Replies

"Behavior doesn't matter where salvation is concerned."

Bunk! Our behavior DOES matter. Not because God is giving us merits and demerits but because our behavior affects who we are. It's true that in believing we have salvation... but salvation can be lost. Don't believe me? It would have been better for the 12th apostle had he never been born. Jesus didn't call nonbelievers. One of his friends betrayed Him in an act of weakness and then committed suicide over his actions.

God can bring us all to heaven right now, if that was His plan for salvation. It's not. The whole of history is Him developing us as His people. He doesn't wipe our faults under the rug, he accepts them and teaches us to grow. We, on the other hand, can reject Him through our own failings. Like a good parent, He wants us to succeed... but we have choices to make by our free will. Salvation is a free gift but sin can keep us from accepting the gift out of our own feelings of unworthiness and abandonment. God doesn't change, we do.

Jesus told us that what we do for the least of His people, we do unto Him. He taught us to pray. He commanded the apostles to make disciples of all the nations. All of these are actions. We're not earning browny points in doing God's work, we are learning about His plan and growing in our faith. God gave us works to train us. Are works a requirement for gaining salvation? No. But they may keep you from losing it.

If God didn't care how we conducted our lives, there would be no book of Proverbs.

Explain John 3:18

There is evidence in the bible that Judas did not trust in Jesus. He was a thief, there was no love in his heart. And then he betrayed him.

Why would Jesus who love us enough come save us and take our punishment for our sins because he knew we could never save ourselves, then leave us on our own to keep ourselves saved. That doesn't make sense. We can't keep ourselves saved anymore then we can get ourselves saved.

Look at Heb. 6:19 Which hope we have as an anchor of the sould, both sure and steadfast and which entereth into that within the veil.

Becky

Our behavior DOES matter

***

Grace and the Light of Chirst(works) If the light of Christ is not keeped lite by our actions as a servant of the Lord!

These words integrity, honor, charity, etc. Are important it is what made America Great, and today we see large corporations and business trying to fudge ethics

Even on our the personal level it is important that we in small ways do our fair share of goodwill etc.

If each of us don't let our light shine (exercised gifts given us)are we not showing an indifferent, and lack of appreciation for all that has been given us?