Results 1 - 2 of 2
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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Fruit vs. Works: the same or different? | Gal 5:22 | Hiskid84 | 129985 | ||
Hi, Country Girl. Thank you for sharing your thoughts. They gave me some new things to think about. I'm not sure if it was intentional on your part but you refered to us as the vine and Jesus as the Branch. I believe it is always the other way around in Scripture (He is the vine, we are the branches). I would also address the point where you and I differ in every post. I understand that you are compelled to say that we may be surprised with a one-way ticket to hell on Judgment Day if we aren't careful in accumulating enough "good works" to gain us entry into heaven. I know you say this in sincerity of heart, believing it to be both true and also to be beneficial to the readers of this forum. In the same way I am compelled to disagree. Though I do appreciate your thoughts on fruit and works, I believe that both are born out of our relationship with God, not the other way around. You wrote: "Some of these fruits are also inter-related but we should strive to add them all to our spiritual person and upon adding them, strive to improve them and grow in our spiritual relationship with our Lord." According to your order we must first gain fruit, then work (with diligence) to improve them, and lastly, grow in the Lord. Even if I agreed that we could do these things on our own (and I don't), I would beg to differ with the order. As I stated in my previous post, in my understanding of Scripture our fruit and/or works come out of our relationship with God, not the other way around. Just as you feel it is imperative to continually tell people they should constantly work at gaining access into heaven (just in case all that work is needed), lest they miss it, I feel it is just as imperative to refute your statement and suggest that people should rely on the finished work of Christ for their eternal heavenly home. You see, for me it is not a matter of "covering all the bases." It is a matter of helping people to see God for who He truly is. The Sovereign Creator of everything and Ruler over all His creation. To make salvation dependant upon our works is to make God impotent rather than Omnipotent. Thus man's view of God becomes smaller and smaller. Okay. That's all. May you be blessed, Karen |
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2 | Fruit vs. Works: the same or different? | Gal 5:22 | Country Girl | 129995 | ||
Thanks for pointing out my errors. I'm glad you understood the gist of my post. Yes, indeed Christ and His Father are the only sources for any and all good things in this life and in the next. In the final analysis, I see both our fruits of the Spirit and the works we attempt to accomplish in "the name of the Lord" all just boil down to being evidence of the Holy Spirit that lives within us. IF we see no such fruits or any such works going on in the life of a christian then we should approach that brother/sister and be kind and gentle but try to find out why they're not producing fruit and/or works for their Lord and Master. Galatians 6:1 Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. 2 Timothy 2:24 And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, We must remember imitating Christ should be reflected as a whole lifestyle. If we couldn't be arrested in an anti-Christian country for the lifestyle we're living here at home, how can we expect God to let us into Heaven? If our lives are NOT proclaiming the name of Christ here on earth, why should His Father proclaim our name at the entrance of His Home for us? Blessings to you. Country Girl |
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