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.

VCO

Senior Member
Oct 14, 2013
11,995
4,615
113
Hello Cherie, I appreciate the question. Been getting a lot of heat on here, but very few fervent dicsiples who are willing to discuss the things of God's Kingdom in a mature manner, where we can glean from each other.

This is a much greater topic than can be properly expressed in an online forum. Personally, I've often engaged with the saints for 3- 4 hours (even up to 8 hours!) in fellowship, prayer and study of the Word.

But let me briefly share this...

No I do not believe "works" of the "Law" are required for salvation. To begin our Journey is a gift of God to those who "believe, repent, and are baptized." (Mark 16:16, Acts 2:38, among many others.)

What I do believe and have been teaching for years, and which is fully supported by the whole of Scripture, is that to receive the promises of God in Rev 2 & 3, we must prove ourselves by Obedience to God's commands given through Christ, and we must Repent, Walk Worthy, and Overcome.

We know from the Bible that God will not judge us by what we claim to believe, or by a statement of faith, in that Day.
The Scripture does tell us many times that Jesus is coming to "judge and reward" saint and sinner alike "according to our works" . (Psalm 62:12, Prov 24:12, Jer 17:10, Jer 32:19, Eze 33:20, Lam 3:64, Matt 16:27, John 5:28-29, Rom 2:6, Rom 14:12, 2 Cor 5:10, 1Pet 1:17, Rev 20:12, and Rev 22:12 for starters)

Though many have tried, these portions of God's Word cannot be explained away; nor can any verse negate what these passages proclaim. Understanding that "salvation" is not a one time event really helps us grasp a Truer vision of God's great plan and purpose for Creation. Been covering this at our church quite a bit recently - 1Corinthians 10 Bible Study

Peace & Blessings to you as you walk with Jesus,
Michael

I am not yelling, but I use colors as EMPHASIS, to make my point clear.

Let's see how WRONG YOU ARE ABOUT SALVATION:

2 Timothy 1:9 (HCSB)
9 He has 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.


LOOK HOW WRONG YOU ARE! WE WERE SAVED before time began, WHICH IS WHEN HE WROTE OUR NAMES IN THE BOOK OF LIFE.
Salvation has nothing to do with anything we DO. HE SAVED US, PERIOD before time began.

John 14:15 (HCSB)
15 “If you love Me, you will keep My commands.


See how confused you are, you credit Repentance and Christian Water Baptism as BEING PART OF SALVATION.

It is not part of SALVATION, but AFTER SALVATION, WE WILL BE CHANGED, and IS PART OF OUR LOVE FOR HIM. IN FACT THAT LOVE FOR HIM WAS POURED INTO OUR HEARTS BY THAT HOLY SPIRIT. SO BECAUSE OF OUR LOVE FOR HIM, WE WILL REPENT, and Follow HIS EXAMPLE OF BEING BAPTIZED IN WATER.

Romans 5:5 (HCSB)
5 This hope will not disappoint ⌊us⌋, because God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

So we do not get the CREDIT for LOVING GOD, HE PUT THAT IN US.

So, while we are on the subject, the BAPTISM that has any PART OF SALVATION, is something that is a WORK of THE HOLY SPIRIT, that HE DID IN OUR HEARTS TO GET IS TO BELIEVE. HE IMMERSED US INTO THE SPIRITUAL BODY OF JESUS CHRIST.

1 Corinthians 12:12-13 (HCSB)
12 For as the body is one and has many parts, and all the parts of that body, though many, are one body—so also is Christ.
13 For we were all {includes the Thief on the Cross} baptized by one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.
 

Lightskin

Well-known member
Aug 16, 2019
3,165
3,665
113
You got Grace and Faith mixed in together, they are separate. Grace is what Jesus did by Faith with the Father. Faithing is what we do to receive that Grace from Christ, being in Him.

Do you really think that your understanding is not doing anything?
Believing is doing something, right? In your understanding you "must" believe! That's something your doing, right! Should I the be accusing you and the others of works based salvation?

Where am I wrong my lightskinned brother.
Pistachio, where do you come up with this stuff? I think your heart and intentions are good but you have skewed beliefs.
 

fredoheaven

Senior Member
Nov 17, 2015
4,111
962
113
Afraid? I've been taught at a Stanford University level, by a Stanford University prop, with the largest collection of Biblical manuscripts in private hands behind the Vatican for 33 years.

The first thing I was taught was about this mistranslation of pisteuo. That the English language doesn't have a corresponding verb to translate Pisteuo like the Greek does. If you don't understand that, you have no chance at a correct understanding.

