Not By Works

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.

Seohce

Senior Member
Jul 15, 2016
1,386
54
48
Galatians 6:7-10 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.
 

stillness

Senior Member
Jan 28, 2013
1,257
211
63
69
Walk trough the valley
How about you people try a little thing called, growing up???
After all these years in the wilderness figured out, salvation not work but an Act.
"I know your works that you are neither cold or hot." This church needed to welcome the Holy Spirit to empower them.

Key Habits to change:
“If you ask an athlete what’s going on in his head before competition? He’s not really thinking about anything, he’s just following the program, his habits have taken over. The stretches and warm-up, like planned: what most people view as tedious is vital for the race to be a natural extension. Key habits put actions of the body on autopilot, that matters if you’re to be without stress to compete for the prize. Sounds like a lot of work, but key habits makes other good habits easy; causing positive effects that spill over, starting a chain reaction: over time we change. Granted, some days we don’t stick with the plan. But maintaining the key habit we will be lead by the Spirit to changes without much effort. Your key habit is not the act that causes the chain reaction, but rather the intent behind the act: to see from God's perspective and be empowered. For example, a habit of morning and or evening, to kneel before the Lord and bow to acknowledge His presence with thanksgiving, saying the Lord's prayer for His disciples. An act of a minute, while not enough in itself to live in the presence of God, is the beginning of change, to get up for quiet time reading and meditating on the word in prayer; reducing anxiety, improving emotional stability. The peace of mind increasing confidence in God; something which most find difficult expands our sense of possibility to remain in His presence through the day: to bring our thoughts in obedience of Christ. Another simple example of making our bed as the beginning of self control, to discipline our life in order to be in shape for the race.

Focus on simple key habits, otherwise new habits are hard to stick. There will be frustrated times of lack of progress, where we need reminder: It's not about progress but perseverance, not about being in control but having self control by the Spirit. You succeed developing a key habit and others will follow.
"Seek first the kingdom of God and all these things shall be added to you."
 
Last edited:

benhur

Senior Member
Feb 8, 2018
1,534
121
63
What? And you have never used an uncomplimentary word toward anybody ever in your Christian life, ever? You just called me a "non-Christian" which is both very uncomplimentary and a shameful lie. If using unfavorable words is the measure of who is and who is not a Christian, I think a lot of people should be very afraid.

Secondly I forgive you for falsely claiming I am a non-Christian.
You need to focus on what unChristian words you used against the person who does not agree with you 100%. Of course you are a Christian, but you often use unChristian words against other Christians. That is the focus.
 

TruthTalk

Senior Member
Jul 17, 2017
2,904
2,262
113
And I forgive you for using unChristian-like words against other Christian people who do not agree with you 100%.
Thank you and I will be more mindful of the choice of words. I think you are a kind and loving person, possibly more so than I, :)
 

Seohce

Senior Member
Jul 15, 2016
1,386
54
48
We might think you would have said similar things to Jesus Christ
when He called people vipers, dogs, swine, children of the devil, etc...
New International Version 1984 Romans 3:4 Not at all! Let God be true, and every man a liar. As it is written: “So that you may be proved right when you speak and prevail when you judge.”
 

posthuman

Senior Member
Jul 31, 2013
37,843
13,558
113
It is about losing salvation.

If your faith is never revealed by doing good works, it is dead. If your faith is never revealed, and remains dead until you are dead, you will not have salvation.
careful not to smack your head on Romans 4:5 on your way through the door :rolleyes:
 
A

AuntieAnt

Guest
After all these years in the wilderness figured out, salvation not work but an Act.
"I know your works that you are neither cold or hot." This church needed to welcome the Holy Spirit to empower them.

Key Habits to change:
“If you ask an athlete what’s going on in his head before competition? He’s not really thinking about anything, he’s just following the program, his habits have taken over. The stretches and warm-up, like planned: what most people view as tedious is vital for the race to be a natural extension. Key habits put actions of the body on autopilot, that matters if you’re to be without stress to compete for the prize. Sounds like a lot of work, but key habits makes other good habits easy; causing positive effects that spill over, starting a chain reaction: over time we change. Granted, some days we don’t stick with the plan. But maintaining the key habit we will be lead by the Spirit to changes without much effort. Your key habit is not the act that causes the chain reaction, but rather the intent behind the act: to see from God's perspective and be empowered. For example, a habit of morning and or evening, to kneel before the Lord and bow to acknowledge His presence with thanksgiving, saying the Lord's prayer for His disciples. An act of a minute, while not enough in itself to live in the presence of God, is the beginning of change, to get up for quiet time reading and meditating on the word in prayer; reducing anxiety, improving emotional stability. The peace of mind increasing confidence in God; something which most find difficult expands our sense of possibility to remain in His presence through the day: to bring our thoughts in obedience of Christ. Another simple example of making our bed as the beginning of self control, to discipline our life in order to be in shape for the race.

Focus on simple key habits, otherwise new habits are hard to stick. There will be frustrated times of lack of progress, where we need reminder: It's not about progress but perseverance, not about being in control but having self control by the Spirit. You succeed developing a key habit and others will follow.
"Seek first the kingdom of God and all these things shall be added to you."
I get this, practicing good habits like an athlete. Amen! To do this with our mind is even more effective. Not my will (intellectual, psychological, philosophical, instinctive, carnal, emotional mindset), but God's will (the Holy Spirit's leading in our heart). The more familiar we become with the Lord working in our hearts, the more our eyes stay focused on Him, and the easier it is to follow Him with a whole heart.
 

TruthTalk

Senior Member
Jul 17, 2017
2,904
2,262
113
careful not to smack your head on Romans 4:5 on your way through the door :rolleyes:
Justified by Faith: Romans4:4-6
4) Now to the one who works, wages are not credited as a gift but as an obligation.
5) However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness.
6) David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the one to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:

Saved by Grace Alone.
 
Last edited:

TruthTalk

Senior Member
Jul 17, 2017
2,904
2,262
113
Justified by Faith: Romans4:4-6
4) Now to the one who works, wages are not credited as a gift but as an obligation.
5) However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness.
6) David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the one to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:

Saved by Grace Alone.
Question: why on God's green earth do nice well meaning folks, only focus on James2:17 (dead faith) and wrongfully interpret the meaning of James2, and then disregard the remainder of the bible, just like, "Romans4:4-6." Could it be they are continually trying to prop up their false doctrine built around, "One Bible Verse", by the way which is the same formula that cults use to justify their false gospel.
 
Last edited:

benhur

Senior Member
Feb 8, 2018
1,534
121
63
Question: why on God's green earth do nice well meaning folks, only focus on James2:17 (dead faith) and wrongfully interpret the meaning of James2, and then disregard the remainder of the bible, just like, "Romans4:4-6." Could it be they are continually trying to prop up their false doctrine built around, "One Bible Verse", by the way which is the same formula that cults use to justify their false gospel.
Well meaning folks focus on James 2 because it is a difficult chapter to disregard. There are many faith scriptures, there are many works scriptures and there are many grace scriptures. They all work hand in hand to bring us the formula for salvation. you cannot focus on faith without focusing on works, without focusing on grace. All are important for our salvation.

BTW, just because we well meaning folk do not believe 100% of what you believe or interpret scripture 100% the way you do does not put us well meaning Christians into a cult mentality, nor do we belong to a cult. But I forgive you for saying we do.
 

Seohce

Senior Member
Jul 15, 2016
1,386
54
48
dcon said;

Take 1 second and actually think about and ponder what this thread is about.....serious.....it is about HOW ONE IS SAVED not WHAT THEY DO AFTER THEY ARE SAVED.....it IS FAITH ALONE THAT SAVES.....end of story........!

