not of works, but created in Christ unto good 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.
Dec 9, 2011
14,113
1,799
113
#61
You should not jump to conclusion to fit people in boxes, just as God does not fit in a temple made with hands we are made in His image, but neither do we know Him in our understanding, "If any man thinks he knows he does not know as he should." IF WE THINK WE KNOW WE STOP LEARNING, RATHER THAN ENTER THE WISDOM OF GOD IN CHRIST. Was hoping this tread without argument, seeming to be "The simplicity of Christ." I have been turned away from this site as many enjoy arguing, "Only by pride comes contention. Over 2 Months ago the Lord told me: Your time is very short. Cant afford quarrels and unresolved anger anymore...
well If you go back and look at his post you will see that that's what he sounds like and then you play Johnny come lately and say I'm being quick to jump to Conclusion when my post was not even directed to you.Don't be so quick to comment without reading the post.
 
Dec 27, 2018
4,170
876
113
#62
Yes you would be right In saying good work has to do with the power of GOD moving In a situation.JESUS IS the VINE and those that have been born AGain of Incorruptible seed are members of HIS body receiving sustenance from the VINE and displaying spiritual fruit establishing the law and LOVE IS a fruit of the Spirit and all the law and the prophets are summed up In one word,love.

But like I said In my post going to church can be of a works mentality If your motives are not In TRUTH In faith.

IE
The preacher says turn around and greet someone and you see someone coming toward you to greet you and In your mind you say oh please don't come over here but they come straight to you and then you smile real big so that everyone sees that you are greeting someone and hug or shake their hand,Is that what GOD wants since you said In your heart I don't want to greet them and then you greeted them not In truth,that's a works mentality and not In TRUTH.

GOD looks at the heart/motives man looks at outward appearances.

Same thing for giving to the poor.
Giving to the poor can be a good work according to fruit of the Spirit that someone has received and displaying but giving to the poor If It's not In TRUTH can be a selfish work of the flesh.

IE a person In church Is giving to the poor so that everyone knows they should be greatly admired at that church but maybe they haven't even went to visit the person they are helping with their giving.Now It Is a good work to men but GOD looks at the heart.
Yes, God truly looks at motives. Couldn’t agree more.
 
Dec 27, 2018
4,170
876
113
#63
well If you go back and look at his post you will see that that's what he sounds like and then you play Johnny come lately and say I'm being quick to jump to Conclusion when my post was not even directed to you.Don't be so quick to comment without reading the post.
No one can come to Jesus unless the Father draws Him. That sounds Calvinist, right? It’s not. It’s in the scripture. Sometimes things sound a certain way to people, that are not necessarily the case

That said, the post in question does sound Calvinist. I disagree on irresistible grace and the statement about what would have happened had David died in his sins

Does the second part mean a I believe in a losable salvation? No. I believe that God always uses means to recover a straying sheep. In this case, God used Nathan. And David’s heart had been molded and shaped by God in such a way that repentance when confronted with Gods ways and means was certain

A lot of people don’t understand this, so they talk about elect dying in rebellion, elect don’t die in rebellion. No instance of this anywhere in scripture, so improper to teach of believers dying in rebellion
 
Dec 27, 2018
4,170
876
113
#64
How was David eternally saved in the first place? If David had suddenly, and unexpectedly, died before he repented, would he go to heaven?
David had a heart that had been molded by God throughout his life, , and God used efficient means to bring him to repentance. It was God who brought David to repentance.

In other words, work of preservation

God keeps His sheep providentially from beginning to end Phi 1:6
 

Noose

Senior Member
Apr 18, 2016
5,096
932
113
#65
David had a heart that had been molded by God throughout his life, , and God used efficient means to bring him to repentance. It was God who brought David to repentance.

In other words, work of preservation

God keeps His sheep providentially from beginning to end Phi 1:6
When David made bad choices, can it be said the work of preservation was on hold?
 
Dec 27, 2018
4,170
876
113
#66
David had a heart that had been molded by God throughout his life, , and God used efficient means to bring him to repentance. It was God who brought David to repentance.

In other words, work of preservation
When David made bad choices, can it be said the work of preservation was on hold?
Short answer...No.
 
Dec 27, 2018
4,170
876
113
#68
Why? How can God mold someone's heart and they still make bad decisions against God?
Because it’s a progressive work of grace teaching us to deny ungodly lusts and live soberly and righteously. Were not perfect, but if the Grace of God teaches us, we are heading in the right direction. Even if for some, it is two steps forward one step back, or if we fall seven times, we keep getting up. Hebrews 3:6 I will say in advance that Heb 3:6 is a descriptive statement
 

Noose

Senior Member
Apr 18, 2016
5,096
932
113
#69
Because it’s a progressive work of grace teaching us to deny ungodly lusts and live soberly and righteously. Were not perfect, but if the Grace of God teaches us, we are heading in the right direction. Even if for some, it is two steps forward one step back, or if we fall seven times, we keep getting up. Hebrews 3:6 I will say in advance that Heb 3:6 is a descriptive statement
Does the spirit of God take control of a person or a person still makes their own decisions, whether good or bad?
God's punishment to David, shows that David made his own decisions against God's counsel and the good works also are rewarded because of one's own decision based on God's counsel in obedience to God.
 
