Not By Works

  • 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.
Dec 12, 2013
46,515
20,402
113
Adam was walking in the Garden with God.
Was he not saved?
Did he disobey God?
Does disobeying God mean you stop believing in Him?
If you BELIEVE in God, don't you obey Him?

Many theologians believe Judas was saved at the beginning of Jesus' ministry.
However, he was destined to be the one to betray Jesus.
God does pick some for very special roles...like Mary, for instance and Abraham.

Must go.
MANY theologians were not and are not JESUS which said, "JUDAS was a devil from the beginning".......get it through your head Fran....Judas was not saved and then lost it.
 

Argueless

Active member
Oct 21, 2018
658
161
43
Jesus died on the cross so that the Holy Spirit can be in us to empower and enable us to meet the righteous REQUIREMENTS of the law.

...For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, IN ORDER THAT THE RIGHTEOUS REQUIREMENTS OF THE LAW MIGHT BE FULLY MET IN US, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit. Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; the sinful mind is hostile to God. IT DOES NOT SUBMIT TO GOD'S LAW, nor can it do so. Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God. Romans 8:3-8

If someone is being led by the Spirit, he will not say that works done by those who teaches obedience to God have no bearing unto salvation and that they are just filthy rags.

...“The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, WHATEVER YOU DID FOR ONE OF THE LEAST OF THESE BROTHERS OF MINE, YOU DID FOR ME.’ “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. Matthew 25:40-41

It is blasphemy to the Holy Spirit to call the works He is doing in a believer, the little ones who believe in Him, as filthy rags and has no bearing unto salvation.

Those who teach obedience to God are led by the Spirit since no one without the Spirit will teach obedience to God because there is no Holy Spirit in them that is leading them to obey, and teach obedience to God, to other people.

Did the Lord Jesus Christ, the prophets, apostles, disciples and all the Holy men of God obey and teach obedience to God? YES

..If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. How much more severely do you think a man deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God under foot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace? Hebrews 10:26-29

DO NOT just listen and CLAIM and then BOAST THAT you are SAVED and others are not. Jesus will save His BODY who are eagerly awaiting a Savior from heaven. It is not a PERSONAL SALVATION but He will SAVE HIS BODY which is the Church.(Ephesians 5:23)

So if you are not IN HIM because you have RUN AHEAD and claimed victory without the HEAD who is the Lord Jesus Christ, THINK IT OVER.

...ANYONE WHO RUNS AHEAD and does not continue in the teaching of Christ DOES NOT HAVE GOD; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. 2 John 1:1-11

...Not that I have already obtained all this, or have ALREADY BEEN MADE PERFECT, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. ONLY LET US LIVE UP TO WHAT WE HAVE ALREADY ATTAINED. Philippians 3:12-16

...These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised. God had planned something better for us so that ONLY TOGETHER WITH US (A NEW CREATION ÌN CHRIST CREATED UNTO GOOD WORKS- Ephesians 2:10-22) would they be made perfect. Hebrews 11:39-40
 
Dec 12, 2013
46,515
20,402
113
The righteousness of Christ without the deeds/works of the law have already been imputed and applied by faith.......we are already JUSTIFIED and that which condemns will never make righteous..........!!
 

Argueless

Active member
Oct 21, 2018
658
161
43
MANY theologians were not and are not JESUS which said, "JUDAS was a devil from the beginning".......get it through your head Fran....Judas was not saved and then lost it.
...What then shall we say? Is God unjust? Not at all! For he says to Moses, “I WILL HAVE MERCY ON WHOM I HAVE MERCY, and I WILL HAVE COMPASSION ON WHOM I HAVE COMPASSION.” It does not, therefore, depend on man’s desire or effort, but on God’s mercy. For the Scripture says to Pharaoh: “I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden. Romans 9:14-18

...What if some did not have faith? Will their lack of faith nullify God’s faithfulness? Not at all! Let God be true, and every man a liar. As it is written: “So that you may be proved right when you speak and prevail when you judge.” Romans 3:3-4

...“I am not referring to all of you; I KNOW THOSE I HAVE CHOSEN. But THIS IS TO FULFILL THE SCRIPTURE: ‘He who shares my bread has lifted up his heel against me.’ John 13:18 John 13:18

Judas betrayed the Son of Man and is being judged, by those who CLAIM they are ALWAYS SAVED from the very moment they believed, as unsaved.

