Not By Works

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.

PennEd

Senior Member
Apr 22, 2013
13,587
9,104
113
I stand by my post....to call the security found in Christ is satanic and a false satanic statement......the Spirit of God would not lead a man to say that....end of story!
WHAT!!!??

Did this person really call eternal security satanic? That seems to me to be dancing pretty close to blaspheming the Holy Spirit.
 
Feb 24, 2015
13,204
168
0
WHAT!!!??

Did this person really call eternal security satanic? That seems to me to be dancing pretty close to blaspheming the Holy Spirit.
This is a shocking idea.

Could people be deceiving themselves as destined to heaven no matter what they do because
as some point in their lives they professed faith in Jesus?

And could people be calling others lost and doomed to hell only because they have this false
assurance of salvation, while falling deeper into the addictions of sin?

I wonder if satan could be involved in such deceptions?

And is it possible the truly lost appear as angels of light, contradicting the very words of
Christ yet claiming they have true spiritual authority?

Wow. I wonder what is actually going on. Life, death, heaven and hell are just mild
everyday subjects, and excusing evil and sinful behaviour is really where Christ is at?

I mean the group of believers are the elect and Jesus is going to affirm their lives
because they believe verses in scripture while denying the Lord in their lives.

Yes that really makes sense and the Lord of all who sees everything forgives
unrepentant sin?
 

mailmandan

Senior Member
Apr 7, 2014
25,483
13,422
113
58
a. The imputed righteousness of Christ a neat little trick that does not work
Jesus righteousness spray. This idea is God does not see sin because Jesus's righteousness
is sprayed in Gods eyes so He is blind. It is just a stupid idea, but many claim to believe this.
God sees us as we are, and sees who is walking in faith and following Christ and who is not.
It works for believers. Romans 4:5 - But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness, 6 just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God IMPUTES righteousness apart from works:

Philippians 3:9 - and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith.

Your true colors are really showing here. :(

b. Jesus and faith is not enough
Having faith that a car is able to take you somewhere is different to getting in and being driven.
Many claim to have faith in Christ, but do not know His words, His commands or how to follow.
It is literally meaningless unless it dwells in your heart and God is your King and Saviour.
Jesus and genuine faith is enough. To merely "claim" to have faith in Jesus and actually having faith in Jesus are two different things. Genuine believers know His words, know Him and His commands and how to follow. It dwells in the heart of genuine believers and God is their King and Savior. Many claim to know His words and follow Jesus but do not have genuine faith in Jesus.

c. Having security in Jesus is an idol
Making security in Christ the definition of a believer or unbeliever is idolatry of assurance.
The logic says Jesus changes us, we just live, and He magically does it all. A morality of
self verses God ensues with continual guilt about self doing things, evil, God doing things, good.
Sin is not the issue, because there is no guilt even while doing it, no repentance or confession,
just looking to Jesus. It creates a weird non christian language and intent, where people do not
know purity or righteousness, cleansing or wholeness, but just this acceptance, and blankness.
In this world God only needed to give us one A4 sheet of paper saying Jesus. It is just junk.
How many people realise this, I do not know, but certainly a number here.
More straw man arguments and it sounds like NOT having security in Jesus has become your idol. :rolleyes:

Now little wonder some hate these points, because it undermines their whole position.
Believers don't like your points because they are straw man arguments. For you to reject imputed righteousness (which is Biblical) and for you to say that JESUS AND FAITH IS NOT ENOUGH explains a lot! :eek:
 
Feb 24, 2015
13,204
168
0
Believers don't like your points because they are straw man arguments. For you to reject imputed righteousness (which is Biblical) and for you to say that JESUS AND FAITH IS NOT ENOUGH explains a lot! :eek:
What I find illuminating is Paul is talking about having real righteousness, because
Christ cleansed and purified him. It is the righteousness that comes through Christ,
but it can be interpreted to mean imputed as you do.

The problem is this is not Pauls language. Paul was pure, holy, blameless.

