Not By Works
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This is an interesting statement.
If one was honest about ones faith and how others might see it that would be a good start.
It is easy to put forward ones perspective and interpretation of words.
Unfortunately this can hold within it self deception and various biases that can be difficult
to face.
Now only the speaker themselves can know how honest they are or are true to their beliefs.
What is illuminating is when people get aggressive about walking in the ways of Jesus and seeing
His light working in our hearts. It would lead me to believe that some are actually jealous and wish
they had a similar experience in their lives.
It reminds me of those who claim Jesus is without emotion but just facts.
God bless you wherever you are, but if you can love without emotion, I suspect you do not know
what love actually is.
The fact of the resurrection brings great joy and praise to my heart, never to be defeated in Christ
Jesus, unto the resurrection of the saints on that day when He returns, Amen, Hallelujah.
And how can love be a burden when in truth it is freedom from sin and pain, the healing of damaged
heart, and a reality that breaks through into the dark empty world in which we live in this place.
If one was honest about ones faith and how others might see it that would be a good start.
It is easy to put forward ones perspective and interpretation of words.
Unfortunately this can hold within it self deception and various biases that can be difficult
to face.
Now only the speaker themselves can know how honest they are or are true to their beliefs.
What is illuminating is when people get aggressive about walking in the ways of Jesus and seeing
His light working in our hearts. It would lead me to believe that some are actually jealous and wish
they had a similar experience in their lives.
It reminds me of those who claim Jesus is without emotion but just facts.
God bless you wherever you are, but if you can love without emotion, I suspect you do not know
what love actually is.
The fact of the resurrection brings great joy and praise to my heart, never to be defeated in Christ
Jesus, unto the resurrection of the saints on that day when He returns, Amen, Hallelujah.
And how can love be a burden when in truth it is freedom from sin and pain, the healing of damaged
heart, and a reality that breaks through into the dark empty world in which we live in this place.
Can one have self deception? If one has deception in their heart then they don't know the truth. Deception is a lie to the individual and unless that lie is revealed they are decieved and that is thier truth.
What I find very intersting is your quote
Yes people are jealous and wish they had that walking in the ways of Jesus.
People can look at others and say "Jesus loves you and wants the best for you" but alas don't believe it for themselves.
They aspire to be the person they put on pedastool. The focus is on the person which detracts from Jesus.
it is easily done.
Love without emotion. To me true love is not about emotion but true love overrides that.
Love is not a feeling but an act of will.
Our saviour prayed with a heavy emotion "Not my will but your will"
Does not the bible state that all men are liars and only God true
God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.
Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.
Did Peter LIE when he claimed to not know JESUS?
God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.
Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.
Did Peter LIE when he claimed to not know JESUS?
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Hi Bill, good to hear from you. I have always appreciated your balanced approach.
Your comment about emotion reminds me of an observation of south eastern queens english
speakers, "We do not have an accent, it is everyone else that does."
Emotions work the same way. The way as an individual one lives is the base normal. Anything
that deviates from it, is then called an emotional response. But that is the illusion,rather we all live with
emotion, it is part of life and being human. Look at any baby, they are just naked responses to the
world around them, one moment laughing, the next not sure, then crying. Their lives are based on
simple facts, safe, not hurting, with mum, and the world is great.
So we learn as we go a whole series of emotional balances, which often conflict so we have to tone
down the feelings, to just get by. This defines the word depression, the exclusion of feelings because
they hurt too much.
So my dear friend, you know how alive you are, by how much emotion you can handle and live by,
and it not overwhelm you but bring praise to our Father in heaven. The more I learn, the closer to
Christ we walk the more we feel and empathise, and can reach out and meet people where they
really are. For you it is those who have started in Christ but wandered away as walking wounded.
I know this feeling, the tension between the idealism of knowing Christ and the failure in our hearts
to live it or meet the interplay of our needs and those around.
What makes me laugh is gb9 comments about psycho babble. Christ calls us to be whole authentic
people which means knowing ourselves, and thereby knowing others.