Judas was chosen and known by Jesus.

Did God or Jesus made the mistake for choosing Judas?

If the unforgivable sin is blasphemy to the Holy Spirit, CAN ANYONE HERE SHOW US WHERE IN THE BIBLE DOES IT SAY THAT JUDAS WAS A BLASPHEMER OR BLASPHEMED THE HOLY SPIRIT.

Apostles of Christ
...So then, men ought to regard us as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the secret things of God. Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful. I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself. My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me. Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God. Now, brothers, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us the meaning of the saying, “Do not go beyond what is written.” Then you will not take pride in one man over against another. For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not? 1 Corinthians 4:1-7
 

VCO

Senior Member
Oct 14, 2013
11,995
4,615
113
MANY theologians were not and are not JESUS which said, "JUDAS was a devil from the beginning".......get it through your head Fran....Judas was not saved and then lost it.

JUDAS was IN the Disciples for the MONEY and a High Paying, Prestigious Position in the KINGDOM. And when he found out that JESUS was Not going to kick the ROMANS OUT and set up the Kingdom right then and there, he sold HIM to the Chief Priests and elders for 30 pieces of silver. He never was a Born Again Christian.
 
Dec 12, 2013
46,515
20,402
113
JUDAS was IN the Disciples for the MONEY and a High Paying, Prestigious Position in the KINGDOM. And when he found out that JESUS was Not going to kick the ROMANS OUT and set up the Kingdom right then and there, he sold HIM to the Chief Priests and elders for 30 pieces of silver. He never was a Born Again Christian.
I agree, a thief holding the bag, the son of perdition and a devil from the beginning does not indicate a saved man that went on to lose salvation....that is one of the most ignorant things I have ever heard........
 

stonesoffire

Poetic Member
Nov 24, 2013
10,665
1,829
113
I'm leaving.
You think PETER believed in predestination and election??

1 peter 1:2
2according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be yours in the fullest measure.

3 &4
3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,


5
5who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.


7
, 7so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;


14-16
14As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance,
15but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior;
16because it is written, “YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FORI AM HOLY.”


You should keep on reading 1 Peter and find out for yourself what Jesus expects from you.
I only was addressing foreknew. You added to my post.
 

stonesoffire

Poetic Member
Nov 24, 2013
10,665
1,829
113
Adam was not deceived, though. He sinned willfully.
That's true Magenta. I've posted many times about Adams sin being comparable to Esau who sold his birthright for a pot of flesh. KJV...:)

What I was thinking? Was this in the plan from the beginning? Probably will never know though unless the Lord reveals or tells us later.
 

VCO

Senior Member
Oct 14, 2013
11,995
4,615
113
JUDAS was IN the Disciples for the MONEY and a High Paying, Prestigious Position in the KINGDOM. And when he found out that JESUS was Not going to kick the ROMANS OUT and set up the Kingdom right then and there, he sold HIM to the Chief Priests and elders for 30 pieces of silver. He never was a Born Again Christian.

Guess who had the Money Purse?
 

Argueless

Active member
Oct 21, 2018
658
161
43
The Parable of the Weeds

Jesus told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared. “The owner’s servants came to him and said, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?’ “‘An enemy did this,’ he replied. “The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’ “‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may root up the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.’” Matthew 13:24-30

GOOD seeds and BAD seeds grow together in the same FIELD waiting for the day of judgment that would distinguish who are going where they deserve to go.

