And does the Bible tell us what it is that God requires? Why yes it does! John 6:29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.
[snip all MHGinTN being MHGinTN stuff]
[Stourme calmly states]
Here's some Evangelicals that actually get it.
You found us out, we have a works bit as well...
Stourme like all Pseudo Christian movements you, either by design or misunderstanding, just don't get the works thing.
(I know by practice as an organization it is intentional, because works based salvation is a great control tool.)
But like all such folk you get it backwards.
The Bible clearly says by Grace we are saved.
Period.
It is BECAUSE of that salvation and having Christ in our hearts that we WANT to do the works God directs us to. Not to earn his favor, for we have that simply by accepting the gift. Again a fact VERY clearly defined in the Bible, I won't insult you or the audience with endless scripture posted ad nauseum on these thread.
The very point of Christ coming was to STOP the effort of “earning” heaven. That was what the OT was all about, what can I do to please God and gain heaven.
The sacrifice of Christ fixed that. Keep works as part of the salvation equation and you negate the sacrifice.
Now does that toss works on the junk pile, no. We are saved so we work. We can use our work to gage our acceptance of Christ as well as our spiritual well being. If we falter or do things contrary to Christ we know the Evil One is working us, trying to take us away from God. We can also see when our Brother falters and come to his aid. It is also through our efforts that our faith is made “perfect’, meaning it grows and becomes more a part of us, but it doesn't mean we get a “better heaven” if we work harder, it is a personal thing, a personal goal to be closer to God. There is no running total, no “after all we can do”, no master check list.
Go back to that link you provided about “Evangelicals who get it” and look over it again. Two things to look at, what they are really saying about the role of works, both for the individual as well as an example to others, but also look for what is missing.
Any reference to works as being any part of the equation of Salvation...
When one understand this order, Salvation then works because of being saved, then verses that support salvation through grace and dismiss works for salvation as well as those on the merits of doing works anyways fit together nicely.
BTW I know you will have to spin this, use your little brackets and such and make snide comments with in them as well as part of any response, then accuse me of doing so, but the information is more for the reasoned lurker and perhaps, down in the core, it will enlighten you as well...
Oh?
Prove it to WHOM?