Posted on 08/17/2015 9:45:07 AM PDT by amessenger4god
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’" - Matthew 7:21-23
Brothers and sisters, it is seriously time to drop the works-righteousness. Time is so short. When you stand before the Lord don't for one second think you can offer your works as the admittance fee. The deluded folks Jesus mentioned above did just that and were told that He never knew them.
Works-righteousness is something that I and almost every Christian I know falls into over and over again. It goes something like this: Jesus died for me, but I have to hold me (truth: Philippians 1:6, John 6:39). Jesus died for me, but I have to prove myself to Him. Oh man of dust, how great do you think you are that somehow you can ever measure up to the standard of the holy and living God? That arrogance is called self-righteousness, the very thing the Bible says will lead to death.
Understand that this issue is at the very heart of the Gospel and is the very heart of the Reformation. It is a Catholic doctrine that you must somehow balance faith and works, as if Paul and James were not in agreement (they were in complete agreement: see here, here, here, here, and here). Sadly many Evangelicals are taking the road paved by N.T. Wright right back to Rome. I see many watchers doing the same thing. You can't possibly balance faith and works. It is either all grace or all works. The only works you've ever done that have pleased God are the ones that came from your trust in the sufficiency of Christ's own work.
Good works will never come from your efforts to 1. prove yourself, 2. prove that you're saved, 3. atone for your sins, 4. save yourself. These are rubbish works, which the Pharisees do. Your job/your choice is simply to trust that Jesus died for your sins and rose gain and then not let go of this hope (see also here). Forgiveness is not a debit card. If you really believe that Jesus died for ALL of your sins and that you've been set free from sin and death and that you have a Heavenly Father who loves you unconditionally, you will:
1. Be saved.
2. Be extremely grateful.
3. Be extremely joyful.
4. Dance with all your might.
5. Love unconditionally because you know you were loved unconditionally.
If you still think that you are saved by grace + works, or mostly grace with a few works, or if you are just confused about what the Gospel is, I recommend you read Part One in this series.
Unfortunately for them, you are correct MM. I suspect, the vast majority of religious people, like you describe, have absolutely no assurance of salvation, or, at best, have false hopes of salvation. It doesn't have to be that way. It is SO simple, a three year old can understand it.
And here is a message from a Christian Jew: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SgYZlPAJHv0
Meant to ping you folks to Cahn’s message ...
You know my answer to that. I think the war between the old nature and the new nature, is primarily fought in the thought life.
For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him. For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust.
As is mine.
Jesus settles the issue in the Beatitudes when He raises the bar even higher than the Law by saying that the outward actions are not enough, the inward heart must be perfect as well.
So people can depend on their outward works all they want, but not a single one of them, perfect as a Pharisee as they may be, can even think they can begin to measure up on the inside.
No one can even get the first commandment down. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength.
Even if I could live a perfect life from this point on, it would NOT be enough to erase the record of debt that I already carry. The blood of Jesus is the only thing that can do that.
All it takes is ONE sin to condemn someone.
Works based salvation people just don't see that.
I know of him and I watch him whenever I can. I see him from time to time on Prophecy In The News ... his Shemitah discussions are very profound. And as myself, I prefer to refer to myself as a Messianic Jew.
I know of him and I watch him whenever I can. I see him from time to time on Prophecy In The News ... his Shemitah discussions are very profound. And as myself, I prefer to refer to myself as a Messianic Jew.
Works based salvation people just don't see that.
Correct on both accounts. In fact, I would say that one, tiny, small, seemingly insignificant little sin, like eating the fruit, from the wrong tree, in the Garden of Eden, would be enough to send the entire population of the world to Hell. 🙀😩
Not sure I want to open that U Tube.
Is it a message from Genghis Cahn???
Or his wrath?
Amen.
Every time I read one of these types of responses I am more and more convinced that you all are more concerned with convincing yourselves.
That is not what I was saying. I merely posted Scripture. Do not mind read.
Not at all--three are three kinds of faith:
Exactly.
It’s still the faith that saves.
Yes is it--the thief on the cross was saved by merely believing.
works
That was the answer to “how to get to God?”.
Hoops was a good call, but this time
You coulda’ predicted works.
The answer went straight as an arrow right to that, bypassing hoops that circle around and try to have things all ‘roundabout, about works.
Gotta earn it.
Without ceremonies, all the giving food and blankets and water to those without are still not enough
Works, and ceremonial works.
He (Jesus) wasn’t the door, He just opened it.
Gotta’ work to be worthy to walk through it.
No matter what, its (works) never enough.
No Celestial soup for you. Telestial only, and only if you try and be a good boy.
“Yes is it” should be “Yes, it is”
Actually it's the opposite! :)
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