Results 1 - 5 of 5
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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Do our works keep us saved? | 1 Cor 12:13 | Mommapbs | 120668 | ||
Greetings Emmaus - the choice to abide is ours. Upon faith we become ingraphed branches - it is wholly a work of God. Yes, v 12 indicates the work of the Holy Spirit that is magnified and multiplied in the lives of all believers. The one who refuses Christ is the one who choses not to abide (v6) BUT the unproductive vine (v2) is not treated in the same manner.(to take away is not the same as to be thrown out and burned! From the Greek, the idea is that just as a vinedresser lifts up those vines on the ground so that they can be exposed to more sun, God does the same to those believers who are not evidencing the activity of Christ in their lives). I have recently posted much on this and remain steadfast in my resolve that all the work is done by Jesus. If it makes you feel more a part of Christ to do good deeds who am I to disuade you? My standing before God is because of Christ and HIS work alone. I am declared righteous because of who He is and my life is hidden in His. There is nothing I can do to earn more of His favor than I have right now because of Christ (This is My beloved Son in Whom I am well pleased. Since I am in Him, He is pleased with me too!) mommapbs |
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2 | Do our works keep us saved? | 1 Cor 12:13 | EdB | 120759 | ||
mommapbs You give an interesting twist to verse 2 but I come from an agricultural background and I'm very familiar with grafting and cutting away non producing and pruning to increase yield. I have watched the reaction of the plants and I'm aware that even a slight reorientation of a plant to the sun can effect it's yield. The twist you give is a play on words and requires an alternate meaning over the obvious. In fact many times a graft will fail, the limb will receive nourishment but something causes the grafted limb not to produce fruit and the limb must be removed for the betterment of the tree/vine. I believe this passage is just as it states a unproductive limb is discarded. I think the twist you give is perpetuated by people that have jumped from one extreme to the other. Remember many in the Protestant church have gone way to far to the grace side of this discussion in their effort to combat what they see as works salvation of Catholicism. We need to get back into the middle of the road. Your right works do not save! But salvation without works is not true. Your also right our works come from Christ but we have to get off our backsides and move. There is no other way to reconcile this to James. Furthermore I see this as being reinforced in the parable of the wedding Matthew 22:11. I think many that depend on nothing more that verbal affirmation that Christ is Lord for their salvation is in for a rude awakening. Jesus said if you love me you will keep my commandments. He commanded us to keep the law as a standard to live by, to Love God with all our heart and to love our neighbor as ourselves. He also commanded us to assembly together and to make disciples. These weren't mere requests, or suggestions for righteous Christian living they were commandments given to the servants of the Lord. I believe failure to do these reveals the true state of spirit. When a man and woman fall in love they tell each other how much they love the other, but until they put that love into action it is nothing more than lip service. That is the same of many confessed love of Christ, the talk the talk but fail to walk the walk. EdB |
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3 | Do our works keep us saved? | 1 Cor 12:13 | Rowdy | 120762 | ||
Very nicely done, dear friend. I think I have to agree with everything you've said here. Appreciate your fresh and honest perspective. Amen and God bless. --Rowdy | ||||||
4 | Do our works keep us saved? | 1 Cor 12:13 | EdB | 120768 | ||
Rowdy Thank you I think the church has got to get out of this easy believism. We are called to be servants, to me that implies the master has work for us to do. I think back to the first century church and if they took the attitude that seems popular today they only thing that would have happened would have been a big cathedral would been built with a family life center to house all the covered dishes. Instead they faced imaginable danger from both man, beast and nature to carry the word of God to the four corners of the earth. Many lost all they had, even loved ones and in many cases their own lives yet they pressed on toward the mark. It is funny how we sit in our padded pews and thank God we aren't a missionary called to some foreign land or a first century saint required to endure the pains of death. We convince ourselves grace will cover our lack of commitment and pray to God for more material blessings. EdB |
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5 | Do our works keep us saved? | 1 Cor 12:13 | Rowdy | 120787 | ||
Amen, dear friend. Keep studying and praying. Our way of life may just change sometime in the near future. I pray it will improve toward God's Will but I'm very much afraid things will get worse before they much better. It's almost like our world of Christianity, at least here in America is an alcoholic and needs to hit bottom before we'll give up this addiction to a convenient and comfortable lifestyle. I gotta hush now and climb off this soapbox. God bless. --Rowdy |
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