WE are judged by what we do vs. we are saved by faith alone.

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crossnote

Senior Member
Nov 24, 2012
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Pick your best verse out of that list and we'll discuss it.
Ok, let's look at that passage. I highlighted in bold red (vss. 17, 25-26) where I believe your answer is.
17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.
16 ¶ And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?
19 Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
20 The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?
21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.
22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.
23 ¶ Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.
24 And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
25 When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved?
26 But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.
(Mat 19:17, 16, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
 

Jackson123

Senior Member
Feb 6, 2014
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It might be part of your Gospel, but I'd be hard pressed to twist it to mean good news (gospel).
Was it Mt 25 that died for your sins, was it Mt 25 that conquered death, was it Mt 25 that forgives all your sins?
I don't have gospel, I am not apostle, this is the definition of gospel

Definition of gospel
(Entry 1 of 2)
1aoften capitalized : the message concerning Christ, the kingdom of God, and salvation
bcapitalized : one of the first four New Testament books telling of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christalso : a similar apocryphal (see APOCRYPHA sense 2) book
c: an interpretation of the Christian messagethe social gospel

Obviously matthew is a gospel.

Matt 25 is Jesus teaching, not my teaching, up to you if you believe or not, I do.
 

GodMyFortress

Active member
May 9, 2021
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Ok, let's look at that passage. I highlighted in bold red (vss. 17, 25-26) where I believe your answer is.
17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.
16 ¶ And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?
19 Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
20 The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?
21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.
22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.
23 ¶ Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.
24 And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
25 When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved?
26 But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.
(Mat 19:17, 16, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
Ok, Jesus does tell us what “perfection” would look like and that definitely would get the rich man to heaven. However, Jesus does not tell him he needs to be perfect only what perfection would be if he wanted to strive for that.

Here’s my question:
This man asked what good deed he could do that could give him eternal life.

Instead of Jesus telling him “No good deeds can achieve eternal life. Just have faith in me” he tells the man to keep the commandments.

This is the perfect opportunity to set this man straight and Jesus doesn’t correct him. Why? Did Jesus want him to not know how to get eternal life or are the commandments a part of God’s plan for salvation?
 

crossnote

Senior Member
Nov 24, 2012
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Ok, Jesus does tell us what “perfection” would look like and that definitely would get the rich man to heaven. However, Jesus does not tell him he needs to be perfect only what perfection would be if he wanted to strive for that.

Here’s my question:
This man asked what good deed he could do that could give him eternal life.

Instead of Jesus telling him “No good deeds can achieve eternal life. Just have faith in me” he tells the man to keep the commandments.

This is the perfect opportunity to set this man straight and Jesus doesn’t correct him. Why? Did Jesus want him to not know how to get eternal life or are the commandments a part of God’s plan for salvation?
Because Jesus knowing the pride in this man's heart put his finger on the very point that would break his self righteousness v.21.


21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. (Mat 19:21)


Jesus' clear answer of how to get to heaven is found in v.26...

26 But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible. (Mat 19:26)
 

GodMyFortress

Active member
May 9, 2021
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Because Jesus knowing the pride in this man's heart put his finger on the very point that would break his self righteousness v.21.


21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. (Mat 19:21)


Jesus' clear answer of how to get to heaven is found in v.26...

26 But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible. (Mat 19:26)
You and I both know that Jesus saw the faults in this man. He knew that man would not choose the “perfection path”. But I have a very difficult time believing Jesus would lie to this man by explicitly linking the commandments to eternal life if that wasn’t true. He knew that man would walk away and not hear what he told the apostles.

My belief...I think Jesus didn’t mention faith/belief because he saw the man already had faith. After all, despite his faults he humbled himself and called Jesus “Teacher” and sought his guidance on eternal life. That’s when Jesus told him about the other part of our faith, the commandments.
 

crossnote

Senior Member
Nov 24, 2012
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You and I both know that Jesus saw the faults in this man. He knew that man would not choose the “perfection path”. But I have a very difficult time believing Jesus would lie to this man by explicitly linking the commandments to eternal life if that wasn’t true. He knew that man would walk away and not hear what he told the apostles.

My belief...I think Jesus didn’t mention faith/belief because he saw the man already had faith. After all, despite his faults he humbled himself and called Jesus “Teacher” and sought his guidance on eternal life. That’s when Jesus told him about the other part of our faith, the commandments.
This individual knew Moses (10 Commandments etc.), he should have known Abraham (faith) and how a person was justified before God.
Jesus did not lie to the man, but answered his question by saying "keep the Commandments". This individual was foolish enough (like some on this board) to think he could keep them.

He had no idea of the perfection required, but his pride drove him on. That's when Jesus actually went easy on the man in telling him to sell all he had and follow Him. This person was arrogant in thinking he had kept all. To start off with because of the Fall attaining salvation by works was impossible and that God from the beginning counted righteous the man that walked by faith etc..
 

GodMyFortress

Active member
May 9, 2021
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This individual knew Moses (10 Commandments etc.), he should have known Abraham (faith) and how a person was justified before God.
Jesus did not lie to the man, but answered his question by saying "keep the Commandments". This individual was foolish enough (like some on this board) to think he could keep them.

