Not By Works

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Feb 24, 2015
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A gardener who plants seeds in a garden will know this problem.
The seed packet says red flowers, you sprinkle the seeds.

Now some take root and spring up blue flowers.
So what the packet promised the seed did not deliver.

God is the sower of seed and expects good plants with good seed.
A plant is defined by its fruit or seed.

So the seed is righteous, holy, pure, blameless lives planted amongst a world
of impure, immoral sinners who do not know good from evil.

What kind of harvest is God expecting?
 
Nov 22, 2015
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Jesus said to "repent and believe the gospel".

John was the last of the Old Covenant prophets and "after" his ministry was ended ( which is why John said - He must increase - I must decrease ) That is when Jesus started preaching "the gospel". John's ministry and Jesus' ministry were two different things which had different purposes.

Repent - change the way you are thinking in how you relate to God - stop your attempts of self-righteousness/holiness and believe the gospel.

Mark 1:14-15 (NASB)
[SUP]14 [/SUP]
Now after John had been taken into custody, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God,

[SUP]15 [/SUP] and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel."
 
Feb 24, 2015
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I started on cc with one language, I now have another because of Gods word.

An open heart, Christs love on the throne, a commited desire to walk after Jesus,
simple principles that create simple pure fruit.

We would God not call us His holy people if we are pure, blameless and holy.
If we are not, and our consciences condemn us, let us repent of that sin and
draw near to God with clean hearts and a pure spirit.

I know the spirit of our hearts, once caught in sin, will do anything to deny it
and not change or bow the knee to Christ. This has always been the sign of
an unborn Child of God.

King David when confronted about Bathsheba, repented, humbled himself and
realised his sin and affront to the Lord.

So very often people think the sin does not matter, imagine it never happened,
any excuse to avoid actually facing the truth. But until we all do, we have not
taken Christ seriously, or what it means to be in the Kingdom.

And literally everything is destroyed by this rebellion unless it is resolved from
the heart. Everything I share is founded on this spiritual step, and all the wisdom
of heaven is lost to those unless they have taken this step of repentance.
 
Feb 24, 2015
13,204
168
0
Jesus said to "repent and believe the gospel".
After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!"
Mark 1:14-15

The good news was the kingdom of God had come, righteousness and the power to
walk in Gods ways was here. So repent of your sin, and believe in the Kingdom.

If you remove repentance of sin, and walking in righteousness,
Ezek 18:21-25

you remove everything God stands for. Sin is so blatant and evil,
it leads to death.

In a nice caring society where the faults are not often seen people forget
what a society run by sin and passion looks like. Look towards the middle east,
or so many cultures based not on Gods righteous principles and you see the
chaos that arises.

So the pedlars of access to God without repentance of sin, devalue the cross
and Christs death. They even pour scorn of sorrowful feelings in repentance,
as if this is also wrong.

Yet Paul uplifts this very point, that it leads to salvation, and realisation of who
God is and how lost we are without Him. Under Jonahs preaching, Nineveh repented
in sackcloth and ashes and God forgave them.

The fact that any christian movement would claim they speak for God yet condemn
the very principles of the Most High shows their source. And it is very simple to show
this reality, yet even so, people are so emotionally commited, they ignore these realities,
because they fear their past and the conflicts within which legalism brought, and anything
is better than that. But it was all without love and understanding, proving oneself, rather
than walking in humbleness and listening to the Holy Spirit.
 
Last edited:
Mar 28, 2016
15,954
1,528
113
A gardener who plants seeds in a garden will know this problem.
The seed packet says red flowers, you sprinkle the seeds.

Now some take root and spring up blue flowers.
So what the packet promised the seed did not deliver.

God is the sower of seed and expects good plants with good seed.
A plant is defined by its fruit or seed.

So the seed is righteous, holy, pure, blameless lives planted amongst a world
of impure, immoral sinners who do not know good from evil.

What kind of harvest is God expecting?
The fruit of His righteousness seeing no man will be found with one of His own self.

Its His righteousness that turns us causing us sorrow so that we then can repent .He does all the work of salvation or He performs none.

Philippians 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:
 
Dec 12, 2013
46,515
20,401
113
The fruit of His righteousness seeing no man will be found with one of His own self.

Its His righteousness that turns us causing us sorrow so that we then can repent .He does all the work of salvation or He performs none.

Philippians 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:
Amen to that...the author and finisher of our faith.....Jesus was clear that he would lose nothing that the Father gave him, but would raise it up the last day.....

Love the word justification as applied unto those who exercise faith into the finished work of Christ.......amen to that!

Like PAUL said...WE CONCLUDE that a man is justified by FAITH without (apart from) the deeds of the law (works)...end of story!
 
