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To: taxesareforever
So what happens if you're an unrepentant sinner while believing in Jesus? Let's just say you're a compulsive gambler or an adulterer. Do you go to Heaven same as someone who believes in Jesus and stays on the straight and narrow?

For one thing there is no such thing as an unrepentant believer.

Sure there is. If you're speaking in a more philosophical way that it's impossible to be a true believer without good works, well that's really all the Catholic Church is saying. We evidence our faith through our works. If one is without good works, then his faith is not real; "dead" as St. James said.

If a person believes in Jesus Christ they believe that he died for their sins. No ifs, ands, or buts about it.

Very well, but that does not preclude that person from being a sinner, or an unrepentant one. Like you said, all faith in Christ means is just what you said: believe that he died for their sins.

Christ did it all. We sin every day of our lives and to put a question mark on my salvation because I personally did not repent of it before I died is anti-Scriptural.

So basically you're saying it's OK to be a sinner and an unrepentant one at that, since there's no need to seek forgiveness for the sins that are committed day in and day out.

"By grace ye are saved, thru faith...". Everything in this statement has to do with Christ in me. I can do nothing to gain salvation for Christ has done it all.

It has nothign to do with "earning" or "achieving" salvation. Christ provided that gift to us through His grace. However, we have to accept that gift, and we do so by following His teachings and honoring His commandments to us to be perfect like our Heavenly Father.

Jesus makes a whole lot of points about the need to follow the Commandments, love each other, be charitable to the less fortunate. These are all works.
108 posted on 11/08/2005 6:23:05 PM PST by Conservative til I die
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To: Conservative til I die
However, we have to accept that gift, and we do so by following His teachings and honoring His commandments to us to be perfect like our Heavenly Father.

How do we accept that gift? It is thru the Holy Spirit working in us. It has nothing to do with us just as baptism is. It is all God's work thru the Holy Spirit. Can I keep His commandments and teachings? No. That is where Christ intercedes for me and forgives my faults. God forgives my sins every day because I believe in Him. Very well, but that does not preclude that person from being a sinner, or an unrepentant one .

Nothing precludes anyone from being a sinner, "For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God". An unrepentant sinner is an unbeliever. A sinner who believes in Christ as his Saviour is forgiven. Works naturally follow faith, "Faith without works is dead". If two different people make donations to the homeless and one is a believer and the other is an unbeliever are they both considered "good works"? No. Only the believer can do a good works. Even if he does works in a reluctant way or not even realize what he has done, in God's eyes it is a good work because of his faith. It doesn't matter if an unbeliever donated a million dollars to a church it would not be a good work in God's eyes because he does not have faith. If he had faith, it would be considered a good work. Two different people raising families, one has faith and one doesn't. The one that has faith is doing a good work. The unbeliever is not doing a good work in God's eyes.

109 posted on 11/08/2005 11:30:45 PM PST by taxesareforever (Government is running amuck)
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