Not By Works

Nope it is not. Lazy people do not get to enjoy the joys of life. Lazy christians miss out on the joys of spiritual life.

There are a few different views the gnostics had - one being as someone already mentioned - they didn't believe Jesus had come in the flesh. They also didn't believe they had any sins. 1 John chapter 1 talks to these false ideas

The natural humanistic , religiously taught mind of man cannot see the spiritual truths of the realities of the new creation in Christ.

It will constantly be trying to refute the new inner man created in righteousness and holiness and it will be complete foolishness to it and "appear" to be gnostic.

This is where they come up with having to "maintain" their salvation for going to be with the Lord.

One of the reasons gnostics were birthed is because of the truth the apostles were talking about in the new birth in Christ - the new man circumcised with the hand of God in separating the flesh from the inner man in Christ...aka the circumcision of Christ.

The natural mind of man took over and created their own "reality" - apart from Christ.

This isn't even remotely close to true believers in Christ. Everything to do with the new creation is because we are "in Christ".

Paul talked about the true believer being in Christ and Christ being in them in some form 140X times in his letters.

That is the essence of the false doctrine of "saved by works". It comes in many flavors and colors but it's core belief remains unchanged and it is a direct violation of the gospel of the grace of God in Christ's work on the cross and resurrection. It is always those that think our loving Father throws His beloved children into hell that come up with this doctrine.

All religions - including the religion of Christianity ( as there is a religion like this that tries to mimic the life of Christ ) - are really manifesting that they are eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil which has been set lose in this earth by Adam's transgression.

They are basing their life on what they do or don't do. They are attempting to establish their own righteousness by what they do or don't do instead of the finished work of Christ.

Good works in order to maintain being saved are a prime example of this.

Let me share a bit of my Serving Him Testimony. I, back in 1987, through a series of minor miracles, ended up moving from Nebraska, to Northern California; because HE kept putting it on my heart to move WEST. You have to understand, I used to think, "There are nothing but fruits and nuts in California, who would ever want to live there." To make a long story short, HE kept opening doors, and all I was doing is walking through them, TOTALLY TRUSTING HE KNEW WHAT HIS PLAN FOR MY LIFE WAS, while I was clueless, especially about "WHY CALIFORNIA."

When there was no job available in the Post Office, and unexpected one opened up six months later.

When I had no money to move on, a hit and run drunk driver totaled my parked 2 year old car, and thus the insurance gave me the money to move on, while I leased a car for us. Thus the money got us to Susanville, CA., paying for motel bills, meals, and gas along the way, and even the first and last month's rent, Utility Deposits, and we had $90 left over for groceries until my first check came in.

When a Realtor told me "There are no Apartments for Rent in this town."; suddenly I found one.

Etc., etc. He kept opening the Doors.

On a Challenge, I volunteered to get involved in the Match Two Prison Ministry, in Susanville, Ca. It was just ministering to one inmate in the Visiting Room at a time, but my spirit just SOARED. My wife even commented, when you come home from the Prison it is like you are walking 6 inches off the ground.

THEN two years later, HE put it on my heart to move WEST, yet again. This time He put it on my heart to move from the east side of California to the Coast, 17 miles from Oregon, to Crescent City, CA. Only this time He gave me the understanding why I was to move. He wanted me to start a Prison Ministry in the new super-max Prison they were building there, Pelican Bay State Prison. I KNEW NOTHING ABOUT STARTING a Prison Ministry, but I totally TRUSTED that HE KNEW EVERYTHING ABOUT STARTING ONE.

Once again, the minor miracles started happening.

When I was told there would be no job openings in the Post Office, suddenly there was one SIX MONTHS LATER.

When I had too little money to move on, He reminded me that I has a small gun collection that I could sell.

When a Realtor told me there were no rentals in town, I found a single wide Trailer House, 20 minutes later.

When we were walking with the Park Manager over to look at the Trailer House, the Manager said, "I can't believe I have someone here to look at the Trailer House already, it was just 20 minutes ago that I put up that FOR RENT sign. I looked at my watch and yes it was exactly 20 minutes from the time we left the Realtor's Office.

YES, JESUS guided me every step of the Way, and I started in the Security Housing Unit that housed over a 1000 inmates, (THE HOLE), one night a week. I could tell stories all day long about my experiences, but that is not my purpose for sharing this. Yes, ministering in the "End of the Line" Security Housing Unit in the State of California Correctional System, made my spirit Soar yet again. And soon I was getting more INMATE REQUEST FOR INTERVIEW forms (inmates call them a KITE), than I could handle in one night, so I started going out two nights a week after I got off work. Then it was 3 nights, then 4 nights, and when I volunteered for a 5th night per week, my wife asked, "How do I get one of those KITES, so that I too can spend some time with the Volunteer Chaplain?"