ElAmor said:

To get this over with, i want to ask dcon “HOW IS ONE SAVED"?

the bible tells us about it this way;

Romans 10:8-18 But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: THAT IF YOU CONFESS WITH YOUR MOUTH, “JESUS IS LORD,” AND BELIEVE IN YOUR HEART THAT GOD RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD, YOU WILL BE SAVED. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. As the Scripture says, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.” For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And HOW CAN THEY BELIEVE in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear WITHOUT SOMEONE PREACHING TO THEM? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” But not all the Israelites accepted the good news. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our message?” Consequently, FAITH COMES FROM HEARING THE MESSAGE, and the message is heard through the word of Christ. But I ask: Did they not hear? Of course they did: “Their voice has gone out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.”

It is clear that PREACHING is a WORK necessary for one to BELIEVE and have FAITH and therefore be SAVED.

Another thing we need to notice is that WITH THE HEART WE BELIEVE AND ARE JUSTIFIED and WITH OUR MOUTH WE CONFESS AND ARE SAVED.

Believe and confess are two different words with different meaning, the same as justified and saved.

Romans 10 clearly proves that Salvation is not through Faith ALONE.

BELIEF,, CONFESSION, REPENTANCE, PREACHING, BAPTISM, OBEDIENCE , FAITH, HOPE, LOVE, WISDOM, HOLINESS, RIGHTEOUSNESS, GOOD WORKS, SERVICE, WORSHIP ETC. ARE ALL WORKS OF SALVATION THAT THE BODY OF CHRIST POSSESS AND DO FOR THE HONOR AND GLORY AND PRAISE OF GOD OUR FATHER AND HIS ONLY SON JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD AND SAVIOR.

Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

IF ONE CLAIMS TO HAVE RECEIVED THE HOLY SPIRIT THROUGH FAITH, (gal 3:14) AND THEN SAY THAT HIS/HER FAITH ALONE SAVED HIM/HER AND THAT WITHOUT WORKS, DOESN’T HE/SHE REJECTS AND TRAMPLES UNDER FOOT THE SON OF GOD AND INSULTS THE SPIRIT OF GRACE?

Hebrews 10:28-29 Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. How much more severely do you think a man deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God under foot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace?

IF THE WORKS OF GOD WHO IS LOVE (1john 4:8 & 16) THE SON WHO IS TRUTH (john 14:6) AND THE HOLY SPIRIT WHO IS THE POWER (acts 1:8) HAVE NO POWER TO SAVE AND EVEN OBEDIENCE TO THESE WORKS IS REJECTED BY SAYING THAT FAITH “ALONE” SAVES VOID OF WORKS, ARE YOU NOT A LIAR AND THE TRUTH IS NOT IN YOU?

1 John 2:3-6 We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands. The man who says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But if anyone obeys his word, God’s love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.

2 John 1:4-11 It has given me great joy to find some of your children WALKING IN THE TRUTH, just as the Father commanded us. And now, dear lady, I am not writing you a new command but one we have had from the beginning. I ask that we love one another. And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love. Many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist. Watch out that you do not lose what you have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully. Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take him into your house or welcome him. Anyone who welcomes him shares in his wicked work.

EVEN DEVIL'S BELIEVE...
 

TruthTalk

Senior Member
Jul 17, 2017
2,904
2,262
113
Well meaning folks focus on James 2 because it is a difficult chapter to disregard. There are many faith scriptures, there are many works scriptures and there are many grace scriptures. They all work hand in hand to bring us the formula for salvation. you cannot focus on faith without focusing on works, without focusing on grace. All are important for our salvation.

BTW, just because we well meaning folk do not believe 100% of what you believe or interpret scripture 100% the way you do does not put us well meaning Christians into a cult mentality, nor do we belong to a cult. But I forgive you for saying we do.
And excuse me I did not mean you have a "cult mentality, nor belong to one" and I did not "say you belong to a cult, so that is a false statement and you are putting words in my mouth.
 
