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To: MHGinTN
A Christian is one who has confessed with the mouth and IS BELIEVING/faithing in their heart/their soul, that God has raised Him from the dead, to transform them individually in soul with the indwellingng presence of His Holy Spirit. Faith is an action word, where the Christian is (as in ongoing, not just once then ignore) offering self for transforming by His Spirit by the renewing of the mind. Being a Christian is a process not just a profession, proving again that He is Lord and creating new creatures 'in Christ Jesus'.

Warning, you are getting dangerously close to what Mormons are saying about Faith and Works.

We believe that works increase faith and thus, you start with faith, increase your faith by being Doers of the word and not hearers only. That is why we read James 2:15-26 the way we do:
15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?
17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.
24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?
26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
The substance of Christian disagreement with Mormonism is the issue of Mormons proclaiming salvation 'can come' to the individual 'after all that the individual can do' as if a balance sheet to earn the right to God's Grace.

You were so close to actually understanding, and then you ran the other way, the balance sheet is not on works, but faith in Jesus Christ which can only be increased by Works. The after all you can do is all about increasing faith by works, not about keeping score somewhere.

Jesus individually and through the scriptures teaches that 'Salvation cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God.' Salvation is an instant birth in spirit and a life process of Holy Spirit transforming work of the soul, the only works 'in the soul of the individual' that God has foreordained that we should walk in.

The Bible also teaches that Faith without works is dead.

If you believe that tomorrow is your last day in earth and you will Die the day after tomorrow, your actions tomorrow will be different than you r "Every day" actions. You may decide to reconcile with family, or old friends now estranged, spend the day with your kids, or in church / confession, etc. what you will not do, is go to work and swear at your coworkers for their laziness / incompetence, you will not decide to make it a "as usual" day.

Thus it is with true conversion, those who have been converted will spend time and effort in "keeping God's laws", they will change their life style as their heart changes within them. Further changes will come as they take actions based on their newly healed heart, and that will bring about more healing in a "Positive reinforcement feed back loop" That is what is meant by "Works" to Mormons, not some silly score card. Really, where do you guys get these things?
385 posted on 10/30/2007 11:20:43 AM PDT by DelphiUser ("You can lead a man to knowledge, but you can't make him think")
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To: DelphiUser
That is what is meant by "Works" to Mormons...

Can you point to this stuff in your Scriptures?

Somehow I've missed the point.

399 posted on 10/30/2007 11:38:01 AM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: Elsie

‘After all that you can do’ ... If it is not the Holy Spirit in you doing the transforming, all that you can do will be burned up in the day of the Lord. Really, how dense can one person be? Post after post, the poster exceeds his own achieved density.


404 posted on 10/30/2007 11:47:15 AM PDT by MHGinTN (If you can read this, you've had life support. Defend life support for others in the womb.)
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