Not By Works

But very few grow up from being a child in the faith into the mature fruit bearing 4th type of soil Jesus talks about in the parable of the sower. Simple observation proves this.

I totally disagree; but what else is new? 😆

John 3:3
3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

Born from above >>> SAVED

There is only one point of entry. Salvation is not a process.
Living out who we are as saved individuals is the process.

1Jn 3:9 (9-10) Everyone who has been born out of God with the present result that he is a born-one of God does not habitually commit sin because His seed remains in him. And he is not able habitually to sin, because out of God he has been born with the present result that he is a born-one of God. In this is apparent who are the born-ones of God and the born-ones of the devil. Everyone who is not habitually doing righteousness is not of God, also the one who is not habitually loving his brother with a divine and self-sacrificial love.
-Wuest
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1 John 3:9-10 Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC)
9 No one born (begotten) of God [deliberately, knowingly, and [a]habitually] practices sin, for God’s nature abides in him [His principle of life, the divine sperm, remains permanently within him]; and he cannot practice sinning because he is born (begotten) of God.

10 By this it is made clear who take their nature from God and are His children and who take their nature from the devil and are his children: no one who does not practice righteousness [who does not conform to God’s will in purpose, thought, and action] is of God; neither is anyone who does not love his brother (his fellow [b]believer in Christ).

Nor do I have to judge as the manner of some do!

They are many here I wonder about their hearts and motivations.

Thankfully He will seperating those whom are not His!

I do NOT refer to myself as a "Christian",it has lost its meaning to be followers of Christ Jesus!

I am born again,believe in the D/B/ and R,and born of the Spirit from above.

I have no claim to the kingdom except through my redeemer!

The PROCESS is walking as He commands in the Father's will!

I have no quarrel with any here,nor will I engage in rhetoric.

Who here on CC are not His? Surely you have an opinion on the matter.

Amen

Not according to the law.

I had knowledge about speeding laws before ever reading the Bible because it was a man-made law.

But I did not know that covetousness (along with other acts) was a sin until I read the Bible.

True, we are instructed to submit to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake.

Now you can make an honest error in exceeding a speed limit, this is not counted as a willful act of sin.

Maybe you didn't see the posted limit (God knows).

Maybe you lost your focus and went slightly above the limit.

Law Enforcement Officers often forgive honest infractions of ignorance and let you off with a warning.

Now if you see the posted limit and choose to be reckless and exceeding egregious, you will incur the penalty of the ordinance of man. And chances are, this type of person has already grievously sinned against God in weightier, biblical, matters.

Obeying the ordinances of man also require a bit of wise discernment as well. I am quite familiar with my area. You are granted an un-written grace allowance. For instance, an interstate highway I frequent, the police will not pull you over if you are not over more than 5 M.P.H over the limit; how do I know? I have driven right by a police officers with my speed locked in at 5 miles over many times, never got pulled over. I do this for safety; many cars would nearly be crashing into me if I always lock my speed in at the EXACT limit. In other areas, like small towns, police are more stricter. In fact, in my area, these small towns set speed traps. When they catch you, they only impose a monetary fine without tarnishing your driving record with points.

Now, one time, before getting saved, many years ago I flew past a cop going a good 20 miles over the limit on a highway and I got pulled over very quickly. I don't do that anymore.

I use my wisdom as a serpent when dealing with man's laws.

If man made a law tomorrow that would ban Bible ownership and Bible reading, certainly you wouldn't obey that, would you?

By the way, I have a clean driving record, no points on my license (no accidents, never totaled a car). I hate to say this because it has the appearance of bragging; but you forced me to make this fact known. Have I had points on my license in the past? Yes, the DISTANT past. I even had my license revoked one time long ago (before getting saved). But like I said, I stopped being young and dumb and grew up.

I thank God through Jesus Christ for allowing me to come this far.

Rhetoric is just persuasive dialogue ... well the Gospel would not have gotten very far if the apostles and followers of Jesus in the first century felt that way.

I have been to Ephesus and stood exactly where Paul preached from, and on that I day I was so reminded and thankful that he engaged in rhetoric.

