Lots of words typed here are straight from the heart, people!
@Jullianna
Well, hello there..!
Funnily enough, the bible
does say that good works are essential to both our growth and the growth of the kingdom of God.
Examples below:
The gospel according to
Matthew 5:16 Salt and light - Let your light shine before all men, that they may see your
good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
The second letter of Paul to
Timothy 3:16-17 Paul's charge to Timothy - All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teachings, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every
good work.
Thank you for providing this bible verse, Jullianna.
Ephesians 2:8-9
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— [SUP]9 [/SUP]not by works, so that no one can boast.
Allow me to add to this:
Ephesians 10 - For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for
good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Here are two more bible verses to supplement the verses given above:
James 2:26
For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.
James 2:14-17
What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
The letter of James has an
entire section dedicated to the relationship between good works and faith.
James 2:14-26 Faith without works is dead
Based on the evidence I presented above, we may assume that both faith
and good works are necessary to build up the kingdom of God.
[HR][/HR]
We are supposed to be the family of God. We are supposed to be known by our love for one another, not by our bickering. Seeing all of this stuff is highly discouraging to fellow believers and gives an appearance of hypocrisy to unbelievers.
Yes, Julliana. God is with us, so why would we need to fear Satan, why should we care if he rejoices? He'll be utterly consumed in the end times anyway.
Satan is indeed dangerous and should have eyes watching him, but let us not bath ourselves in negativity, for the devil's laughter
never lasts for long.
The letter of Paul to the
Philippians 4:4-7 Exhortations - [SUP]4[/SUP]Rejoice in the Lord always, again I will say, rejoice. [SUP]5[/SUP]Let all men know your forbearance. The Lord is at hand. [SUP]6[/SUP]Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. [SUP]7[/SUP]And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
May the grace of Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.