Not By Works

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Apr 30, 2016
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A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. (John 13:34)


Under the old law covenant, love was demanded from you. “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength.”

But under the new covenant of grace, love is given to you – “As I have loved you” – and out of the overflow of Christ’s measureless love we are able to love others.



God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. (Rom 5:5)
Have you ever read

Mathew 22:37

JESUS SAID:

"YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND."

And, God has ALWAYS loved us.
Is the God of the New Testament different from the one in the Old Testament?
Are there two Gods?
 
Apr 15, 2017
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Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Eph 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

We are saved by grace through faith,the right perspective of faith means the right perpsective of grace.

Faith alone,not by works,when we confess Christ.Faith without works is dead,and a person is justified by works,and not faith alone,when we receive the Spirit.

We have to labor for the kingdom of God,and do things of the Spirit,preach the Gospel of Christ,help the poor and needy,visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction,people that are hurting,abstain from fleshy pleasures that war against the soul,put aside every weight of sin that does so easily beset us,which the Bible says quench not the Spirit,and some say but works have nothing to do with our being saved,but then why did James say if you do not do them your faith is dead.

We are saved through faith by grace,but what if a person's faith is lacking,or wavering,would that affect the grace in their life.

Paul said if anybody that preaches God blesses with material things,and money,for personal use,other than needs,to withdraw yourself from them,having food,and clothing,be content,and the love of money is the root of all evil,which some having coveted after have erred from the faith,for the love of money violates the 2 greatest laws,love God,and love people,and if we love people we love God,and the love of money neglects the poor and needy.

James says the same thing if a person does not help the poor if they have the means to do so,their faith is dead,and John says the love of God does not dwell in them.

So if a person's faith wavers does that affect grace in their life.

If they choose to not labor for the kingdom of God like they should then their faith would waver,so would grace waver.

Heb 3:12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.
Heb 3:13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
 
Apr 30, 2016
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What do you mean by awake?
By awake I mean that we know Jesus in a very personal way.
We read our bible and really understand what it's saying...

Not what someone else thinks it is saying --- which is what most people do.

When we speak about the bible we must use the Language of the bible.
For instance, you used the term "external Law" --- what does that mean??

There are two kinds of Law expressed in the bible and obedience to that Law:

Obedience to the Law
Obedience to Faith

They both involve OBEYING the Law. The moral Law has not been abolished.
The way and reason we obey is different.

But first we must understand that God does require obedience.
He Always has.

PROVERBS 3:5-6

5Trust in the LORD with all your heart
And do not lean on your own understanding.
6In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He will make your paths straight.
 
Dec 12, 2013
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That is not what the bible teaches and again you are pushing something false by disregarding context....PAUL concluded a man was justified before GOD by faith without works....you are conflating James and applying what he states to salvation and that IS NOT what is being said nor implied...the context of JAMES is MEN being able to see your faith...your gospel contradicts and aligns with the FALSE double cursed GOSPEL of a different KIND that PAUL speaks to......one that is false, double cursed, foolish and bewitching......

Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Eph 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

We are saved by grace through faith,the right perspective of faith means the right perpsective of grace.

Faith alone,not by works,when we confess Christ.Faith without works is dead,and a person is justified by works,and not faith alone,when we receive the Spirit.

We have to labor for the kingdom of God,and do things of the Spirit,preach the Gospel of Christ,help the poor and needy,visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction,people that are hurting,abstain from fleshy pleasures that war against the soul,put aside every weight of sin that does so easily beset us,which the Bible says quench not the Spirit,and some say but works have nothing to do with our being saved,but then why did James say if you do not do them your faith is dead.

We are saved through faith by grace,but what if a person's faith is lacking,or wavering,would that affect the grace in their life.

Paul said if anybody that preaches God blesses with material things,and money,for personal use,other than needs,to withdraw yourself from them,having food,and clothing,be content,and the love of money is the root of all evil,which some having coveted after have erred from the faith,for the love of money violates the 2 greatest laws,love God,and love people,and if we love people we love God,and the love of money neglects the poor and needy.

