Faith and Works
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Acts 11:18 When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.
Repentance is a gift as is faith and in any case they cannot be separated.
To truly turn to Christ (faith) means at the same time to truly turn from all else (repentance).
Repentance is a gift as is faith and in any case they cannot be separated.
To truly turn to Christ (faith) means at the same time to truly turn from all else (repentance).
Are you saying you've never sinned since you turned to Christ? How long ago did you turn to him?
Repentance - resisting temptation - takes effort. Therefore, I wouldn't call repentance a gift. For that matter, faith takes effort, so I wouldn't call faith a gift either. God's saving grace is a gift, though.
any power i have to make any effort is a gift;
i was formed out of dust, and dust gives no effort
even the dust doesn't create itself, but was not, and was made, and now is.
i was formed out of dust, and dust gives no effort
even the dust doesn't create itself, but was not, and was made, and now is.
The Greek word for "repent" is "metanoia" (noun) and "matanoeo" (verb) you see as defined in the Strongs #3340, 3341: to think differently or afterwards, reconsider. After thought, change of mind. Repentance basically means a "change of mind" and the context must determine what is involved in this "change of mind." Where salvation is in view, repentance is a change of mind about our sinful position and need for Christ to save us and the new direction of this change of mind is faith in Christ for salvation. Two sides to the same coin.
The Bible also tells us that true repentance will result in a change of actions. Acts 26:20 declares, "I preached that they should repent and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds." This is the fruit of repentance (Matthew 3:8), not the essence of repentance. I have heard certain preachers say, "If you want to be saved, repent of your sins, turn from your sins." If turning from your sins means to stop sinning, then people can only be saved if they stop sinning. And it is unlikely that anyone has ever been saved, since we don't know anyone who has ever completely stopped sinning, although there are some deceived individuals who believe they are sinless, without fault or defect, flawless, 100% of the time.
The Bible also tells us that true repentance will result in a change of actions. Acts 26:20 declares, "I preached that they should repent and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds." This is the fruit of repentance (Matthew 3:8), not the essence of repentance. I have heard certain preachers say, "If you want to be saved, repent of your sins, turn from your sins." If turning from your sins means to stop sinning, then people can only be saved if they stop sinning. And it is unlikely that anyone has ever been saved, since we don't know anyone who has ever completely stopped sinning, although there are some deceived individuals who believe they are sinless, without fault or defect, flawless, 100% of the time.
So you define repentance as "completely stop sinning" and anything less is not repentance? Are you sinless, without fault or defect, flawless, 100% of the time, just like God the Father? Again, the Greek word for "repent" is "metanoia" (noun) and "matanoeo" (verb) you see as defined in the Strongs #3340, 3341: to think differently or afterwards, reconsider. After thought, change of mind. Not sinless perfection. When God tells an unsaved man to repent, He means for that man to change his mind about how to reach God and accept His way of salvation. The person must change his mind from any idea of saving himself through religion or good works, and trust Christ’s finished work of redemption as the all sufficient means of their salvation. Trust exclusively (faith) in Christ for salvation.
Christ sets up the high ideal of perfect love, not that we will attain it in this life, however, that is God's high standard. God cannot compromise His standard. The word perfect comes from teleios, end, goal, limit. Here it is the goal set before us, the absolute standard of our Heavenly Father. The word is used also for relative perfection as of adults compared with children.
Christ sets up the high ideal of perfect love, not that we will attain it in this life, however, that is God's high standard. God cannot compromise His standard. The word perfect comes from teleios, end, goal, limit. Here it is the goal set before us, the absolute standard of our Heavenly Father. The word is used also for relative perfection as of adults compared with children.
Faith/repentance is a lifelong event as it is a gift...for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. (Php 2:13)
The 'effort' is enabled by Him.
Now I gave you a Scripture (Acts 11:18) showing repentance is a gift, do the kindness in showing me a scripture backing up your claim that it isn't.
The 'effort' is enabled by Him.
