Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words. They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians. “Teacher,” they said, “we know you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren’t swayed by men, because you pay no attention to who they are. Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, “You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? Show me the coin used for paying the tax.” They brought him a denarius, and he asked them, “Whose portrait is this? And whose inscription?” “Caesar’s,” they replied. Then he said to them, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away. Matthew 22:15-22
Not By Works
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Anyone can claim anything,anytime, anyhow but what does the bible say?
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. John 1:5-10
Listening and Doing ....My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does. If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless. Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. James 1:19-27
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. John 1:5-10
Listening and Doing ....My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does. If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless. Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. James 1:19-27
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Hi decon, I explained to Argueless in a nice way that most all of us on this forum have a bible so that it would help to have a dialog if he would add some commentary to his cut and paste bible verses.
It is a difficult task to speak to someone who mostly wants to push their bad theology and does not give a hoot about the truth. Here is a bible verse that explains how Christ's righteousness is imputed to the believer.
Romans4:21-25
21) being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. 22) This is why “it was credited to him as righteousness.” 23) The words “it was credited to him” were written not for him alone, 24) but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness—for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. 25) He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.
Christ's righteousness is attributed to the believer as if it were his own because God's justice demand's payment for sin and there is none that are righteous, no not even one, although foolishly some sinless perfectionist have a false sense that they keep all of God's law perfectly.
God bless
It is a difficult task to speak to someone who mostly wants to push their bad theology and does not give a hoot about the truth. Here is a bible verse that explains how Christ's righteousness is imputed to the believer.
Romans4:21-25
21) being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. 22) This is why “it was credited to him as righteousness.” 23) The words “it was credited to him” were written not for him alone, 24) but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness—for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. 25) He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.
Christ's righteousness is attributed to the believer as if it were his own because God's justice demand's payment for sin and there is none that are righteous, no not even one, although foolishly some sinless perfectionist have a false sense that they keep all of God's law perfectly.
God bless
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I agree that God has the POWER to save everybody, to change EVERYBODY. And I know you are convinced you are already immortal.
But He doesn't "change or save" everybody, even though it is His desire that they live forever. At least according to Him and His Holy Word's which I truly believe..
Matt. 23:37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, (Why didn't He, doesn't He have the power?) even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!
You preach the Christ does everything for us, and that we have absolutely no part in the matter. This is simply not Biblically true. He could have "Changed" the hearts of His Levite Priests anytime He wanted, but He didn't.
Matt. 7:
22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. (Lawlessness)
He could have "changed" the hearts of these "many" people who gave Him the praise and the Glory for everything they did. But He didn't. He could have given them the Faith you claim as your own, but He didn't. Why? Because they were the short straw? Their name wasn't drawn out of a hat? No EG, because just like the Mainstream Preachers of Christ's time, they didn't bring forth "works" worthy of repentance. They didn't "Choose" His Word over their own. And unless we are granted repentance, there is no Salvation regardless of how Holy you have been convinced you are.
Jer. 6:16 Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.
The Christ could have "changed" the hearts of these people to do the "Good Works" that you preach He will "change" you to do. But He didn't.
The reason is spelled out in the scriptures you pretty much ignore.
Duet. 30:
19 I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I (Word which became Flesh) have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:
20 That thou mayest love the LORD thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.
Now here comes Mainstream Christianity. The God they claim as their own created a Holy Sabbath for them. But they refuse to walk therein. You say the Spirit of the Christ is in you and leads you to do "Good Works". Yet the entire religion, almost all of it, actually teaches against God's definition of Holy and has created their own "Holy", which the Word of God strictly forbids. No matter how many time you say Lord, Lord, no matter how many times you place the Christ's Name on your version of Holy, it does not make this Work of yours Holy, or "good". No matter how "saved" you have been convinced you are, no matter what works that you do, you will never make His Sabbath "Unholy" or unrighteous, or Not a Good Work of God.
This same great religion, which says Lord, Lord, also created an image in the likeness of some men's hair shampoo model. This also is strictly forbidden. But Mainstream Christian Religion religion does it anyway, placing the Christ's name on it and disseminating this image for centuries to the point where this image is now known world wide as the "Christian" god. No matter how many time you place the Christ's name on this image, no matter how handsome it is, or how white the robe you place on it is, it is not the Christ. This "work" is not a "good Work". It was not inspired by the Word of God, rather, the prince of this world. No matter what you do, you can not make creating images of God in the likeness of man Holy or lawful.
I could go on and on pointing out "works" of the MCC, and how the Christ requires effort on our part, that we "deny our self, and that there is a "cost" and post scriptures, as I have done for you, as the Christ did for the Mainstream Preachers of His Time. But I can't "MAKE" you believe them. And the Christ will also not "MAKE" you believe as it is written, any more than He "made" the Mainstream Preachers of His time believe, even though HE surely had the Power to do so.
This issue is not about you or I. This is about the Warnings of the Christ and the religions of the land. Abraham would never do as the MCC of today "DOES". Christ would NEVER reject His fathers Commandment created for Him and All men. He would NEVER advocate rejecting His Fathers Holy Days, He would NEVER advocate the creation of High Days, nor would HE EVER advocate for the creation of images of Himself in the likeness of some handsome, long haired pretty boy. Yet this religion that you promote does all these things and more, they preach these "works" of theirs are "Good".
Rev. 18:
4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. (Blindness)
5 For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.
We have to participate in the WORK OF THE GOSPEL
When we share the WORD to other people, it will grow and bear good fruits if it falls on the good soil. The bible warns us about the seed sown by the enemy. The bible ALWAYS warns us not to be DECEIVED. Don’t let the evil one snatch it away so as to fall away when trials, temptations, troubles,worries of this world and the deceitfulness of wealth comes.
LET US HUMBLY ACCEPT THE WORD THAT IS PLANTED IN US, WHICH CAN SAVE US
...Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers. 1 timothy 4:16
...test the Spirit if they are from God. 1 john 4:1
... At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. Matthew 24:10-13
When we share the WORD to other people, it will grow and bear good fruits if it falls on the good soil. The bible warns us about the seed sown by the enemy. The bible ALWAYS warns us not to be DECEIVED. Don’t let the evil one snatch it away so as to fall away when trials, temptations, troubles,worries of this world and the deceitfulness of wealth comes.
LET US HUMBLY ACCEPT THE WORD THAT IS PLANTED IN US, WHICH CAN SAVE US
...Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers. 1 timothy 4:16
...test the Spirit if they are from God. 1 john 4:1
... At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. Matthew 24:10-13
1 John 3:14 (HCSB)
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.
Any deeds of righteousness that do not have the MOTIVE of LOVE for GOD and the Brethren behind it, are NOT accepted by GOD.
Isaiah 64:6 (GWT)
6 We've all become unclean, and all our righteous acts are like permanently stained rags. All of us shrivel like leaves, and our sins carry us away like the wind.
It is NOT enough that you have righteous deeds, that may be counted worthy of Reward.
IT IS ONLY THOSE DONE OUT OF LOVE FOR HIM and the Brethren, THAT WILL BE COUNTED WORTHY OF REWARD.
Just so you KNOW, SALVATION is not a REWARD, it is a FREE GIFT OF GOD.
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He doesn't promise "help" He promises salvation! eternal life! 
if you've already lost your faith that He has accomplished it you have certainly not overcome but been overcome by doubt.
same chapter, preceding 'continue in His kindness' in the logical argument Paul spends page after page building.
what's "His goodness" and "His kindness" which we continue in? your good works? faith in His gracious gift of salvation and eternal life.
but you don't believe He gave it to you - how can you think you're continuing in faith? when what you say is "if i keep doing enough good works, long enough i hope to be saved" -- what does that make you trusting in, dude? what's verse 6 say up there?
if you've already lost your faith that He has accomplished it you have certainly not overcome but been overcome by doubt.
And what was God’s answer to him? “I have reserved for myself 7,000 who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” So too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace. And if by grace, then it cannot be based on works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace.
