Salvation is a free gift of God! You can have confidence you are saved.

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[Teleios Research]

Be convinced with these 4 biblical truths: 1. Each of us has sinned; 2. God is just, requiring a punishment for sin; 3. But out of love God sent His Son, Jesus Christ who by dying on the cross, provided forgiveness of sins in taking man’s deserved punishment; 4. Therefore, by faith alone in Christ’s sacrifice for our sins and belief in His resurrection, man can gain eternal life. (Ephesians 2:8-9, Romans 10:9-10, Romans 3:21-26) Read more at https://teleiosresearch.com/salvation-explanation/.

[MHGinTN]

So you have never read of David? God chose David and even with adultery and murder on his record, GOD did not abandon David. David did suffer the consequences in this life, but was NEVER unchosen by God.

Does it ever sink in for folks like you that 'requiring works to remain saved' is working for eternal life, which is the antithesis of what God tells us in His Word. Working to retain is not grace it is wages.

[aMorePerfectUnion]

Luircin... nice to see you bro.

A few weeks ago I had a grand time contending with a Catholic who unashamedly insisted that the Apostle Paul is a heretic.

Chosen directly by Christ, caught up into the heavens, Gospel directly revealed by the Glorified Christ, recognized by the other Apostles as an Apostle to the Gentiles.

I can only guess that Paul's inspired words conflict with the Roman religion that must favor pagan practices and beliefs?

Or maybe a grudge against Paul confronting Peter for his hypocrisy!

[daniel1212]

Again, something cannot be both ‘alone’ and ‘not alone’ at the same time.

Regardless of any wilful denial, indeed something can indeed be both ‘alone’ and ‘not alone’ at the same time - unless you ignore the context. In the context of what actually appropriated supernatural Divine healing in a case such as Luke 8:48 ("Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace"), faith or the effects that it caused, it was faith alone - thy faith hath made thee whole - though this goes together with the effect. And in Gn. 15:6 and Romans 4 in the context of what actually appropriated justification in the sense of being counted as righteous before God, then it is clearly faith: For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. (Romans 4:3) And which was long before James, in the context of what manner of faith is justifying, states Abraham was justified by works.

James clearly says a man is justified by works. And the type of works James is speaking about is obedience to the will of God.

And since James clearly says "Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?" (James 2:21) which was long after God declared that "he believed in the Lord; and he counted it to him for righteousness" (Genesis 15:6) then - if speaking in the same sense as you argue for - you have James contradicting both Moses and Paul. And thus you side with Luther in not seeing James as Scripture proper.

However, contextually while Paul deals with what actually justifies one, "works of righteousness which we have done," (Titus 3:5) and with the Law being the supreme system of salvation by actual merit ("for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law" (Galatians 3:21) or heart-purifying faith which effects confession and obedience (Rm. 10:9-13l cf. Acts 15:9) which confirms one is a believer, James contextually is effectively dealing with what manner of faith saves. In which he never contends against effectual faith not being salvific, but only against dead faith, one that does not effect what Paul calls the "faith which worketh by love." (Galatians 5:6)."

What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. (James 2:14-17)

This ineffectual faith is the only faith that James rightly disallows as justificatory, and illustrates that the faith that is so is that which goes together/effects works. And which supports sola fide, in which as Luther stated as regard what manner of faith is justificatory, " it is just as impossible to separate faith and works as it is to separate heat and light from fire!" [http://www.iclnet.org/pub/resources/text/wittenberg/luther/luther-faith.txt]

This is why there is not one example in the Bible of a disobedient person rebellious in doing God’s will was unconditionally justified by God anyway....

I never did, and your argument shows you have a wrong untenable concept of sola fide.

Only those that obeyed God’s will received God free gift. This is why a saving faith must include obedience and why faith void of obedience cannot justify. Again, can you give just one example of a disobedient person be justified BEFORE that person was obedient to the will of God???? Rom 6:17-18 they first obeyed from the heart then freed from sin. The only way one can go from being a ‘servant of sin’ to being a ‘servant of righteousness’ is by obedience to God’s will.

You are misusing this text in isolation if you think the obedience here is referring to becoming good and then receiving the gift of salvation as a consequence, which is the same as the Law, as instead it is referring to conversion of sinners as sinners being washed, sanctified and justified thru repentant heart-purifying faith, and positionally crucified with Christ and made to be servants of righteousness, and which the apostle thus exhorts them to be.