And yes love is a choice, which emotion to let rule, hurt, anger, resentment, or giving, humbleness,
forgiveness, meekness, sadness, knowing the pain and bearing it willingly as a living sacrifice.
There are good men and women here, but so much effort wasted on pride and not just letting people
be, valuing their contribution and encouraging them to love and share more. Praise the Lord.
Your comment about emotion reminds me of an observation of south eastern queens english
speakers, "We do not have an accent, it is everyone else that does."
Emotions work the same way. The way as an individual one lives is the base normal. Anything
that deviates from it, is then called an emotional response. But that is the illusion,rather we all live with
emotion, it is part of life and being human. Look at any baby, they are just naked responses to the
world around them, one moment laughing, the next not sure, then crying. Their lives are based on
simple facts, safe, not hurting, with mum, and the world is great.
So we learn as we go a whole series of emotional balances, which often conflict so we have to tone
down the feelings, to just get by. This defines the word depression, the exclusion of feelings because
they hurt too much.
So my dear friend, you know how alive you are, by how much emotion you can handle and live by,
and it not overwhelm you but bring praise to our Father in heaven. The more I learn, the closer to
Christ we walk the more we feel and empathise, and can reach out and meet people where they
really are. For you it is those who have started in Christ but wandered away as walking wounded.
I know this feeling, the tension between the idealism of knowing Christ and the failure in our hearts
to live it or meet the interplay of our needs and those around.
What makes me laugh is gb9 comments about psycho babble. Christ calls us to be whole authentic
people which means knowing ourselves, and thereby knowing others.
And yes love is a choice, which emotion to let rule, hurt, anger, resentment, or giving, humbleness,
forgiveness, meekness, sadness, knowing the pain and bearing it willingly as a living sacrifice.
There are good men and women here, but so much effort wasted on pride and not just letting people
be, valuing their contribution and encouraging them to love and share more. Praise the Lord.
Similar people
It was funny on cc. Another contributor sounds very much like me, with a similar perspective.
Amen to that, but we are two different people.
There are some here who a literally paranoid and think of conspiracies everywhere. The problem
with faith is it a set of defined beliefs which unfortunately encourages disputes and disagreements
because once something is defined it can be disagreed with. It is why denial is always simpler, or
cynicism.
I have noticed those who believe their position needs to be accepted get most frustrated when
others do not agree, and slowly get more and more upset, until pow, they just get hurt and rude.
Maybe because we share ideas rather than our hearts, and abuse those who say a few words,
that things go astray, where as if we knew the people face to face, we would be 100% more careful.
Why am I saying this? Calling a believer a liar is a serious problem. So my friends, think the best
of others and take what they say at face value. Let love rule, and time will show the depth in Christ
we can walk together. And to condemn people to hell, or not having a real experience in Christ, is
not good. It does not mean they respond well or in the right way, but the experience is very real.
If Christ showed us the depths of His love all the time to us, we would not be sane, let alone able
to hold regular daily lives and meet our obligations. So aspiring to the spiritual highs all the time
can be as bad as any drug, rather than taking joy in the fellowship we all share in Christ.
Amen and goodnight.
It was funny on cc. Another contributor sounds very much like me, with a similar perspective.
Amen to that, but we are two different people.
There are some here who a literally paranoid and think of conspiracies everywhere. The problem
with faith is it a set of defined beliefs which unfortunately encourages disputes and disagreements
because once something is defined it can be disagreed with. It is why denial is always simpler, or
cynicism.
I have noticed those who believe their position needs to be accepted get most frustrated when
others do not agree, and slowly get more and more upset, until pow, they just get hurt and rude.
Maybe because we share ideas rather than our hearts, and abuse those who say a few words,
that things go astray, where as if we knew the people face to face, we would be 100% more careful.
Why am I saying this? Calling a believer a liar is a serious problem. So my friends, think the best
of others and take what they say at face value. Let love rule, and time will show the depth in Christ
we can walk together. And to condemn people to hell, or not having a real experience in Christ, is
not good. It does not mean they respond well or in the right way, but the experience is very real.