James says the same thing if a person does not help the poor if they have the means to do so,their faith is dead,and John says the love of God does not dwell in them.

So if a person's faith wavers does that affect grace in their life.

If they choose to not labor for the kingdom of God like they should then their faith would waver,so would grace waver.

Heb 3:12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.
Heb 3:13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
 
Apr 30, 2016
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HAHAHA like you imply blindness, or easy gracers etc.....just because I am sharp in my response does not mean I don't care or love you.....was Jesus loving all when he called them the blind leaders of the blind or white washed coffins filled with the bones of dead me....or John when he called people a generation of vipers....I genuinely do like you and the only reason I have not blocked you is because I do.....so.....at the end of the day we disagree on the means of salvation and or the endurance of salvation........so...I have never said nor implied that we do nothing AFTER salvation....just that the DOING has no bearing on getting or keeping salvation....
But you see, that's where you're wrong.
The DOING DOES have a bearing on KEEPING saved.

This is going to get into eternal salvation. Do you believe that because you went up to an altar ONE TIME, that you will be saved for the rest of your life?
 
Dec 12, 2013
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But you see, that's where you're wrong.
The DOING DOES have a bearing on KEEPING saved.

This is going to get into eternal salvation. Do you believe that because you went up to an altar ONE TIME, that you will be saved for the rest of your life?
The doing has nothing to do with keeping anything......that is the work of Christ...he is the one that KEEPS saved.......and verb tense PROVES eternal security and eternal salvation.....once a child by birth ALWAYS a child by birth!
 
Apr 30, 2016
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Ariel, I appreciate that you have strong belief that the believer is eternally secure.

However, this is a mixed works/grace message.

If we view "obey" as compulsion then we are not living in Liberty.

Anything we do apart from His love is self-effort
Don't fret UnderGrace

What are you so worried about? Don't you try to be a good person?

Of course you're living in freedom. Do you trust Jesus? Do you follow His teachings?
Do you know that before you were saved you were a slave to satan? You don't think so maybe, but you were.
Your sin nature tended Always to evil. (I'm not saying you were an evil person).

Now that you are no longer under the yoke of satan but under the yoke of Jesus, you are TRULY free because now you can TRULY choose your actions.

You must understand however, that you cannot go around telling people that Christians are not REQUIRED to follow the Law. This is just not true.

There were three types of Law in the Old Testament:
Civil Law
Ceremonial Law
Moral Law

Civil Law and Ceremonial Law have been abolished by Jesus.
The Moral Law has NOT been abolished.

How could it be? GOD IS JUSTICE. GOD IS LAW. HE cannot be separated from the moral LAW. He is LOVE but He IS also the moral law. HE created the moral Law. We cannot say that we are not required to follow it.

Learn these things on your own.
Go to a good Church.
Read a lot.
Read the N.T. a lot.
Always start with an open and fresh mind.
 
Apr 30, 2016
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I think you missed my point.

These words He spoke are before the cross.

There is a context and timeline to understanding scripture, other wise you will end up with contradictory statements.
BEFORE THE CROSS??

What do you mean?
Jesus said things that had no meaning AFTER the cross?

Again, where in scripture does it state this?
 
Apr 30, 2016
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HAHAHA like you imply blindness, or easy gracers etc.....just because I am sharp in my response does not mean I don't care or love you.....was Jesus loving all when he called them the blind leaders of the blind or white washed coffins filled with the bones of dead me....or John when he called people a generation of vipers....I genuinely do like you and the only reason I have not blocked you is because I do.....so.....at the end of the day we disagree on the means of salvation and or the endurance of salvation........so...I have never said nor implied that we do nothing AFTER salvation....just that the DOING has no bearing on getting or keeping salvation....[/QUOTE]

Fran...pay attention to the bolded....I have said this hundreds of times..........so....either you cannot understand me, are willfully rejecting what I say or are not reading what I write......either way you misrepresent what I say by implying I say something or believe something that I do not...