Now we are counted as righteous because of our faith, not our actions, but it
is Christs righteousness that bought us forgiveness of sins through the cross, not
imputing it to us, like a covering.

The whole point of the gospel is the create a holy, redeemed people walking
righteously. It is obvious many, especially from the charismatic fellowships do
not believe this, and actively call it evil to even suggest this is Jesus's mission.

But I now wonder what hidden obvious sin is driving this belief?
It is no short leap to say pornography is probably it, given this communication
is on the internet, and the power of porn is very strong and addictive.

Until people can start to get honest about sin, and its hold in their lives, faith
will always be undermined.
 
Nov 22, 2015
20,436
1,431
0
Until people hear the true gospel of the grace of God in Christ and not a works-based - works-righteousness false gospel - sin will continue to dominate them.

For the religious belief system mind - malice and the slandering of others in the body of Christ is ok as long as you don't do sexual sins and keep your purity. These have sin dominating them just like those that live a homosexual lifestyle.

With one side of their mouth they "praise God" and with the other side they curse the very ones that Jesus redeemed with His own blood. I find it very odd that some that say we are to "walk righteously and in purity of heart" are the very ones speaking foul things to others in the body of Christ and think nothing of it.

James 3:8-10 (NASB)
[SUP]8 [/SUP] But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison.

[SUP]9 [/SUP] With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God;

[SUP]10 [/SUP] from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way.

 

gb9

Senior Member
Jan 18, 2011
12,329
6,696
113
What I find illuminating is Paul is talking about having real righteousness, because
Christ cleansed and purified him. It is the righteousness that comes through Christ,
but it can be interpreted to mean imputed as you do.

The problem is this is not Pauls language. Paul was pure, holy, blameless.

Now we are counted as righteous because of our faith, not our actions, but it
is Christs righteousness that bought us forgiveness of sins through the cross, not
imputing it to us, like a covering.

The whole point of the gospel is the create a holy, redeemed people walking
righteously. It is obvious many, especially from the charismatic fellowships do
not believe this, and actively call it evil to even suggest this is Jesus's mission.

But I now wonder what hidden obvious sin is driving this belief?
It is no short leap to say pornography is probably it, given this communication
is on the internet, and the power of porn is very strong and addictive.

Until people can start to get honest about sin, and its hold in their lives, faith
will always be undermined.
last paragraph, I 100% agree.

you start. go ahead and admit that you, and no one else is either, are not sinless and perfect. the best way to combat sin is tell the truth. the truth is no one is sinless. will you agree with this truth, or continue to deny it??
 
Feb 24, 2015
13,204
168
0
The power of a straw man.

People love to say that is just a straw man. The truth is we live in a world of straw men,
the worst one is the one we keep of ourselves in our heads. We often think of ourselves
much better than we are, and then run ourselves down much worse than we are.

Jesus came to bring truth, love and reality to our hearts so we can know who we are
and love and live from the basis of real life. This is the power of the gospel, nothing pretend
or fake, you see it all as it is.

Now if you cannot face this, why are you following Jesus? This is His kingdom, the kingdom
of light where things are brought into the open and we delight in the freedom He brings.
Now I can be wrong about many things, but in this arena it is not difficult to be right in
Christ, it just takes a pure heart and a desire to walk righteously.

As Paul says to timothy,

Flee the evil desires of youth and
pursue righteousness,
faith,
love and
peace,
along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
2 Tim 2:22

Now this is a simple goal. So I ask you, those who feel resistance, you say you follow
Jesus, why do you rebel against these words?

Bring it to Christ, because there is freedom at the end, and healing and great joy.
It grieves me that there are some who will feel anger and condemnation, and believe
I am speaking from the enemy.

Where my friends has satan deceived you so thoroughly that the very word of God
cannot speak to your heart? Repent and confess your sins to Christ and He will
heal you.

Thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ
1 cor 15:57
 

mailmandan

Senior Member
Apr 7, 2014
25,483
13,422
113
58
What I find illuminating is Paul is talking about having real righteousness, because
Christ cleansed and purified him. It is the righteousness that comes through Christ,
but it can be interpreted to mean imputed as you do.
You don't want to mistake "imputed" righteousness for "imparted" righteousness, as Roman Catholics do.
The problem is this is not Pauls language. Paul was pure, holy, blameless.
Was Paul pure, holy, blameless apart from the blood of Christ? Was Paul sinless?

Now we are counted as righteous because of our faith, not our actions, but it
is Christ's righteousness that bought us forgiveness of sins through the cross, not
imputing it to us, like a covering.
What do you think "impute" means? Do you understand what "reckon" and "account" means?

The whole point of the gospel is the create a holy, redeemed people walking
righteously. It is obvious many, especially from the charismatic fellowships do
not believe this, and actively call it evil to even suggest this is Jesus's mission.
The purpose of the gospel is to save those who BELIEVE. The gospel of Christ is the power of God unto salvation to everyone who BELIEVES.. (Romans 1:16). Walking righteously as God's redeemed people is what we are saved FOR.

But I now wonder what hidden obvious sin is driving this belief?
It is no short leap to say pornography is probably it, given this communication
is on the internet, and the power of porn is very strong and addictive.
You sound like a man of experience. Has pornography been your vice? Is pride driving your belief to reject imputed righteousness?

Until people can start to get honest about sin, and its hold in their lives, faith
will always be undermined.
Genuine believers are honest about sin and fully understand their complete dependency upon Christ.
 
Feb 24, 2015
13,204
168
0
Until people hear the true gospel of the grace of God in Christ and not a works-based - works-righteousness false gospel - sin will continue to dominate them.
Interesting proposal. Ignore the definition of sin, and walking righteously and in purity,
and sin will disappear. No hypocracy will rise, because private sin will continue, and it
will be accepted you do not have to be guilty about it, you are righteous no matter what
you do.

This is the old age lie, we are nice people, we could not function as we do if we were not,
you need your mistress, your wealth, gambling, porn, covetousness, greed, security, gluttony
and dare anyone judge you they are the evil condemners full of malice and hatred, envious
of our success. The world has always been this way, and those who preach it.
 
Feb 24, 2015
13,204
168
0
You don't want to mistake "imputed" righteousness for "imparted" righteousness, as Roman Catholics do.
Thank you Dan. In truth I was unaware of the term imparted righteousness.
This appears to be a methodist term though the roman catholics using infused righteousness.

Looking this up led me to a new theological movement that seems more closely to reflect my
discoveries here on cc, which also reflect my walk with Christ.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Perspective_on_Paul

This group are looking at the Law of Christ, rather than pure abandonment of law in its
entirity, as some appear to believe.

It also helps address the issue of good works and our commitment to serve the Lord in
doing them.

Thankyou for this helpful contribution, in my continued walk to testify and give light
to the gospel of Jesus Christ, Amen.
 
A

Ariel82

Guest
I finally understood a few months ago where the confusion was being held at. Obviously a true faith will produce fruit. We all agree on that. What people dont agree on is written in the small txt.

People disagree on these core subjects that are the core to this argument. Free will and faith a human response or God given.

Free will is either disagreed all together supporting total depravity. 2nd free will is either supported until saved then this supports OSAS.

Or 3rd free will holds from start to finish.

Arguments on faith.

1st either faith is given to some by God which supports unconditional election and limited atonement. Or 2nd its both God given and irresistible supporting the no free will folks.

Or 3rd faith is the human response that comes from the choice that arises from hearing the Word.

Obviously if they believe the any of the first 4 in TULIp they will disagree a lot on free will subjects and faith as a human response.

The other group will disagree really on the subject can one could ever deny grace after having it.


The whole works argument is pointless if free will isnt held because they believe everything is God moving in us. No human interaction or relationship.