If Christ showed us the depths of His love all the time to us, we would not be sane, let alone able
to hold regular daily lives and meet our obligations. So aspiring to the spiritual highs all the time
can be as bad as any drug, rather than taking joy in the fellowship we all share in Christ.
Amen and goodnight.
Just seen this.....yeah my cholesterol is bad....sugar has always been fine even though I use 6 to 8 spoons in my coffee
Get some grape fruit pectin in pill form......you can take it with cholesterol pills and it helps keep your arteries clean and somewhat works in favor of removing the bad cholesterol.........
Hi PJ, I almost, almost, sent a post last night but in the end I deleted it because I just...I guess I didn't think anyone would understand me.
But what I had written was that it would be so much better for us to share our real struggles of faith rather than doctrinal arguments with no warmth.
I think that's maybe what you were saying too when you said we share ideas rather than out hearts...I long for real fellowship and when I find it, when we get our groove on and walk in the Spirit in love, I am just overwhelmed and it's like I can breathe more deeply...you know?
But what I had written was that it would be so much better for us to share our real struggles of faith rather than doctrinal arguments with no warmth.
I think that's maybe what you were saying too when you said we share ideas rather than out hearts...I long for real fellowship and when I find it, when we get our groove on and walk in the Spirit in love, I am just overwhelmed and it's like I can breathe more deeply...you know?
It's interesting because I haven't seen any altar calls or heard any gospel messages contain a message of works only of faith. Because if it was of works, many unconverted people would answer, but I'm already doing that? I wonder at what point do people surprise their disciples with this one... oh you know how I said you're saved by faith? Well, there's a couple finer points we need to discuss now that you're "kinda saved".
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I know many who have said that a works based theology leaves them without hope, deep down they know they cannot meet God's standards and or do the works required 24/7/365.......there is no hope in works.....how many does one need per day/week or year....are we one short, do they meet God's standard, etc........the bible is clear-->JESUS states clearly that the number that comes before the throne claiming to know JESUS and claiming their right to ENTER based upon their works.....JESUS is clear....he never KNEW them which means their root of salvation (works) was false and could not save.....end of story.....it is faith that saves......not works!
If they have no hope They have no Faith.
The Root of Salvation is the True vine and believing will mean the Husbandman will graft you in and your branch will bear good fruit because of the Root... you are nourished and given life and remain part of through belief.
The Old Testament was of work and the New Testament is of Faith.
Law of Faith is to believe the New Testament given by GOD through His Son.
Now if a person is working for the Good Shepherd because they hear His voice and follow His instruction how can you claim that He will say I never knew you?
You have built built yourself up on verses you do not understand.
The works you speak of are those those who believe not the Son of GOD through His Testament and believe the law of Moses will save them.
We are to come before the judgement seat of Christ.
by your reasoning you believe you will be commended for your Faith and that you knew you would come short so knew nothing else was needed but you have Faith and everything was done by Christ.
I believe we call Him Lord when we do what he instructs us to do through His Testament.
Faith mixed with the Word profits.
Now by James's reckoning your Faith is dead.
But I'm sure you will have a verse to misuse to approve yourself.
You are saved by Grace through Faith unto good works.
works of the Old Testament were not of Faith.
Faith in the New Testament will produce fruit.
So unless a person comes to you stating you need to be circumcised and keep the law of Moses to be saved be mindful what verse you share with those that do not.
The bolded is not taught in the bible....and context refutes your James application......Paul said a man was justified by faith without works, James is speaking to men being able to see the faith that justifies by works.......you cannot have it both ways...if works it is NO LONGER GRACE
Abraham believed God and it was put to his account for righteousness
David described the blessedness of the man to who God imputes righteousness without the deeds of the LAW (WORKS)
Abraham believed God and it was put to his account for righteousness
David described the blessedness of the man to who God imputes righteousness without the deeds of the LAW (WORKS)