WORKS do NOT SAVE or KEEP SAVED they are the RESULT of SALVATION...end of story!
They DO keep us saved.

1 Corinthians 15:58
New International Version
Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

You make it SOUND like nothing else has to be done.
Jesus did it all.
IT IS FINISHED. Jesus said this from the cross. HIS work was finished. Not OURS.

We are to hold fast our faith. We are to BELIEVE in Jesus. Believe means to trust and to follow and to learn from.
We MUST FOLLOW Him and all that He taught. He did not teach His followers so that we could be here today arguing about this.

WE MUST OBEY THE COMMANDMENTS AND ALL THE TEACHINGS OF JESUS.
(sometimes I think krishna did better)

Then we could talk about HOW we could do this.
 
Dec 12, 2013
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They DO keep us saved.

1 Corinthians 15:58
New International Version
Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

You make it SOUND like nothing else has to be done.
Jesus did it all.
IT IS FINISHED. Jesus said this from the cross. HIS work was finished. Not OURS.

We are to hold fast our faith. We are to BELIEVE in Jesus. Believe means to trust and to follow and to learn from.
We MUST FOLLOW Him and all that He taught. He did not teach His followers so that we could be here today arguing about this.

WE MUST OBEY THE COMMANDMENTS AND ALL THE TEACHINGS OF JESUS.
(sometimes I think krishna did better)

Then we could talk about HOW we could do this.
No they do not keep us saved.....they are the results of salvation.....salvation is eternal, based upon the initial belief into the saving faith of Christ.....he saves us, seals us, justifies us and sanctifies us positionally as a child born into the kingdom of GOD...

He will NEVER leave us or forsake us
HE is the BEGINNER and FINISHER of our faith
HE WILL finish what he started
We are SEALED in Christ
WE are in the Father's HAND, in Christ's hand
VERB tense PROVES eternal salvation and life

THE works do not EMBELLISH the above and to say so reeks of the false gospel Paul speaks against in Galatians...

OH FOOLISH GALATIANS having begun in the SPIRIT are you now made COMPLETE by WORKS.........<--false gospel
 
Apr 30, 2016
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Where you there helping to carry the cross, where you there suffering the excruciating pain of execution on the cross with Him, were you there when He bore all of our sins of every person past, present and future, did you help Him be resurrected from the dead?

Exactly which part do we have to do?

Inquiring minds want to know:D
LOL

Jesus did HIS part. He made a way for you to get into heaven. Even though persons in the O.T. were saved by their faith, they could not get into heaven until Jesus died on the cross and opened the gates. (Luke 16)

He also taught us about God Father. Whenever Jesus said the words... "You have heard it said" He meant to correct something from the O.T. that man had not understood properly. He was here to fix our misunderstandings.

He was also here to teach us that God was looking for hearts to love Him, not person who made believe they did and also kept Others from loving God, like the pharisees for instance. They followed all the rules and regulations but had noj love in their hearts.

God said he would write the laws in our hearts. He didn't say He was abolishing them.
Jeremiah 31:33
Ezekiel 36:26

So we couldn't do those things for Jesus that you mention. He did them all by Himself.
He paid for all our sins.
NOW, let us do our part.
Let's be nice to those we meet.
Let's take care of our families with love.
Let's do our school work for God.
Let's help those who are needy in whatever way we can.
Let's let our light shine before men.
Mathew 5:16

Anything we do for God is a WORK. It is an obedience to faith. NOT an obedience under the Law.

When you use the words. alll our sins, past, present and future, it kind of makes me believe you're going to an hyper grace Church. They do say that you are not to sin. But it does take away all responsibility from you, doesn't it?

Do you think we have any responsibility toward God?
He did HIS part
Now we do ours.

We live our life with love for Others and doing the best we can in everything we do.
We do not tell Others that Christianity requires no works.
Christianity requires works, but we do them happily.
This is our testimony.
 
Apr 30, 2016
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Fran accept the olive branch.

