How do you reconcile Rev. 20:12-13 then??? Just pretend they don't exist???
Rev. 20:12-13 simply refers to the lost, having rejected the Lord Jesus, being sentenced in accordance with their sins, and the greater the grace they rejected, the greater their degree of punishment. Believers will have already gone to be with the Lord in the first resurrection - the "resurrection of life:” Jn. 5:29a; Rev. 20:6,7,14, and to fight with Him in the battle of Armageddon, (Jude 1:14-15) and receive rewards at the judgment seat of Christ (which takes place at His return: 1Cor. 4:5; 2Tim. 4:1,8; Rev.11:18; Mt. 25:31-46; 1Pt. 1:7; 5:4), and will judge the world and angels at the final judgment. (1Co. 6:2,3; cf. Mal. 3:18; Mt 16:27; 19:28; Mt 24:30,31; 25:31; Lk. 22:20; 2Th 1:7,8; Re 1:7; 5:10; 19:6-20; 20:4)
But I say unto you, that it shall be more tolerable in that day for Sodom, than for that city. Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon, which have been done in you, they had a great while ago repented, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. (Luke 10:12-13)
Mat 24:13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
Indeed, as such is an essential characteristic of true faith:
Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. (Hebrews 10:35-36)
But which does not mean that one is saved "by works of righteousness which we have done," (Titus 3:5) but that as the poster said, "the type of faith that saves is a faith that consequentially results in obedience to God and thus good works." Thus the classic Prot. doctrine of the Perseverance of the Saints," though Scripture does warn against falling from grace, in departing from the living God. (Heb. 3:12; Gal. 5:1-4)
What about that one??? You don't get saved until you endure to the end...
That refers to final salvation, for one is saved the moment they are converted, being "washed...sanctified...justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God," (1 Corinthians 6:11) being made "accepted in the Beloved" and "made to sit together in heavenly places", (Eph. 1:6; 2;6) "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;" (Titus 3:5)
Yet we are also being saved in the sense of progressive sanctification, from our present condition to conformity with Christ, seeking to become as much as we can be to our resurrected state.
If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. (Philippians 3:11-15)
Then there is the final full realization of salvation, not simply deliverance from the penalty of sin, and receiving eternal life with Christ, but seeing and being with the Lord Jesus, and having a resurrected body like His, and rewards for service, etc.
And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. (Romans 13:11)
Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; (Titus 2:13)
For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life. (2 Corinthians 5:2-4)
For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself. (Philippians 3:20-21)
Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. (1 John 3:2)
Mat 25:40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. Faith is no where mentioned regarding the sheep and goats...The sheep get the kingdom due to good works...
Rather, works are nowhere said to be the cause of their justification, which Paul makes clear is by faith, but it is because their faith was manifested by works that they were judged fit to be rewarded under grace. Faith is what appropriates justification, not any system of works-merit,
For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. (Romans 4:3-5)
"So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham. For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them." "...if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law." (Galatians 3:9-10,21) Yet works justify one as having saving faith, like as a fulfilled prophecy justifies one as being a prophet. Believers are judged by works as this is what evidences faith, which God rewards:
Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. (Hebrews 10:35) .
Like as forgiveness and healing could be used synonymously ("Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk?" - Mark 2:9), as the former effected the latter, so faith and works can sometimes be used thusly, but the effect is not the cause. Therefore Scripture both teaches that one obtains justification by believing, but also promises salvation to those who obey the Lord.
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. (John 5:24)
But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. (Romans 10:8-13)
And how about the rich guy who 'couldn't get in' because he wouldn't sell everything he had and give it away??? Thus to be consistent with this, then everyone must divest themselves of all wealth to be saved, but Paul tells the rich to simply be willing to distribute, (1Tim. 6:17-19) as disciples must surrender all in heart to Christ. (Lk. 14:33) Which type of obedience is a mark of true faith, but which is not its actual cause.
The common error is supposing that the effect of justification is its cause, that souls actually merit eternal life by their works, yet
man could not and would not believe on the Lord Jesus or follow Him unless God gave him life, and breath, and all good things he has, (Acts 17:25) and convicted him, (Jn. 16:8) drew him, (Jn. 6:44; 12:32) opened his heart, (Acts 16:14) and granted repentance (Acts 11:18) and gave faith, (Eph. 2:8,9) and then worked in him both to will and to do of His good pleasure the works He commands them to do. (Phil. 2:13; Eph. 2:10)
Thus man owes to God all things, and while he is guilty and rightly damned for resisting God contrary to the level of grace given him, (Prov. 1:20-31; Lk. 10:13; 12:48; Rv. 20:11-15) man can not claim he actually deserves anything, and God does not owe him anything but damnation, except that under grace — which denotes unmerited favor — God has chosen to reward faith, (Heb. 10:35) in recognition of its effects.
Which means that God justifies man without the merit of any works, which is what Romans 4:1-7ff teaches, with “works of the law” including all systems of justification by merit of works, “for, if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.” (Galatians 3:21)
Thus the penitent publican and the contrite criminal, both of whom abased themselves as damned and destitute sinner and cast all their faith upon the mercy of God (which ultimately is Christ), were justified, and as such could go directly to be with the Lord at death, even before they did any manifest works of faith. But works justify one as being a believer, and fit to be rewarded under grace for such, (Mt. 25:30-40; Rv. 3:4) though only because God has decided to reward man for what God Himself is actually to be credited for.
Rom 2:13 (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.
Which is as said, because the doers of the law shall be justified as being believers in the light of their obedience, as faith effects works, "That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." (Romans 8:4)
I agree with that...I also believe there will be people in that group from the church age who thought their works would get them to heaven...I was simply pointing out that the scripture does exist where works are essential and those groups who apply that concept to the church age use those verses in Revelation to show that judgment is connected with works...
Rather, works are nowhere said to be the cause of their justification,
Rom 2:10 But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile:
Rom 2:11 For there is no respect of persons with God.
Rom 2:12 For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law:
At that time if one was not under the law but sinned will perish...No grace...
and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;
Those under the law couldn't miss a single one
Rom 2:13 (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.
Justification by works...Until,
Rom 3:21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;
Righteousness came from following the law...But now,
which Paul makes clear is by faith, but it is because their faith was manifested by works that they were judged fit to be rewarded under grace.
But faith is a free gift...Not a reward for those who followed the law...Grace has been offered to All men...
Tit_2:11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
A most excellent statement. What is missing from this article is the acknowledgement that even our belief is a work of God. According to our Lord Jesus there is only one work, and that is to believe on Him.
John 6:28-30 (NIV) Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?” Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”
There is only ONE work of God-believe in Christ. We trust our Lord Jesus that He will bear fruit in our lives. After all, that is why we are born of God.
Ephesians 2:10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Belief is a gift given and considered by God as a work. That is why we are created in Christ Jesus-to do good works because He is working thru us. There is nothing we have that hasn't been given to us.