E

eternally-gratefull

Guest
The fruit of His righteousness seeing no man will be found with one of His own self.

Its His righteousness that turns us causing us sorrow so that we then can repent .He does all the work of salvation or He performs none.

Philippians 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:
what is our faith in.

God finishing what he started which he promised to do.

Or us, in finishing what God started on. which God says we do not have the ability to do (which is why we had ot be saved to begin with)
 
Mar 28, 2016
15,954
1,528
113
An open heart, Christs love on the throne, a commited desire to walk after Jesus,
simple principles that create simple pure fruit.
Yes a new heart that he creates in us not of ourselves.A new spirit that will never die and a new heart as He purifies it by a work of His faith all the days of our lives. Lest any man boast in false pride, making His grace without effect.

We would God not call us His holy people if we are pure, blameless and holy.If we are not, and our consciences condemn us, let us repent of that sin and draw near to God with clean hearts and a pure spirit.
Its when our conscience condemns us then we know God is working to turn us so that then we can in turn repent.
Repentance is a Work of God who purifies us by His faith.(not of our own selves)

And literally everything is destroyed by this rebellion unless it is resolved from the heart. Everything I share is founded on this spiritual step, and all the wisdom of heaven is lost to those unless they have taken this step of repentance.
Yes unless God first turns us so that we can repent .Again repentance is a work of Christ’s faith working in us to both will and do His good pleasure. His work cleanses us from all sin. It is a continuous cleansing work that He does perform in us "all the days of our life". It is He who can make our hearts soft and cleanse us from our secret or hidden faults.

This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the “blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin”. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to “cleanse us from all unrighteousness”. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. 1Jo 1:5

Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults. Psa 19:11

Who is it that cleanses your secret sin like the man in Mathew 7 (worker of inquity) who offered his own wonderful works works making the grace of God without effect.?
 
Dec 12, 2013
46,515
20,401
113
After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!"
Mark 1:14-15

The good news was the kingdom of God had come, righteousness and the power to
walk in Gods ways was here. So repent of your sin, and believe in the Kingdom.

If you remove repentance of sin, and walking in righteousness,
Ezek 18:21-25

you remove everything God stands for. Sin is so blatant and evil,
it leads to death.

In a nice caring society where the faults are not often seen people forget
what a society run by sin and passion looks like. Look towards the middle east,
or so many cultures based not on Gods righteous principles and you see the
chaos that arises.

So the pedlars of access to God without repentance of sin, devalue the cross
and Christs death. They even pour scorn of sorrowful feelings in repentance,
as if this is also wrong.

Yet Paul uplifts this very point, that it leads to salvation, and realisation of who
God is and how lost we are without Him. Under Jonahs preaching, Nineveh repented
in sackcloth and ashes and God forgave them.

The fact that any christian movement would claim they speak for God yet condemn
the very principles of the Most High shows their source. And it is very simple to show
this reality, yet even so, people are so emotionally commited, they ignore these realities,
because they fear their past and the conflicts within which legalism brought, and anything
is better than that. But it was all without love and understanding, proving oneself, rather
than walking in humbleness and listening to the Holy Spirit.
Yeah the gospel of our salvation...no works mentioned.....and anyone who thinks the seal of God can be broken...is ignorant of the word of God and his power/promises!

New American Standard Bible
In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation-- having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise,

King James Bible
In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
 
Dec 12, 2013
46,515
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what is our faith in.

God finishing what he started which he promised to do.

Or us, in finishing what God started on. which God says we do not have the ability to do (which is why we had ot be saved to begin with)
My faith is in the finished work of Christ.....He said he will never leave me nor forsake me and has promised to finish what he has initiated....am I a sinner that fails....you bet....one thing I know for sure...any good that comes from me, comes from Christ through me and that is why I can never save myself or help keep myself saved....end of story!
 
Mar 28, 2016
15,954
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what is our faith in.

God finishing what he started which he promised to do.

Or us, in finishing what God started on. which God says we do not have the ability to do (which is why we had ot be saved to begin with)
With myself it’s more of who gives us the faith to believe. What it is in is prompted by who gives it. Since it is the faith of God that does work in us to both will and do His good pleasure. We are given the same eternal confidence in which we began with. For no man can come unless by His word he draws us, it is those in whom He will not cast out. He cannot deny Himself.

God does not begin a work in us and not perform it to the end.
 
Dec 12, 2013
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With myself it’s more of who gives us the faith to believe. What it is in is prompted by who gives it. Since it is the faith of God that does work in us to both will and do His good pleasure. We are given the same eternal confidence in which we began with. For no man can come unless by His word he draws us, it is those in whom He will not cast out. He cannot deny Himself.