"A question for all of you who believe you have to "hold on, abide in, keep believing, etc." to stay in Christ, what happens if you slip, even just one tiny moment in time? I suppose you have to be "re-saved" again. How many times?"






What? No answer from those of you who do not believe salvation is a done deal once. Where are you and what is your answer to my question. Here is my previous post.



"I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He will keep me"

I can judge a gospel as false and non salvic

While I may not be able to judge a person. Your correct. I can try to help them if they are tending the wrong way

A real believer will have good works for the Kingdom of God, NOT for salvation or fear of losing salvation - just plain and simple good works because they are desiring and learning to walk by the Spirit, not the flesh.

@dcontroversal started this thread because (dc- correct me if I am wrong) he had a desire in his heart put there by God to deliver believers (babes in Christ) from Pharisees that keep trying to put us under "works" for salvation and "works" to maintain salvation - we end up living in DOUBT and FEAR, instead of FAITH and LOVE.

So, let's take a look at these Pharisees......... like Adam, they are covered with "fig leaves," but have NO FRUIT - their "works of righteousness" are filthy rags and they have no fruit that is pleasing to God.

IN CHRIST salvation is secure. There are NO WORKS needed to MAINTAIN salvation IN CHRIST. Salvation is a GIFT, it is NOT EARNED.

However, as true born again believers we greatly desire to do "good works" because it pleases God and pleasing God gives us great joy! We MUST have the power of the Holy Spirit within us to do these "good works" that please God.

Just as a tree planted by the rivers of water can bear fruit in season and out of season... true born again believers have salvation, but MUST have the power of the Holy Spirit operating in them. The only fruit that is pleasing to God is the Fruit of the Holy Spirit in the life of a true born again believer.

Salvation is the "work of Christ alone" and the Fruit of good works is the "work of the Holy Spirit alone."

The "work of the Believer alone" is to just simply believe and receive by faith with great love for the Truth when the Holy Spirit reveals The Word of God to us for salvation and for daily living.

We have to stop resisting, quenching and grieving the Holy Spirit.

Stop thinking we can do "good works" pleasing to God in our own strength WITHOUT the Holy Spirit.

At the moment of salvation we are sealed with the Holy Spirit, however we need the baptism of the Holy Spirit which is the first time we are filled with the Holy Spirit and lastly, we need to learn to be continually filled with the Holy Spirit by stirring Him up within us by singing songs in our heart to God, daily prayer, reading, studying and meditating on God's Word the Bible and being kind to each other.

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank You for the Gift of Salvation through Your Son Yeshua/Jesus Christ the Messiah and thank You for the Gift of Your Holy Spirit that seals us, baptizes and fills us with Your Power to testify of Yeshua/Jesus Christ in the Earth and live holy lives pleasing in Your sight.

Forgive us for trying to do "good works" in our own strength. Baptize and fill us all with Your Holy Spirit. We desire the Fruit of the Holy Spirit to be evident in our lives in season and out of season, in the Name of Yeshua/Jesus Christ, amen.

Two points:

If human beings in position of authority often forgive honest infractions, don’t you think God in all His Majesty is all the more gracious?

Secondly, your above words testify against you in that you openly (and honestly) admit to willfully sinning. And those sins are not honest infractions, they are deliberate.

Misguided semantics.

You obviously think extremely highly of yourself taking part in semantics as you do. You obviously feel you’re better than most Christians.

I never said God will not forgive honest infraction done in ignorance.

So if the government mandates I surrender my Bible I should do so as to not willfully sin?

You should be more concerned about what the Bible specifically states what is sin than trying to load yourself with what you decide what sin is.

@G2RBeliever - You are loooooooooved!!! I'm so glad you are here! Please forgive all the bickering and negative replies you are receiving.

I have spoken with you before and find you a blessing and absolutely delightful!

I will never be silenced or surrender my proclamation of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, nor will I ever surrender my Bible to anyone or anything who wants to snuff out the word of God.

On another note, you’re simply making excuses for willfully sinning while you state that you do not sin. Strange.

I could say the sky is blue and g2rbeliever will give me a red X. Watch, this post is now going to receive a red X.