Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article

To: metmom
I was basing what I said on what so many who argue against us say about works, about Col 1:24 and Phil 2:12b.

Sometimes I fear your side won't take yes for an answer. You say we are hag-ridden by our thought that works are involved with salvation. So I appeal to my brethren reminding them that we are to do the work of earnestly desiring the higher gifts (I Cor 12 -- and earlier I was referring to 1 Cor 13), and I get smacked?

I guess this is part of the "all things" I am urged to bear and endure.

83 posted on 10/04/2011 8:14:47 AM PDT by Mad Dawg (Jesus, I trust in you.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 78 | View Replies ]


To: Mad Dawg; 1000 silverlings; Alex Murphy; bkaycee; blue-duncan; boatbums; caww; count-your-change; ..
Nobody is arguing against a Christian doing works.

Ephesians 2:8-10 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

God has prepared good works in advance for us to do. One pastor went as far as to say that those works can be so specific that if I don't do what God prepared for me to do, then they aren't going to get done, as nobody else can or will do them.

That is a weighty responsibility.

Our contention is that works don't save anyone, but rather that they are the evidence to the world that saving faith has been exercised and they are used to witness to the power of God to change a life, and bring others into the kingdom as we minister to them.

They simply do not count towards procuring our salvation because works do not make one holy or sinless, nor do they pay off the sin we commit. The only way sin can be appropriately dealt with is by forgiveness, not counting it against us.

86 posted on 10/04/2011 9:04:49 AM PDT by metmom (For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore & do not submit again to a yoke of slavery)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 83 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson