"Your faith has saved you; go in peace" Luke 7:50
Was she saved or did she have to continue to "cooperate" with God throughout her life?
The Scripture doesn't go on to tell us what happened with her in the end. We presume that she "persevered". Just because someone is "saved" or "healed" doesn't mean they will not subsequently get sick again and require the Lord's Healing touch again! Nowhere does Jesus make this "salvation" a permanent issue - thus, he continuously talks about perseverance.
True believers can search their hearts and KNOW they are of God. All you have to do is look at how you've lived your life in the past and compare it to how you are living now if you want a yardstick. But measuring yourself is not always a good idea (except examining to see if your in the faith). God calls all Christians to specific tasks. Sometimes God's grace may take years and years to manifest itself.
True believers is a relative term! Are we speaking from OUR point of view or God's point of view? Heretics, unfortunately, think THEY are true believers. I am sure that Arians, Jansenists, and Adoptionists all believed that they had interpreted the Scriptures and Traditions faithfully. Thus, this is an entirely subjective idea that has no objective proof that you or I AM of the elect! As you note, measuring ourselves against GOD'S standards will depend on OUR interpretation of GOD'S standards.
You feel one must be "doing things that are of God" to show God how much you love Him. I believe one should simply sit at the feet of Christ and God will work through us for His good pleasure. You are the Martha. I'm the Mary.
I get that a lot! :-)
Don't forget that we know that it is God who works within us the will and desire to do His will. Scripture clearly points out BOTH aspects of approaching the Lord. Neither Martha or Mary are condemned by the Lord. Note the story of the Good Samaritan comes directly before the Lord's meeting at Martha and Mary's house that you describe. There certainly is an ethical sense to Christianity, wouldn't you agree?
Regards
"Your faith has saved you; go in peace" Luke 7:50
[Harley:] Was she saved or did she have to continue to "cooperate" with God throughout her life?
The Scripture doesn't go on to tell us what happened with her in the end. We presume that she "persevered". Just because someone is "saved" or "healed" doesn't mean they will not subsequently get sick again and require the Lord's Healing touch again! Nowhere does Jesus make this "salvation" a permanent issue - thus, he continuously talks about perseverance.
Harley raises an excellent point. Jesus does make this "salvation" a permanent issue with His actual words. He says "Your faith has saved you", not "Your faith only saves you until the next time you sin, and then you must seek a priest who does not exist yet to forgive you of your sin!" Was Jesus speaking to this woman in riddles so that she would not hear and not understand? That doesn't make any sense.