separated and we still walk in love to whatever we might be aware of, wise as a serpent and yet harmless as a dove. Love from God to all, in and through us that is what I see God wants
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I see.
So we take a biased commentary.
No thanks. The greek interpretation trumps any biased commentary 100 fold.
I bet I could find many commentaries which would be opposed to that one you posted.
But then are we to listen to men, or God. Are we to listen to men, or place ourselves in the eph shoes and see how they would interpret it (by using the true defenition of the word)?
That is one of several reasons. The broad road has no unbelievers on it, as the parable of the gates is ONLY referring to those who THINK they are believers, compared to those who those who have willingly out of LOVE surrendered to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. So YES, Attempting to add anything to the free gift of GOD, which is SAVED BY GRACE ALONE, (totally unearned); certainly is ONE of the many reasons they fail to enter the Narrow Gate.
Some of the other reasons they fail to enter that Narrow Gate:
PRIDE.
Denial of HIS Deity.
Self-Styled Worship like Cain (I will worship God, MY WAY).
Thinking the Preaching of the Word is for profit like Balaam.
Attempting to improve on Worship of the True GOD by mixing in what is perceived to be the best ideas of paganism like Korah.
Focusing on FEELINGS instead of a personal relationship with JESUS CHRIST as LORD.
Making something other than the LORD Jesus Christ more important in their lives.
Having a wrong understanding of what GOD means by "BELIEVE".
Being Deceived by False Doctrines, False Gospels, and False Teachings.
Thinking that intellectual knowledge of who Jesus Christ is equates to Salvation (even the demons believe that much).
An unwillingness to OBEY HIM.
Following a counterfeit of Jesus Christ (and there are many).
AND ALL OF THOSE ON THAT BROAD ROAD will cry out "LORD, LORD!" And HE will say to them "I NEVER KNEW YOU!"; referring to that inner personal LOVE relationship where we willingly submit to HIM as LORD, which means MASTER.
I believe the narrow gate is Jesus Christ himself. These whom cried "Lord, Lord" really didn't have a relationship the Lord, but rather wanted to use the Lord for their own gain.
Can you please describe for me what you think self-style worship looks like? I don't think you can, but I'd like to know what you think anyway. I would think that true worship is an act to God that generates from our hearts in Love for God no matter what it looks like.
Can you please describe for me what you think self-style worship looks like? I don't think you can, but I'd like to know what you think anyway. I would think that true worship is an act to God that generates from our hearts in Love for God no matter what it looks like.
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Genuine SALVATION will always produce the desire and the ability to do good works.
Good Works will NEVER produce Salvation.
We were SAVED as a gift of GOD through faith that the HOLY SPIRIT HIMSELF PUT IN US, the very moment we first believed, which produces in us (IF IT WAS REAL) a deep conviction of sin and a willingness to surrender to Jesus Christ as LORD which means MASTER. That genuine Salvation (past tense) will become evident in our works. Hence "Work out your own salvation" LITERALLY MEANS "If you are saved, then ACT LIKE IT." That is all possible ONLY BECAUSE the HOLY SPIRIT at the moment of our Salvation brought our once DEAD to the Will of GOD human spirit, to an ETERNAL LIFE of being ALIVE to the Will of GOD. (BORN AGAIN)
Does that answer your question?
Genuine SALVATION will always produce the desire and the ability to do good works.
Good Works will NEVER produce Salvation.
We were SAVED as a gift of GOD through faith that the HOLY SPIRIT HIMSELF PUT IN US, the very moment we first believed, which produces in us (IF IT WAS REAL) a deep conviction of sin and a willingness to surrender to Jesus Christ as LORD which means MASTER. That genuine Salvation (past tense) will become evident in our works. Hence "Work out your own salvation" LITERALLY MEANS "If you are saved, then ACT LIKE IT." That is all possible ONLY BECAUSE the HOLY SPIRIT at the moment of our Salvation brought our once DEAD to the Will of GOD human spirit, to an ETERNAL LIFE of being ALIVE to the Will of GOD. (BORN AGAIN)
Does that answer your question?
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Charles Stanley clearly implies "If they were saved, but live in sin that they are still saved, but just miss out on heavenly benifits"...The bible clearly states a believer does not live in habitual sin. Stanley is using the word "if" not as if their salvation is in question, but as to assume a definite reality.