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Wow..... Amen!!
That is such a cop-out. If works play any part in our salvation, then by what you've said, God judges people differently by scale. As if God is in heaven saying "Well, just 6 more good works will characterize Ralph as a true believer!"
And as far as "helping the church" - is that the measure? Must our good works help the church exclusively?
You just keep adding on conditions, don't you?
Ralph, when it says "God will not forget your work" the author is talking about the rewards we will receive for doing them. The author is encouraging believers not to be lazy. The very fact in verse 12 (which you failed to post) about not becoming lazy is proof one CAN become lazy and not do works. And also, nowhere does it say if one becomes lazy, they'll lose their salvation or it's proof they never had it.
Are you ever impure? Envious? Jealous? Have outbursts of anger? Dispute with anyone?
People like you love to throw sins in people's faces, when you are just as guilty of sinning.
And btw, just what sins are attributed to the believer? How many haven't been forgiven? Are future sins under the blood?
Your whole argument breaks down on the fact that believers have no sins to answer for. NONE. They are GONE FOREVER.
Do you love God with all your heart, soul, and strength?
If you add even ONE THING to the gospel, you negate it as a gift. You just can't get that simple fact through your head. When you add a condition, you've thrown the whole thing out the window. It's that mentality that keeps so many people in bondage - fearful that they haven't done enough to "prove" themselves, or secretly terrified that they're not truly saved.
It is sickening and an abuse of the gospel.
And as far as "helping the church" - is that the measure? Must our good works help the church exclusively?
You just keep adding on conditions, don't you?
Ralph, when it says "God will not forget your work" the author is talking about the rewards we will receive for doing them. The author is encouraging believers not to be lazy. The very fact in verse 12 (which you failed to post) about not becoming lazy is proof one CAN become lazy and not do works. And also, nowhere does it say if one becomes lazy, they'll lose their salvation or it's proof they never had it.
Are you ever impure? Envious? Jealous? Have outbursts of anger? Dispute with anyone?
People like you love to throw sins in people's faces, when you are just as guilty of sinning.
And btw, just what sins are attributed to the believer? How many haven't been forgiven? Are future sins under the blood?
Your whole argument breaks down on the fact that believers have no sins to answer for. NONE. They are GONE FOREVER.
Do you love God with all your heart, soul, and strength?
If you add even ONE THING to the gospel, you negate it as a gift. You just can't get that simple fact through your head. When you add a condition, you've thrown the whole thing out the window. It's that mentality that keeps so many people in bondage - fearful that they haven't done enough to "prove" themselves, or secretly terrified that they're not truly saved.
It is sickening and an abuse of the gospel.