Those who run ahead are either DECEIVED by FALSE MAN MADE doctrines or are ignorant and DOES NOT understand the message so the enemy SNATCHES the seed away. (See the parable of the sower and the seed)

...Many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist. Watch out that you do not lose what you have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully. ANYONE WHO RUNS AHEAD (those CLAIMING to already POSSESS ETERNAL LIFE while still in the flesh and continually sinning without the need to ask for forgiveness because their SINS in the PAST, PRESENT and FUTURE WERE ALL FORGIVEN) and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take him into your house or welcome him. Anyone who welcomes him shares in his wicked work. 2 John 1:7-11
 
Dec 12, 2013
46,515
20,402
113
That's true Magenta. I've posted many times about Adams sin being comparable to Esau who sold his birthright for a pot of flesh. KJV...:)

What I was thinking? Was this in the plan from the beginning? Probably will never know though unless the Lord reveals or tells us later.
I personally believe it was the plan from the beginning.....especially since it was set in motion before the foundation of the earth was cast down......
 

stonesoffire

Poetic Member
Nov 24, 2013
10,665
1,829
113
I personally believe it was the plan from the beginning.....especially since it was set in motion before the foundation of the earth was cast down......
Good point! It goes with the scripture that states Jesus was crucified from the foundation of the world. I believe you are right.
 

stonesoffire

Poetic Member
Nov 24, 2013
10,665
1,829
113
Jesus died on the cross so that the Holy Spirit can be in us to empower and enable us to meet the righteous REQUIREMENTS of the law.

...For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, IN ORDER THAT THE RIGHTEOUS REQUIREMENTS OF THE LAW MIGHT BE FULLY MET IN US, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit. Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; the sinful mind is hostile to God. IT DOES NOT SUBMIT TO GOD'S LAW, nor can it do so. Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God. Romans 8:3-8

If someone is being led by the Spirit, he will not say that works done by those who teaches obedience to God have no bearing unto salvation and that they are just filthy rags.

...“The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, WHATEVER YOU DID FOR ONE OF THE LEAST OF THESE BROTHERS OF MINE, YOU DID FOR ME.’ “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. Matthew 25:40-41

It is blasphemy to the Holy Spirit to call the works He is doing in a believer, the little ones who believe in Him, as filthy rags and has no bearing unto salvation.

Those who teach obedience to God are led by the Spirit since no one without the Spirit will teach obedience to God because there is no Holy Spirit in them that is leading them to obey, and teach obedience to God, to other people.

Did the Lord Jesus Christ, the prophets, apostles, disciples and all the Holy men of God obey and teach obedience to God? YES

..If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. How much more severely do you think a man deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God under foot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace? Hebrews 10:26-29

DO NOT just listen and CLAIM and then BOAST THAT you are SAVED and others are not. Jesus will save His BODY who are eagerly awaiting a Savior from heaven. It is not a PERSONAL SALVATION but He will SAVE HIS BODY which is the Church.(Ephesians 5:23)

So if you are not IN HIM because you have RUN AHEAD and claimed victory without the HEAD who is the Lord Jesus Christ, THINK IT OVER.

...ANYONE WHO RUNS AHEAD and does not continue in the teaching of Christ DOES NOT HAVE GOD; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. 2 John 1:1-11

...Not that I have already obtained all this, or have ALREADY BEEN MADE PERFECT, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. ONLY LET US LIVE UP TO WHAT WE HAVE ALREADY ATTAINED. Philippians 3:12-16

...These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised. God had planned something better for us so that ONLY TOGETHER WITH US (A NEW CREATION ÌN CHRIST CREATED UNTO GOOD WORKS- Ephesians 2:10-22) would they be made perfect. Hebrews 11:39-40
Ok....your line "a new creation in Christ created unto good works" is where you should of started your post. You derailed.
 
Dec 12, 2013
46,515
20,402
113
Good point! It goes with the scripture that states Jesus was crucified from the foundation of the world. I believe you are right.
I have pondered and studied this line of thought for a while.....it seems to be the only plausible explanation when all the facts are laid out......

a. Plan was set in motion before God laid the foundation of the earth.
b. God reconciling man unto himself in Christ before the foundation of the earth
c. God foreknowing who would believe and who would not believe
d. God calling many, but not all and few chosen
e. The words used to describe God KNOWING Jeremiah before he came forth from his mother's womb <--look up and study KNEW
f. My view a bigger picture in JOB than the obvious
g. The SONS of God singing when they witnessed God cast down the earth in creation
h. And numerous other truths......

