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The point is, Jesus is willing to overlook the fact that I might not know or practice the right stuff. He is willing to meet anyone, anywhere they live. Jesus rejected self-righteous religiosity, and so we must be cautious and avoid turning Christianity into a merit-based system.
Jesus is willing to meet anyone where they are.
Agreed.
Is there supposed to be a conversion after repentence?
Would you say that this conversion is a merit based system?
Why would my saying that God MUST be obeyed....
is turning Christianity into a merit based system?
Do you have any idea of how these new ideas are CHANGING Christianity?
Do you realize that OSAS was never taught until very recently by someone that taught that we only had to believe the gospel to be saved with nothing else added?
So do we believe Jesus or do we believe those that teach what has come to be known as easy believism?
Why add contingency to what Jesus said? You seem to hear Jesus say, some of you may or may not keep them, and some of you might fall away? But you are adding that part. Clearly, Jesus knew that none of them would fall away except Judas, whom Jesus chose for that purpose.
What?
First of all, please explain contingency.
I don't SEEM to hear Jesus say something....
I hear what He's saying.
I believe I posted 3 passages that clearly show that Jesus taught that salvation could not be permanent.
If not,,,I'd be happy to post them again.
Jesus taught we could lose our salvation....
not me or anyone on this Forum.
We should just read what the NT states and bring nothing of our own to it.
I believe you're using the word CONTINGENCY incorrectly.
Jesus KNEW what could happen to some....
Now, if you want to argue that some who claim to be disciples might fall away or eventually will fall away, then I agree. Some of those who claim to be disciples will fall away. Some believers will fall away. This is why Jesus identifies those who will NOT fall away:
This is best illustrated in the parable of the sower, where Jesus teaches that not all believers are prepared to endure trials and tribulations of faith. Only the seed that fell into the good soil will grow to mature plants and persevere.
You do say above that some believers will fall away.
You do say that some believers are not prepared for trials and tribulations.
So are you saying that only immature believers can fall away?
Could you give some scripture?
The good soil means those that are willing to listen.
The seed is the word of God. Luke 8.11
Some are beside the road,,,they hear the word but do not take it to heart. Verse 12
Some hear the word, receive it with joy, they believe for a while and then allow temptation to make then
FALL AWAY. They are falling away from something. What if not their very salvation. Verse 13
Some come to believe but allow the world to keep them from forming a good relationship,,,
they end up back in the world. Not sure these were ever saved. Verse 14
Some seed falls into good soil. They HEAR the word, and they hold it fast....
they KEEP ABIDING...and they BEAR FRUIT.
It's also explained by Jesus in matthew 13:18...................
So let's be the good soil and bear fruit and not be afraid of saying it or believing it.
There seems to be a misunderstanding between us. When we read Jesus say that his disciples will "keep his commandments' contrary to the common belief, Jesus means to say that his disciples will keep his TEACHING. Many Bible readers make this mistake, confusing Je
Interesting.
Never heard this before.
So you believe that a TEACHING of Jesus
is different than
a COMMAND of Jesus?
You do believe Jesus is God, right?
Jesus taught that we are to do the Father's will. ..... He said:
Mattthew 7:21
21“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.
Besides crying Lord Lord, as some do....it seems to me that we re to do the will of the Father.
Everything Jesus taught is the will of the Father....
Or is the will of the Father that we only believe Jesus
but do not have to believe IN Jesus?
Even the demons believe Jesus.
It depends on how they define salvation, right?
Could it be that most Christians understand that Salvation is not merit based?
What does merit based mean?
What do you mean by that?
You mentioned it up above too?
Are we expected to do NOTHING?
Please explain better.
Also, it would be nice to explain the word MERIT,,,
but it leads into rabbit holes and we have enough here.
Think about this for a minute, since we're have a really good conversation here,
and which I know won't go on forever...
We cannot EARN heaven.
But we could MERIT heaven.
Do you see any distinction between the two words?
Based on Paul's writings, we say that justification is by faith, not by the works of the law. After the reformation, we have turned this into a slogan, "justification by faith alone," But I would argue that the Bible also teaches "salvation by sanctification alone. Any by "sanctification I don't mean "moral improvement." I mean what the Bible means: enlightenment, knowledge of the Lord, wisdom, clarity, and all the fruits of the Spirit.
Now we're at the meat.
Finally.
We are justified by faith alone.
Every single chistian believes this.
But, right, are we sanctified by faith alone?
You said you DO NOT mean moral improvement...
but THAT, dear friend, is what sanctification is all about.
The transformation that Paul speaks of.
Are we supposed to be transformed?
You mentioned the fruits.
So we GET something...
but we're not required to GIVE something.
This is the most honest conversation I've had and I respect you for that.
Paul said we're to work out our salvation. Philippians 2
He said that EVEN HE might be disqualified if he doesn't buffet his body..his flesh. 1 cor 9
He tells us that we are to imitate God as beloved children Eph 5
He tell us to walk in a manner worhty of our calling. Eph 4
Isn't the above referring to sanctification?
Do we have to do it,,,or could we choose not to?
2 Timothy 2:21
21Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.
Yes, but in what way were they lawless? He gives no direct evidence of lawlessness. It isn't against the law to cast out demons is it?
Lawless, in Matthew 7 means not doing the will of the Father, which Jesus had just alluded to.
It's breaking the law.
Which Law?
The law of Christ.
Those that were casting out demons were serving in name only....
Jesus wants His disciples to believe IN HIM.
We are not under THE LAW (the Mosaic Law)
but we ARE under the Law of Christ.
The Law of obedience.
The obedience of faith.
Romans 1:5
5through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles for His name’s sake, 6among whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ;
I disagree. Jesus said that the role of the Holy Spirit is to become his advocate and help his apostles spread his message. We will never be free of our sin nature until our resurrection.
Went back to read what I stated:
Here it is:
"The Holy Spirit is supposed to help us suppress the sin nature.
If my behavior arises from the type of individual I am...then where is the transformation? "
Your response is that this is not the work of the Holy Spirit....
and that the Holy Spirit is to help us spread the message of God.
That's all the Holy Spirit does?
How about convicting us of sin?
John 16:7
7“But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you.
8“And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment;
As to the sin nature....
I never said it is eliminated.
Sinless perfection is not possible.
Even the Weslyans gave up on that.
I said it is suppressed.
If we are not suppressing it,,,then we're living in the flesh.
Thanks for a good convo....
will be happy if you respond...but, like I said, this will not go on forever.
But it's good to share our belief system...