OH MY DID THAT EVER STICK ME!

The Biblical Priorities for a Married Christian's LOVE are:

GOD FIRST

SPOUSE SECOND

CHILDREN THIRD

OTHERS FOURTH

SELF LAST


I was so excited about how GOD was using me, that I totally forgot about my GOD GIVEN Responsibilities to my WIFE.

I confessed it as a WRONG on my part, and therefore I asked the Head Chaplain for more Volunteers and offered to train them personally. Therefore, I was able to cut back my Volunteer Ministry to 2 nights per week. When we moved about 9.5 years later, I had personally trained 8 of the 12 Volunteers. I knew the Prison Ministry that the LORD STARTED through me, was in good hands.


I share the following video because, perhaps it will help everyone to measure if the have done all that the Lord expects of them. But please do not make my mistake, and get your LOVE Priorities out of order.


[video=youtube;va8zjTPsJrI]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=va8zjTPsJrI[/video]

Wouldn't that be obvious since Plato died long before the aforementioned were ever born?

i think it goes much deeper than this, if someone comes in and sits for a few Services, people probably would not ask why they left and became a Denyer of christ, i think these were regular members who all of a sudden left. And when people saw them again, they were denying christ (one could easily say they lost their faith) otherwise, why would people be questioning or being afraid of it?

Gnostics believes they could sin all they want, because their bodies were dead, Thus they could sin all the want, and professed this openly, Their spirit however was alive, and could not sin, so they were ok, They also placed the gaining of knowledge above all other things. Hence the term Gnosis (knowledge)

what you see is workers trying to force all of Johansson letters to talk against this, in an attempt to deny what HJohn really said about people who were a practicing member of the church, who had fallen and becomes against christ. Or no longer BELIEVED in jesus as the messiah or christchild, come to take away their sin.

Gnostic were not the only false teachers in the NT church who got people to walk away and deny CHrist, Jews did this also. As well as other religions, And I am sure some people just tried this church thing out as a new club, and after being in it for awhile,. Decided it was not for them, so they too left.

The thing is, John does not say what group they were, He just tells us what they did, and what they became (antichrist) so to try to force Gnostics only in the passage is not only bad hermeneutics, but bad interpretation.

Just settling down now to watch it while I have my dinner...Not sure if I will be back so quick to comment lol after yesterday ...I have just got up to the bit about What is the Gospel, and not using what is already stated that it is the good news, my ears are open, I will pray for ears to hear...xox...

Hi EG

Maybe I have missed something or not understanding something.

Can you explain to me what is vexing you( like I am a 5 year old)

Ta

What is vexing me is people using the gnostic approach to ignore the words of john who quite clearly states, people who were once part of a body of believers, and have since departed the church and are now against christ and at out deny him (lost their belief) have never been part of the boy before. ie, they did not lose salvation, they never had it to begin with.

ie, this only applies to a Gnostic in johns day, and does not apply to us today.

And then, because I think it applies to all people who were part of a church and now deny Christ. I am taking john out of context, and trying to excuse my easy believism.

and by the way these same people in another thread are arguing hebrews was written to everyone and still relates today.

Okay, now let me ask, Considering how few copies of books were ever printed back then, how many people outside of Greece, do you think ever heard of Plato? REMEMBER ONLY A RICH MAN COULD AFFORD TO EVEN BUY A BOOK. It is not only Obvious, it is downright RIDICULOUS to think Plato influenced the thinking of the early Christian Church.

Ok putting aside the Gnostics for the moment, well no let's not because into today's church there is false teaching.

Are you vexed because you feel people are using John to say that believers can lose salvation, or they never believed or because you feel accused of easy believism?

Not being obtuse I promise, just trying to understand fully what you are saying.

Hi NNM...WOW...Now I understand a whole new meaning of what the cross is all about, why Jesus sweat blood, what the cup was that He drank, I understand when Jesus said to someone " Can you drink this cup " I am still in awe of it all, Ii would suggest every person should watch this, it had me on my knees again, I just look at the whole scene differently, I can`t quiet put it into words yet, just wanted you to know it touched me so deeply and has given me a new meaning to the gospel...Thank you for this post, deep inside at the bottom some where I felt the meaning of Gods wrath, learned alot...God bless you...xox...

Really?...let's do this to this obvious "heretic"...... ( Yancy has a great book called "What's so amazing about grace?"

I have it and read it.

Have you read Death by Love by Mark Driscoll?