You can do nothing, BUT
- Thread starter Dave M
- Start date
Amen to that.
James 2:26
I happen to be studying the book of James these days. It seems to say that saving faith is evidenced by works. If someone thinks they believe and are saved yet there is no change in their sinful life, they should fearfully examine their faith.
Gothedral
Active
Aye, my social media algorithm is full of street preacher encounters featuring this inevitable situation.
Fast. Pray. Cast out devils. Heal the sick. Preach The Word.
Easy to read, easy to yoke?
KingJ
Loyal
Dave, I don't think it is wise for a mature Christian to word salvation like that.
Whilst it is true that in the context of 'salvation being grafted back into God's family' there is nothing we can do. Only the sacrifice of Jesus is worthy.
It is also true that unless we repent of our sins (Luke 5:32) and pass His judgment of heart and mind, (Jer 17:9-11), to be gifted with saving faith (Rom 10:9, 1 Cor 12:3) we do not and will never ever qualify for the free gift of salvation from the cross.
And then it is also true that if we do the above we qualify to be saved from the fire of Hades per Jesus in Luke 16. Just not qualify for reconciliation with God.
So, high level, we can save ourselves from hellfire but not from being out of God's presence.
When we teach only what you have, we leave the door open for heresy like Calvinism.
KingJ
Loyal
Sounds correct but its not entirely true. The best of us can be so full of mistakes.
As Paul says in Rom 7:15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.
We are grieved by the things of the flesh that we do (thanks to the indwelling Holy Spirit). In an indirect way that proves our salvation.
Dave M
Loyal
Life transformation happens when a person receives the grace of God, look at Paul his life went from killing believers in Christ to being the number one evangelist for Christ.
you taking that verse out of context
KingJ
Loyal
Your statement was ''everything I do proves my salvation''. I quoted that verse to prove it wrong, not to imply there is zero change in us.
We can do many things that would make many think we are not saved. Of course Paul changed. He stopped all mortal sins. He repented regularly of his venial sins. He endured suffering without bitterness to God. No disagreement on a life transformation.
It seems to me that there are many things we need to do to earn our salvation, Matthew 7:24-29, Matthew 16:27, Matthew 25, 31-46, Luke 18:24-25, Luke 19:1-10, in fact it seems to me that much of Christs Ministry was spent telling those that would follow him and call him Lord and Saviour what they needed to do to receive Salvation
And how can any of us "know" that we are saved when Christ talks of the "many " that will profess his name, cast out Devils and do many wondrous acts and he will say to them "I know you not", Matthew 7:21-23, Luke 13: 23-30.
It seems to me that we walk a constant tightrope between Salvation and condemnation and that where we fall is highly dependent on our professed Faith, our "Talents", and what actions we do with them. Matthew 25:14-30.
Dave M
Loyal
that was the point, glad we agree on that
KingJ
Loyal
Salvation can be very blurry from our perspective. Many think they are saved and are not. As Paul clarifies many times. One of his most popular lines being 1 Cor 10:12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
But it is very important to understand that there is absolutely no blurr, zero, none from God's perspective. Only He can judge hearts and minds at depths of intent.
Jer 17:9-10 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? I the Lord search the heart.
John 10:14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.
Now if you sift through the entirety of scripture you do find a few key verses that serve as an 'acid test' of salvation. I will not beat around the bush. I will get straight to the most applicable verse.
The verse that proves our Christianity and shows that we are in fact saved is.
Rom 10:9 If you declare with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
Now it is important to understand that the faith and belief required to call Jesus Lord is not from ourselves. A mustered up faith like some have in unicorns and grey aliens. Faith that Jesus is Lord is dealt to each of us in 'a measure' by the Holy Spirit. After we pass His judgement of our heart and mind.
God judges the depths of our hearts and minds for sincerity in either of the following:
A - Repentance of sin Psalm 51:17
B - Servitude James 1:27
C - Martyrdom Rev 2:10
If we pass, we are washed clean of our sins by the blood of Jesus 1 John 1:7-9 and grafted into the family of God Rom 11:11-24. Given faith to believe Rom 12:3 that Jesus was not merely a man, but Lord 1 Cor 12:3.
1 Cor 12:3 Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.
Rom 12:3 “For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.”
Sue J Love
Loyal
Dave, I like your concept here but, if I were you, I would expand "but everything I do proves my salvation" statement. I understand where you are headed with this, and I understand your intention, but not everything that we do proves our salvation. Everything we do in the power of God and by faith in the Lord Jesus in obedience to our Lord proves our salvation. For how we live, in obedience to our Lord, gives evidence to the fact that our salvation is of God and that it is not of the flesh. Or how we live, in general, proves whether or not our salvation is genuine, of God. Our actions speak louder than words. Or our actions prove whether or not our words are genuine. Just sharing something I think may be of help. Thank you for what you shared! I am in agreement with you. Sue