Hello CS1
Yes, salvation is through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ period. Although these additional things like baptism, tithing, giving to the poor etc. are not essential to salvation, they are included in the bible.
Since they are included in the bible, it means that God wants us to do them. We cannot keep disobeying them and making excuses that they are not a salvation issue.
God takes everything that He says seriously and He expects us to have that attitude as well. I have already mentioned the example King Saul (1 Samuel 15) who disobeyed God’s command and did fully destroy the Amalekites and all that they had. King Saul was punished by God for his disobedience although his disobedience was not breaking any of the 10 commandments or disobeying anything mentioned in Deuteronomy, Exodus or Leviticus
There are some things in the New Testament that God tells us to do and I do them and I understand why God wants them to be done.
But for some instructions, I do not fully understand why God wants us to do them and I do not see the benefit of some of the things God has instructed us to do. But I do them any way and I do not believe in making excuses. And when I struggle, I pray and ask God to help me and He does.
Hi Godcares,
Yes God most certainly wants us to Obey HIm amen.
However, God wants us to
obey Him out of love for Him, not from a legalistic relationship.
Remember Jesus will say to those on that day
" depart from me, I never knew you". Matthew 7:23.
Yet they will say to the Lord
We obey you!
The reason why Jesus says this ( one can read in Matthew chapter 6 and 7), is many has unforgiveness in their heart for mother, father, brother, and sister.
They hate and
cover it up with the good they do( so they think)
. God wants us all to let
HIM deal with this,
But we would not.
Many do great works yet still, God knows our heart Intimately. This is what Jesus is saying to the Pharisees who shout to the people
OBEY the lAW!
they hid and played a good game but Jesus was not fooled. They asked him about divorce and other parts of the Law NOT just any law but the very Law God gave to Moses, like, " Thou shall not commit adultery ".
Notices Jesus Knows their thoughts and addresses all the Pharisees concerns about Obeying God and the Law with the
issue of their heart?
Jesus knew they were adulterers in heart, murders, liars, and idolaters. Yet before men, they wanted to be seen as
OBEYING the LAW.
Jesus called them Hypocrites! and said "
woe to you Hypocrites" in Matthew 23.
Many people are good at keeping the law before men but have the issue of the heart that will send them right to hell.
They are perverted, liars, idolaters, fornicators, murderers, etc...
Yet they tithe, go to church, work in the community, never even had a speeding ticket but have no relationship with God.
Jesus said IF you love me Obey me, Love must be the reason why because Love is of God. How do I know the work I do is really Love to God and loving God?
it is so simple many theologians have missed it.
Thankfully it is the Lord Jesus who is speaking about in Luke chapter seven starting at verse thirty-six.
Jesus is speaking to those who claim to observe the law flawlessly the Pharisees:
Then a sinner comes in and begins to wash the feet of Jesus with tears. This sinner anointed His feet with the most costly thing this sinner had. The leader of the law was shocked because they too remember all this sinner has done.
Rember Jesus said "IF you love me, obey me" and the question I"asked
" how do I know the work I do is really love to God and loving God? "
here is how you can know By your forgiveness you forgive others as you have been forgiven. AS Love love others as you have been shown, love. Forgiveness and love are hands in hand they will be the motivating factor that causes one to DO for others.
IT was clear to Jesus the love of this "sinner' because Jesus said:
tells the story of the debt's forgiven and asked Simon,
"Which of them will love him more?”
Simon answered and said, “I suppose the one whom he forgave more.” And He said to him, “You have rightly judged.”
Jesus then said:
“Therefore I say to you, the sinners' sins, which
are many,
are forgiven, for they
loved much. But to whom
little is forgiven, the same loves little.”
WE must never forget the price Christ paid for us and remember the great debt HE paid and took unto Himself. If this has happened I can ensure you the word you do will be one of love and Jesus will accept it AS LOVE DONE IN hIS NAME FOR OTHERS.
But if you do the work of God and think you are in right standing with God because of them, remember if you were not forgiven God doesn't know you nor does HE remember your work.