Now I gave you a Scripture (Acts 11:18) showing repentance is a gift, do the kindness in showing me a scripture backing up your claim that it isn't.
We don't need to pull out a verse of scripture here and there, the entire bible talks of this.
When we understand that there is a God who created us, and learn something of Him, we learn to have faith in Him. We stake our eternal life on this.
After we have faith, we look for what God wants us to do about it. He says to honor your Mother and Father. So you say Yes, Lord I will do that because you have faith in Him.
You could decide, instead, to just read all the things we are to do and do them, but ignore that there is a God. Just do them because it is good advise. That would get you a good life here on this earth, but it wouldn't do one thing toward your eternal life, nor would it produce grace.
When we understand that there is a God who created us, and learn something of Him, we learn to have faith in Him. We stake our eternal life on this.
After we have faith, we look for what God wants us to do about it. He says to honor your Mother and Father. So you say Yes, Lord I will do that because you have faith in Him.
You could decide, instead, to just read all the things we are to do and do them, but ignore that there is a God. Just do them because it is good advise. That would get you a good life here on this earth, but it wouldn't do one thing toward your eternal life, nor would it produce grace.
T
If we wish to do the will of the Lord, then we will need to resist temptation. It costs a lot of effort, spiritual fortitude, and emotional management to resist temptation, so that we will not fall away from God's desired path for us.
Will of the Lord ---> God's plan for each individual.
And of course we must do the will of the Lord in order to benefit ourselves and others.
Will of the Lord ---> God's plan for each individual.
And of course we must do the will of the Lord in order to benefit ourselves and others.
Well the OP is giving what he thinks which in this case is not what God has said. 1 John tells us the we cannot completely stop sinning. If we say we have we lie. Oops that is a sin. We ought to resist sin but our body of flesh is sinning by its very nature. The spirit/soul is made perfect the moment we receive Christ but the body awaits redemption and glorification.
Any works we might have of our own will are and can only be dirty rags in Gods eyes. The idea of sinless perfection in this world is completely wrong. Most if not all men will be lifted up with pride when they see themselves as sinless. Pride goeth before the fall.
The works we do after we are born again are wrought by the Holy Spirit ministering through us. They are not of our volition but Gods. We must submit to Gods will to accomplish anything for Him.
Hold fast the things which are good, the things of virtue in Christ.
For the cause of Christ
Roger
Any works we might have of our own will are and can only be dirty rags in Gods eyes. The idea of sinless perfection in this world is completely wrong. Most if not all men will be lifted up with pride when they see themselves as sinless. Pride goeth before the fall.
The works we do after we are born again are wrought by the Holy Spirit ministering through us. They are not of our volition but Gods. We must submit to Gods will to accomplish anything for Him.
Hold fast the things which are good, the things of virtue in Christ.
For the cause of Christ
Roger
You hit the nail on the head brother!
1 John 1:8 - If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.
1 John 2:1 - My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.
1 John 1:8 - If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.
1 John 2:1 - My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.
And Eph 14 says the Christian is to be "holy and without blame". The church is to "not have any spot, or wrinkle" Eph 5:27. Peter said the Christian is to be "without spot and blameless" 2 Pet 3:14.
So how can a Christian who occasionally sins ever be spotless, blameless, holy, without wrinkle?
1 Jn 1:7 "But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin."
For the Christian to be spotless, blameless, without wrinkle requires a continued obedience in walking in the light. For those Christians that continue to walk, Christ's blood continues to cleanse away ALL sins and that continual cleansing keeps the Christian without spot, blame or wrinkle.
So how can a Christian who occasionally sins ever be spotless, blameless, holy, without wrinkle?
1 Jn 1:7 "But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin."
For the Christian to be spotless, blameless, without wrinkle requires a continued obedience in walking in the light. For those Christians that continue to walk, Christ's blood continues to cleanse away ALL sins and that continual cleansing keeps the Christian without spot, blame or wrinkle.
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