I understand.
The issue I have is, when does one suddenly become, 'saved', a believer. I know the scripts but I don't see this (nor interpret it) as a lot of people seem to. It annoys people, but here goes;
If someone knows God and Jesus exist. They believe that with all their hearts. And they believe that because of God's love, and Jesus love, and what they did for us, that they should also have that very same self-sacrificing attitude toward others, is THAT not exactly what the Holy Spirit is?
Similarly a woman or man who does not know the bible inside out but believes simply that Jesus died for us and they should do good and avoid sin to please Him. Is that not what a follower of Christ is? there are people who will not understand the whole bible. Whose mental capacity just can't. But in teh simplest of terms, I truly do believe that this is what a follower of Jesus is. A person who self sacrifices for the good of others.
When we realise that love is the only way. Is THAT not what being in Christ is?
I don't believe that you say' come to me Jesus' or 'invite Jesus into your heart' or something spiritual, and He just enters, I believe that the passage saying about the work being a fruit of the faith, is more to do with realising the truth and putting it into action as a charitable and loving person. It's a logical next step once one realises the Truth.
And what is Truth?
And is THAT all that Christ is, love as perceived by mens definition? Christ is the Word made flesh. In the beginning was the Word and the Word is God. So God spoke Word, wrote Word, and manifested Word in flesh. They all are the same Word. So to just follow Christ, and discount the Bible, is not following the whole Word of God. Likewise, to just follow the Bible and not follow Christ, is not following the whole Word of God. Nothing contradicts, but everything flows perfectly. Love is God, and God is Love and if you love God you will keep His commandments, and it all ties in. Just to claim you love like Jesus, and do not keep the Word is not good enough.
And so then, how can any man keep the whole Word of God and be saved? Every one of us fails in one way or another. Then none of us are saved by our deeds but by His grace. And these scriptures, I think are beautiful in summing it up
Romans 9
6 But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.
7 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.
8 But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead.
9 For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.
10 And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death.
11 For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me.
12 Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.
13 Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.
14 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.
15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.
16 If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good.
17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.
19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.
20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.
22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:
23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.