Not By Works

Obviously faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word....Men must receive the gospel message, exercise faith and then confess that faith....Having said that there are many verses that testify to this process....and much to be said....

Except a man believe he cannot see, perceive and or enter the kingdom of God
No man comes unto the Son unless drawn of the Father
Many are called, but few are chosen
With the heart (mind) man believes unto righteousness and with the MOUTH confession is made unto salvation

etc.........

do I have to stamp my testimony here on how I got saved? or even that wouldn't help?

I agree.

I'm pretty sure VCO believes God initiates salvation in people, that He saves them before they come to believe.

The blood of Christ brings forgiveness for every sin committed by those who believe in Him. There is no Scripture that says that someone is forgiven of a sin before they commit it! What are we doing? Going back to the Catholic system of indulgences?

To let God love me in its simplest form is to "abide in Him and He in us." biblical abiding means; to remain or continue in God's love. Follow the example of Jesus because God loves us with the same love that He loved His Son, Step number one to let God love you is believe in His Son.

Letting God love you should come pretty easy, as we were made in His image.

John3:16
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

1John4:17
(17) Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world.

John15:9
"Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love.

@TruthTalk can you start a new thread on abiding in God, allowing God to love us, etc., and flesh out all the step and details, and a new thread is a good way to "move on"

Nice post anointedsinner, make me and mold me after "Thy Will", just as decon said recently, Thou art the potter, we are the clay.

Thanks for the inspiration however I'm not interested in "moving on".....

The word "believe" means believe, trust and commit, as well as obey.


The Gospel is - Repent for the kingdom of God is at hand.


Repent means: turn to God in submission to His kingdom and rule as Lord.


If a person is called to turn to God, then by default they are called to turn away from Satan as their Lord.


The way we obey the Gospel command to turn to God, is by confessing Jesus as our Lord, which demonstrates we no longer serve Satan as lord.

This is how we are transferred out of the kingdom [domain] of darkness, into the kingdom of God; The kingdom of His dear Son.


This is how we are forgiven of all our past sins and trespasses, and sanctified by obeying the truth.


This is the Gospel Jesus sent His apostles to preach including Paul.



Words of Christ in red -


14 And when we all had fallen to the ground, I heard a voice speaking to me and saying in the Hebrew language, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ 15 So I said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And He said, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 16 But rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you. 17 I will deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, to whom I now send you, 18 to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.’

19 “Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, 20 but declared first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem, and throughout all the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance. Acts 26:14-20



Whenever we see anything accomplished "by faith", such as justified by faith, or sanctified by faith, or saved by faith, there is always obedience involved.

That's why it's called "the obedience of faith".


But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith: Romans 16:26

• the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:

It's called the obedience of faith, because faith without the action of obedience is dead: dormant, lifeless.


James explains -


Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? James 2:21


Not the works of the law
Not the works that earn
Not good works


It was by the corresponding action of obedience, by which Abraham was declared to be righteous.



This is the righteousness of faith.



So by us obeying the Gospel, by confessing Jesus as our Lord, we are sanctified by faith: Saved.


We begin our journey of following our Lord.




JPT

Yes, GOD predestined us, but also that we choose whom we will serve. No, it is not a dichotomy. There is no such thing as TIME as we know it with GOD. He wrote my name in the Book of Life before the earth was formed, and HE IS OMNIPRESENT, in BOTH SPACE AND TIME as we know it. Therefore HE can choose us and is Present at each Conversion (CHOOSING HIM), all at the SAME TIME as far as GOD IS CONCERNED. BUT THE HOLY SPIRIT has to be involved with our CHOOSING HIM. When you look at from our perspective from inside of TIME, it is Predestined; when you look at it from OUTSIDE OF TIME, the CREATOR OF TIME AS WE KNOW IT, it is almost at the SAME TIME the way GOD sees it. YES, I came to understand that shortly after I was Born Again.


John 15:16-17 (HCSB)
16 You did not choose Me, but I chose you. I appointed you that you should go out and produce fruit and that your fruit should remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in My name, He will give you.
17 This is what I command you: Love one another.

Isaiah 46:9-11 (HCSB)
9 Remember what happened long ago, for I am God, and there is no other; ⌊I am⌋ God, and no one is like Me.
10 I declare the end from the beginning, and from long ago what is not yet done, saying: My plan will take place, and I will do all My will.
11 I call a bird of prey from the east, a man for My purpose from a far country. Yes, I have spoken; so I will also bring it about. I have planned it; I will also do it.

2 Peter 3:8-9 (HCSB)
8 Dear friends, don’t let this one thing escape you: With the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day.
9 The Lord does not delay His promise, as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance.

Revelation 17:8 (ESV)
8 The beast that you saw was, and is not, and is about to rise from the bottomless pit and go to destruction. And the dwellers on earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world will marvel to see the beast, because it was and is not and is to come.

Yes please do, we all would like to share in your testimony.

It is by obeying the Gospel, that we are saved.


What you don't seem to understand is unbelief is disobedience.


Your trying to apply a modern day definition of believe, to a biblical principle.


Disobedience is Unbelief: Same word.


Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief: Hebrews 4:6 KJV

Since therefore it remains that some must enter it, and those to whom it was first preached did not enter because of
disobedience. Hebrews 4:6 NKJV



If you believe the Gospel you obey the Gospel and Repent, turn to God by confessing Jesus as Lord.




JLB

We obey the Gospel by repenting.


Repent means turn to God.

If a person is called to turn to God, then by default they are called to turn away from Satan as their Lord.


The way we obey the Gospel command to turn to God, is by confessing Jesus as our Lord, which demonstrates we no longer serve Satan as lord.

This is how we are transferred out of the kingdom [domain] of darkness, into the kingdom of God; The kingdom of His dear Son.


This is how we are forgiven of all our past sins and trespasses, and sanctified by obeying the truth.


This is the Gospel Jesus sent His apostles to preach including Paul.



Words of Christ in red -


14 And when we all had fallen to the ground, I heard a voice speaking to me and saying in the Hebrew language, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ 15 So I said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And He said, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 16 But rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you. 17 I will deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, to whom I now send you, 18 to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God,that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.’

19 “Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, 20 but declared first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem, and throughout all the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance. Acts 26:14-20



JPT

No, you did not decide to BELIEVE without the help of the Holy Spirit. Now I know you would not want to ROB THE GLORY from HIM.

I fixed the weird strike through on that second article.

https://christianchat.com/testimoni...ods-help-no-gospel-tract-can-help-you.177711/

sure, it feels like putting my soul on here, because of how special it is to me

No, it is straight out of the Bible. Hebrews 10

Colossians 1
Acts 10

There is no similarity there to RCC practice of Indulgences.

OSAS AND FAS ARE FALSE MAN MADE DOCTRINES THAT PROMOTES DISOBEDIENCE TO GOD AND REJECTS AND NULLIFIES GOD'S WORDS AND COMMANDS. (mark 7:6-13, Isaiah 5:20-24)

SO DO NOT LET ANYONE DECEIVE YOU...FOR THE WRATH OF GOD COMES ON THOSE WHO ARE DISOBEDIENT.(Ephesians 5:6)

OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST WHO IS THE SOURCE OF ETERNAL LIFE FOR THOSE WHO OBEY HIM (Hebrews 5:8-9) SAID:

Revelation 3:1-3 To the Church in Sardis “To the angel of the church in Sardis write: These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I HAVE NOT FOUND YOUR DEEDS COMPLETE in the sight of my God. Remember, therefore, what you have RECEIVED and HEARD ; OBEY IT and REPENT. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you.

JESUS HAVE NOT FOUND
THEIR DEEDS "COMPLETE" IN THE EYES OF GOD.

THEN HE TOLD THEM TO "OBEY" WHAT THEY RECEIVED AND HEARD AND TO REPENT.

JESUS WAS SPEAKING HERE TO ONE OF THE SEVEN CHURCHES AND WE KNOW THAT THE "CHURCH" IS THE BODY OF CHRIST WHOM HE WILL SAVE. (eph 5:23)

WHY WILL HE SAY THAT THEIR DEEDS ARE NOT COMPLETE IF WORKS ARE NOT NECESSARY FOR SALVATION AND THAT "FAITH ALONE" SAVES?

WHY WOULD JESUS COMMAND THEM TO OBEY AND REPENT IF IT
IS NO LONGER NECESSARY SINCE THEY ARE SAVED ETERNALLY? (OSAS)

IS JESUS IGNORANT OF THIS DOCTRINE OR IS IT CONTRARY TO HIS TEACHINGS AND COMMANDS AND THEREFORE ARE JUST FALSE MAN MADE DOCTRINE THAT NULLIFIES GOD'S WORDS?

JESUS AND HIS FATHER REQUIRE SOME WORKS TO BE COMPLETED AND ASKED FOR OBEDIENCE AND REPENTANCE.

Romans 8:4 in order that the righteous REQUIREMENTS of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit.

Malachi 3:14 “You have said, ‘It is futile to serve God. What did we gain by CARRYING OUT HIS REQUIREMENTS and going about like mourners before the Lord Almighty?

GOD REQUIRES OBEDIENCE AND REPENTANCE IN OUR PART OTHERWISE HIS WRATH WILL COME ON THOSE WHO ARE "DISOBEDIENT".(eph 5:6 )

Luke 6:46 “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?

John 14:15 “If you love me, you will obey what I command.

2 John 1:6 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.

DO NOT BE DECEIVED... GOD CANNOT BE MOCKED...WE REAP WHAT WE SOW...(Galatians 6:7-10)

NOW IF FAITH ALONE SAVES AND ONCE SAVED, YOU ARE ALWAYS SAVED, DOES THIS PASSAGE BELOW CONTRADICT THESE FALSE MAN MADE DOCTRINE OR DO YOU REJECT IT OR TWIST IT TO MEAN SOMETHING ELSE THAT WOULD FIT YOUR DOCTRINE?

Matthew 24:9-14 “Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. 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 . And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

MANY WHO HAS FAITH WILL TURN AWAY FROM THEIR FAITH.
ARE THEY STILL SAVED AFTER TURNING AWAY FROM THEIR FAITH(ALONE)?

DO YOU MOCK GOD AND REJECT THESE VERSES BELOW?

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.

James 2:26 As the body without the spirit is dead, so FAITH WITHOUT WORKS IS DEAD..

"LET GOD BE TRUE..." (Romans 3:3-4)

IF YOU REALLY LOVE TO DO WHAT PLEASES THE LORD THEN PLEASE PROVE IT BY DOING WHAT JESUS TEACHES AND COMMANDS IN THE FF:


Matthew 19:16-21 The Rich Young Man Now a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?” “Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments.” “Which ones?” the man inquired. Jesus replied, “‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother,’ and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’” “All these I have kept,” the young man said. “What do I still lack?” Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

THIS APPLIES APPLIES TO ALL "OSASERS AND ALONERS" WHO LOVES TO DO WHAT PLEASES THE LORD. I HOPE YOU CAN SHOW US SOME PROOF.

Mark 7:6-13 He replied, “Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written: “‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men.’ You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to the traditions of men.” And he said to them: “You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe your own traditions! For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death.’ But you say that if a man says to his father or mother: ‘Whatever help you might otherwise have received from me is Corban’ (that is, a gift devoted to God), then you no longer let him do anything for his father or mother. Thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many things like that.”

"GOD CANNOT BE MOCKED"

Isaiah 5:20-24 Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter. Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and clever in their own sight. Woe to those who are heroes at drinking wine and champions at mixing drinks, who acquit the guilty for a bribe, but deny justice to the innocent. Therefore, as tongues of fire lick up straw and as dry grass sinks down in the flames, so their roots will decay and their flowers blow away like dust; for they have rejected the law of the Lord Almighty and spurned the word of the Holy One of Israel.

Beautiful testimony anointedsinner, two things stood out to me, your sincerity and not letting go of God until you had assurance of your salvation, God bless!

Mark9:24
"And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief."