Posted on 12/30/2013 12:45:24 AM PST by dila813
What is it called when a Christian who does good deeds thinks they can sin because of their good works?
Do you know someone like this? How do you deal with them?
I feel like I should confront them, but currently I am just ignoring them. What is the right thing to do?
Some of them have significant influence in and around my family. I am very uncomfortable.
I find it is frustrating to deal with someone who feels they are so superior to others that they can lie, cheat, steal, and do other similar sins all day long because they are involved with a Christian Non-Profit / Missions.
If the person is stealing, call the police. That will take him down a few pegs.
I feel like I should confront them,
Reminds me of two verses in Proverbs.
Never try to correct a fool............................
Always correct a fool......................
I’ll let you look up the 2nd half of those verses. Hint they are right next to each other.
James, chapter 2
Faith and Works.*
14What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?i 15If a brother or sister has nothing to wear and has no food for the day, 16and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, keep warm, and eat well,” but you do not give them the necessities of the body, what good is it?j 17So also faith of itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
18Indeed someone might say, “You have faith and I have works.” Demonstrate your faith to me without works, and I will demonstrate my faith to you from my works. 19You believe that God is one. You do well. Even the demons believe that and tremble. 20Do you want proof, you ignoramus, that faith without works is useless? 21Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered his son Isaac upon the altar?k 22You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by the works. 23Thus the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called “the friend of God.”l 24See how a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. 25And in the same way, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she welcomed the messengers and sent them out by a different route?m 26For just as a body without a spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.
come out of your cult and become a Christian.
Lets take this the the ludicrus extreme to verify the path you suggest:
He comes to church and shoots the pastor in the middle of the forehead during the sunday morning sermon, killing him. Following your advice, and since none of us are without sin, we should:
Ignore his actions
Not condem him for his actions
Not report his crime to the police because that would be “judging him”.
Take the pastor’s place in the pulpit, with him still standing there, just in case he believes he needs to to do it again (turning the other cheek).
This is horrendously bad advice.
My advice to the OP is to report his sorry ass to the church leadership, the police, and anyone else that has the power and authority to Condemn and Judge him. Letting criminals continue their activity is NOT what christ demands of us. Reference the money changers in the temple and the direction to purchase a sword for personal protection.
First of all, only God saves through the work His Son accomplished on the Cross of Calvary.
When the disciples asked Jesus where He was going (when He told them He must leave), He responded by stating the most important words sinners must hear: "I AM The Way, The Truth, and The Life and NO ONE can come to The Father (God) except through Me."
The ONLY WAY for Salvation is to acknowledge you are a sinner (the proud stumble here for they believe in their own good works - not in God's), ask for forgiveness for your sins, state you believe that Jesus died for your sins and ask Him to come to live with you in your heart forever!
If you are sincere and only God knows whether you are being honest when you do, then you are forgiven and receive Eternal Life (what it means is Life more abundantly while you are here on earth and Life with Him when you die.
You are Saved FOR Good Works - not BY Good Works!!!
It is referred to as the Fruit of the Spirit (the Gifts you are given at the time of your Salvation, that God expects you to use to be a blessing to others after your Salvation, not before for you have not been "Born Again" (i.e. Born of the Spirit.)
Jesus spoke to Nicodemus (a member of the Sanhedrin) who asked Him how one can be "Born Again." Does one go back into the mother's womb, Nicodemus wanted to know. Jesus told him that he was first born as a baby and then later he must be "born of the Spirit (the Holy Spirit or Ghost as some might say but they are synonymous) to receive Eternal Life.
Jesus had to die on the cross and ascend to Heaven for His Spirit to indwell believers on earth (the Day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit visited all of those who believed Him and was with Peter when he preached his first sermon.)
Good and kind people doing "good works" are still sinners in need of a Savior for their Salvation. Without it, they are good and kind people going to Hell when they die for they die without Jesus.
He only comes to them (and us) one way, that is by praying the "sinners prayer."
It is sad when we know so many of these folk whether church goers, or not but who really do good to their fellow humans but don't accept that they are still sinners and God hates sin, it will never be acceptable to live with Him in Heaven until we have been washed "white a snow," by the Blood of Jesus.
I know that this is both too long and yet too short but hopefully you can make sense of it for yourself and your friends.
Blessings.
No, your good works are given all to Jesus. They are not from you but from God. Never take credit for your good works.
I advise you to flee the Great Whore who Rides the Beast.
She is drunk with the blood of the saints which is a symbol of the blood of Jesus, she takes communion as the saints were told to do therefore it is called the blood of the saints.
Rev 17
12 And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast.
13 These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast.
16 And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire.
Verse 16 distinguishes the whore which is the Church from the beast.
Verse 13 shows that the ten horns which hate the whore gives their allegiance to the beast.
In verse 1 the woman is called a whore, and in verse 5 she is called the mother of harlots.
The daughters are the Churches which came from the mother Church and they are called harlots.
In ch 12 verse s 1 through 6 describes the Church also as a woman, i think it was a different woman.
Hypocrite.
Well you are right: That is ludicrous.
No "good work" will get anyone an inch closer to Heaven. Good works are a result of the grace, freely given, through belief in the cleansing, redeeming savior, Jesus.
Mat_7:16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
Your upbringing is correct.
That was the verse that came to my mind also.
First comes the conversion to Jesus Christ and holiness; the charitable works follow as the fruit of that conversion.
No true Christian believes that he/she can continue sinning without remorse. Of course, we are weak and often do offend our Lord, but we need to be constantly trying to overcome our sinful nature; and also asking God for forgiveness.
You speak truth, Gumdrop.
That is the battle we all fight.
Yet I have followed your advice to the letter in this instance. How is this ludicrous and your advice in the OP’s situation not? Inquiring minds want to know.
James, chapter 2
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.