For "to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 4:5; 5:1)

In context in Rm. 5, we see that while these repentant converts were not actually crucified, yet they positionally were and thus should live accordingly:

Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. (Romans 6:3-4)

Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. (Romans 6:12-13)

But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness. (Romans 6:17-19)

Thus in context,what was obey from the heart was the gospel, and being crucified, buried and risen again and made servants to righteousness speaks of their positional status as a result of conversion, and in the light of which these "saints/sanctified" ones are to live according as such texts as "If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit" (Galatians 5:25) Thus conversion and justification by faith came first as a result of obeying the call to repentance and faith, and along with the transformative interior effects of regeneration, then this results in obedience.

Just as seen in conversion accounts such as,

Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway. And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house. (Acts 16:29-34)

You claim “works do not cause salvation” yet doing nothing cannot save.

No one is saved while being comatose, but "with the heart man believeth [cause] unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation" (Romans 10:10) is not referring to works of merit appropriating justification, but that one who truly believes with heart-purifying regenerating faith is counted as righteousness and therefore confesses the Lord (which does not stop with baptism).

To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? (Acts 10:43-47)

And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us; And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. (Acts 15:8-9)

And this believing is not that of being saved because they became good enough to be with God as in Roman Catholicism.

In which one is justified on the basis of constitutional change of nature, of "infused charity" effected by the act itself of (valid Trinitarian ) baptism), rendering one good enough to enter Heaven. Until the sinful nature that is all too alive manifests itself, and thus unless one dies in perfection of character then such must attain to this in Purgatory (and atone for sins). Having truly merited eternal life, (although works due do justify one as being a believer, and which God rewards, one does not truly merit eternal life).

The theology of faith only fails for it wrongly assumes the work done in obeying God’s will is an attempt to earn God’s free gift. Yet out of all the many examples in the Bible of men/women obeying God’s will it is NEVER said their obedience earned God’s free gift.

But tell me how you think Catholics understand that "nothing further is wanting to the justified [baptized and faithful]... to have truly merited eternal life." (Trent, Chapter XVI; The Sixth Session Decree on justification, 1547) Canon 32 similarly teaches, If anyone says that the one justified by the good works that he performs by the grace of God does not truly merit eternal life, and in case he dies in grace, the attainment of eternal life itself, let him be anathema." (Trent, Canons Concerning Justification, Canon 32)

This could be understood as meaning that obedience by the Spirit testifies to one being a believer and worthy to be rewarded by God who in His grace recompenses believers for what only He deserves credit for, but in her overreaction to justification by faith Rome fosters the natural inclination of man to believe his good works outweigh his bad ones, and that Purgatory will get him into glory.

And leads to such uncorrected nonsense as expressed by this RC:

I feel when my numbers up I will a large table and St.Peter will be there with an enormous scale of justice by his side. We will see our life in a movie...the things that we did for the benefit of others will be for the plus side of the scale..the other stuff,,not so good will..well, be on the negative side..and so its a very interesting job Pete has. I wonder if he pushes a button for the elevator down for the losers...and what .sideways for those heading for purgatory..the half way house....lets wait and see.... ” https://forums.catholic.com/t/so-what-is-peter-doing-at-the-pearly-gates-of-heaven-i-presume-when-he-has-the-keys-to-the-kingdom/123109/2

But obedience was a condition that must be met in order to then receive the free gift.

Rather, faith that effects obedience by the Spirit is a condition for salvation, and thus the Lord saves those who believe (Jn. 3:16) and thus obey Him, (Heb. 5:9) but it is clear that it is faith that appropriates justification, like as faith appropriated healing in Luke 8:48 ("thy faith hath made thee whole.") Thus the warning and exhortation to keep the faith and not fall away from it.

[daniel1212]

The common denominator under both the OT law and NT law in order to be justified is obedience to God’s will. I am still waiting for someone to show me just one example (OT or NT) of a disobedient person who refused to obey God’s will yet justified anyway. (It cannot be shown for such a person has never existed).

