Posted on 06/15/2015 8:56:58 AM PDT by RnMomof7
I agree. But those in hell will be there for their violations of God’s. This is justice. They rejected God’s grace. Christ made full payment for those who turn to Him in repentance and faith. That is justice AND grace. God’s law is satisfied both ways.
True faith is evidenced by obedience. Outward professions that lack obedience are evidence of inward rebellion and unbelief. God looks at the heart.
That’s true, but we still need remind ourselves that should not judge, or judge a book by its cover by outward appearances for some God could be, or is working on someone’s heart.
The prodigal son is the perfect example of this.
Can a true born again believer in Christ still have rebellion in their heart ?
The answer is yes, they may not be going to hell for it, but they sure will get a spanking from it, God’s chastisement as their father.
Those whom he loves he chastises.
Absolutely. I hang desperately onto I Jn 1:9.
We may say things like “ we hang despartly “ on to it, but it is Christ who upholds us, clings to us, keeps us, who is our foundation and anchor of our souls, rest in him.
God wants us to enter into his rest, his peace.
I am not sure the prodigal son is an example of a wayward Christian. I would need to restudy that to decide what I think on that specifically.
True Christians will stumble. They don’t fully reject everything.
As for judging, we cannot send anyone to hell. God is the judge. We are not to be vengeful; vengeance is God’s. But we are told we will “know them by their fruits.” That we should “gently and humbly” help those who go astray. That we should be discerning regarding false teachings/teachers. That we should not keep company with wayward professors of faith. That we should follow church discipline for sinning brothers/sisters — kick them out, though with the aim that it will lead them to repentance. In that sense there is judgment. We are to examine our own hearts. That is judgment. And in sharing the Gospel of God with its call to repentance, there is judgment. It is not that we are the judge. But we are proclaiming the judgement of God when we proclaim the good news of His grace.
As Jesus said, “Unless you repent, you will likewise perish.”
Gal 3:27 - For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. [KJV]
Since when is “Obeying the Commandments” works?
I didn’t say that.
Jesus said repeatedly:
Love God and Love your Neighbor as yourself.
I had never seen that before. Thanks for posting!
I have. I don't see why following the commandments is something imply's only that "He’s telling to keep the words that he is telling them about him being in the FATHER and the father in him"
You've made a study of scripture, and you would know that a passages context does not always begin with the chapter number, which was an index added later than when the scriptures were written down.
His commandments are pretty clearly understood to be things to be practiced after he has Gone to the Father.
For example, Jesus earlier says this in the same discourse:
"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." Jn 13:34-35
I agree on John 13:34’35.
But do we do that perfectly and faithfully to the letter ?
Of course not.
Where we are weak, he is strong.
Does everyone in any specific church love each member as them selves as Christ also loved us ?
Of course not.
But when Christ does come back he is coming back for a bride without spot or wrinkle.
You make it sound like works is a dirty word. It isn’t. It is meant to convey all human effort to please God. Of course that is not an evil thing. It is just that we will always fall short. Where it is evil is when it becomes self-righteousness, in other words we think we have earned righteousness apart from Christ or even in addition Christ.
We have no righteousness of our own. The theology of that statement is widely debated. Let’s just take it at a beginning level. We are saved by faith, not works. We cannot love God or love our neighbor enough to earn salvation. Even the most devout falls short of the glory of God. The effort shows us our need for a Savior. To those without God’s law, their own conscience — God’s law written on their hearts — reveals their need for a savior. That is the role of the law. Only through faith in Christ and the gift of the Holy Spirit can we truly please God. That of course means obedience to God’s law, but it is because we love Him. We cannot save ourselves through works.
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