Are you RIGHTEOUS?

  • 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.

joaniemarie

Senior Member
Jan 4, 2017
3,198
303
83
#61

Exactly. We can't ever establish our own righteousness. It just is not there. And when we humans start looking for it in all the wrong places., we fail miserably in our walk as believers here on earth. That is why we are constantly reminded in the Bible to look to Jesus and away from self. When we are examining ourselves it's about seeing if we are of the mindset of seeing Christ's righteousness and not our own. That is what self examining is about. Not seeing if your being a great worker.

The Holy Spirit will point us to Jesus at all times. Why don't you guys who are against the "obedience of faith" stop and see what we are trying to share with you. Get away from looking at your own obedience and begin the awesome journey of living in the obedience of faith. Seeing HIS obedience and like the sheep that we are., follow Him because that is what He tells us to do. We are not herded and driven.,No., we are lead and we called to follow. Jesus goes before and we follow after. This happens when we are first saved and forever after as believers.



 

joaniemarie

Senior Member
Jan 4, 2017
3,198
303
83
#62
Gotta walk the walk of whats been done is the thing though, and there are dire consequences when a person doesnt walk the walk. Have to look at ourselves in order to repent of the sins in our life, gotta watch our actions carefully and daily lest we fall into a trap of the idea that Our actions are irrelevant, which while that may not be what you are saying here, can easily be misunderstood to be what you are saying.

The thing i think is missing here, is that the Holy spirit changes US, Gives us all we need to do Our part and we do assuredly Have a great part to play, because of whats been done for us and what is continually done daily for us. Our part is to repent of the sins in Our life, and follow the Word of God. to label this "self works" is nothing more than discouragement to others to actually do the works were called By God to actually do, to walk in righteousness is our call, not to simply say were righteous because Jesus is righteous, but to put on that garment and fulfill its promise. to watch ourselves carefully, our behavior is an important part of the Gospel.

this doesnt mean were " trusting in ourself" its about Honoring Jesus in action and truth. about ridding our lives of selfishness in all its forms were called to press foreward, to better ourselves by ridding ourselves of sin, God doesnt force anything on us, He opffers eternal Life to those who will accept it and walk in His ways that are eternal Life, By the spirit we receive through Jesus Christ. its not a good idea to ignore Our actions and just recognize Jesus was righteous any christian should already Know He was and is righteous, the christian Life is about Our response to His offering and How we choose to honor that or take it lightly.

surely we need to realize He has done what needed to be done, then the question becomes do I believe whats been done and Honor Jesus Christ with My Life?" its not an effortless thing as many as wish it were, its not an easy thing to put to death the misdeeds of Our flesh, but its a requirement for life.


No., we don't gotta watch ourselves.,
Gotta stop looking at ourselves. Please read the posts....What we gotta DO is watch Jesus.
 
W

willybob

Guest
#63
God said Abel was righteous 6000 years ago
 
W

willybob

Guest
#64

No., we don't gotta watch ourselves.,
Gotta stop looking at ourselves. Please read the posts....What we gotta DO is watch Jesus.
The apostle Paul said to EXAMINE yourselves, and see if ye be in the faith, and to he that thinks he stands, take heed lest he fall........(bible 101)
 
W

willybob

Guest
#65
JoanieMarie, I agree with you 100% that a person can only become righteous IN CHRIST.


"For He hath made Him (Jesus) to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him." (2 Corinthians 5:21)


Scripture teaches us, in the book of Isaiah, that man's righteousness apart from God (self righteousness) is as filthy as rags in the eyes of God (64:6) and a stench in the nostrils of God (65:5).


The only way to for man to become righteous is to receive the righteousness of Christ, which he bestows freely as a gift to those who place their trust in Him.


"For if by the trespass of the one (Adam), death reigned through the one (Adam), much more surely will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in [eternal] life through the One, Jesus Christ." (Romans 5:17)


Because of Adam’s fall, every person afterward was born into a state of godlessness. Apart from the presence of God, it impossible for man to become righteous. Which is why Christ bore the cross, so that man may be made righteous through fellowship with Christ. Righteousness is not something that we do, it is something that we recieve which is why it is called a gift throughout the word of God.


"The righteousness of God, which is by faith in Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe." (Romans 3:22)


Every Christian who understands the Bible should agree with me up to this point. This is where many stop when presenting the Gospel message. However, the Bible does not stop there. Scripture also teaches that it is through fellowship with Christ that believers remain righteous. Why? Because righteousness is a divine quality, one that a person can not possess apart from the presence of God, IN CHRIST.


“Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.” (Romans 13:14)


“Righteousness I have put on, and it clotheth me, As a robe and a diadem my justice.” (Job 29:14)


“...put on the new self, the one created according to God's likeness in righteousness and purity of the truth.” (Ephesians 4:24)


“...put on the new [spiritual] self who is being continually renewed in true knowledge in the image of Him who created the new self...” (Colossians 3:10)


“Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness...” (Ephesians 6:13-14)


"I will greatly rejoice in the Lord. My soul shall be joyful in my God for He hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, He hath covered me with the robe of righteousness." (Isaiah 61:10)


While righteousness is indeed a free gift, it is a gift that is to be recieved not once, but daily. Righteousness is both attained and maintained through life in the Spirit, walking in the Spirit. Righteousness is every bit as relational in nature as it is positional.


“The LORD detests the way of the wicked, but he loves those who pursue righteousness.” (Proverbs 5:19)


“ The one who says he resides in God ought himself to walk just as Jesus walked.” (1 John 2:6)


The problem that most people have with the biblical perspective that I am presenting is that many today have been to taught to equate obedience, to Christ and his word, as “works” (self effort). However, often times, throughout scripture, when the word righteousness is used, it is also accompanied by an instruction not to engage in unrighteousness. While righteousness may be free gift, one must choose to receive it.


I asked this question in another thread and I will ask it again here:




Since when is it considered work not to do something?
Isaiah was speaking to Israel as a Nation when he said their religious works were as filthy rags, because they were living in the bondage of sin, while still offering ceremonial religious works....He was not speaking to individuals persay, for we know the prophet Ezekiel in that day was a righteous man, and his works were not that of filthy rags.....In fact Isiah spoke of the righteous in the same chapter...this contrast is seen on almost every page of scripture..be blessed
 
W

willybob

Guest
#66
You're welcome.


Lets not forget open to the truth.


As I explained above, faith is not a work. In Eph 2:8-9 Paul CONTRASTS works and faith. When Paul says "work of faith", he is not saying that faith is a work, but that work results from faith. It is a genitive of origin, and not genitive of apposition (where both mean the same thing.) Paul is not saying that faith is work, but that works result from faith.


Faith is simply "trust".


Permanent death.


It is not saying that people will cease sinning (in this life).


"Commit sin" refers to an ongoing action. People who make a practice of sinning are servants of sin.


Being free from sin does not mean that Christians will not sin. All men sin, including Christians, because of "the sin that dwells in us" (Rom 7:17, 20).


It is obvious that God does not want us to sin, and that we should make every effort not to sin. But every single person on the planet falls short.


The Bible is loaded with instruction on how Christians should live. Nobody is denying that. But every single one of us falls short. We are not saved by not sinning, and we cannot become unsaved by sinning.


This is probably our fundamental difference. I believe in the Christian new birth, that when a person confesses Jesus Christ as Lord and believes in his heart that God raised him from the dead, that person shall be saved (Rom 10:9). When a person hears the gospel, and believes it, that person is sealed with the gift of holy spirit, which is the guarantee of salvation (Eph 1:13-14).


I do not believe you are correctly understand works. Works is anything people do, or don't do. Christians are not saved by works, but by faith in Jesus Christ.


Becoming saved does not automatically alter a person's character. People must work at it. They must put off the old man and put on the new.

But a Christian's salvation is never in jeopardy. The Christian new birth is "incorruptible seed" (1 Pet 1:23). We are children of God by birth.


Bottom line: Peter sinned in committing hypocrisy.


Again, this is probably our fundamental difference. You believe a person must "be good" in order to be saved. I believe that when a person believes on the Lord Jesus Christ, that person becomes literally born of God, a child of God.


Again, you are not understanding the Christian new birth. You want people to work for their salvation.


So hypocrisy is a "minor" sin that God winks at?


James 1:21 does not say what you think it does. You're saying people must stop sinning before they can receive the Word. That's not true.


I have heard this explanation before by others who think they don't sin. There is nothing to suggest that it's referring to "initial repentance" only.


It is clear that the Bible states in many places, over and over, that believers are not to sin. God does not want us to sin, and Christians should make every effort not to sin. But every single Christian on the planet DOES sin, some willful and some in ignorance. Christians who think they do not sin are deceiving themselves, and the truth is not in them (1 John 1:8).