DC try to understand that over this side of the pond certain phrases and words can upset us sensitive souls.

I would say for all of us concerning this thread that actually we won't agree, the issue is not agreeing but it's how to disagree given the diversity of culture.

As long as it does not detract from the fact Jesus is who says he is, and we have placed genuine faith in him.
Bill,

I'm a very loving person.
I just don't like to be called names for what I believe.
I truly love Dcon in the Lord. He's even cute. I wonder if he's still this cute??
I'd still think he's wrong though, even if...!

Dcon is good with God ---- I know it.
so is Ariel and Others.

I just think we need to affirm that God does require us to obey.
He says it doesn't keep us saved.
If we don't obey, and continue not to obey for a long time, are we still saved???


BTW, I grew up in NYC. Not the mountains of Tuscany.
 
U

UnderGrace

Guest
I will be responding to your comments, but first and foremost let me say there is no such thing as "cheap grace."

I cannot speak about something that does not exist.

Is there such a thing as "God's cheap love?" I think not!




OK UnderGrace,
I'm home now. I have a computer and a bible and everything...

So, let's see what Jesus said:

Mathew 5:17
Jesus did not come to abolish the Law but to fulfill it. What does this mean? it means He came to make it MORE COMPLETE.
And what does that mean? He means for us to accept Law into our hearts. Does this make the Law easier to follow?

Mathew 5:17
You lust after a guy? Too bad. You've just committed adultery.

Mathew 5:21
You hate your Brother? Too bad. You've just committed murder.

So, actually, Jesus made the Law MORE difficult.
Does that sound to you like He doesn't want you to do anything?

Not only does God demand that you do something, He even wants you to mean it!
Kind of scary, isn't it?

This is why some turn to easy believism and cheap grace.
Grace is nice.
Cheap Grace is an affront to God. Jesus didn't go to the cross so we could sit around and say how He did it all and now we could drink our beer, or latte', and do nothing.

Mathew 15:11
What goes into our mouths is not too important. What comes out of it is very important.
Does it seem to you that cheap grace spoken out of the mouth of a man is pleasant to hear? Wouldn't it be nicer to hear the truth?

What is the truth?

Find out. Read the N.T. again and read it with an open mind instead of reading it with the nonsense implanted that we are not REQUIRED to do anything. One poster here cannot even answer a simple question but has to dance and beat around the bush.
Jesus was CLEAR.

Mathew 16:24
If we want to be disciles and follow after Jesus, we are to pick up our cross and follow Him. What does it mean to you that we are to pick up our cross?

Mathew 19:28
Those who have followed Him will sit with Him on the 12 thrones.
What does it mean to FOLLOW Him?

Mathew 25:34-46
Take special note of verse 46. It says that those WHO DID NOT DO will go into eternal punishment.

Matthew 25:34-46 New International Version (NIV)

34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’

44 “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’

45 “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’

46 “Then they will go away to eternal punishment
, but the righteous to eternal life.”


As you can see, it's very important to listen to the words that Jesus spoke.

Here are some more:

Mathew 7:24
Anyone who hears the words of Christ and ACTS upon them is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.


John 3:36
He who believes in the Son has eternal life,
BUT he who does not OBEY the Son shall not see life but the wrath of God abides on him.


John 5:28-29
The dead in the tombs will hear His voice...
Those who did GOOD DEEDS to a resurrection of life
Those who did evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment.


John 14:15
If we love Jesus, we will KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS.


John 14:21
He who has the commandments of Jesus and KEEPS THEM, loves Jesus.



Please read the above scriptures for yourself.
Don't be caught practicing cheap grace.
Jesus gave too much for you to believe the lie.
 
Apr 30, 2016
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Not the is matters but I am a woman... love Tuscany by the way!!
Sorry Undergrace!

I just noticed the pink.
I'm on another forum where colors are not used so I'm not in the habit of checking.

So where'v you been?
If you ever come back, we could meet.
 