What then? What the people of Israel sought so earnestly they did not obtain. The elect among them did, but the others were hardened, as it is written
(Romans 11:4-8)
same chapter, preceding 'continue in His kindness' in the logical argument Paul spends page after page building.
what's "His goodness" and "His kindness" which we continue in? your good works? faith in His gracious gift of salvation and eternal life.
but you don't believe He gave it to you - how can you think you're continuing in faith? when what you say is "if i keep doing enough good works, long enough i hope to be saved" -- what does that make you trusting in, dude? what's verse 6 say up there?
But me, I am still a mere mortal, and I still need God's help, and I still need God's Armor in this Evil Time. What spirit would want me to believe I don't "NEED" God's help in this life? I know the answer to this question. The same spirit which convinced Eve "She shall surely not die, and that "God's Instructions were not there to "HELP" her, but keep her blind.
John 14:
15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
Mark 9:
23 Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.
24 And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.
Acts 26:22 Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come:
Rom. 8:26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
Heb. 12:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
Eph. 6:
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
As is your religious custom you ignore the entire point of Paul's message, not that you will ever listen, but for those reading along.
Rom. 11:
11 I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.
12 Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fullness?
16 For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches.
17 And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree (Gentile), wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree; (Salvation is of the Jews)
18 Boast not against the branches. (Jews) But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee.
What is so sad is you have absolutely zero understanding of what Paul is telling you here, because if you did, you would drop your face in the dirt and beg forgiveness.
19 Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in.
20 Well; because of unbelief (Disobedience) they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:
21 For if God spared not the natural branches (Jews who disobeyed), take heed lest he also spare not thee.
22 Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.
23 And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief (disobedience), shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again.
You have been convinced, as was Eve, that God's Word, the Holy Root, is against you. You don't believe the "Root" (Christ's lifestyle) is Holy, you believe just the opposite. You don't believe that the Gentiles are to be Grafted in among the Jews and "WITH THEM" partake of the Holy Root as did the Christ.
Therefore "His Goodness" is not His instructions in your religion. His Salvation plan which begins with Passover and ends with "The Last Great Day" are not "Good works" in your religion.
You partake of nothing from God, only man. God's Works are not "His Goodness", your own vision is your goodness, just as Eve "trusted" her own vision over the instructions of God.
The Path Jesus walked is Righteous, Holy and Good. Through this Path He achieved "perfection". The Path is Holy, Just and Good, and we, who trust in Him, have been forgiven our rebellion and given another chance to walk in His Path. Why? Because it is "OUR" Work? No Post, because it is NOT OUR Work, but the Work of God.
Amen and I agree.
He also wrote and said:
3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Philippians 2:3-4
SELFLESS LOVE!
Thanks and God bless.
He also wrote and said:
3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Philippians 2:3-4
SELFLESS LOVE!
Thanks and God bless.
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Once again all you prove is your ignorance, or refusal to listen to a word anyone says.
Thats why I continue to ask people why they bother to respond to you. It is worthless talking to you.
If you do not listen to people. How do you expect to have a conversation with them? You can;t/ all you do is prove you have no desire to discuss anything, all you want to do is judge and prove yourself right at all costs.
Good luck man, I am done with your nonsense. You have no idea what I believe,and this post proves it, and quite frankly I am sick of trying to explain it to you. If I want to play Games, I have grandkids.
Thats why I continue to ask people why they bother to respond to you. It is worthless talking to you.
If you do not listen to people. How do you expect to have a conversation with them? You can;t/ all you do is prove you have no desire to discuss anything, all you want to do is judge and prove yourself right at all costs.
Good luck man, I am done with your nonsense. You have no idea what I believe,and this post proves it, and quite frankly I am sick of trying to explain it to you. If I want to play Games, I have grandkids.
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Any deeds of righteousness not done through HIS Spirit are of our own accord and are as filthily rags. Many will come in that day; saying, have we not done this good deed and that? And the LORD shall say, get behind me ye that work iniquity. For it is GOD that works in you both to will and do HIS good pleasure! HE doeth the work!
And this is eternal life; that we may know the Father and the Son whom HE sent. HE in us; us in HIM that HIS will be done. That the world may believe.
And this is eternal life; that we may know the Father and the Son whom HE sent. HE in us; us in HIM that HIS will be done. That the world may believe.