God made GETTING saved easy. Jesus Christ did all the hard work, and we owe everything to him. God requires about the least thing He could require in order for a person to become saved: faith in Jesus Christ.

Please understand that I am not condoning sin in any way, nor am I stating that there are not consequences to sin. There are sometimes immediate consequences, and there will certainly be future consequences. We will ALL appear before the judgment seat of Christ and give account of the things we did, of how we lived our lives. We will be repaid for the things we did, whether good or bad. Faithful Christians will be richly rewarded, unfaithful Christians may get no rewards at all. But EVERY Christian shall be saved.
John 1-8 has to be harmonized with the whole chapter, verse 6 says if we say we have fellowship with God (claim to be Christians) and walk in darkness (sin), we lie and do not the truth....Verse 10 uses the same Greek word "ou" as to be if we say we have not sinned,(past tense)....

Also you misunderstand Eph 2-8,9

Paul is clear that the working dynamics of grace and faith combined (synergy) brings about salvation. Not withstanding, only God can forgive past sins through the contingency of repentance..Paul also meant that religious works cannot save, because the Jews boasted in their religious works, he was not speaking of works of obedience by faith....as we can clearly see in verse 10 that he clarifies this...you all always leave out verse 10 for some strange reason....dig deep and dispense with the traditions of men,,,,,,be blessed
 
Last edited by a moderator:

joaniemarie

Senior Member
Jan 4, 2017
3,198
303
83
#67
The apostle Paul said to EXAMINE yourselves, and see if ye be in the faith, and to he that thinks he stands, take heed lest he fall........(bible 101)

You have not read the previous posts and are commenting as if I said "don't examine yourself" Our examining is to see if we are establishing OUR OWN righteousness OR walking in the established righteousness OF Christ. It gets so tiring when you guys don't bother to read any of the previous posts and then try to correct people who disagree with you. Read please then if you still want to correct we can actually discuss something.

"looking to Jesus., The Author and Finisher of our faith" When we walk in our own righteousness and have faith in our own goodness take heed we will fall flat on our faces. Pride goes before a fall.
 
W

willybob

Guest
#68
You have not read the previous posts and are commenting as if I said "don't examine yourself" Our examining is to see if we are establishing OUR OWN righteousness OR walking in the established righteousness OF Christ. It gets so tiring when you guys don't bother to read any of the previous posts and then try to correct people who disagree with you. Read please then if you still want to correct we can actually discuss something.

"looking to Jesus., The Author and Finisher of our faith" When we walk in our own righteousness and have faith in our own goodness take heed we will fall flat on our faces. Pride goes before a fall.

Paul says the examining is to prove your own selves , 'ie' (faith proven by deeds), if we even be in Christ.......lest we be reprobates
 
Last edited by a moderator:
W

willybob

Guest
#69
2 Corinthians 13:5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves, (bring forth deeds worthy of repentance said John the baptizer) Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

we are all doing works 24/7. Paul is encouraging us to examine ourselves and see if we are doing the works of God, or the reprobate works of Satan...
 
J

joefizz

Guest
#70
well no surprise another heated debate,hoo boo,5 am and I must ask the holy spirit for help to bring peace and truth to such debates,from the posts here(yes I looked over every single one)ye are divided upon what defines righteousness as well as other important parts of "Working" for God,and "Faithfully" believing on Jesus as our saviour and through him being "saved" and doing "works" for God,as to us being righteous,this can only be possible by way of Jesus,for"none come to the father except through the son" and anything we try to do for God of ourselves,is "unrighteousness and it is as filthy rags"this does not mean that we do not get the mind set that we simply wait on Jesus to Return,just because anything we do of ourselves for God is foolishness,it means we Trust the holy spirit to guide us to where God desires us to Go,and tells us what we are to say to those that are lost so that they can be led to God and saved through Jesus as We were,when We were sinful and realized we needed God and We appreciated Jesus's sacrifice of dieing for our sins,that we also accepted him as saviour willingly and sincerely,for "God is long suffering that all be led to repentance" but baptism is important as well,willingly going through both is your "Permanent" Testimony to God that you "Forever" serve him,for "whosoever is in God's hand,noone can pluck them from his hand" now just because you are given the "Promise" of Eternal Life and your Soul is Saved from The second death,does not mean this is an open pass to do whatever you want afterward,for it is written"one must be hot or cold for the lord,not luke warm,for God will spew them out of his mouth" as in,you despite being given salvation of soul have done nothing for God that is fruitful,if you only believe on salvation instead of Remembering to lead others to God,also if you think that God,also to those once again who take it to their head that God needs you to only be faithful,Jesus said"not all who say unto me lord lord shall enter into the kingdom of heaven" so you must have "faith" in Jesus and through Jesus do "works" otherwise your"faith without works is dead faith"!
 