Last edited:

Endoscopy

Senior Member
Oct 13, 2017
4,028
400
83
Question: why on God's green earth do nice well meaning folks, only focus on James2:17 (dead faith) and wrongfully interpret the meaning of James2, and then disregard the remainder of the bible, just like, "Romans4:4-6." Could it be they are continually trying to prop up their false doctrine built around, "One Bible Verse", by the way which is the same formula that cults use to justify their false gospel.
The only way to resolve a Biblical issue is to read ALL verses in context about an issue. That requires a systematic theology book that lists all verses in the Bible for the issue. They are the only books I know of that have the exhaustive list about each topic.
 

stillness

Senior Member
Jan 28, 2013
1,257
211
63
69
Walk trough the valley
"It pleased God, by the foolishness of preaching, to save them that believe."
Foolishness of preaching: we don't know what we are talking about. "If any man thinks he knows, he does not know as he should." If we think we know, we stop learning: could be contagious, the religious leaders opposing Jesus seemed to think so. "Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees."

To save them that believe: to believe is to follow Jesus. Do we know what it means to believe? A tricked question, "Now we know in part," if we think we know we don't. As followers we have not attained to be like Him: we don't know God in our understanding, "Lean not on your understanding but trust in the Lord." "That I may know Him in the fellowship of His sufferings, to be made conformed to His death." We agree that we can't work to Love as God Loves, "Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit sais the Lord." Did God have to work to Love us. Apparently for 6 days, lol. "This is the work of God, to believe on Him whom He has sent."Can we see disagreements over saying the same thing differently; God divided our languages so that we could only be united in His Love.
 
Last edited:

Shamah

Senior Member
Jan 6, 2018
2,735
692
113
Is doing the will of the Most High something to be spoken against by believers? Is it just to say those who say doing His will is right are "justified by works"

[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Mat 25:31-46, “And when the Son of Aḏam comes in His esteem, and all the set-apart messengers with Him, then He shall sit on the throne of His esteem. And all the nations shall be gathered before Him, and He shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates his sheep from the goats. And He shall set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. Then the Sovereign shall say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the reign prepared for you from the foundation of the world for I was hungry and you gave Me food, I was thirsty and you gave Me drink, I was a stranger and you took Me in, was naked and you clothed Me, I was sick and you visited Me, I was in prison and you came to Me. Then the righteous shall answer Him, saying, ‘Master, when did we see You hungry and we fed You, or thirsty and gave You to drink? And when did we see You a stranger and took You in, or naked and clothed You? And when did we see You sick, or in prison, and we came to You? And the Sovereign shall answer and say to them, ‘Truly, I say to you, in so far as you did it to one of the least of these My brothers, you did it to Me. He shall then also say to those on the left hand, ‘Go away from Me, accursed ones, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his messengers for I was hungry and you gave Me no food, I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, was naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me. Then they also shall answer Him, saying, ‘Master, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not serve You? Then He shall answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, in so far as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into everlasting life.”[/FONT]


[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Malachi 3:14-18, “You have said, ‘It is worthless to serve Yah. And what did we gain when we guarded His Charge, and when we walked as mourners before [/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]יהוה [/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]of hosts? And now we are calling the proud blessed – not only are the doers of wrongness built up, but they also try Yah and escape. Then shall those who fear [/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]יהוה [/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]speak to one another, and [/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]יהוה [/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]listens and hears, and a book of remembrance be written before Him, of those who fear [/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]יהוה[/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif], and those who think upon His Name. And they shall be Mine,” said [/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]יהוה [/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]of hosts, “on the day that I prepare a treasured possession. And I shall spare them as a man spares his own son who serves him. Then you shall again see the difference between the righteous and the wrong, between one who serves Yah and one who does not serve Him."[/FONT]