God does not begin a work in us and not perform it to the end.
Amen to that.....He initiated faith and He will complete it and bring it to fruition......!
 
E

eternally-gratefull

Guest
My faith is in the finished work of Christ.....He said he will never leave me nor forsake me and has promised to finish what he has initiated....am I a sinner that fails....you bet....one thing I know for sure...any good that comes from me, comes from Christ through me and that is why I can never save myself or help keep myself saved....end of story!
That about says it all.. I agree
 
F

FreeNChrist

Guest
After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!"
Mark 1:14-15

The good news was the kingdom of God had come, righteousness and the power to
walk in Gods ways was here. So repent of your sin, and believe in the Kingdom.

If you remove repentance of sin, and walking in righteousness,
Ezek 18:21-25

you remove everything God stands for. Sin is so blatant and evil,
it leads to death.

In a nice caring society where the faults are not often seen people forget
what a society run by sin and passion looks like. Look towards the middle east,
or so many cultures based not on Gods righteous principles and you see the
chaos that arises.

So the pedlars of access to God without repentance of sin, devalue the cross
and Christs death. They even pour scorn of sorrowful feelings in repentance,
as if this is also wrong.

Yet Paul uplifts this very point, that it leads to salvation, and realisation of who
God is and how lost we are without Him. Under Jonahs preaching, Nineveh repented
in sackcloth and ashes and God forgave them.

The fact that any christian movement would claim they speak for God yet condemn
the very principles of the Most High shows their source. And it is very simple to show
this reality, yet even so, people are so emotionally commited, they ignore these realities,
because they fear their past and the conflicts within which legalism brought, and anything
is better than that. But it was all without love and understanding, proving oneself, rather
than walking in humbleness and listening to the Holy Spirit.

"Therefore leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ, let us press on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God" Hebrews 6:1
 
Dec 12, 2013
46,515
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"Therefore leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ, let us press on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God" Hebrews 6:1
Another wonderful verse....all about maturity...and maturity takes TIME and GROWTH.....

a apple tree needs about three years of growth or so before it produces fruit--->sometimes only 1 apple, maybe a few......but it is an apple tree by BIRTH (seed germination) long before it shows evidence of being an apple tree.......!
 

blue_ladybug

Senior Member
Feb 21, 2014
70,919
9,667
113
Regardless of what color the flowers are, as long as they spring up and bear good seeds, what does it matter what kind of harvest God expects? Blue flowers are just as good as red ones..


A gardener who plants seeds in a garden will know this problem.
The seed packet says red flowers, you sprinkle the seeds.

Now some take root and spring up blue flowers.
So what the packet promised the seed did not deliver.

God is the sower of seed and expects good plants with good seed.
A plant is defined by its fruit or seed.

So the seed is righteous, holy, pure, blameless lives planted amongst a world
of impure, immoral sinners who do not know good from evil.

What kind of harvest is God expecting?
 
Nov 22, 2015
20,436
1,431
0
Another wonderful verse....all about maturity...and maturity takes TIME and GROWTH.....

a apple tree needs about three years of growth or so before it produces fruit--->sometimes only 1 apple, maybe a few......but it is an apple tree by BIRTH (seed germination) long before it shows evidence of being an apple tree.......!

Amen...and if you don't feed that apple tree the proper nutrients - it's growth and true fruit bearing will be limited. Same in the Christian life - you feed the Christian works-based salvation messages and they will not grow in the Lord properly.
 
Dec 12, 2013
46,515
20,401
113
Regardless of what color the flowers are, as long as they spring up and bear good seeds, what does it matter what kind of harvest God expects? Blue flowers are just as good as red ones..
Exactly....Jesus used a description describing WHEAT and TARES........not blue and red flowers....the tares look very comparable to wheat............
 
Dec 12, 2013
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Amen...and if you don't feed that apple tree the proper nutrients - it's growth and true fruit bearing will be limited. Same in the Christian life - you feed the Christian works-based salvation messages and they will not grow in the Lord properly.

Yes...feed the MILK of the word and as they grow you increase their diet to include the hotdogs, Vienna sausages and finally when they can chew real MEAT....a nice big fat T-bone off of the grill of truth......
 

JaumeJ

Senior Member
Jul 2, 2011
21,402
6,685
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Rom 1:1 Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,
Rom 1:2 which he promised afore through his prophets in the holy scriptures,
Rom 1:3 concerning his Son, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh,
Rom 1:4 who was declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead; even Jesus Christ our Lord,
Rom 1:5 through whom we received grace and apostleship, unto obedience of faith among all the nations, for his name's sake;
Rom 1:6 among whom are ye also called to be Jesus Christ's:
Rom 1:7 to all that are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.