Either you selectively ignore what I wrote or fail to comprehend it, while not clarifying what you mean by obedience. I nowhere provided anything that inferred that one could be justified while walking in disobedience, and to the contrary stated that the redeemed as those "who with contrite hearts place all their faith in the Divine Christ as the Lord and Savior, who died for our sins and is risen to reign in glory, (1 Peter 2:24; 328,22) and who declare this living faith in baptism and following their Lord with humble hearts, (Acts 8:36,37; 10:43–47; 15:7–9) and repent when convicted in heart of not doing so. (Psalm 34:218) Thanks be to God.

You claim the OT required obedience before one was justified but the NT does not, then: 1) you are admitting obedience under the OT did not earn God’s free gift of grace/mercy. Then there is every reason to think obedience under the NT would not earn God’s free gift either.

1) You asserted "One must FIRST meet the condition by being obedient THEN one receives the free gift." Seeing you did not clarify that required obedience referred to the "work" of repentant faith, of faith out of a poor and contrite heart (cf. Ps. 34:18) and Rome misleadingly teaches that one merits eternal life, then it is up to you to clarify what you mean by required obedience.

2) you claim the new covenant does not teach obedience before receiving God’s free gift yet did not cite one example from the NT of a disobedient person who has not obeyed God’s will yet justified anyway while remaining rebellious to obeying God’s will.

2) What you claim I did not teach means you do not actually believe that believing the gospel with "justifying faith, is a faith which effects obedience by the Spirit, in word and in deed, in heart and in life" constitutes obedience then you have a different gospel.

3) many verses in the NT put obedience BEFORE salvation, that is put belief before salvation Jn 8:24 repentance before salvation Lk 13:3 confession before salvation Matt 10:32-33 baptism before salvation Mk 16:16; Acts 2:38. Belief, repentance confession and baptism are all forms of obedience to God’s will and must occur BEFORE one can be saved.

Your error is putting the cart before the horse, for every one is consistent with or a result of justifying faith, for such is just what faith consists of and effects. Thus we have multitudes of texts promising salvation if one believes on the Lord Jesus (want a list?) as well as to those who obey. For since faith results in obedience by the Spirit, these being credentials, ("For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God:" Romans 8:14) then those who believe on the Lord are those who repent from being their own lord, (Lk 13:3) and those who confess Him are those who believed, (Matt 10:32-33 and those who are baptized are those who believed, (Mk 16:16; Acts 2:41) and are also promised salvation. Likewise, to be forgiven was to be healed in My. 2:1-11 and thus "be healed " could be used in exchange with be forgiven ("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?") yet one caused the other.

What you continue to ignore is that all that we freely choose to do is a result of what we really believe - at least at the moment. However, the cause is not to be confused with effect, even though they go together.

Rom 5:1 says .....faith justifies James 2:24 says...works justify Since the NT teaches just one way to be saved, justified then logically faith must be a work, faith MUST include the work of obedience in repentance confession and baptism else that faith is dead and cannot save.

As said, repentance confession and baptism are a result of faith. One does not repent unless he believes he has a reason to, and what one confesses (by tongue or via baptism) in Truth is what he believes. And certainly any volitional response by man can be called a work, even moving one's neurons in a mental prayer. However, what "not by works" refers to is that of works being the basis for salvation, that one actually merits this, and even actually becomes good enough to be with God in this life on in mythical RC Purgatory, while flowed from this premise.

The Catholic Encyclopedia also states that St. Augustine "describes two conditions of men; "some there are who have departed this life, not so bad as to be deemed unworthy of mercy, nor so good as to be entitled to immediate happiness" etc. (City of God XXI.24.)

And thus by the close of the fourth century was taught "a place of purgation..from which when purified they "were admitted unto the Holy Mount of the Lord". For " they were "not so good as to be entitled to eternal happiness".

One "cannot approach God till the purging fire shall have cleansed the stains with which his soul was infested." (Catholic Encyclopedia>Purgatory) 
 

CCC 1023: Those who die in God's grace and friendship and are perfectly purified live for ever with Christ...(provided they were not in need of purification when they died, . . . or, if they then did need or will need some purification, when they have been purified after death, . . .)

"Every trace of attachment to evil must be eliminated, every imperfection of the soul corrected." - John Paul II, Audiences, 1999.

