Not By Works

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OIC1965

Well-known member
Sep 19, 2020
2,754
1,016
113
This is what it’s all about...glorifying God and telling of His wonderful works.
 
E

eternally-gratefull

Guest
I thought I had apostasized and was unsavable. That was a lie straight from hell.
Yep I was told this by some. In fact an old Pasteur still thought I was unsaved because of the church I went to when I came back
 

oyster67

Senior Member
May 24, 2014
11,887
8,696
113
A walking taking believer in Christ and long time member of my local church

I was a child of God. Who because of a circumstance in my life and the legalism I was brought up with in which I could
Not live up to because my wife kicked me out of my house to
Move her boyfriend in. Chose to walk away instead of being judged
The story of the Prodigal Son is about walking away from God, not getting kicked out of your house by your wife's boyfriend.
 
E

eternally-gratefull

Guest
Yes, I believe that if you live in sin for 10 years without repenting and die in your sinful lifestyle, you will indeed go to hell. Jesus' blood is not a free RC indulgence. We have wandered far from sound doctrine on this sad day!
What do you consider live in sin?
John said a child of god can’t sin. So how could a believer do this? I did not “live in sin”. Or stop believing I just walked away from the church
 
E

eternally-gratefull

Guest
That’s a horrible circumstance about your wife. That would be a severe test for anyone and anyone would at the very least struggle mightily (and that’s the very strongest) As far as legalism, that was one of the reasons I fell. When we put ourselves under law/ legality, falling is inevitable. I learned this the hard way, sadly, more than once.

Something about our nature makes us suceptible to this trap.
Yep and legalisms who claim we can lose salvation hurt gods children because that child has to always live in fear
 
E

eternally-gratefull

Guest
The story of the Prodigal Son is about walking away from God, not getting kicked out of your house by your wife's boyfriend.
Lol
you did not understand a word I said

That was why I walked away from God and the church
please try to read correctly
 

OIC1965

Well-known member
Sep 19, 2020
2,754
1,016
113
Yes, I believe that if you live in sin for 10 years without repenting and die in your sinful lifestyle, you will indeed go to hell. Jesus' blood is not a free RC indulgence. We have wandered far from sound doctrine on this sad day!
He had a crushed spirit, and God healed him.
 

VCO

Senior Member
Oct 14, 2013
11,967
4,585
113
Could Hebrews 6, wher it says “ should they fall away” be refutation of thinking you have to be saved over and over again. (see Hebrews 6:1, where it mentions NOT laying AGAIN the foundation of faith) Some people who fall think they have to be “saved” all over again, but the writer is teaching a one and forever done salvation.

Just something I’ve wondered.

OR is it like the BIBLE SAYS, SAVED AND UNSAVED HAPPENS BEFORE TIME BEGAN.

2 Timothy 1:9 (HCSB)
9
He has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began.

Humbling to think about it COULD ALL BE GOD and HIS WILL.
 

OIC1965

Well-known member
Sep 19, 2020
2,754
1,016
113
Yep and legalisms who claim we can lose salvation hurt gods children because that child has to always live in fear
Perfect love drives out fear. I have always been a performance driven individual, and I had to learn that everything is vanity if we don’t know and live the Lord. This is now my first priority, and everything else must flow out from that. Otherwise, it’s all just carnal striving.
 

OIC1965

Well-known member
Sep 19, 2020
2,754
1,016
113
OR is it like the BIBLE SAYS, SAVED AND UNSAVED HAPPENS BEFORE TIME BEGAN.

2 Timothy 1:9 (HCSB)
9
He has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began.

Humbling to think about it COULD ALL BE GOD and HIS WILL.
There is both a temporal and an intemporal aspect to our salvation. It’s settled before the world began but God reveals, manifests it in time. 2 Timothy 1:9-10
 

BillG

Senior Member
Feb 15, 2017
8,877
4,331
113
I was for over a decade. God is long suffering and patient...I spent other years as a flickering wick and a bruised reed, but He never gave up on me.
You my brother are a breath of fresh air.

I was over a decade. I even had a ministry in church. But I was a very bruised reed. From my childhood but also from the leaders of the church. I asked to step down from the ministry and asked for help because I was really struggling with issues from my past and burnout.

They refused as I no longer wanted to carry on in my ministry.
That caused me to stop going to church. But there wasn't one day when I didn't call out to God. I got to the stage of asking God to kill me so I would know where I was going. I was living hell on earth. I even had a wife and 4 kids. Tried to roll my car a couple of times but when I did it did not roll.

I remember that during this period my wife was going to our community group. They prayed for me and one man to my wife "I have had a picture, "There is a lot of wood built up like a bonfire but I see a little flame underneath. When the time is right God will ignite this flame and the wood will start to burn away.

