Not By Works

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.
E

eternally-gratefull

Guest
We're frozen solid here in Michigan. With a long week of bitter cold ahead. :(
Yeah i think monday is supposed to be nice, (if you call upoer 30s night ce..lol) then the temps drop to coldest of year for at least three days in Ohio
 
Oct 31, 2015
2,290
588
113
41 The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, 42 and will cast them into the furnace of fire.There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Matthew 13:41-42



  • they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness




JLB
 
Dec 12, 2013
46,515
20,402
113
We're frozen solid here in Michigan. With a long week of bitter cold ahead. :(
And to think I left Australia two weeks ago almost to come back to snow and cold.....was 104 the day I left, sunny, and had been laying on a beach the day before I left..............just shoot me HAHHAHHA
 

mailmandan

Senior Member
Apr 7, 2014
25,491
13,428
113
58
41 The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, 42 and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Matthew 13:41-42
  • they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness
JLB
Yes, the unrighteous/unbelievers who are "described" as those who "practice lawlessness" will be gathered out of His kingdom on earth when Jesus returns. Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. (vs. 43)
 
Dec 12, 2013
46,515
20,402
113
It's incredible how you get likes for saying NOTHING.
Your gang must really love you because you make following Christ SO SIMPLE!!
1st and foremost, they love the truth....

Second and to the bolded....

Be not removed from the SIMPLICITY found in Christ.........it is simple....BELIEVE = SAVED ETERNALLY

NEXT..........
 
Dec 12, 2013
46,515
20,402
113
So James is trying to teach us how to look good to men?
There are two types of faith?
It seems to me that James is talking about DEAD faith,,,
not some dimension of faith.

So what is "saving faith".?

Your theology sure does bring up a lot of questions.
What do the following words mean....

SHOW ME....................????
 

Hevosmies

Well-known member
Sep 8, 2018
3,612
2,633
113
Your gang must really love you because you make following Christ SO SIMPLE!!
GANG GANG!

Indeed, there is simplicity in Christ! Its that simple faith that everyone can grasp. We have this kind of thing in the secular realm constantly, like when you are growing up and you trust your mom to cook you food when you get home.
 

FlyingDove

Senior Member
Dec 27, 2017
1,267
432
83
When was the new covenant ratified? and How?

You can't say that the change happened in 70 AD
Jesus preached the law, The gospels preached the law and the mosaic law was an issue that Paul needed to deal with among the Gentiles but the moral law is the same from Start to Finish.

Mat 5:17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
Mat 5:18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
Rom 3:31 Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.

Rev 12:17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
Rev 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
1st, my reference point to 70AD. Was the Temple is destroyed & thus nobody could continue animal sacrifices. This leaves ONLY ONE PREACHABLE MESSAGE.

2ndly, I never said there is no moral law. It's covered in love God 1st & love your neighbor. Having said that, if a believer does transgress any law. He has an advocate to who already paid for ALL/ANY sin.

People often take Rom 3:31 out of context & build a doctrine. Read the 10 vs leading up to vs 31. All are teaching righteous & justification thru FAITH without the works of the law. vs 27 is clear, it's the LAW of FAITH that's being established.

Find a post on Rom 3:31 here:

https://christianchat.com/bible-dis...look-at-mt-5-17-18.182292/page-4#post-3830665

Here is an answer to your 1st question

New Covenant ratification:

Heb 9:17 For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.
(NOTE: While Christ is alive the old covenant is in full force)

John 7:
38 Jesus said; He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water

39 (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Spirit was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified)
(NOTE: Jesus foretells of the giving/out pouring of the Holy Spirit to be given to believers. AFTER his glorification = Resurrection)

The ratification of the New Covenant is a process, that begins at Christ's resurrection. Next, Christ enters into the presence of God, the Holy Place made without hands Heb 9:24. And cleanses the Heavenly sanctuary with his sinless blood.

Christ now receives the Promise of the Father Lk 24:49 & Acts 1:4 reread Jn 7:39 above. It's here God the Father transfers full control of the Holy Spirit to the Son.

The final step in the New Covenant ratification is the outpouring/Baptism of the indwelling Holy Spirit, which only Christ can do. See Matt 3:11.

It's here that the center piece of Jewish life = Levitical Priesthood & Temple sacrifices are now retired/rendered obsolete.
 

safswan

Active member
Jan 19, 2019
151
46
28
if you keep reading. James also said there is one Judge and one Lawgiver, then asks " who are you to judge" ?

seems like you could a little less of a judgemental attitude...
By accepting what James says clearly rather than the opinions of men,I am being judgemental?o_O
 
U

UnderGrace

Guest
So James is trying to teach us how to look good to men?
There are two types of faith?
It seems to me that James is talking about DEAD faith,,,
not some dimension of faith.

So what is "saving faith".?

Your theology sure does bring up a lot of questions.
Good, I am glad.

You are a smart woman think!! Does dead mean non existent .....NO!!!

It did exist but now it is inoperative, not being manifested, not being shown to a lost and dying world

Okay......

This is saving faith, the faith that saves us from sin and gives eternal life (eternal life meaning we partake of God's divine nature)

Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

This saving faith comes from hearing the true full Gospel, which most people do not btw....

