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NASB | John 3:5 Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | John 3:5 Jesus answered, "I assure you and most solemnly say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot [ever] enter the kingdom of God. [Ezek 36:25-27] |
Bible Question:
Greetings Colin! My friend, what then does Scripture mean when it says that we are not saved by works? Your Brother in Christ, Tim Moran |
Bible Answer: Tim Since you posted your question to Colin twice, I'll stick my big nose in by responding to this duplicate one. We are not saved by works that is correct. But without works faith is dead. The question becomes what is our motivating factor. If we do something in an effort to secure salvation then we are making works our stairway to salvation. However if we do something because Jesus asked us to and we love Him and want to please Him then we are not. When my human parent told me to go to school I didn't do it to keep them my parents they would always be my parents. I went to school out of obedience there was no question, no negotiation, no other real choice. Had I not gone to school they would have had every right to discipline me, in fact had they not disciplined me they really wouldn't have loved me. However if that was the only reason I obeyed our relationship would have been very shallow. I never would have learned to think or do for myself I would only have learned to react. What made me obey my parents was loving and trusting them enough to heed their instruction. They had taught me that their love for me was what motivated them to place on me rules and conditions that were for my good. Therefore obeying them became a matter of love, their love setting the conditions and my love obeying them. If I had refused to obey my parents could I ever say I really loved them? I don't think so, I could say I loved when it suited me but when it didn't suit me what they wanted was their problem. That is not love. I think Christians are faced with the same thing today. There are certain things Jesus asked of each and everyone of us. He also said if you love Me you will obey Me. Do we do them for salvation? No. But we must really ask the question if we refuse to do them do we really love Jesus and are we really saved? Be blessed and be a blessing your brother in Christ EdB |