“The Reformation believes the church is a continuation of those faithful Jews chosen by God.”
Really? Then why base most of the Reformation on the Apostle to the Gentiles?
“It isn’t just grace according to your comment. It is 1) God’s grace, 2) acceptance of that grace, and 3) good works. God does 1/3 and man does 2/3. Doesn’t that sum it up? And if God offers this grace to everyone, as you claim, then what is there for God to do?”
I guess that the mathematical concept of “and” is still not getting through. In processing terms, it is “serial” rather than “parallel”.
Scriptures tell that God desires all men to go to Heaven.
“God desires everyone to be saved, and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1Tim.2:4)
We also know what we are supposed to do and what the consequences are:
the righteous judgment of God; Who will render to every man according to his deeds (Rom.2:5-6...2:5-11).
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad. (2Cor.5:10).
Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come forth, those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of judgment. (Jn.5:28-29)
Then I saw a great white throne and him who sat upon it; from his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Also another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, by what they had done. And the sea gave up the dead in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead in them, and all were judged by what they had done. (Rev.20:11-13).
For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done (Mat.16:27).
- “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ (Mat.25:21...21-28).
“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left
“Then the King will say to those on his right, `Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ “Then the righteous will answer him, `Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ “The King will reply, `I tell you the truth, whatever you did to one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did to me.’ (verse 40)
“Then he will say to those on his left, `Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’ “They also will answer, `Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ “He will reply, `I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do to one of the least of these, you did not do to me.’ (verse 45)
“Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.” (verse46)
In verse 46 is the execution of both these sentences... Grace and Faith are not even mentioned, nor imputed righteousness... just good or bad personal deeds, our own righteousness.
each will be rewarded according to his own labor. For we are God’s fellow workers; (1Cor.3:8-9).
Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for his wrong, and there is no favoritism. (Col.3:24).
For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works. (Mat.16:27).
Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. (Lk.6:38).
Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap...And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith. (Gal.6:7-10).
So what are grace and faith for?
The Grace of God is a most wonderful gift, the greatest treasure on earth, able to fill us with the love of God, because Jesus Christ Himself comes freely into you, just by faith, and then you can love and do good deeds, and not you, but Jesus who is in you! (Gal.2:20)... In Christianity, faith is the foundation of the building, love is the building itself, and hope is the windows of that building, to receive fresh air and light and warmth and energy of the sun... (1Cor.13, Gal.5:5-6).
when his righteous judgment will be revealed. God “will give to each person according to what he has done...For God does not show favoritism. (Rom.2:5-6, 11) But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons. (Col.3:25)
So who goes to heaven?
“God desires everyone to be saved, and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1Tim.2:4)...
The “faith” is a “gift”, a “charisma”... like your hands or your face, or the grace of God, or the Bible, or the Church... all are “gifts” of God... and you do not go to Heaven because of the “gifts” you received, but because of the “fruits”... because of the “works” you did using your hands, and your Christian faith, and the grace of God, and the knowledge of the Bible, and the maternal care of the Church.
Matthew
Chapter 7
1
“Stop judging, that you may not be judged.
2
For as you judge, so will you be judged, and the measure with which you measure will be measured out to you.
3
Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own eye?
4
How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove that splinter from your eye,’ while the wooden beam is in your eye?
5
You hypocrite, remove the wooden beam from your eye first; then you will see clearly to remove the splinter from your brother’s eye.
6
“Do not give what is holy to dogs, 4 or throw your pearls before swine, lest they trample them underfoot, and turn and tear you to pieces.
7
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.
8
For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
9
Which one of you would hand his son a stone when he asks for a loaf of bread,
10
or a snake when he asks for a fish?
11
If you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good things to those who ask him.
12
“Do to others whatever you would have them do to you. This is the law and the prophets.
13
“Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction, and those who enter through it are many.
14
How narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life. And those who find it are few.
15
“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but underneath are ravenous wolves.
16
By their fruits you will know them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?
17
Just so, every good tree bears good fruit, and a rotten tree bears bad fruit.
18
A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a rotten tree bear good fruit.
19
Every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.
20
So by their fruits you will know them.
21
“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.
22
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?’
23
Then I will declare to them solemnly, ‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you evildoers.’
24
“Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock.
25
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.
26
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.
27
The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. And it collapsed and was completely ruined.”
28
When Jesus finished these words, the crowds were astonished at his teaching,
29
for he taught them as one having authority, and not as their scribes.
Are there any further questions about how important works are? They are fully as important as God’s saving grace and as fully important in accepting it.
You must have all three or you have no everlasting life. Does this clear things up a bit?
The Paulines have yet to discover the truth that they too will be judged according to their deeds and that no amount of faith and self-righteousness they impute will save them.
But, more likely than not, they will continue to live in their self-delusion that they were 'saved" when they cried "Jesus, Jesus!"
They will continue their selective theology of reading that which suits their "dont-worry-be-happy" religion, convinced that all their wrongs are not their deeds that await judgment and that no matter what they do they are guided by the "indwelling spirit."
By excluding themselves from the rest of the humanity, as a (s)elect elite, they will no doubt continue to sin boldly and think nothing of it as long as they call on Jesus' name.
God chastens believers here on earth to conform to His will so that we are not judged with the rest of the world. God will repay everyone for their works. They will be measured by the Law and will get exactly what is coming. Those who accept God's grace are judge by liberty.