If you can't accept what NT pisteuo is, how are you going to accept harder truths. Your still an embryo. You have yet to be fertilized by Faith.
Wow! Stanford level cannot match the scriptural level, the scripture of truth. You are leaning more of one man says, the university says but not what the bible says. Where is the scriptural input? Umm...i fail to see in your post...
 

PennEd

Senior Member
Apr 22, 2013
13,614
9,127
113
Same blog


https://pressingintomaturity.blogspot.com/2019/01/where-do-i-belong.html


They are not the same; not “co-equal”. For one thing, Jesus is something that God is not: flesh & bone. And we know the Bible states that God “made Jesus Lord and Christ” because of His obedience, and that His Name is “above every other name”; yet Jesus is and will always be “subject to God.”

Here is another gem from Mr. Biggs:

"In addition to my belief that heaven is not our home, I agree with Jesus’ teaching in Matt 25, John 5 and elsewhere that our eternal destination – whether we are called to the First Resurrection or not, whether we are a “Christian” or not - is based upon our works."

Continuing on:

"Not once in the Bible are we told that the King will render to anyone according to their belief, or statement of faith. It is always and only “according to our deeds, or works” that we will be judged and rewarded in that Day. Understanding that “salvation” (here the free gift) is an opportunity, not an end, has unveiled so much of the Truth of the Scripture, and given me a True hope that the ‘forgiveness & belief alone’ type preaching does not. The Eternal dwelling place for the Father will not consist of a single ‘sinner saved by grace’, but by those who have been transformed body, soul and spirit into “children of God”; "

" All this I shared here only to perhaps shed a little light on why the things I write and teach might often seem so DIFFERENT from what many others preach. "


Well Michael, this is what Scripture says is THE Gospel:
1 Corinthians 15:1-7 New King James Version (NKJV)
The Risen Christ, Faith’s Reality
15 Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, 2 by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.

3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. 6 After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. 7 After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles.

Here Michael is what the Bible has to say about those that preach a DIFFERENT Gospel:
Galatians 1:8-9 King James Version (KJV)
8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach ANY OTHER gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.

9 As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach ANY OTHER gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.


Now you claim in your blog you are open to correction. You have just been corrected. Will you receive this correction?
 

Hevosmies

Well-known member
Sep 8, 2018
3,612
2,633
113
I am not yelling, but I use colors as EMPHASIS, to make my point clear.
Brother you got no idea how many times they've told me that whole YELLING thing when writing in big letters. I AINT YELLING. I am quiet I am just typing in large letters, get a hold of that!

I dont care about internet etiquette its GARBAGE to me. Paul wrote Galatians in caps lock was he yelling?

Galatians 6:11
See with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand.

Writing in large letters is BIBLICAL thats what we do know. You heard it here first.
 
Dec 12, 2013
46,515
20,402
113
And stooping low, I've just got on the same playing field as you and the others here. How does it feel. Your practicing a works based salvation! According to you!
Another idiotic statement by Pastrami right here in the above post......no one buys your blather pal....nor your faux definitions of the words you have no understanding of......what a joke!
 
Dec 12, 2013
46,515
20,402
113
My point UG.
You can't separate work and effort from Faith, not even if you try!

But it can " only" be the specific definitions and applications I've been giving you. As per the Greek language, as per the Greek dictionary, asper the Greek scriptures!
Your pont is false, invalid, heretical, contrary, dumb, not correct, incorrect, not of God etc......this thread, which you cannot grasp is about saving faith.....the same faith PLUS OR MINUS NOTHING that actually saves....your version = not saved because you, like the foolish, deceived Galatian believers have been bamboozled into believing they MUST FINISH salvation by works AFTER STARTING BY FAITH.....you honestly do not know what you are talking about man....serious!
 
U

UnderGrace

Guest
Your pont is false, invalid, heretical, contrary, dumb, not correct, incorrect, not of God etc......this thread, which you cannot grasp is about saving faith.....the same faith PLUS OR MINUS NOTHING that actually saves....your version = not saved because you, like the foolish, deceived Galatian believers have been bamboozled into believing they MUST FINISH salvation by works AFTER STARTING BY FAITH.....you honestly do not know what you are talking about man....serious!
When people are wrong, they always get desperate, twist things, make it up.. etc., ....noticed this over and over again on this thread.
 
Dec 12, 2013
46,515
20,402
113

blue_ladybug

Senior Member
Feb 21, 2014
70,924
9,673
113
Pisteuo, if we are not saved by fath through grace, then what saves us?

Because good works surely don't. Faith and belief are acts, not works.. :)