Catholic professor Peter Kreeft states,

"...we will go to Purgatory first, and then to Heaven after we are purged of all selfishness and bad habits and character faults." Peter Kreeft, Because God Is Real: Sixteen Questions, One Answer, p. 224

"The purpose of purgatory is to bring you up the level of spiritual excellence needed to experience the full-force presence of God." (Jimmy Akin, How to Explain Purgatory to Protestants).

Roman Catholics also invoke the exhortation of Matthew 5:48: "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect"  (Matthew 5:48) as a requirement to be with God, actually presuming that that they can attain the perfection of God in this life or in RC purgatory! 

There is some wiggle room as regards the conditions of purgatory since what this suffering actually entails, and how long, for such are are not dogmatically taught, but while salvation by grace thru faith as in sola fide means it is effectual faith being imputed for righteousness that justifies, salvation by grace thru works means that by grace one is actually made good enough to be with God, which premise either requires perfection of character in this life (and which merely being made clean in baptism would actually not effect) or postmortem purifying torments.

However, wherever Scripture clearly speak of the next conscious reality for believers then it is with the Lord, (Lk. 23:43 [cf. 2Cor. 12:4; Rv. 2:7]; Phil 1:23; 2Cor. 5:8 [“we”]; 1Cor. 15:51ff'; 1Thess. 4:17) Note in the latter case all believers were assured that if the Lord returned, which they expected in their lifetime, so would they “ever be with the Lord,” though they were still undergoing growth in grace, as was Paul. (Phil. 3:7f)

And the next transformative experience that is manifestly taught is that of being like Christ in the resurrection. (1Jn. 3:2; Rm. 8:23; 1Co 15:53,54; 2Co. 2-4) At which time is the judgment seat of Christ, which is the only suffering after this life, which does not begin at death, but awaits the Lord's return, (1 Corinthians 4:5; 2 Timothy. 4:1,8; Revelation 11:18; Matthew 25:31-46; 1 Peter 1:7; 5:4) and is the suffering of the loss of rewards (and the Lord's displeasure) due to the manner of material one built the church with, which one is saved despite the loss of such, not because of. (1 Corinthians 3:8ff)

In addition, the whole premise that suffering itself perfects a person is specious, since testing of character requires being able to choose btwn alternatives, and which this world provides. Thus it is only this world that Scripture peaks of here development of character, such as "Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations." (1 Peter 1:6)

And even in making the Lord "perfect" as in experiencing testing, being "in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin," (Hebrews 4:15) then it was in this world: "For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings." (Hebrews 2:10)

For support,  Catholics cite 2 Maccabees  12;44-46 (atonement for the dead to free them from sin ).

However, of what support is that of praying for men whom the text clearly stated were slain for their idolatry, which is a mortal sin? Meanwhile believing this book was Scripture proper was not required until after Luther died, almost 1400 years after the last book was penned.

Note: These responses are not proof-read, and I am off to do some "works of charity: for a while.

[daniel1212]

I see a number of people who believe that one must be saved by doing a “work of God”. What does it mean to be doing a “work of God”?

Quickly, John 6:29. The results are details.

[HarleyD]

John 6:29 To be doing the work of God is to believe in the Lord Jesus. That’s it. The rest is of God. It is the Holy Spirit that conforms us.

But the real question is what is believing in the Lord Jesus? Lots of people today say they believe in Christ. That doesn’t make them a Christian. That can only be answered in their own heart. If one isn’t interested in praying (pray ceaselessly), fellowshiping (do not neglect the assembly of others), reading the scriptures (study to show yourself approved), etc., evidence of a transforming life, they should question whether they are true believers and are in the faith.

One can’t work for their salvation. It is a gift given to us by God. But we are capable of examining ourselves and seeing at least some remote evidence that we are transformed. This is all part that we truly believe.

[MHGinTN]

Amen. Selah ... Hear her! Apparently, some do not believe God The Creator is big enough for the fulfilling of HIS Promises ... ‘for it is God Who is in you, both to will AND DO of His good pleasure.’.

[MHGinTN]

Hear here ... not Hear her ... wouldn’t want to give an identity away.

[daniel1212]

One can’t work for their salvation. It is a gift given to us by God. But we are capable of examining ourselves and seeing at least some remote evidence that we are transformed. This is all part that we truly believe.

Indeed.

Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? (2 Corinthians 13:5)

But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak. For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister. (Hebrews 6:9-10)

These things [that accompany salvation] have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. (1 John 5:13)

Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father; Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God. (1 Thessalonians 1:3-4)

For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake. And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost: So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia. For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing. (1 Thessalonians 1:5-8)

[boatbums]

There were Christians in Galatia that had fallen from grace, Gal 5:4 because they had quit OBEYING the truth of Christ’s NT Gal 3:1; Gal 5:7. It was their obedience to Christ and His NT that got them in God’s grace and it was their lack of obedience to it as to why they fell from grace.

Is that the impression you get when you read:

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not be encumbered once more by a yoke of slavery. Take notice: I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all. Again I testify to every man who gets himself circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law. You who are trying to be justified by the law have been severed from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. (Galatians 5:1-4)

We have been justified by faith because of grace. We ONLY have access to God's grace through faith:

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. (Romans 5:1,2)

When you seek to be justified by your works - of the law or any other way, that IS how you fall from grace. It's either grace OR works that we are saved and not both:

And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work. (Romans 11:6)

So, upon what are you depending to save you - your works or God's grace accessed THROUGH faith?

[boatbums]

In fact, the entire Book of Ephesians is pretty much written for Christians to have 100% confirmation of their stance with Almighty God - Jesus Christ.

Indeed! Just as Galatians was written to Christians who were being hassled by those who wanted to steal their assurance in Christ and insist they couldn't be saved apart from obeying the Law of Moses:

I am amazed how quickly you are deserting the One who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— which is not even a gospel. Evidently some people are troubling you and trying to distort the gospel of Christ. (Gal. 1:6,7)

[boatbums]

Is there any remnant of Christianity that is NOT dominated by the teachings of Paul? I have read a lot of criticism of him, not least that he was rejected by the Church at Ephesus, which is then praised in Revelation 2:2 for 'rejecting those who call themselves Apostles and are not, and found them to be false.'

Not sure where you have read that the Ephesian church rejected Paul. They accepted his authority and received the revelation he passed to them through his epistles from the leading of the Holy Spirit. St. Peter specifically referred to them as Scripture. Guess you'll have to dump 50% of the books in your New Testament if that's your thinking. Accepting these books as Divinely-inspired Scripture by the other Apostles and the early church proves that they had authority by the will of God and were to be part of the rule of faith Christians held to. I highly doubt Almighty God would have allowed a "false apostle" to write most of the New Testament.

[metmom]

Galatians 3 addresses this very issue.

It could have been written to the Catholic religion.

Galatians 3:1-3 O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?

The rest of the chapter goes on to elaborate.

[boatbums]

Good source for disputing the strange - one I hadn’t heard before - idea that Paul was a “false apostle”. No doubt the devil would LOVE for us to trashcan most of the New Testament. Guess there’s nothing new under the sun. ;o)

[boatbums]

Rom 5:1 says .....faith justifies...before God
James 2:24 says...works justify...in the eyes of others

[boatbums]

Again, not a single case anywhere in the Bible where it is ever said one’s obedience to God earned them God’s free gift. Yet that obedience was necessary in receiving the free gift.

Haven't you ever heard of the "obedience of faith"?

Now to him who is able to establish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith: To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen. (Romans 16:25-27)

[boatbums]

Because the gift of everlasting life is ==CONDITIONAL== therefore one must work to meet the conditions Christ has put upon this free gift and in this context belief is a condition one must work in order to receive this free gift Christ gives.

Kinda like saying you don't HAVE the gift until you actually RECEIVE the gift! That's true of every real gift. If you have to work for it, it ceases to BE a gift.

[boatbums]

I get the impression that some of ‘em would be happy if the New Testament only contained the Gospels and the book of James! For some reason, Paul gives them heartburn. ;o)

[MHGinTN]

And in their heartburn they ignore 1 John 3:9 AND Paul teeling them that for the born again God is abiding in their spirit so THAT Born AGAIN Spirit CANNOT sin.

[boatbums]

Amen! Wholeheartedly agree. “Examine yourselves to see if you are in the faith.”, obviously must mean we should be able to see some sure signs of God at work in our hearts and lives.