Is it by Grace or is it by Works?

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GWH said:
Apparently you missed the memo in which I shared that I am glad my initials are GW in honor of God's Word that I love so much--
so sue me!
Click to expand...
Pay attention to this verse though......

John 5:24
“Truly, truly, I say to you, the one who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.


It is specifically for you and all the loss/forfeit/walk away believers.

YOU Have eternal life.
YOU will not ever, no not ever come into Judgement.
YOU have passed out of death and into life.

YOU are not hearing His word.
YOU are not believing the Father who sent the Lord Jesus Christ.

YOU, missed the Fathers memo.....
 
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It does make one wonder why anyone would have a problem with another still being saved, even if they fall into unbelief.

John 21:22
Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.

What's with all the jealousy that some exhibit about someone else and their salvation in relation to what the other thinks they perceive about the spiritual condition of another?

Yes, we should care about one another...deeply, but when some show their fleshly hatred and jealousy of another who is enjoying sinful pleasures and yet still acknowledging that they are still saved, what's with that?

2 Timothy 2:13
If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.

What's really is going on in the claims to the contrary to what scripture says? Realistically, they're hating on Jesus for His faithfulness toward even those who fall into unbelief and yet who are still saved because the hater, who is accursed, is acting upon a belief in, and their teaching of, another gospel.

Their being among the accursed should should be a matter of concern to them, but they continue on in their fleshly pride, thinking they are empowered to judge another's servant.

MM
 
Some of the seemingly common reasons people conflate or resist the distinction between grace and works are:

Cultural conditioning toward merit. Here in the West, the heavy-handed dogma of prize achievements and self-reliance dominate this scene. Such a mindset carries into the arena of faith for many, thus making grace feel counterintuitive.

Fear of antinomianism. Some worry that emphasizing grace will lead to one excusing moral laxity, so their protective go-to is to stress works to guard against perceived license that has no grounding in beliefs about grace. This false misdirection clearly indicates the influences of satanic forces in the minds of so many.

Incomplete teaching. Churchianity and its many false teachers blur or entirely ignore justification (how one is saved) and sanctification (how one grows), leaving listeners confused and stumbling down the Satanic paths of works-based salvation and/or retention.

Personal pride or shame. Pride leads people to want credit for salvation, which is the very root of works-based salvational beliefs. Shame makes them try to earn acceptance through effort.

Legalistic religious systems that more closely resemble pagan cults than biblical Christianity, always rooted in traditions built around rules to create habits of performance that are hard to undo.

Misreading key texts. Failing to read Pauline letters and James together—Paul on justification by faith, James on faith’s evidence—can seem contradictory unless reconciled.

Emotional experience over doctrine. People often trust their feelings of assurance from doing good or serving, so practical deeds become proof of standing rather than to dig down to the root of actual beliefs.

Leadership incentives. Leaders who gain influence through programs, rules or even behavioral controls may emphasize works (consciously or not), thus leading their blind followers down the paths of falsehoods through charismatic whacko-isms of sensational proportions such as, "You've gotta give to get."

The realities are:

Grace = unmerited favor from God.
Works = human effort to earn righteousness.

Some of the main biblical thrust: Justification is by faith (Romans 3–5, Ephesians 2:8–9); good works are the fruit/result of being justified (Ephesians 2:10, James 2).

Reassure that grace doesn’t nullify obedience; it grounds it—obedience is the grateful response, not the currency for acceptance.

Teach people to test their motives—are actions aimed at earning approval or expressing thankfulness?

MM
 
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