Not By Works
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IT'S ONE THING TO CLAIM SALVATION THROUGH FAITH AND ANOTHER THING TO DO AND WALK THE TALK.
1 John 1:5-10 Walking in the Light This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.
1 John 1:5-10 Walking in the Light This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.
I used to listen to radio teachers most of the day while I was at work, and John MacArthur was one of them; I never liked him, there was just something about him, his tone of voice even, the way he seemed to relish telling people they were going to burn in hell, plus he sounded arrogant or something that grated on me. I have heard other people, teachers, who struck me that way, and I simply cannot take them seriously for some reason, even if I could learn something from them, much else of what they said was always taken with a grain of salt.
So often I hear about these people and churches where everyone is being led astray, and it makes me all the more grateful for my wonderful, little, growing, Biblically sound church, pastors, elders, teachers, and fellow congregants. I was baptized in a fairly large church (2k+) but left shortly after because I was not being discipled, and they were not teaching Scripture! I tried a Bible study there as I was casting about looking for more solid ground, and the focus was on hating homosexuals, which I could not stomach
I had been attending two other churches early on as well; one was a Vineyard Church, that was smaller with a good pastor, and also a Baptist Church with a wonderful pastor and some lovely people... we would meet every Sunday late afternoon for prayers, singing, readings, mediation, sharing session etc, and even communion, and pot luck once a month, on top of the regular Sunday worship services, but somehow I ended up in a fourth church
I was torn for a while between the third and the fourth ones, but there were things I liked better about this last church, and I have been attending for about eleven years now, with some gaps, though none recent, as I have over time gotten more involved with Bible studies that follow along with our weekly Sunday morning teachings, and other fellowship events that draw me ever closer to them, as if we were family (I know, we are!).
When our original pastor was called away, we were gifted a new pastor a couple or three years ago, and he is such a great guy with a lovely wife, and we recently amalgamated with another church, so have really grown quite a bit, though are still small compared to many. We are no longer non denominational, which did concern me quite a bit at first, but all my qualms have been quelled in the interim.
A while ago we spent over a year going through the gospel
of Mark. I had never experienced anything like that before.
Everything is always brought back to Jesus. He is the Author
and the finisher of our faith. We are secure in Him, and His
loving guidance. If anyone ever does ask about teachings
online, I most often recommend Dr John Neufeld, of
Back to the Bible Canada. https://www.backtothebible.ca/
So often I hear about these people and churches where everyone is being led astray, and it makes me all the more grateful for my wonderful, little, growing, Biblically sound church, pastors, elders, teachers, and fellow congregants. I was baptized in a fairly large church (2k+) but left shortly after because I was not being discipled, and they were not teaching Scripture! I tried a Bible study there as I was casting about looking for more solid ground, and the focus was on hating homosexuals, which I could not stomach
I had been attending two other churches early on as well; one was a Vineyard Church, that was smaller with a good pastor, and also a Baptist Church with a wonderful pastor and some lovely people... we would meet every Sunday late afternoon for prayers, singing, readings, mediation, sharing session etc, and even communion, and pot luck once a month, on top of the regular Sunday worship services, but somehow I ended up in a fourth church
I was torn for a while between the third and the fourth ones, but there were things I liked better about this last church, and I have been attending for about eleven years now, with some gaps, though none recent, as I have over time gotten more involved with Bible studies that follow along with our weekly Sunday morning teachings, and other fellowship events that draw me ever closer to them, as if we were family (I know, we are!
). When our original pastor was called away, we were gifted a new pastor a couple or three years ago, and he is such a great guy with a lovely wife, and we recently amalgamated with another church, so have really grown quite a bit, though are still small compared to many. We are no longer non denominational, which did concern me quite a bit at first, but all my qualms have been quelled in the interim.
A while ago we spent over a year going through the gospel
of Mark. I had never experienced anything like that before.
Everything is always brought back to Jesus. He is the Author
and the finisher of our faith. We are secure in Him, and His
loving guidance. If anyone ever does ask about teachings
online, I most often recommend Dr John Neufeld, of
Back to the Bible Canada. https://www.backtothebible.ca/
Thank you for your comment. You're right I didn't have any Scriptures that said "MOMENT", but the reality of who we are NOW in Christ is clearly outlined through Scripture.
If you think any are taken out of context, I'd love to discuss any of them with you further.
1 John 3:14 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. The one who does not love remains in death.
John 6:47 Truly, truly, I tell you, he who believes has eternal life.
John 5:24 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.
We are children of God NOW.
1 John 3:2 Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.
1 Thess 5:5 For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness.
Eph 5:8 for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light
1 Co 6:11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
If you think any are taken out of context, I'd love to discuss any of them with you further.
1 John 3:14 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. The one who does not love remains in death.
John 6:47 Truly, truly, I tell you, he who believes has eternal life.
John 5:24 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.
We are children of God NOW.
1 John 3:2 Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.
1 Thess 5:5 For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness.
Eph 5:8 for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light
1 Co 6:11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
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How can you repent of your sins if you never look at yourself, and can i trust in what Jesus has done and continue in sin that grace may abound?
2Co 13:5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?
I agree that trusting in Jesus and His works is what saves us and our works count for nothing in the judgement because Jesus payed it all. But if you truly believe in the power of Jesus to change and transform us by faith, than will you be working the deeds of the devil or working the deeds of Christ. If Christ is in you than your works will show it.
Making works a dirty thing is an extreme, Paul was talking to a generation of people that were extremely focused on works to be saved so he tried to promote faith in Christs grace. Today if Paul was here he would see the grace extreme being pushed and promote what James taught in Chapter 2.
