Not By Works
- Thread starter dcontroversal
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Bullet proof
This is a strange song because it raises a different issue.
We all want to connect, to be loved, to know one another and
be known. The pain of hurts often leads us to cut others out,
to defend ourselves so nothing gets through.
Jesus works differently. Everything gets through but we understand
it, and learn to love the heart of pain it comes out of.
The love in the cross cannot be stopped. The enemy has always been
in our attitude, because we can only change our perception of what is
happening and how to respond.
We can always find enemies out there, but it is friends we need and how
to help heal the lost.
This is a strange song because it raises a different issue.
We all want to connect, to be loved, to know one another and
be known. The pain of hurts often leads us to cut others out,
to defend ourselves so nothing gets through.
Jesus works differently. Everything gets through but we understand
it, and learn to love the heart of pain it comes out of.
The love in the cross cannot be stopped. The enemy has always been
in our attitude, because we can only change our perception of what is
happening and how to respond.
We can always find enemies out there, but it is friends we need and how
to help heal the lost.
Amen!
Even before Jesus did "one work" - the Father said this about His Son that belonged to Him.
Mark 1:10-11 (NASB)
[SUP]10 [/SUP] Immediately coming up out of the water, He saw the heavens opening, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon Him;
[SUP]11 [/SUP] and a voice came out of the heavens: "You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased."
Thank God that His life in us will bring forth a manifestation of good works as a fruit of our union with Him- to show the love and grace our loving Father and Lord has for all the people in the world.
We need to identify ourselves as beloved children of God - safe in His hands in order to grow in the grace and true knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.
True humility agrees with what God says about you is true because of Christ alone - all by grace through faith in Christ's finished work on the cross and resurrection.
Jesus knew He was a beloved Son and He lived by the life of the Father in Him doing the good works. He lived completely dependent on the Father's life and love in Him. Jesus said "Of Myself - I can do nothing."
This is following Jesus - having complete dependence on what Christ alone has done for us.
Even before Jesus did "one work" - the Father said this about His Son that belonged to Him.
Mark 1:10-11 (NASB)
[SUP]10 [/SUP] Immediately coming up out of the water, He saw the heavens opening, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon Him;
[SUP]11 [/SUP] and a voice came out of the heavens: "You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased."
Thank God that His life in us will bring forth a manifestation of good works as a fruit of our union with Him- to show the love and grace our loving Father and Lord has for all the people in the world.
We need to identify ourselves as beloved children of God - safe in His hands in order to grow in the grace and true knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.
True humility agrees with what God says about you is true because of Christ alone - all by grace through faith in Christ's finished work on the cross and resurrection.
Jesus knew He was a beloved Son and He lived by the life of the Father in Him doing the good works. He lived completely dependent on the Father's life and love in Him. Jesus said "Of Myself - I can do nothing."
This is following Jesus - having complete dependence on what Christ alone has done for us.
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Why not add to this something like "This is following Jesus - having complete dependence on what Christ alone has done for us to do those things He commanded us to do, because without Him we can do nothing" ?
Otherwise, you make it look like "all we have to do is believe in Jesus", making it look like a mental assention is all it takes.
You aren't saying that, right?
Otherwise, you make it look like "all we have to do is believe in Jesus", making it look like a mental assention is all it takes.
You aren't saying that, right?
An example of "good works" are when we encourage people to actually believe what Jesus has said and what He has already done. It is a good work to encourage Christians to believe that He alone has obtained eternal redemption for us. Heb. 9:12
Right believing in Christ's finished work on the cross and resurrection and that we too have died with Him and rose to newness of life - will bring right thinking ( repentance )which will manifest in His life being seen in our lives outwardly as His fruit is borne on us the branches.
This is what produces real godliness based on Christ alone by grace through faith.
Without Him - we can do nothing.
It is a "good work" to encourage people to trust that He who has begun a good work in you will perfect it. (Phil. 1:6)
It is a "good work" to encourage Christians to believe that we are new creations in Christ ( 2 Cor. 5:17 )
It is a "good work" to encourage Christians that Christ alone is our righteousness and our sanctification and our redemption. ( 1 Cor. 1:30 )
It is a "good work" to encourage Christians to believe that we are saved by grace through faith alone in Christ's work on the cross and resurrection and no amount of good works can save us nor "keep us saved". Christ alone is the Savior of the world - especially of believers. ( Eph. 2:8-19 & 1 Tim. 4:10 )
It is a "good work" to encourage Christians that we will walk in the good works that God has already prepare for us to walk in as His life becomes manifested in and through us to reveal the love and grace of our loving Father and our Lord has for others. ( Eph. 2:10 & Phil. 2:13 )
It is a "good work" for us to encourage Christians that we are safe in the hands of the Lord and we who truly believe have been sealed by the Holy Spirit and He will be in us forever - just like Jesus said. ( Eph. 1:13, 4:20 & John 14:16 )
It is also a "good work" to remind Christians that there is a warning for not relying on the life of Christ in us for life and living while on this earth.