Jun 5, 2017
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Just some thoughts before I leave to go out this morning (my time)

I think its important to realize apart from Jesus that we are all sinners in need of a savior and that there is nothing that we can do in our own strength to save ourselves. Our salvation is a gift of God through faith in His Words, both our forgiveness from sin and our cleansing from sin. When temptation comes to us God never forces us to follow Him this is our decision to sin or not sin. If we choose to sin we are no longer following God and have fallen from Grace. God tells us not to sin like he told Adam and Eve not to take the fruit in the garden of Eden. If we walk after the Word of God and believe Gods Word he is able by His Spirit (faith in His Words) keep us from falling into sin.

"Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy." (Jude 1:24)

Before we came to Jesus we were under the Law accused as sinners because all have sinned and fall short of the Glory of God and the wages of sin is death. But the Gift of God is eternal life to everyone that believes God's Word. Once you because a follower of Jesus our faith in God's Word frees us from the Laws of Sin and death so that we can walk in newness of life. Those things we once hated we now love.

The new covenant is God's Law written on our hearts no longer external and contrary to us. We obey Jesus because we love him not because we want to get to heaven or we are scared of punishment. The 10 commandment of God's Great Law to the believer now become 10 exceeding great and precious promises so that by faith in the creators Words we obey Jesus.

God's Word says...

"Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust." (2Pet 1:2-4)

To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.

God bless you all.
 
Apr 30, 2016
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Simply put, we are not able to abide by the Beatitudes apart from Christ, it is Jesus within us that works in us.

Scripture does not teach we are in a process of perfecting the flesh, we are, however, learning to have faith and abide in Christ, which is walking in the Spirit.
What do you mean by what I highlighted above?
We ARE in the process of perfecting our flesh.
Do you know what Sancitification is?

Acts 20:32
New International Version
"Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.


We are being built up.
We are BEING sanctified.
 
U

UnderGrace

Guest
I will admit I do not understand your "theology" for lack of a better word.

I do not go to a hyper grace church and do not assume I do not know my the scriptures.

I need clarification..... are you saying that there is some work that has to be done to receive salvation?



LOL

Jesus did HIS part. He made a way for you to get into heaven. Even though persons in the O.T. were saved by their faith, they could not get into heaven until Jesus died on the cross and opened the gates. (Luke 16)

He also taught us about God Father. Whenever Jesus said the words... "You have heard it said" He meant to correct something from the O.T. that man had not understood properly. He was here to fix our misunderstandings.

He was also here to teach us that God was looking for hearts to love Him, not person who made believe they did and also kept Others from loving God, like the pharisees for instance. They followed all the rules and regulations but had noj love in their hearts.

God said he would write the laws in our hearts. He didn't say He was abolishing them.
Jeremiah 31:33
Ezekiel 36:26

So we couldn't do those things for Jesus that you mention. He did them all by Himself.
He paid for all our sins.
NOW, let us do our part.
Let's be nice to those we meet.
Let's take care of our families with love.
Let's do our school work for God.
Let's help those who are needy in whatever way we can.
Let's let our light shine before men.
Mathew 5:16

Anything we do for God is a WORK. It is an obedience to faith. NOT an obedience under the Law.

When you use the words. alll our sins, past, present and future, it kind of makes me believe you're going to an hyper grace Church. They do say that you are not to sin. But it does take away all responsibility from you, doesn't it?

Do you think we have any responsibility toward God?
He did HIS part
Now we do ours.

We live our life with love for Others and doing the best we can in everything we do.
We do not tell Others that Christianity requires no works.
Christianity requires works, but we do them happily.
This is our testimony.
 
U

UnderGrace

Guest
The believer is justified, righteous, holy in Christ 1 Cor.1:30


"But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption."

Our flesh has been crucified with Christ and is passing away with the rest of Creation, not evolving into something better.

“I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.

We cannot fix our flesh by trying to be good.





What do you mean by what I highlighted above?
We ARE in the process of perfecting our flesh.
Do you know what Sancitification is?

Acts 20:32
New International Version
"Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.


We are being built up.
We are BEING sanctified.