Posted on 11/16/2001 3:26:05 PM PST by Hillary's Lovely Legs
James Chapter 1: (vs 16-27)
16 -Don't be deceived, my dear brothers.
17 -Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
18 -He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.
19 -My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,
20 -for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.
21 -Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.
22 -Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.
23 -Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror
24 -and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.
25 -But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it--he will be blessed in what he does.
26 -If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless.
27 -Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. Thereore, works do matter, according to the Bible.
None of these things will save you.
2:4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
2:5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
2:6 And hath raised [us] up together, and made [us] sit together in heavenly [places] in Christ Jesus:
2:7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in [his] kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God:
2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
It is a mistake to even consider casual fellowship with them!
There are many, many references to a "path less traveled" in the Bible, and also references to temptation and persacusion.
If you truly believe that faith alone is sufficent, then God's laws don't mean laws, they would then mean "guidelines" as to how you shoudl live.
One shoudl never attempt to boast about works for in John 14:10 "It is the Father, living in me, who is doing the work"
Sounds pretty clear to me.
This is what you said, and I was addressing that. They aren't necessary.
We are all ministers to God's grace and his greatness.
Definition (mine); Meaning of Life: To seek Heaven and take others with us to his Kingdom!
I would agree with this.
If this were true then explain Judas...One of the chosen 12 by Jesus who was saved and then lost salvation by evil works.
They are very plain statements.
Jesus said to the theif on the cross, "Today you shall be with me in Paradise."
Works flow from true faith and validate that it is there in the heart of a believer, but if there is no time for it to be expressed before death, that doesn't mean it is not there.
Therefore, salvation is by God's grace alone through faith alone, and the result of salvation is good works done to glorify God.
Anyway, the post was meant to contrast the beliefs. I thought some of the Muslim beliefs on Christ's deity sounded a lot like Jehovah's Witnesses. (not to euqate the those two religions though!)
If this were true then explain Judas...One of the chosen 12 by Jesus who was saved and then lost salvation by evil works.
Luke 22:1-6
22:1 Now the feast of unleavened bread drew nigh, which is called the Passover.
22:2 And the chief priests and scribes sought how they might kill him; for they feared the people.
22:3 Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve.
22:4 And he went his way, and communed with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray him unto them.
22:5 And they were glad, and covenanted to give him money.
22:6 And he promised, and sought opportunity to betray him unto them in the absence of the multitude.
John 13:21-27
13:21 When Jesus had thus said, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.
13:22 Then the disciples looked one on another, doubting of whom he spake.
13:23 Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved.
13:24 Simon Peter therefore beckoned to him, that he should ask who it should be of whom he spake.
13:25 He then lying on Jesus' breast saith unto him, Lord, who is it?
13:26 Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped [it]. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave [it] to Judas Iscariot, [the son] of Simon.
13:27 And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly.
Judas gave himself up to Satan. He made that decision of his own freewill.
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