Not By Works

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PennEd

Senior Member
Apr 22, 2013
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People do change without Jesus, they see themselves and what they are doing and when they realize this do they have the ability to modify their behaviour, I have seen it many times.
That may be true sister. But I can tell you I could only TEMPORARILY modify my behavior without Jesus and His Grace in my life.

And even when the behavior was modified, before Christ, the heart was not. So maybe I could've stopped following through on lustful thoughts, but without Christ, not only did that last just a little while, but I was still doing it in my mind.

I still stumble now, but I can keep going back to Him, and if I keep my eyes on Him, then I don't want to fulfill the lusts of the flesh.
 

stonesoffire

Poetic Member
Nov 24, 2013
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Anger without cause is murder. My question is if I have cause to be angry for selfishness. Won't I be judged as I have judged?
Please don't be offended when I say this, but you have great need for foundational truth stunned. You've been on your own too long and need fellowship. This might sound odd, but I would recommend a baptist church to you.

There are two judgements. The judgement seat of Christ, for rewards, not salvation. And the great white Throne judgement for the world separating sheep from goats. This is for the nations. ( look if you disagree please) We aren't sheep, Sons.

The Word will help us to understand our new man, but that is the NT writings of Paul, and the disciples after Pentecost. The old reveals the Saviour to come, and the 4 gospels reveals the Saviour and His ways, opposite the ways of the law.
 

BillG

Senior Member
Feb 15, 2017
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Being kind and firm and telling your mother that you are with her to be walked over and her lackey.
This can be done in love and not anger.
Sorry there should have been a NOT in between "are and with" so to read "Are not with her to be walked over"
 
U

UnderGrace

Guest
For sure...I was waiting for someone to point that out.....LOL:)

Having worked in addictions many years ago, I saw many people change their behaviour, behaviour modification does work to some extent.

True only God truly delivers from the bondage of sin, but apart from the spiritual, there are emotions, the will etc.,

People's behaviours can also be enabled by how we interact with them, sometimes because we are more serving as believers, unregenerated people learn to take advantage, the trick is getting them to unlearn it. :)


That may be true sister. But I can tell you I could only TEMPORARILY modify my behavior without Jesus and His Grace in my life.

And even when the behavior was modified, before Christ, the heart was not. So maybe I could've stopped following through on lustful thoughts, but without Christ, not only did that last just a little while, but I was still doing it in my mind.

I still stumble now, but I can keep going back to Him, and if I keep my eyes on Him, then I don't want to fulfill the lusts of the flesh.
 
P

PHart

Guest
But HOW can a man obey Him if anger in our heart is murder??
Isn't it if you have HATE in your heart that it is as murder?

And the Bible does say to be angry but sin not (Ephesians 4:4?)

And Jesus talks about confronting those who sin against us (Matthew 18). It's okay to confront. In fact, we help the offender when we confront them. The law even stipulated that we call out wrong doers so we won't share in their guilt (Leviticus 19:19?). We have varying degrees to which each of us is to confront wrong doers. Through wisdom and prudence, and a little fear, lol, we will know when, where, and how to confront those who are sinning against us.

This is a recovered rage-aholic talking here. Rage is what is forbidden. And you're prolly letting your anger, which is justified, build up until it spills out in sinful rage. I was healed (I remain humble about the situation) when I started realizing the consequences for my sinful rage.

The consequences for the matters of the heart can be dealt with much easier and less painfully than matters of our actual outward behavior. Don't get on a guilt trip about the hidden things of the heart as if they are exactly like doing them outwardly. What makes them different from actually acting on them is the consequences are far easier to shoulder and deal with when the hatred, or whatever, is still a matter of the heart and has not been acted out yet. Ask any adulterer if that's true or not.

You have a wonderful, humble, honest spirit. The Lord can mold you. You're way ahead of things than most Christians in my honest opinion. Take heart.

By the way, I think you live with what is called a narcissist. You have a very big burden to shoulder. Very, very big.

And forgive my haphazard scripture notations. I'm on lunch and don't have time to check the references, but I think they'll get you in the right area of scripture to find them yourself.
 
