Not By Works
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If one wants to be obtuse it is easy.
If you find yourself in a game you refuse to lose, you can just through over the table,
knock the opponent over and try and beat them up.
Communication happens when there is a common agreed basis.
It is funny being told what I believe and how I believe it by someone else.
I remember when one member said I was being unfair to their position and gave a long
description of their faith points, which I ticked off one by one. It was exactly what I had
said, but because they saw it in a positive light, where as I did not, it changed its meaning,
when actually it meant the same thing both times.
If I say a red wine is a fantastic wine with a great taste or ordinary and a bit flat, the wine
has not changed, but the impression I am giving is very different.
It is this impression people dislike, but they confuse it with the facts. Maybe it is not possible
to go beyond this stage, because it is all so personal and unapproachable.
God bless you all, and may you know His blessing with you wherever you go. Amen.
If you find yourself in a game you refuse to lose, you can just through over the table,
knock the opponent over and try and beat them up.
Communication happens when there is a common agreed basis.
It is funny being told what I believe and how I believe it by someone else.
I remember when one member said I was being unfair to their position and gave a long
description of their faith points, which I ticked off one by one. It was exactly what I had
said, but because they saw it in a positive light, where as I did not, it changed its meaning,
when actually it meant the same thing both times.
If I say a red wine is a fantastic wine with a great taste or ordinary and a bit flat, the wine
has not changed, but the impression I am giving is very different.
It is this impression people dislike, but they confuse it with the facts. Maybe it is not possible
to go beyond this stage, because it is all so personal and unapproachable.
God bless you all, and may you know His blessing with you wherever you go. Amen.
A
It says that we are to do good works but those works of righteousness do NOT save us.
◄ Titus 3 ►
English Standard Version
1Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, 2to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people.
3For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another
. 4But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 5he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, 6whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
8The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people.
9But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless. 10As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him, 11knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned.
◄ Titus 3 ►
English Standard Version
1Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, 2to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people.
3For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another
. 4But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 5he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, 6whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
8The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people.
9But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless. 10As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him, 11knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned.
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The problem of self definition.
Are we baptists, anglicans, reformed, charismatic, rcc, lutheren, methodists, house church etc.
Each of these groups have various perspectives and some here will reject them all because they
are just christian.
Now I am miles too pragmatic to not acknowledge my heritage so I will gladly take
a label if it stops ludicrous questions about basic faith that is actually a waste of time.
So if you want discussions on forums such as these it helps to know the school of thought
you follow. Now if you hate this approach, well then why are you in a forum, because you
would do much better writing your own theology somewhere else because no one is going to
agree with you. And that is the simple reality.
So the new perspective on Paul seems to be along similar lines to what I am talking about.
But that is all it is.
But for some it is a war against legalism ( what a joke ) as if in a world with lawlessness and
morality going out the window we need less morals and less love, rather than growing respect
for life, love and God.
So you would think I am the worst evil criminal ever, yet here I am praising the Lord and trying
to put forward challenging perspectives.
But hey, if there was no push back, it would not be a challenging perspective.
Are we baptists, anglicans, reformed, charismatic, rcc, lutheren, methodists, house church etc.
Each of these groups have various perspectives and some here will reject them all because they
are just christian.
Now I am miles too pragmatic to not acknowledge my heritage so I will gladly take
a label if it stops ludicrous questions about basic faith that is actually a waste of time.
So if you want discussions on forums such as these it helps to know the school of thought
you follow. Now if you hate this approach, well then why are you in a forum, because you
would do much better writing your own theology somewhere else because no one is going to
agree with you. And that is the simple reality.
So the new perspective on Paul seems to be along similar lines to what I am talking about.
But that is all it is.
But for some it is a war against legalism ( what a joke ) as if in a world with lawlessness and
morality going out the window we need less morals and less love, rather than growing respect
for life, love and God.
So you would think I am the worst evil criminal ever, yet here I am praising the Lord and trying
to put forward challenging perspectives.
But hey, if there was no push back, it would not be a challenging perspective.
Change - the great dynamic
For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin
Rom 6:6
Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices
col 3:9
You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
Eph 4:22-24
Reading the above encouragements from Paul I am convicted we need to
exercise change with a choice of the will.
It is amazing to think 2000 years ago Paul wrote this, encouraging us to
walk as Jesus walked, what a message of hope and freedom, Amen.
For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin
Rom 6:6
Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices
col 3:9
You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
Eph 4:22-24
Reading the above encouragements from Paul I am convicted we need to
exercise change with a choice of the will.
It is amazing to think 2000 years ago Paul wrote this, encouraging us to
walk as Jesus walked, what a message of hope and freedom, Amen.
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How I feel is like being put through a grinder, trying to be helpful,
and then being told no that is rubbish, wrong etc.
I suppose if it puts the writer in a bad light, or at least in their mind
it must be wrong. I suppose it would be hard for me to flatter people
and try and seek the truth. I am glad my income is not reliant on flattering
people.
My simple test is this. Is there anything you do which you can show from scripture
is sinful that you would not be ashamed of and want to repent of, and is there anything
good you do which you can show from scripture that is good that you would not say
amen to and want to repeat?
We often look at things from a passive perspective and after the event, rather than
from an active perspective as to things we want to sow into.
Paul always looked at things actively, the future in Christ is wonderful, sow to love,
sow to good relationships, building each other up and bringing resolution and help
to those in need. Amen.
and then being told no that is rubbish, wrong etc.
I suppose if it puts the writer in a bad light, or at least in their mind
it must be wrong. I suppose it would be hard for me to flatter people
and try and seek the truth. I am glad my income is not reliant on flattering
people.
My simple test is this. Is there anything you do which you can show from scripture
is sinful that you would not be ashamed of and want to repent of, and is there anything
good you do which you can show from scripture that is good that you would not say
amen to and want to repeat?
We often look at things from a passive perspective and after the event, rather than
from an active perspective as to things we want to sow into.
Paul always looked at things actively, the future in Christ is wonderful, sow to love,
sow to good relationships, building each other up and bringing resolution and help
to those in need. Amen.
The sins of some are obvious, reaching the place of judgment ahead of them; the sins of others trail behind them.
In the same way, good deeds are obvious, and even those that are not obvious cannot remain hidden forever.
1 Tim 5:24-25
Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.
1 Tim 6:18
We are to be rich in good deeds, to overflow with the bounty of the Lord,
Amen, what a great King we have, God bless you all.
In the same way, good deeds are obvious, and even those that are not obvious cannot remain hidden forever.
1 Tim 5:24-25
Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.
1 Tim 6:18
We are to be rich in good deeds, to overflow with the bounty of the Lord,
Amen, what a great King we have, God bless you all.