Last edited by a moderator:

mailmandan

Senior Member
Apr 7, 2014
25,469
13,413
113
58
#71
John 1-8 has to be harmonized with the whole chapter, verse 6 says if we say we have fellowship with God (claim to be Christians) and walk in darkness (sin), we lie and do not the truth....Verse 10 uses the same Greek word "ou" as to be if we say we have not sinned,(past tense)....
1 John 1:6 - If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. Walking in darkness is descriptive of children of the devil. Walking in the light is descriptive of children of God. Only those who are saved/believers are in the light.

Acts 26:18 - to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.

2 Corinthians 6:14 - Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?

Ephesians 5:8 - for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light. Children of the devil walk in darkness, not in the light. Children of God walk in the light, not in darkness. IF confirms these positions in verses 6 and 7. It's one or the other.

In 1 John 2:9, we read - He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now. In vs. 11 - But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

*Compare with 1 John 3:10 - In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, (compare with 1 John 1:6 - does not practice the truth) nor is he who does not love his brother. *Notice that "walks in darkness, hates his brother" is connected with children of the devil.

Notice that 1 John 1:9 - If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (vs. 9) is IN CONTRAST TO - If we say that we have no sin, (PRESENT TENSE) we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us (vs. 8) and - If we say that we have not sinned, (PAST TENSE) we make him a liar, and his word is not in us (vs. 10).

Some people misunderstand verse 9 to mean that we must confess each specific sin that we commit as we commit them (keep a specific inventory) as an additional requirement to remain cleansed and if we forget a sin we are toast!

Also you misunderstand Eph 2-8,9

Paul is clear that the working dynamics of grace and faith combined (synergy) brings about salvation. Not withstanding, only God can forgive past sins through the contingency of repentance..
Paul is clear that we are saved by grace through faith, not works and NOT faith and works or faith + "these" works and just not "those" works.

Paul also meant that religious works cannot save, because the Jews boasted in their religious works, he was not speaking of works of obedience by faith
That sounds similar to the same argument I hear from Roman Catholics. Elsewhere, Paul said we are not saved by works of righteousness which we have done.. (Titus 3:5) and that God saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began. That covers good works in general/works of obedience produced out of faith.

Works put in their proper place are subsequent to saving faith in Christ. The Bible says we are saved by grace through faith, not works, whether religious works or good works/works of obedience produced out of faith etc.. This does not remove good works/works of obedience from the Christian life, it just puts them in their proper place, subsequent to regeneration and salvation.

....as we can clearly see in verse 10 that he clarifies this...you all always leave out verse 10 for some strange reason....dig deep and dispense with the traditions of men,,,,,,be blessed
Verse 10 does not imply that we are saved by good works. In verse 10, we read - For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus FOR good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
 
Nov 22, 2015
20,436
1,431
0
#72
We are either in Christ and Christ is in us or we are not. Paul told the Corinthians to "examine themselves" to see if Christ is in them because there are tares in with the wheat in every church assembly and Paul wanted them to come to Christ too.

There is no such thing as going in and out of Christ.

It's a bunch of religious nonsense that workers for their own righteousness make up "in order" to stay saved by what they do or don't do. They are exchanging Christ Himself for their works of righteousness. These are in fact "denying their Lord and Master".
 

mailmandan

Senior Member
Apr 7, 2014
25,469
13,413
113
58
#73
We are either in Christ and Christ is in us or we are not. Paul told the Corinthians to "examine themselves" to see if Christ is in them because there are tares in with the wheat in every church assembly and Paul wanted them to come to Christ too.

There is no such thing as going in and out of Christ.

It's a bunch of religious nonsense that workers for their own righteousness make up "in order" to stay saved by what they do or don't do. They are exchanging Christ Himself for their works of righteousness. These are in fact "denying their Lord and Master".
Salvation is not probation. Eternal life is not temporary life. Jesus is the door. He is not a revolving door.
 