He had no idea of the perfection required, but his pride drove him on. That's when Jesus actually went easy on the man in telling him to sell all he had and follow Him. This person was arrogant in thinking he had kept all. To start off with because of the Fall attaining salvation by works was impossible and that God from the beginning counted righteous the man that walked by faith etc..
You make an excellent point, we can’t keep them ourselves. But what if he gave us some help to start over when we fail to keep them?

1 John Ch 9
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just, and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Now it’s a doable expectation, where before it wasn’t.
 
E

eternally-gratefull

Guest
I believe sin separates us from God. God doesn’t separate me from him, my sin that I freely choose does.

If I choose to commit adultery against my wife, 1 Corinthians says I will not inherit the kingdom of God. At the moment I decided to do that, I turned my back on God and what he expects from Christians. He still loves me and wants me to be saved, but he will not reward me with heaven unless I make that right and confess my sin.
Then your under law not under grace.

Plain and simple
 

GRACE_ambassador

Well-known member
Feb 22, 2021
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Midwest
Jesus actually went easy on the man in telling him to sell all he had and follow Him.
I used to hear about "easy believism," but when polling 100 people, is salvation
simply {easy?}, by faith? 99% say "No!" Sounds like "Difficult believism" to me.

So, how is it "easy" to "sell all that we have and follow Him"? Nobody I know has
"obeyed" that yet! Are we all "lost"?
 

crossnote

Senior Member
Nov 24, 2012
30,742
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You make an excellent point, we can’t keep them ourselves. But what if he gave us some help to start over when we fail to keep them?

1 John Ch 9
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just, and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Now it’s a doable expectation, where before it wasn’t.
We are already under a curse as soon as we try...

Galatians 3:10 (NASB) For as many as are of the works of the Law are under a curse; for it is written, "CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO DOES NOT ABIDE BY ALL THINGS WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF THE LAW, TO PERFORM THEM."

When it comes to the law, it's ALL or nothing.
 

crossnote

Senior Member
Nov 24, 2012
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I used to hear about "easy believism," but when polling 100 people, is salvation
simply {easy?}, by faith? 99% say "No!" Sounds like "Difficult believism" to me.

So, how is it "easy" to "sell all that we have and follow Him"? Nobody I know has
"obeyed" that yet! Are we all "lost"?
Yes we are all lost until...

Galatians 3:22 (NASB) But the Scripture has shut up everyone under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.
 
Jan 31, 2021
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You and I both know that Jesus saw the faults in this man. He knew that man would not choose the “perfection path”. But I have a very difficult time believing Jesus would lie to this man by explicitly linking the commandments to eternal life if that wasn’t true. He knew that man would walk away and not hear what he told the apostles.

My belief...I think Jesus didn’t mention faith/belief because he saw the man already had faith. After all, despite his faults he humbled himself and called Jesus “Teacher” and sought his guidance on eternal life. That’s when Jesus told him about the other part of our faith, the commandments.
Interesting. If he was already saved, why would he seek guidance on eternal life? I don't see why he would.

Further, his opening pitch to Jesus was what a good boy he was. That he had "kept the commandments since youth". Braggart.

Then, Jesus hit him between the eyes about the very first one. Loving the Lord your God with ALL your heart, ALL your mind, etc.

The man obviously loved his wealth more than he loved God. So he went away sad. He wasn't ready to give up his wealth.

The point of the Law was to lead us to Christ. No one can fulfill the law perfectly. That's what Rom 2:6-8 is about.

If there were anyone who did perfectly fulfill the Law, they wouldn't need Christ's sacrifice and would actually have earned eternal life. But Paul went on to write Rom 3:9-10, 20, 23-30, proving that the Law (works) don't save.
 
Jan 31, 2021
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You make an excellent point, we can’t keep them ourselves. But what if he gave us some help to start over when we fail to keep them?

1 John Ch 9
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just, and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Now it’s a doable expectation, where before it wasn’t.
To be clear, 21 Jn 1:9 isn't about salvation. It is about restoring fellowship with the Lord.
 
E

eternally-gratefull

Guest
No, I’m just reading the Bible where it tells me there are things I can’t do if I don’t want to go to hell.
Yeah,

because the law condemns you for any sin

grace is the answer, apart from grace you are under law

Your stating grace is not enough, that we have to add to grace to earn salvation

the fact is if you say the smallest white lie you can think of, you are worthy of hell, stop worrying about what we dream greater sins, and give it all to Christ, he will take care of them all. And be your father
 

GodMyFortress

Active member
May 9, 2021
432
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Yeah,

because the law condemns you for any sin

grace is the answer, apart from grace you are under law

Your stating grace is not enough, that we have to add to grace to earn salvation

the fact is if you say the smallest white lie you can think of, you are worthy of hell, stop worrying about what we dream greater sins, and give it all to Christ, he will take care of them all. And be your father
The law isn’t condemning me for those sins, Paul is telling me God will. It’s right there in the pages of Scripture. There’s no part of “you will not inherit the kingdom of God” that can be misunderstood unless you’re trying to deliberately.
 
E

eternally-gratefull

Guest
The law isn’t condemning me for those sins, Paul is telling me God will. It’s right there in the pages of Scripture. There’s no part of “you will not inherit the kingdom of God” that can be misunderstood unless you’re trying to deliberately.
Your right God will

according to the law

why do you think God gave you the law. To prove to you you need Christ, the only sacrifice that can redeem sin.

you saying your sorry will not cause God to say it’s ok