Not By Works
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Not all convicts released from prison want to live free.
Many are return offenders because they prefer the life of prison.
Likewise...
God does the work for salvation by opening the prison door.
But the soul who was held prisoner?
That soul must want to leave prison.
Convicts that want to return to prison baffle our minds.
Likewise, for those those who refuse salvation.
We can not work to make the prison door open.
God does that work...
Yet... The soul still chooses what side he is on.
...........
i think of it as contending for the faith, a thing believers are exhorted to do 
The Bible refuses to be silent, even when it offends.
This is the problem ultimately with why its becomes so much hard work.
Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge,
but he who hates reproof is stupid.
Proverbs 12:1
For those who spiritually mature and come to know (by grace) that they know a truth on a matter?
There must come a point to stop contending by taking it personally. Relax. No need to contend.
For its only going to invite more manifested stupidity and more stubbornness from those who hate being proven wrong..
Its for those listening in who want to learn that we must contend for the faith... while remaining 'frustration free.'
Do not rebuke a scoffer, or he will hate you;
Rebuke a wise person and he will love you.
Proverbs 9:8
We need to to find a good pastor and keep learning and learning sound doctrine..... and grow into knowing the stabilized peace of our Lord by means of the Spirit giving confirmation in our soul.
And keep growing in grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
To him be the glory, both now and forever! Amen.
2 Peter 3:18
Amen!:
My short testimony is: I have had this stabilized Peace [ despite many
trials and tribulations ] since day one of my faith, almost 45 years now.
Amen.
"Therefore being justified by faith, we have Peace with God
through our Lord Jesus Christ: " (Romans 5:1 cp Philippians 4:7 AV)
My short testimony is: I have had this stabilized Peace [ despite many
trials and tribulations ] since day one of my faith, almost 45 years now.
Amen.
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Faith = comes from the knowledge of Scripture that has been made to have power in our being by grace!
When we must face something wishing to make us feel helpless?
We STAND justified by faith!
When we grow to be able to enjoy blessings?
We have been made able to enjoy/appreciate/ them by the means of being justified by our faith.
So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists,
the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service,
so that the body of Christ may be built up (edified) until we all reach
unity in the faith and in the (living) knowledge (being taught) of the
Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of
the fullness of Christ."
Ephesians 4:11-13
Living knowledge = epignosis knowledge!
In contrast?
Academic knowledge would only be gnosis knowledge.
Epignosis is what appears in verse 13!
Those who preach false doctrine only function academically, though their emotions may also motivate them.
grace and peace ...........
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As young Jewish men they had been taught the OT regularly in the synagogues.
That is why Peter was able to cite Joel at Pentecost.
They were very familiar with lots of Torah.
They were just not highly educated men otherwise...
Their boldness was the result of knowing Scripture and being filled with the Holy Spirit.
Not boldness from confidence of have acquired academic achievement.
That is why Peter was able to cite Joel at Pentecost.
They were very familiar with lots of Torah.
They were just not highly educated men otherwise...
Their boldness was the result of knowing Scripture and being filled with the Holy Spirit.
Not boldness from confidence of have acquired academic achievement.
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Very hard. If you had ever thought to try to find an invisible Spirit that hides his face then the truth would be apparent.
For he cometh to God must believe he is and a rewarder of those who diligently seek him. Heb 11:6
I am sought of them that asked not for me; I am found of them that sought me not: Isa 65:1
It doesn't say that they didn't seek God, it says that they were not seeking Him. Which is to say they were looking for the God they believed was the truth and not the God of truth.
Moreover, it says that He is found of them that sought Him not, not that he is found by those who did not seek.
Do you know how they found him....
For he cometh to God must believe he is and a rewarder of those who diligently seek him. Heb 11:6
I am sought of them that asked not for me; I am found of them that sought me not: Isa 65:1
It doesn't say that they didn't seek God, it says that they were not seeking Him. Which is to say they were looking for the God they believed was the truth and not the God of truth.
Moreover, it says that He is found of them that sought Him not, not that he is found by those who did not seek.
Do you know how they found him....
Yes, it is. But it is not the only work of God. Jesus asked the Jewish leaders if John’s baptism was from heaven or from men? They refused to answer but the answer Jesus was looking for is obvious—it was from heaven. It also was a work of God. Any thing that Jesus commands us to do is a work of His. If it originated with Him and not men, and it is commanded by Him, then it is HIS WORK. Like Repentance. That does not originate with man; that comes from God. It is also commanded by God. Acts 2:38. It is also something we must DO, like faith— we must believe. That also explains why it is considered a work; because it is something we “DO”. God cannot believe or repent or confess FOR US. We must do those things ourselves.
It seems reasonable to me that any “work”required for salvation would be something that we must do. For example, besides faith which we all agree is necessary and Jesus has specifically said is a “work”, there is also “repentance” which is also something we should do. It is a requirement to be saved. Luke 13:3,5. Acts 2:38
Then there is “confession”- Matthew 10:32 and Roman’s 10:9-10. God says that is required for salvation. If faith is a work of God, so is repentance, and confession. These are all things that originate with God—not man—and they are commandments required for salvation. Baptism also originated with God and is commanded Acts 10:48. It certainly is required for salvation Mark 16:16, Acts 2:38, Acts 22:16, 1Peter 3:21.
That’s all I know that are required for someone to be saved. There are other commands ( if you call them “works”) that apply after you become a Christian. But I realize you are not asking because you really want to know. I really don’t think it is that hard to figure out. But if you need more help, I’ll be glad to try to explain.
Then there is “confession”- Matthew 10:32 and Roman’s 10:9-10. God says that is required for salvation. If faith is a work of God, so is repentance, and confession. These are all things that originate with God—not man—and they are commandments required for salvation. Baptism also originated with God and is commanded Acts 10:48. It certainly is required for salvation Mark 16:16, Acts 2:38, Acts 22:16, 1Peter 3:21.
That’s all I know that are required for someone to be saved. There are other commands ( if you call them “works”) that apply after you become a Christian. But I realize you are not asking because you really want to know. I really don’t think it is that hard to figure out. But if you need more help, I’ll be glad to try to explain.