Apr 30, 2016
5,162
75
0
#74
well no surprise another heated debate,hoo boo,5 am and I must ask the holy spirit for help to bring peace and truth to such debates,from the posts here(yes I looked over every single one)ye are divided upon what defines righteousness as well as other important parts of "Working" for God,and "Faithfully" believing on Jesus as our saviour and through him being "saved" and doing "works" for God,as to us being righteous,this can only be possible by way of Jesus,for"none come to the father except through the son" and anything we try to do for God of ourselves,is "unrighteousness and it is as filthy rags"this does not mean that we do not get the mind set that we simply wait on Jesus to Return,just because anything we do of ourselves for God is foolishness,it means we Trust the holy spirit to guide us to where God desires us to Go,and tells us what we are to say to those that are lost so that they can be led to God and saved through Jesus as We were,when We were sinful and realized we needed God and We appreciated Jesus's sacrifice of dieing for our sins,that we also accepted him as saviour willingly and sincerely,for "God is long suffering that all be led to repentance" but baptism is important as well,willingly going through both is your "Permanent" Testimony to God that you "Forever" serve him,for "whosoever is in God's hand,noone can pluck them from his hand" now just because you are given the "Promise" of Eternal Life and your Soul is Saved from The second death,does not mean this is an open pass to do whatever you want afterward,for it is written"one must be hot or cold for the lord,not luke warm,for God will spew them out of his mouth" as in,you despite being given salvation of soul have done nothing for God that is fruitful,if you only believe on salvation instead of Remembering to lead others to God,also if you think that God,also to those once again who take it to their head that God needs you to only be faithful,Jesus said"not all who say unto me lord lord shall enter into the kingdom of heaven" so you must have "faith" in Jesus and through Jesus do "works" otherwise your"faith without works is dead faith"!
Hey JF

How's about using paragraphs??

After every two or three sentences, press that big ENTER key to your right. Smack in the middle of the keyboard.

Like this. SEE??

I can't read your posts because it's almost impossible.
Although I DO like to read what you have to say.

TRY IT.
YOU'LL LIKE IT.
 
Apr 30, 2016
5,162
75
0
#75
Salvation is not probation. Eternal life is not temporary life. Jesus is the door. He is not a revolving door.
We ARE on probation here. Will post verses later. No time.
All the verses with words like IF, UNTIL, CONTINUE, etc.

Eternal Life happens at the END OF OUR LIFE.
The Kingdom starts here.
If WE'RE IN IT at the end, THEN we will have eternal life.

For right now, we have life. Jesus is our life. If we stay IN HIM we will have eternal life.

Jesus is the door?

Sure. A door could take you in
and it could take you out.

Jesus takes you in.

He doesn't LOCK YOU IN. You have to WANT to stay there.

Or have you lost your free will?
 
Apr 30, 2016
5,162
75
0
#76
We are either in Christ and Christ is in us or we are not. Paul told the Corinthians to "examine themselves" to see if Christ is in them because there are tares in with the wheat in every church assembly and Paul wanted them to come to Christ too.

There is no such thing as going in and out of Christ.

It's a bunch of religious nonsense that workers for their own righteousness make up "in order" to stay saved by what they do or don't do. They are exchanging Christ Himself for their works of righteousness. These are in fact "denying their Lord and Master".
Hi Grace,

When God put Adam in the Garden, did he tell him that he was the steward of that garden?

Did God tell Adam that he was to take care of that garden?
Or did he tell him to just sit under the trees, eat some good fruit, and take it easy?

No. God told him to WORK. Working is a part of Christianity.
If we don't do the WORK, who will??

Did God change from when He created Adam?
Or is He the same God?

God is the same Yesterday, today and Tomorrow.
Hebrews 13:8

Please concentrate on the above.
If you write a Whole page full of verses that go all over the place, our conversation will become of no value.
 
Apr 30, 2016
5,162
75
0
#77
1 John 1:6 - If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. Walking in darkness is descriptive of children of the devil. Walking in the light is descriptive of children of God. Only those who are saved/believers are in the light.

Acts 26:18 - to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.

2 Corinthians 6:14 - Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?

Ephesians 5:8 - for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light. Children of the devil walk in darkness, not in the light. Children of God walk in the light, not in darkness. IF confirms these positions in verses 6 and 7. It's one or the other.

In 1 John 2:9, we read - He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now. In vs. 11 - But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

*Compare with 1 John 3:10 - In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, (compare with 1 John 1:6 - does not practice the truth) nor is he who does not love his brother. *Notice that "walks in darkness, hates his brother" is connected with children of the devil.