Works can be a trap and if we focus on self and trying to save our-self we have missed the point.
I have faith in the justifying power of Jesus = Imputed Righteousness.
I also have faith in the sanctifying power of Jesus = Imparted righteousness.
Imparted righteousness = Jesus giving me the ability to overcome the world and to do good works. Christ in me and you.
Col 1:26 Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:
Col 1:27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
2Co 13:5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?
I agree that trusting in Jesus and His works is what saves us and our works count for nothing in the judgement because Jesus payed it all. But if you truly believe in the power of Jesus to change and transform us by faith, than will you be working the deeds of the devil or working the deeds of Christ. If Christ is in you than your works will show it.
Making works a dirty thing is an extreme, Paul was talking to a generation of people that were extremely focused on works to be saved so he tried to promote faith in Christs grace. Today if Paul was here he would see the grace extreme being pushed and promote what James taught in Chapter 2.
Works can be a trap and if we focus on self and trying to save our-self we have missed the point.
I have faith in the justifying power of Jesus = Imputed Righteousness.
I also have faith in the sanctifying power of Jesus = Imparted righteousness.
Imparted righteousness = Jesus giving me the ability to overcome the world and to do good works. Christ in me and you.
Col 1:26 Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:
Col 1:27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
I used to listen to radio teachers most of the day while I was at work, and John MacArthur was one of them; I never liked him, there was just something about him, his tone of voice even, the way he seemed to relish telling people they were going to burn in hell, plus he sounded arrogant or something that grated on me. I have heard other people, teachers, who struck me that way, and I simply cannot take them seriously for some reason, even if I could learn something from them, much else of what they said was always taken with a grain of salt.
So often I hear about these people and churches where everyone is being led astray, and it makes me all the more grateful for my wonderful, little, growing, Biblically sound church, pastors, elders, teachers, and fellow congregants. I was baptized in a fairly large church (2k+) but left shortly after because I was not being discipled, and they were not teaching Scripture! I tried a Bible study there as I was casting about looking for more solid ground, and the focus was on hating homosexuals, which I could not stomach
I had been attending two other churches early on as well; one was a Vineyard Church, that was smaller with a good pastor, and also a Baptist Church with a wonderful pastor and some lovely people... we would meet every Sunday late afternoon for prayers, singing, readings, mediation, sharing session etc, and even communion, and pot luck once a month, on top of the regular Sunday worship services, but somehow I ended up in a fourth church
I was torn for a while between the third and the fourth ones, but there were things I liked better about this last church, and I have been attending for about eleven years now, with some gaps, though none recent, as I have over time gotten more involved with Bible studies that follow along with our weekly Sunday morning teachings, and other fellowship events that draw me ever closer to them, as if we were family (I know, we are!).
When our original pastor was called away, we were gifted a new pastor a couple or three years ago, and he is such a great guy with a lovely wife, and we recently amalgamated with another church, so have really grown quite a bit, though are still small compared to many. We are no longer non denominational, which did concern me quite a bit at first, but all my qualms have been quelled in the interim.
A while ago we spent over a year going through the gospel
of Mark. I had never experienced anything like that before.
Everything is always brought back to Jesus. He is the Author
and the finisher of our faith. We are secure in Him, and His
loving guidance. If anyone ever does ask about teachings
online, I most often recommend Dr John Neufeld, of
Back to the Bible Canada. https://www.backtothebible.ca/
So often I hear about these people and churches where everyone is being led astray, and it makes me all the more grateful for my wonderful, little, growing, Biblically sound church, pastors, elders, teachers, and fellow congregants. I was baptized in a fairly large church (2k+) but left shortly after because I was not being discipled, and they were not teaching Scripture! I tried a Bible study there as I was casting about looking for more solid ground, and the focus was on hating homosexuals, which I could not stomach
I had been attending two other churches early on as well; one was a Vineyard Church, that was smaller with a good pastor, and also a Baptist Church with a wonderful pastor and some lovely people... we would meet every Sunday late afternoon for prayers, singing, readings, mediation, sharing session etc, and even communion, and pot luck once a month, on top of the regular Sunday worship services, but somehow I ended up in a fourth church
I was torn for a while between the third and the fourth ones, but there were things I liked better about this last church, and I have been attending for about eleven years now, with some gaps, though none recent, as I have over time gotten more involved with Bible studies that follow along with our weekly Sunday morning teachings, and other fellowship events that draw me ever closer to them, as if we were family (I know, we are!
). When our original pastor was called away, we were gifted a new pastor a couple or three years ago, and he is such a great guy with a lovely wife, and we recently amalgamated with another church, so have really grown quite a bit, though are still small compared to many. We are no longer non denominational, which did concern me quite a bit at first, but all my qualms have been quelled in the interim.
A while ago we spent over a year going through the gospel
of Mark. I had never experienced anything like that before.
Everything is always brought back to Jesus. He is the Author
and the finisher of our faith. We are secure in Him, and His
loving guidance. If anyone ever does ask about teachings
online, I most often recommend Dr John Neufeld, of
Back to the Bible Canada. https://www.backtothebible.ca/
I firmly agree with you.
But when we take away our hope in glory, we have nothing to purify ourselves with.
1 John 3:2 Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. 3And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.
What is the hope? That when we see Him we shall be like Him. Because He who is pure in us.
If we take away the reality people are saved and THUS transformed. How do they access by faith the work done on the cross?
But when we take away our hope in glory, we have nothing to purify ourselves with.
1 John 3:2 Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. 3And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.
What is the hope? That when we see Him we shall be like Him. Because He who is pure in us.
If we take away the reality people are saved and THUS transformed. How do they access by faith the work done on the cross?
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