All the works of the flesh will bring destruction in this life of some sort - whether living the homosexual lifestyle or the exhibiting of malice, outbursts of anger, deceitfulness or the slandering of others in the body of Christ.
Fail to rely on the grace of God that is only in Christ's finished work and trying to do things in our own flesh will not get us to experience the life of Christ that is in our inner man of the heart where Christ dwells and where we are in the kingdom of God.
The warning scriptures are needed and to be heeded - once the proper foundation of Christ and His finished work are firmly established in the hearts and minds of us Christians. From there - then the warning scriptures will have their proper place.
But the firm foundation is Christ Himself and you can no more lose the redemption that is in Christ then Daffy Duck and Donald Duck are the 2 witnesses in the book of Revelation.
We are beloved children of our loving Father and He will not throw His beloved children into hell and the lake of fire because they don't do enough "good works".
Where there is "security" - there are the nutrients for "maturity". Let's believe what Christ has said and what He has already done for us and grow in the grace and knowledge of Him.
Right believing in Christ's finished work on the cross and resurrection and that we too have died with Him and rose to newness of life - will bring right thinking ( repentance )which will manifest in His life being seen in our lives outwardly as His fruit is borne on us the branches.
This is what produces real godliness based on Christ alone by grace through faith.
Without Him - we can do nothing.
It is a "good work" to encourage people to trust that He who has begun a good work in you will perfect it. (Phil. 1:6)
It is a "good work" to encourage Christians to believe that we are new creations in Christ ( 2 Cor. 5:17 )
It is a "good work" to encourage Christians that Christ alone is our righteousness and our sanctification and our redemption. ( 1 Cor. 1:30 )
It is a "good work" to encourage Christians to believe that we are saved by grace through faith alone in Christ's work on the cross and resurrection and no amount of good works can save us nor "keep us saved". Christ alone is the Savior of the world - especially of believers. ( Eph. 2:8-19 & 1 Tim. 4:10 )
It is a "good work" to encourage Christians that we will walk in the good works that God has already prepare for us to walk in as His life becomes manifested in and through us to reveal the love and grace of our loving Father and our Lord has for others. ( Eph. 2:10 & Phil. 2:13 )
It is a "good work" for us to encourage Christians that we are safe in the hands of the Lord and we who truly believe have been sealed by the Holy Spirit and He will be in us forever - just like Jesus said. ( Eph. 1:13, 4:20 & John 14:16 )
It is also a "good work" to remind Christians that there is a warning for not relying on the life of Christ in us for life and living while on this earth.
All the works of the flesh will bring destruction in this life of some sort - whether living the homosexual lifestyle or the exhibiting of malice, outbursts of anger, deceitfulness or the slandering of others in the body of Christ.
Fail to rely on the grace of God that is only in Christ's finished work and trying to do things in our own flesh will not get us to experience the life of Christ that is in our inner man of the heart where Christ dwells and where we are in the kingdom of God.
The warning scriptures are needed and to be heeded - once the proper foundation of Christ and His finished work are firmly established in the hearts and minds of us Christians. From there - then the warning scriptures will have their proper place.
But the firm foundation is Christ Himself and you can no more lose the redemption that is in Christ then Daffy Duck and Donald Duck are the 2 witnesses in the book of Revelation.
We are beloved children of our loving Father and He will not throw His beloved children into hell and the lake of fire because they don't do enough "good works".
Where there is "security" - there are the nutrients for "maturity". Let's believe what Christ has said and what He has already done for us and grow in the grace and knowledge of Him.
I agree but there is another aspect to this too.
For every member - there are 10 people viewing the threads so it's good to proclaim Christ and His grace through faith so that people will be able to have the proper nutrients to walk by the spirit and experience the life of Christ while on this earth.
For every member - there are 10 people viewing the threads so it's good to proclaim Christ and His grace through faith so that people will be able to have the proper nutrients to walk by the spirit and experience the life of Christ while on this earth.