What I did not know was that many many people behind the scenes were praying for me and those prayers were answered.

He eventually ignited the flame and the wood started to burn away, still some embers and God is now walking me through this.
In the meantime he is using me with a new ministry with people who have suffered what I have and I am convinced he will work deeper in me to help me help others more.

I am totally convinced that God works good in all things to conform us to the image of Jesus to do the works prepared for us from the beginning of time.

As for me I will never write anyone off. If they do want to talk then I pray. I was one who did not want to talk. Very ashamed as to where I was at, my addictions as a result of my past which I would not have wished on my worst enemy (Jesus said love your enemies and do good to those who hate you).

The church needs be the church God has called to be. Jesus never rejected anyone who came to him for help.

The only downside for my wife was that for all those years I did not go to church on the Sunday I would do the ironing for the next week. Which was lot. My work clothes, and our 4 kids uniform:cool:

Isaiah 42:3
3 A bruised reed He will not break,
And smoking flax He will not quench;
He will bring forth justice for truth.
 

oyster67

Senior Member
May 24, 2014
11,887
8,696
113
Hebrews
12:13 And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.
12:14 Follow peace with all [men], and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:
12:15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble [you], and thereby many be defiled;
12:16 Lest there [be] any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.
12:17 For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.
 

OIC1965

Well-known member
Sep 19, 2020
2,754
1,016
113
OR is it like the BIBLE SAYS, SAVED AND UNSAVED HAPPENS BEFORE TIME BEGAN.

2 Timothy 1:9 (HCSB)
9
He has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began.

Humbling to think about it COULD ALL BE GOD and HIS WILL.
We were chosen in eternity, but we are justified, sanctified, and glorified in time, right? That is what I meant
 

BillG

Senior Member
Feb 15, 2017
8,877
4,331
113
What were you immediately preceding that?
Does it matter?
One would think and assume that if they say they are a prodigal then they identified as a child of God based on faith and not head knowledge.
 

VCO

Senior Member
Oct 14, 2013
11,967
4,585
113
There is both a temporal and an intemporal aspect to our salvation. It’s settled before the world began but God reveals, manifests it in time. 2 Timothy 1:9-10

And I think you have totally misunderstood that verse. You receive Salvation in the very first moments that genuinely BELIEVED in the HEART, but it was BOUGHT AND PAID FOR BEFORE TIME BEGAN. SALVATION IS OF THE HUMAN SPIRIT, and Sanctification is of the BODY, and how we learn to WALK like Jesus.
 

OIC1965

Well-known member
Sep 19, 2020
2,754
1,016
113
You my brother are a breath of fresh air.

I was over a decade. I even had a ministry in church. But I was a very bruised reed. From my childhood but also from the leaders of the church. I asked to step down from the ministry and asked for help because I was really struggling with issues from my past and burnout.

They refused as I no longer wanted to carry on in my ministry.
That caused me to stop going to church. But there wasn't one day when I didn't call out to God. I got to the stage of asking God to kill me so I would know where I was going. I was living hell on earth. I even had a wife and 4 kids. Tried to roll my car a couple of times but when I did it did not roll.

I remember that during this period my wife was going to our community group. They prayed for me and one man to my wife "I have had a picture, "There is a lot of wood built up like a bonfire but I see a little flame underneath. When the time is right God will ignite this flame and the wood will start to burn away.

What I did not know was that many many people behind the scenes were praying for me and those prayers were answered.

He eventually ignited the flame and the wood started to burn away, still some embers and God is now walking me through this.
In the meantime he is using me with a new ministry with people who have suffered what I have and I am convinced he will work deeper in me to help me help others more.

I am totally convinced that God works good in all things to conform us to the image of Jesus to do the works prepared for us from the beginning of time.

As for me I will never write anyone off. If they do want to talk then I pray. I was one who did not want to talk. Very ashamed as to where I was at, my addictions as a result of my past which I would not have wished on my worst enemy (Jesus said love your enemies and do good to those who hate you).

The church needs be the church God has called to be. Jesus never rejected anyone who came to him for help.

The only downside for my wife was that for all those years I did not go to church on the Sunday I would do the ironing for the next week. Which was lot. My work clothes, and our 4 kids uniform:cool:

Isaiah 42:3
3 A bruised reed He will not break,
And smoking flax He will not quench;
He will bring forth justice for truth.
There are several similarities between your story and mine. Thanks for sharing. I used to be in a preaching/teaching ministry, but realized I needed to step back to let God work on some issues in me, and because my priorities had become misaligned. I hope to get back to what God called me to, but in His time.
 

oyster67

Senior Member
May 24, 2014
11,887
8,696
113
I did this, but did not stay there because of God’s Grace. It was His Grace and nothing good in my flesh that led to my restoration.
Amen! Praise and thanks to God who showed you that you needed to be restored!