But the other group sees faith as a human response out of free will. A living faith would be an active faith. And this group sees faith as a willful surrender to God that brings the willing to obey in obedience to the will of God.

And the other group gets that confused as works because they disagree with a lot of the human response in the relationship between creator and creation. Disagreement in the core of free will.
I agree there is some aspect of what people view is free will that causes confusion.

I believe both believe humans have a will of their own and neither think humans are robots.

Personally I believe that humans can choose good or evil but that we have many spiritual strongholds that war against evil and we are enslaved to sin until God gives us grace and frees us. This begins when we first hear the gospel. Our heart will be like the 4 types of ground.

I do believe God elects some and removes the stones and thorns and birds to make good ground for the seed to grow.

The Seed is Christ Jesus and the first fruit is a saving faith that allows us to confess from the heart that Jesus redeemed us from our sins upon the cross and was resurrected on the 3rd day. He sends us the Holy Spirit to lead and guide us and enable us to cry abba Father!

Yet through it all we have the will or ablity to reject and choose our own path.

However God's will is stronger than our own and He will convince and draw His chosen elect fully to Himself. He does this by helping us tear down spiritual strongholds and showing us His wisdom and plan for out lives. He does this by chastening us when we sin until we have the fruit of righteousness.
 
A

Ariel82

Guest
Methodist believe in imputed righteousness NOT imparted righteousness.

Imparted righteousness is a Catholic belief tied in with justification definition that includes both Faith and works.
 

mailmandan

Senior Member
Apr 7, 2014
25,483
13,422
113
58
Thank you Dan. In truth I was unaware of the term imparted righteousness.
This appears to be a methodist term though the roman catholics using infused righteousness.
Do you agree with Roman Catholics that we are saved through faith "infused" with works and those works become meritorious towards receiving salvation?

Looking this up led me to a new theological movement that seems more closely to reflect my
discoveries here on cc, which also reflect my walk with Christ.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Perspective_on_Paul

This group are looking at the Law of Christ, rather than pure abandonment of law in its
entirity, as some appear to believe.

It also helps address the issue of good works and our commitment to serve the Lord in
doing them.
Genuine believers have not abandoned the MORAL aspect of the law, which is summed up by love.

Thankyou for this helpful contribution, in my continued walk to testify and give light
to the gospel of Jesus Christ, Amen.
You're welcome, I guess. :confused:

What do YOU believe the gospel of Jesus Christ is? Also, please explain to me what YOU believe it means to BELIEVE the gospel (Romans 1:16).
 

mailmandan

Senior Member
Apr 7, 2014
25,483
13,422
113
58
Methodist believe in imputed righteousness NOT imparted righteousness.

Imparted righteousness is a Catholic belief tied in with justification definition that includes both Faith and works.
And there is the problem with "imparted" righteousness. It amounts to "works righteousness" which tickles the ears of works salvationists. The Bible mentions "imputed" righteousness, but not "imparted" righteousness.
 
Feb 24, 2015
13,204
168
0
Was Paul pure, holy, blameless apart from the blood of Christ? Was Paul sinless?
Paul is careful. He describes himself as

You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous and blameless we were among you who believed.
1 Thess 2:10

So for a period of time Paul regarded his behaviour as HOLY, RIGHTEOUS, BLAMELESS

Now put this into perspective. How many for even one second are prepared to use this
language about themselves?

This is the problem, the reference points for many are completely removed.
One said that they were sinning every second of the day.

Now this gap between Paul and his words and peoples own experience means they
need a different perspective on God and what He regards as a good, pleasing walk
before Him and what is not.
 
A

Ariel82

Guest
Wow...the "New perspective" is just a mixed bag of folks who used to be reformed going back partially to Roman Catholicism and Orthodox church beliefs with some of their own thoughts mixed in as well.

It also redefines what grace "charis" means to favor instead of free unmerited favor....it says God expects something in return.

Also a handful of other terms are redefined.

Kind of concerning.

*******

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Perspective_on_Paul

In 2003, N. T. Wright, distancing himself from both Sanders and Dunn, commented that "there are probably almost as many 'new' perspective positions as there are writers espousing it – and I disagree with most of them".[8]

****


Wright however does not hold the view that good works contribute to one's salvation but rather that the final judgement is something we can look forward to as a future vindication of God's present declaration of our righteousness. In other words, our works are a result of our salvation and the future judgement will show that.[12] Others tend to place a higher value on the importance of good works than the historic Lutheran and Reformed perspectives do, taking the view that they causally contribute to the salvation of the individual

****
The following is a broad sample of different views advocated by various scholars:

E. P. Sanders argued that Paul's central idea was that we mystically spiritually participate in the risen Christ and that all Paul's judicial language was subordinate to the participationary language.[5]
N. T. Wright has argued that Paul sees Israel as representative of humanity and taking onto itself the sinfulness of humanity through history. Jesus, in turn, as Messiah is representative of Israel and so focuses the sins of Israel on himself on the cross. Wright's view is thus a "historicized" form of Penal Substitution.[22]
Chris VanLandingham has argued that Paul sees Christ as having defeated the Devil and as teaching humans how God wants them to live and setting them an example.[23]
David Brondos has argued that Paul sees Jesus as just a part in a wider narrative in which the Church is working to transform lives of individuals and the world, and that Paul's participatory language should be understood in an ethical sense (humans living Christ-like lives) rather than mystically as Sanders thought.[24]
Pilch and Malina take the view that Paul holds to the Satisfaction theory of atonement.[25]
Stephen Finlan holds that Paul uses numerous different metaphors to describe the atonement; “justified by his blood” (Rom 5:9) means that a cultic substance has a judicial effect. Paul also taught the transformation of believers into the image of God through Christ (Theosis).[26]
*****
 
Last edited by a moderator:
A

Ariel82

Guest
Before I get out of this thread, I'm just gonna place this box full of kittens here for no reason...

This will so make Blue's day lol...now do you have purple ones for Magenta?
 

mailmandan

Senior Member
Apr 7, 2014
25,483
13,422
113
58
Paul is careful. He describes himself as

You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous and blameless we were among you who believed.
1 Thess 2:10
You still did not answer my questions. Was Paul pure, holy, blameless apart from the blood of Christ? Was Paul sinless? Are believers holy, righteous and blameless apart from faith and the blood of Christ?

So for a period of time Paul regarded his behaviour as HOLY, RIGHTEOUS, BLAMELESS
Do you believe this means that Paul was sinless?

Now put this into perspective. How many for even one second are prepared to use this
language about themselves?
Why was Paul able to refer to himself as holy, righteous, blameless? Was it because he was sinless? You are so focused on behavior that you have lost sight of the cross.

This is the problem, the reference points for many are completely removed.
One said that they were sinning every second of the day.
It's either one extreme or the other.

Now this gap between Paul and his words and peoples own experience means they
need a different perspective on God and what He regards as a good, pleasing walk
before Him and what is not.
Walk without faith is just talk.
 
E

eternally-gratefull

Guest
i think youll find that what your talking about is an evil works ...

This is so out there et that youve totaly lost it to suggest that... but hey it doesnt matter anymore coz your right and that makes it ok..

Seariously to call terroism a works based salvationist belief is just so far out here,,,, coz i cant see someone who believes in Good works would think that terrorism is a works based salvation belief..bonkers mate what ya been smoking again..

Do you ever have anything nice to say to anyone?

Do you even know about Islam? Islam is a performance based religion, which says if you have more good deeds than you have bad good deeds, you will get to heaven,

The terrorists uses this to their advantage, by getting people on the brink of not knowing if they are good enough, a sure fure way to get to heaven. Become a martyre for Allah and you get an automatic in, and so much more. WHy do you think they get these kids to do this it is fear based, Which is what all forms of legalism is,, Whether you like to hear ot or not well that does not matter.