Romans 6:17 - We obey that form of teaching and are freed from sin when we choose to believe the gospel (Romans 1:16). Read Romans 10:16 - But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed our report?"
In Romans 6:16, there is a contrast here between servants/slaves. There are only two kinds of servants/slaves in this world, in the spiritual sense; servants/slaves of sin unto death, or servants/slaves of obedience unto righteousness. When we place our faith exclusively in Christ for salvation/believe the gospel by trusting in His finished work of redemption as the all sufficient means of our salvation, we then become "servants of obedience unto righteousness." Being slaves of sin is put in the past tense. Paul goes on in Romans 6:18 - "You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness."
*Notice in Romans 10:10 - For with the heart one believes unto righteousness..
*Notice in Romans 4:5 - But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith (not works) is accounted for righteousness.
If one reads Romans 2:6-10 in isolation from the rest of the book of Romans, one might conclude that Paul was teaching salvation by works. However, as you read and study these passages, it is imperative to keep in mind that these verses do not describe how one becomes saved, but the way the saved conduct their lives. These deeds done are the result of, not the means or basis of receiving eternal life. So patient continuance in well doing, seeking for glory, honor, and immortality; (vs. 7) is not at all set forth as the means of their procuring eternal life, but as a description of those to whom God does render life eternal. Notice that ALL who receive eternal life are described as such, everyone who does good (vs. 10). Good deeds flow from a heart that is saved and evil deeds flow from a heart that is unsaved. Verse 8 - but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness--indignation and wrath. Notice that ALL who do not receive eternal life are described as such, everyone who does evil (vs. 9).
What those passages convey is that though our deeds are judged by God, it's not the good deeds themselves which are the basis or means of receiving eternal life, but the type of deeds expose whether our heart was saved, or not. These deeds done out of faith are the fruit, not the root of salvation. If Paul wanted to teach that we are saved by works, then he would have clearly stated that we are saved through faith and works/deeds in Ephesians 2:8,9 and that we are justified by faith and works/deeds in Romans 5:1, but that is clearly NOT what Paul said.
In Romans 6:16, there is a contrast here between servants/slaves. There are only two kinds of servants/slaves in this world, in the spiritual sense; servants/slaves of sin unto death, or servants/slaves of obedience unto righteousness. When we place our faith exclusively in Christ for salvation/believe the gospel by trusting in His finished work of redemption as the all sufficient means of our salvation, we then become "servants of obedience unto righteousness." Being slaves of sin is put in the past tense. Paul goes on in Romans 6:18 - "You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness."
*Notice in Romans 10:10 - For with the heart one believes unto righteousness..
*Notice in Romans 4:5 - But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith (not works) is accounted for righteousness.
If one reads Romans 2:6-10 in isolation from the rest of the book of Romans, one might conclude that Paul was teaching salvation by works. However, as you read and study these passages, it is imperative to keep in mind that these verses do not describe how one becomes saved, but the way the saved conduct their lives. These deeds done are the result of, not the means or basis of receiving eternal life. So patient continuance in well doing, seeking for glory, honor, and immortality; (vs. 7) is not at all set forth as the means of their procuring eternal life, but as a description of those to whom God does render life eternal. Notice that ALL who receive eternal life are described as such, everyone who does good (vs. 10). Good deeds flow from a heart that is saved and evil deeds flow from a heart that is unsaved. Verse 8 - but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness--indignation and wrath. Notice that ALL who do not receive eternal life are described as such, everyone who does evil (vs. 9).
What those passages convey is that though our deeds are judged by God, it's not the good deeds themselves which are the basis or means of receiving eternal life, but the type of deeds expose whether our heart was saved, or not. These deeds done out of faith are the fruit, not the root of salvation. If Paul wanted to teach that we are saved by works, then he would have clearly stated that we are saved through faith and works/deeds in Ephesians 2:8,9 and that we are justified by faith and works/deeds in Romans 5:1, but that is clearly NOT what Paul said.
Don't you say believing is enough. Yet Scriptures plainly teach Believing is NOT enough. A person can believe 100% and Fail miserably to DO what Jesus commands. Namely Love One Another.
This generation can continue to believe that Faith only is enough, that believing ONLY is enough, and when they are left behind to find out the Truth that believing was NOT enough, then they will remember all those people who tried to tell them it was not enough, they will weep and gnash their teeth, because they were WRONG. Faith only is dead. your belief ONLY is counted as dead. YES believing is required for one to be Saved, that is TRUE and accurate, but there is MORE to it that that, read the Scriptures. Jesus plainly says, why do you call me Lord, and not do that things i say. Why do call Him Lord, because you believe that He is the Lord, but the problem is you only DO the first step, you believe, but altogether Fail in the next step, and that is obedience, DOing what Jesus told us to do. You go ahead and call Him "Lord" because you believe, but just because you believe He is Lord and claim to be Saved, does not make it so, like you falsely believe that doctrine that teaches that. You would do well to recall and study the parable of the Savior separating the goats from the sheep. Most people in this generation teaches the goats are the unsaved, They do not know the TRUTH. The unsaved don't call Jesus "Lord" it is written only by the Holy Ghost does one call Jesus "Lord" The goats and the sheep are all believers in the Lord. The goats are they that teach believing is enough, and therefore don't NEED to have works. The sheep not only believe but their works prove who is actually in their hearts. So you go a head and keep telling yourself that believing is enough, that you are sealed forever because you believe, that you are covered, and if you don't have works, i assure you with no doubts whatsoever you will be deemed a goat, and separated from those who not only believe, but have works to back that belief up. You goats have been warned.
^i^
††† In His Holy and Precious Name, Jesus Christ †††
DiscipleDave