Jesus is the object of our belief/faith because of the work He accomplished for us on the cross and His Resurrection

This belief and saving faith is when we come to Him empty of our own self effort to gain salvation, knowing that it is work His only that saves and it is a complete

By exerting this faith we are Born Again....we are regenerated, redeemed and justified eternally because we have received His eternal life

The church is still one of oppression and so they teach the believer WILL be good and do good works and persevere. Not really under grace then?

So the free gift is not so free anymore is it, now we have to do our part or we are not really saved

Have we become automatons? Do His children not get lost....we still have the flesh, the world and Satan to contend with everyday.

The Lordship Salvation doctrine stemming from our friend from the Reformation does not trust Grace really, it is just more external law and obedience

Yet I say to you, abiding is an internal positional place in the Love and Grace of God, we are hid in Him, in Him we do not need external oppressive saying you WILL be good. It is instead we SHOULD do good works, we not automatons.

James is very clear we will be judge by the Law of Liberty. What does that mean, we have choices to make on this earth but once we are born again our salvation is secure.

Yet not everyone knows how to abide, and they get lost and they mess up, and then the Christians say well they were never a Christian, they did not have a real relationship with God and were not saved, it was just mental assent.

Why did Paul write what He did to Corinth if everyone WILL be obedient.

Soon as you say will, you have the perfect formula for judgement .....sounds like the modern day church, the big divide between law keeping and licentious because they have not understood Grace

From James' point of view he is writing to believers therefore he is not addressing false faith, he is however addressing faith that is not being made manifest, inoperative.

Most people are operating under the law still and do not really know it.:(
 

VCO

Senior Member
Oct 14, 2013
11,995
4,615
113
God'sGrace101 Said:

It's incredible how you get likes for saying NOTHING.
Your gang must really love you because you make following Christ SO SIMPLE!!
. . .




Have you ever thought, that it is YOUR INTERPRETATION, that IS IN ERROR, TWISTED, AND FULL OF FALSE DOCTRINE ? ? ?
 

safswan

Active member
Jan 19, 2019
151
46
28
You just hurt your own argument

James said what does it profit a man if he CLAIMS to have faith.

One who claims they have faith is making a profession of faith

James is asking, can a dead faith save, the answer is not.

Since work is a natural by product of faith, true living faith will produce works, there is no ands if or buts about it

So james is telling his readers, if you CLAIM you have faith, but have no work can that faith save you? Not to add works, but to verify your faith, as abraham did decades after he was saved by faith.
You misunderstand the point James is making because you fail to see the method he is using to argue his point.The example of Abraham he gave proves hevwas not speaking of a mere profession of faith.Unless you are also claiming Abraham was a mere professor.Even if you did not see the method James was using to argue his point when he says;

"What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?"(James 2:14)

Then the example of Abraham should have alleviated that misunderstanding.Read it again:

"Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only."(James 2:21-24)

Are you saying Abraham was only a professor?Do you understand what is meant by:

"And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness", ?

I still prefer the plain words of James than your opinion.I hope you would too.
 

VCO

Senior Member
Oct 14, 2013
11,995
4,615
113
GANG GANG!

Indeed, there is simplicity in Christ! Its that simple faith that everyone can grasp. We have this kind of thing in the secular realm constantly, like when you are growing up and you trust your mom to cook you food when you get home.

All of the Scriptures that pertain to Salvation, Harmonizes with other verses pertaining to SALVATION.
GodsGrace101, creates all kinds of contradictions, and thinks it is normal.

My Bible has NO contradictions in it, when it is interpreted correctly.
 
U

UnderGrace

Guest
The example of Abraham he gave proves hevwas not speaking of a mere profession of faith.
Yes I would have to agree.

This is the problem when dead faith is misunderstood
 

safswan

Active member
Jan 19, 2019
151
46
28
The justification by works of which James is speaking is a different type of justification. This type of justification is before other people. In other words, James is using the word justified to mean “proved.” We prove to others our genuine faith in Christ through our works.
James is teaching no such thing.There is a meaning for justify/justification which has nothing to do with proving anything to others.This is an invention to support a false teaching.Justification is only needed before God and James states clearly that this is an issue of salvation not an issue of proving anything before men.Read it and accept rather than attempting to explain it away:

"What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?"

Can faith alone save?
 

BillG

Senior Member
Feb 15, 2017
9,025
4,444
113
Persons right here on this thread have stated they could sin and do anything and still be saved.
That is quite a big accusation to make.

Can you back this claim up?

Your accusation is normally a broad brush statement made by those who believe we are saved by grace thorough faith and not works.

Normally as "So you can sin all you want and be saved"

But you have stated that person's on this thread have said they can.

You need to back this up Fran.
 

safswan

Active member
Jan 19, 2019
151
46
28
Yes i do, do you?

Abraham believed and was acounted as righteous decades before he offerd his son,

His faith was justified or verified when he showed his faith by offering his son, as the scripture says, he understood God will keep his promise, even if it means raising him from the dead, from that point foward, the weak frail abraham showed how his faith went from little faith with some doubt to pure powerful faith

He was not saved then however, if that saved him, then he earned a wage and can boast, as paul said in romans 4, and this is just not so,

Again, you cause paul and james to contradict,
And if he had failed to offer his son and continued to fail when tried subsequently then what would his status/condition be?