[Puppage]

I believe that’s a private matter between me & God.

[John 3_19-21]

The question one needs to truly know the answer to is; does God know you?

Matthew 7:21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’NKJV

[anniegetyourgun]

Yes! I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ - for it is the power to save! (Romans 1) Furthermore, if I am ashamed of Christ - He will be ashamed of us before the Father. (Mark 8) Lastly, it’s not private...I am commanded to proclaim the gospel & the year of our LORD! ( Matthew 28 & Isaiah 61)

Seems there are many who believe in God....they just don’t believe Him.

[absolootezer0]

I have spoken with people who say they have their own relationship with God and that they do not have to attend the assemblies of the saints or seek God's will through His word and live in obedience to that will.

Stopped reading there. anyone who tells me i have to sit in a building to gain entrance into heaven is full of crap. i know more saintly and Godly people that don't attend a "regular" church service than i do people that show up multiple times a week.

[Safrguns]

One of the biggest pitfalls of obedience living is self judgment and self condemnation.

While the article does not directly address salvation, it does properly refer to loss of relationship as the consequence of disobedience. Unfortunately, people generally have a hard time separating the two. The thinking and presumption in most minds is that if we lack relationship, we must also lack salvation.

It is true that we cannot grow closer to God if we are living in sin... if we continue to disobey... and if we continue to reject God’s discipline, consequences are sure to follow... up to and including physical death. But DO NOT let the enemy convince you that you do not belong to God if you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, simply because we continue to sin.

Does a child ever fear abandonment or disowning as consequence for disobedience? Should they?

Will a good parent ever consider abandonment or disowning their children for bad behavior?

The goal of perfection is unattainable... and if pursued can only lead to discouragement and self condemnation.

Who is obedient? Who is worthy? who is really righteous of their own accord?

Many things stated in the article are true.
However, I think it falls short of defining what “relationship” means, and the difference between our love for God, and His Love for us.

Before we can grow our relationship with Christ, we must have one with Him.... and we cannot attain that through our actions or obedience. Once we DO have that relationship with Christ, it is imperative that we understand how unbreakable it truly is so that we will be encouraged to strive for a CLOSER walk with Him through our obedience.

[Gamecock]

I don’t trust an article that buries Christ’s atoning death somewhere in the middle.

[CynicalBear]

>> I have heard people say that obedience to God is not as important as our relationship with Him.<<

That sounds like someone projecting their own preconceived ideas on what someone says. A right relationship with God will result in obedience. It’s not the other way around. I’ve seen people try that straw dog too many times. They try to justify their own “self righteous” attitude that works justifies.

The belief and relationship comes first or any “obedience” to legalism is empty.

[Salvation]

Mt 7:21-27

Gospel

Jesus said to his disciples:
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’
will enter the kingdom of heaven,
but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.
Many will say to me on that day,
‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name?
Did we not drive out demons in your name?
Did we not do mighty deeds in your name?’
Then I will declare to them solemnly,
‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you evildoers.’

“Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them
will be like a wise man who built his house on rock.
The rain fell, the floods came,
and the winds blew and buffeted the house.
But it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on rock.
And everyone who listens to these words of mine
but does not act on them
will be like a fool who built his house on sand.
The rain fell, the floods came,
and the winds blew and buffeted the house.
And it collapsed and was completely ruined.”

[American Constitutionalist]

The bible tells us in Jude 1:3 ( Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt I had to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints )
not to contend for works, or merits.

Salvation by works, or merits roads lead to man's glory, and pride, and Salvation by Grace through faith roads lead to God's Glory in Jesus Christ.

[Soothesayer]

I have absolutely no relationship with God. Until this world is destroyed, he is irrelevant. Everywhere I look there is nothing but horror and filth. There is no sign of divinity anywhere.

Just as Christians spend their time praying to God, I spend my time hating leftist filth and thinking of ways to kill them.

[The Citizen Soldier]

OH, yes...

Indeed, I have been crucified with Christ.
My ego is no longer central.
It is no longer important that I appear righteous before you or have your good opinion, and I am no longer driven to impress God.
Christ lives in me.
The life you see me living is not "mine," but it is lived by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
I am not going to go back on that. ~Galatians 2:20 - The Message (life verse)