Before I had ever been in church, heard the bible read, taught a lesson etc. at the age of 4 or 5 I had a 5 nights in a row dream about the days of creation.....I was above the planet and flying over the planet as each day unfolded....when God brought forth the forests I dreamed they were all as tall as the Red Woods or taller WHICH I ALSO had no clue of at age 4 or 5......

Did not think much about it until about 10 years ago when I read an article on the coal seams all over the world and how based upon the thickness of the coal seams the estimated that at one time the earth was covered with forests that were at least as tall as the California Red Woods.........

How could I have possibly dreamed that at age 4 or 5 with no knowledge of anything biblical, and or knowing the height of the Red Woods in California......anyway.........many interesting truths and or lines of thoughts........
 

VCO

Senior Member
Oct 14, 2013
11,995
4,615
113
I agree, a thief holding the bag, the son of perdition and a devil from the beginning does not indicate a saved man that went on to lose salvation....that is one of the most ignorant things I have ever heard........

Here is the Evidence:

John 12:3-6 (NIV)
3 Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus' feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
4 But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected,
5 "Why wasn't this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year's wages."
6 He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.
 

LaurieB

Senior Member
Mar 12, 2018
177
10
18
Saved from? or Saved TO? In other words, are we saved from Hell or saved in order that we might LIVE out our beliefs ... live out what Jesus taught us to live OUT ... which would be works? No? If he thought us incapable of doing any good/being good? I He thought our "works are really filthy rags", why does the Bible say "faith without works is dead" ... and goes on to say alot more about how we are to LIVE our lives. Faith without works IS meaningless.
 

mailmandan

Senior Member
Apr 7, 2014
25,563
13,547
113
58
Could you exegete Hebrews 5:9 for me please since I'm so thick headed?
I'd appreciate it.

I said exegete...
NOT eisegete.
I did exegete Hebrews 5:9. *Only believers have obeyed Him by choosing to believe the gospel (Romans 1:16) in order to become saved, and only believers obey Him after they have been saved through faith in which they "keep" Greek word "tereo" (guard, observe, watch over) His commandments and practice righteousness and not sin (1 John 2:3; 3:9,10). *In either sense, only believers obey Him.

You re-wrote Hebrews 5:9 and placed a different meaning on the text which was not originally present in the text "eisegete" and the end result is works salvation.. In post #81,245 you said:

Hebrews 5:9 states that whoever believes in Jesus and obeys Him, will have eternal life...HE is the source of eternal life.
In Acts 5:32, we read - And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him.” When do we receive the Holy Spirit? The moment that we believe the gospel. Ephesians 1:13 - 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.

We obey the gospel by choosing to believe the gospel. Romans 10:16 - But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our report?” *By choosing to believe the gospel we obey God.
 

GodsGrace101

Well-known member
Sep 14, 2018
2,225
517
113
Saved from? or Saved TO? In other words, are we saved from Hell or saved in order that we might LIVE out our beliefs ... live out what Jesus taught us to live OUT ... which would be works? No? If he thought us incapable of doing any good/being good? I He thought our "works are really filthy rags", why does the Bible say "faith without works is dead" ... and goes on to say alot more about how we are to LIVE our lives. Faith without works IS meaningless.
Very well said.

I'd like to emphasize what you said about our works being filthy rags.
First of all the bible says our RIGHTEOUSNESS is as filthy rags...NOT our works.
Isaiah 64:6
For all of us have become like one who is unclean, And all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment; And all of us wither like a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.

it does not say our deeds are as filthy rags...all Jesus taught is that we are to do good deeds.
What it's saying is that our RIGHTEOUS deeds are as filthy rags...
No one is righteous, no not one.
Romans 1:16-17
Romans 3:10


God will pay no attention to our righteous deeds,,,they are done for man and not for God.
However, our deeds will be honest and for God and not righteous when we do them for HIM.
Romans 6:13
Mathew 5:20
Ephesians 4:24
Ephesians 6:14
We are indeed required to put on righteousness that is loved by God.


Thanks for a thoughtful post.