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May 12, 2017
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I get, I get it!
One has to earn grace...

Wait a minute....
How can one earn unmerited favour....
Nobody earns grace, it is appropriated through your personal faith....nor is it just given to you because you raise your hand and say I do..and repeating a "sinners" prayer and then back and live like hell...

Eph 2.8-9

[SUP]8 [/SUP]For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; [SUP]9 [/SUP]not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.
 
Nov 12, 2015
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Please don't be offended when I say this, but you have great need for foundational truth stunned. You've been on your own too long and need fellowship. This might sound odd, but I would recommend a baptist church to you.

There are two judgements. The judgement seat of Christ, for rewards, not salvation. And the great white Throne judgement for the world separating sheep from goats. This is for the nations. ( look if you disagree please) We aren't sheep, Sons.

The Word will help us to understand our new man, but that is the NT writings of Paul, and the disciples after Pentecost. The old reveals the Saviour to come, and the 4 gospels reveals the Saviour and His ways, opposite the ways of the law.
Why do you assume which judgement I was speaking of?

And I do understand that His ways are opposite of keeping the law. But I do not agree that His way leads to lawlessness, and neither do you! :)
 

stonesoffire

Poetic Member
Nov 24, 2013
10,665
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Why do you assume which judgement I was speaking of?

And I do understand that His ways are opposite of keeping the law. But I do not agree that His way leads to lawlessness, and neither do you! :)
I guess because I'm not perfect. ;) I do love you. You are the only one here that I know loves symbolism as much as I do. :)
 

TruthTalk

Senior Member
Jul 17, 2017
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Happiness goes in a circle, my wife and I always agree; if we are not happy with our circumstance or we cannot reconcile with what is happening in our life, we make plans to make things better and then go. I realize this is not a reality to everyone. Our pastor last Sunday preached on Ephesians6:18-24; "Pray in the Spirit on all occasions, or pray always."

"And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should. Peace to the brothers and sisters, and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love." Ephesians6:18-24
 
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stonesoffire

Poetic Member
Nov 24, 2013
10,665
1,829
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For sure...I was waiting for someone to point that out.....LOL:)

Having worked in addictions many years ago, I saw many people change their behaviour, behaviour modification does work to some extent.

True only God truly delivers from the bondage of sin, but apart from the spiritual, there are emotions, the will etc.,

People's behaviours can also be enabled by how we interact with them, sometimes because we are more serving as believers, unregenerated people learn to take advantage, the trick is getting them to unlearn it. :)
I could never work with addictions and I applaud you for it UG. Give me surgery and I'll dress the wounds but not emotions.
 
May 12, 2017
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Originally Posted by eternally-gratefull

i think as scripture sad, his sheep know his voice and follow

the danger is when the enemy comes and acts as an angel of light, with a sweet voice, and we start believing what the enemy said, things like you sinner, how dare you, you think God is going to love you after doing that? God will never accept you, look at how much you have sinned, or are sinning etc etc.

thats when gods people risk getting taken down or turned.



It stinks when folks make open-ended, can-mean-anything statements.

You believe once saved, always saved, yet this sentence says that's not so.

You just said they could lose their salvation, but I know that you will spin right around & deny the whole thing.

It seems that those of you that argue do this on a regular basis, drawing fire & then denial, getting others into your web of deceit.

Open-ended statements are totally deceitful, for you can make the mean anything you want.

Now, if I'm wrong, & you're not that type of man, stop such writing immediately.

That goes for your friends too.
I have EG on ignore and I am glad you quoted him...so I could see this...DO you also notice he is making another glaring contradiction, besides the one you pointed out?

How many times did I go to battle with him, trying to get him to understand that since he is now saved, he is not a sinner saved by grace....but now a sin forgiven saint that will still sin....and that he we do not have 2 natures fighting in us...he rejected me outright, called me a sinless perfection heretic and other vile names....used Romans 7 & 1 Tim 1.15 out of context to let everyone know he more easily identifies himself as a sinner and wicked than righteous and a saint....remember those posts in this thread?

Now look at EG telling someone that only Satan calls us a sinner....as if he believes what we have been saying the whole time....
 