Notice that 1 John 1:9 - If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (vs. 9) is IN CONTRAST TO - If we say that we have no sin, (PRESENT TENSE) we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us (vs. 8) and - If we say that we have not sinned, (PAST TENSE) we make him a liar, and his word is not in us (vs. 10).

Some people misunderstand verse 9 to mean that we must confess each specific sin that we commit as we commit them (keep a specific inventory) as an additional requirement to remain cleansed and if we forget a sin we are toast!

Paul is clear that we are saved by grace through faith, not works and NOT faith and works or faith + "these" works and just not "those" works.

That sounds similar to the same argument I hear from Roman Catholics. Elsewhere, Paul said we are not saved by works of righteousness which we have done.. (Titus 3:5) and that God saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began. That covers good works in general/works of obedience produced out of faith.

Works put in their proper place are subsequent to saving faith in Christ. The Bible says we are saved by grace through faith, not works, whether religious works or good works/works of obedience produced out of faith etc.. This does not remove good works/works of obedience from the Christian life, it just puts them in their proper place, subsequent to regeneration and salvation.

Verse 10 does not imply that we are saved by good works. In verse 10, we read - For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus FOR good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
MMD

What is sooo difficult to understand about this:

Notice that 1 John 1:9 - If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness

We are to confess ALL OUR SINS.

Acts 26:18
Acts 13:38


I'd also like to bring up the concept that if WE FORGIVE, then GOD WILL FORGIVE US.
It is thus understood that this refers to future sin, since we must forigive those who harm us IN THE PRESENT and in THE FUTURE.
Mathew 6:14-15


Luke 24.47
 

mailmandan

Senior Member
Apr 7, 2014
25,469
13,413
113
58
#78
We ARE on probation here. Will post verses later. No time.
All the verses with words like IF, UNTIL, CONTINUE, etc.
False. I've already explained this to you numerous times.

Eternal Life happens at the END OF OUR LIFE.
The Kingdom starts here.
If WE'RE IN IT at the end, THEN we will have eternal life.
Believers have eternal life NOW. John 5:24 - Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life. Yet believers will not receive their glorified bodies until the end.

For right now, we have life. Jesus is our life. If we stay IN HIM we will have eternal life.
It's not all about YOU. Genuine believers remain IN HIM. Those who depart demonstrate they were NOT OF US.

Jesus is the door?

Sure. A door could take you in
and it could take you out.

Jesus takes you in.
Jesus is the door (not a revolving door) and He is also the way, the truth and the life.

He doesn't LOCK YOU IN. You have to WANT to stay there.
Jesus does not need to lock genuine believers in. They want to stay there.

Or have you lost your free will?
Genuine believers have exercised their free will to choose Jesus.
 

mailmandan

Senior Member
Apr 7, 2014
25,469
13,413
113
58
#79
MMD

What is sooo difficult to understand about this:

Notice that 1 John 1:9 - If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness

We are to confess ALL OUR SINS.
You fail to understand that 1 John 1:9 is IN CONTRAST TO 1 John 1:8 and 1 John 1:10. So if John is saying that we must confess ALL of our sins that we have ever committed (keep a specific inventory) then go ahead and write out a list of ALL of your sins right now (and don't forget a single one). I'll be waiting.

I'd also like to bring up the concept that if WE FORGIVE, then GOD WILL FORGIVE US.
It is thus understood that this refers to future sin, since we must forigive those who harm us IN THE PRESENT and in THE FUTURE.
Mathew 6:14-15
Continued unforgiveness is the mark of an unbeliever and forgiveness would be the mark of a genuine believer. We should forgive others because God, through Christ, has forgiven us (Ephesians 4:32). It is inconceivable that someone who has truly experienced God's forgiveness could refuse to grant forgiveness to others. I've heard more than one interpretation for Matthew 6:14-15 - https://www.gotquestions.org/forgive-forgiven.html
 
U

UnderGrace

Guest
#80
Good luck confessing EVERY single sin......





MMD

What is sooo difficult to understand about this:

Notice that 1 John 1:9 - If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness

We are to confess ALL OUR SINS.

Acts 26:18
Acts 13:38


I'd also like to bring up the concept that if WE FORGIVE, then GOD WILL FORGIVE US.
It is thus understood that this refers to future sin, since we must forigive those who harm us IN THE PRESENT and in THE FUTURE.
Mathew 6:14-15


Luke 24.47