Dec 27, 2018
4,170
876
113
#70
Does the spirit of God take control of a person or a person still makes their own decisions, whether good or bad?
God's punishment to David, shows that David made his own decisions against God's counsel and the good works also are rewarded because of one's decision based on God's counsel.
You are creating false dichotomies. The preserving grace of God does not annull human choices, but it does have an effect on them. So David sinned, and God used means to restore Him. What part of that do you disagree with?

Do you make bad choices?

Does God correct you and bring you back unto the right path when you do?

That is God preserving you

This is really fundamental to the teachings of grace
 

Noose

Senior Member
Apr 18, 2016
5,096
932
113
#71
You are creating false dichotomies. The preserving grace of God does not annull human choices, but it does have an effect on them. So David sinned, and God used means to restore Him. What part of that do you disagree with?

Do you make bad choices?

Does God correct you and bring you back unto the right path when you do?

That is God preserving you

This is really fundamental to the teachings of grace
I disagree with that part that says 'God used means to restore Him'.

David sinned and David repented. If God causes anyone to repent, then punishing those that He did not cause to repent can not be righteous judgement.
 
Dec 27, 2018
4,170
876
113
#72
I disagree with that part that says 'God used means to restore Him'.

David sinned and David repented. If God causes anyone to repent, then punishing those that He did not cause to repent can not be righteous judgement.
God didn’t use Nathan as a means of bringing David back to the right path? Hmmmm....
 

Noose

Senior Member
Apr 18, 2016
5,096
932
113
#73
God didn’t use Nathan as a means of bringing David back to the right path? Hmmmm....
No.

The question still remains; If God causes other people to repent, what about the ones that He did not cause to repent? Will He still punish them and be a righteous judge?
 
Dec 27, 2018
4,170
876
113
#74
No.

The question still remains; If God causes other people to repent, what about the ones that He did not cause to repent? Will He still punish them and be a righteous judge?
God didn’t use Nathan as a means to bring David to face his sin?
 

Noose

Senior Member
Apr 18, 2016
5,096
932
113
#75
God didn’t use Nathan as a means to bring David to face his sin?
David went against the counsel of God many times and He was punished. Each time, David knew very well he was going against God's counsel and each time he repented after the punishment because he knew it very well. Nathan or not, David already knew he had wronged.

And God doesn't need proxies for anything.
 

Noose

Senior Member
Apr 18, 2016
5,096
932
113
#76
David planned for weeks and months to have a man killed so that he can get his wife.

You can not claim that David did not know that what he was doing was wrong until Nathan came along.

Again, the bad decisions are our choices and so are the good decisions aka good works. Don't get me wrong, the good works are fruits of the spirit but the cause is our decision to obey God.

Rev 22: "...11Let the one who does wrong continue to do wrong; let the vile person continue to be vile; let the one who does right continue to do right; and let the holy person continue to be holy.”
 
Dec 9, 2011
14,113
1,799
113
#77
GOD doesn’t want anyone to sin and has built Into man what right and wrong Is but allows man a choice and since David had a heart after GOD he Recognized and did the right thing
 
Dec 9, 2011
14,113
1,799
113
#78
David went against the counsel of God many times and He was punished. Each time, David knew very well he was going against God's counsel and each time he repented after the punishment because he knew it very well. Nathan or not, David already knew he had wronged.

And God doesn't need proxies for anything.
True GOD doesn’t need proxies to communicate with HIS children but HE does use proxies on those that have not yet been Reborn to communicate with men leading them to repentance.

IE Nathan.
 

Noose

Senior Member
Apr 18, 2016
5,096
932
113
#79
True GOD doesn’t need proxies to communicate with HIS children but HE does use proxies on those that have not yet been Reborn to communicate with men leading them to repentance.

IE Nathan.
God can even use a donkey, He is sovereign, right? But in this last days, God has already communicated; His spirit (wonderful counselor) gives us understanding of what has been communicated.
 

ForestGreenCook

Well-known member
Jul 8, 2018
8,441
1,213
113
#80
I'm getting the feeling you are a Calvinist,I don't believe In that.

Why would GOD use force to get people to accept HIM because HE already knows who will accept HIS way of doing things and why would HE say "choose you this day whom you will serve" If your choice didn't matter?
By God's foreknowledge he could see that none would accept him, no not one, Psalms 53:2,3.