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eternally-gratefull

Guest
Anger without cause is murder. My question is if I have cause to be angry for selfishness. Won't I be judged as I have judged?
james said all sin, even the smallest sin, makes on guilty of the whole law.

Yo should never judge anyway, and again, there is justifiable anger
 
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eternally-gratefull

Guest
That may be true sister. But I can tell you I could only TEMPORARILY modify my behavior without Jesus and His Grace in my life.

And even when the behavior was modified, before Christ, the heart was not. So maybe I could've stopped following through on lustful thoughts, but without Christ, not only did that last just a little while, but I was still doing it in my mind.

I still stumble now, but I can keep going back to Him, and if I keep my eyes on Him, then I don't want to fulfill the lusts of the flesh.
Usually the change behaviors, or stop one sin and do another, I can stop drinking of my own power. Usually b replacing it with some other addiction.
 
U

UnderGrace

Guest
There is a lot of heartache and misery there, it is hard to keep oneself from getting emotionally involved...I did end up going in a different direction too

I could never work with addictions and I applaud you for it UG. Give me surgery and I'll dress the wounds but not emotions.
 
May 12, 2017
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Simply read through the posts on this thread. And note those who say we must "bear fruit" or we will be eternally damned. And see how much fruit their posts display. How loving, peaceful, gentle, kind, hopeful, pure, and sincere are they? Investigate the fruit of this "keep your salvation" theology for yourself. Many don't even follow their own "fruit bearing" theology. It appears that if you simply argue you can lose your salvation that's the only fruit their theology needs to have. This doesn't go for everyone in their camp, I've interacted with some Christ-like posters who believe you can lose your salvation, but by and large the evidence is truly staggering of what kind of disciples this work-focused theology is making. By their fruit you shall know them indeed.
Manifesting the Fruit of the Spirit is not the fruit bearing Jesus talks about....I know many unbelievers, including secular humanists and Atheists that manifest a worldly type of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control....

Fruit bearing is so much more than thinking the Fruit of the Spirit you manifest is just about personal character....

Judah Smith & Carl Lentz also condemn fruit bearing to and it is because they think Fruit of the Spirit is the fruit bearing Jesus talked about too...now think about this...many here say fruit of the spirit is not evidence of an inward change, brought about by salvation.....then what is?
 
U

UnderGrace

Guest
True, when I worked in addictions they seemed to go to coffee and cigarettes (non stop).

But sometimes when they dealt with the emotions for the reason they ran to alcohol in the first place they did manage better and did go forward with no addictive behaviours.



Usually the change behaviors, or stop one sin and do another, I can stop drinking of my own power. Usually b replacing it with some other addiction.
 

TruthTalk

Senior Member
Jul 17, 2017
2,904
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God can use; self help books, Christian rehab, Church family counseling; only surrendering your whole life to Jesus will fix every problem and give you the peace and the strength to endure. "Peace give I to Thee" Every Christian needs to make this a reality in their life.

"Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful. John14:27
 
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eternally-gratefull

Guest
I have EG on ignore and I am glad you quoted him...so I could see this...DO you also notice he is making another glaring contradiction, besides the one you pointed out?

How many times did I go to battle with him, trying to get him to understand that since he is now saved, he is not a sinner saved by grace....but now a sin forgiven saint that will still sin....and that he we do not have 2 natures fighting in us...he rejected me outright, called me a sinless perfection heretic and other vile names....used Romans 7 & 1 Tim 1.15 out of context to let everyone know he more easily identifies himself as a sinner and wicked than righteous and a saint....remember those posts in this thread?

Now look at EG telling someone that only Satan calls us a sinner....as if he believes what we have been saying the whole time....
well I did not see his post to me because I have him on ignore

but now since you quoted him in order to get a dig in, I can reply.

Your both wrong, I never said anyone could lose salvation, I said they risk getting taken down, or out, not out of salvation, out of being useful to god because they have been defeated by legalism, I have witnessed it in a lot of people,

but off course, you two are so desperate to prove people wrong yet again, you can not see what they are actually saying,

Either way, thanks for the laugh