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NASB | Hebrews 6:1 Therefore leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ, let us press on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Hebrews 6:1 Therefore let us get past the elementary stage in the teachings about the Christ, advancing on to maturity and perfection and spiritual completeness, [doing this] without laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, |
Subject: What is a repentance from dead works? |
Bible Note: I think I can agree with some of what you're saying. Please read on. "So, we mustn't think that we need our filthy rags, but we do in fact need them? What does God need our filthy rags for? :-)" In this situation, God DOESN'T need them. He has no needs whatsoever for He's God BUT we NEED to do them for our benefit. You might say it's beneficial to us in the same manner as our prayers. Here again, God doesn't need our prayers as He knows our needs AND our wants before we do. BUT we're commanded to "pray without ceasing." In both cases our prayers and our works of faith help us keep our focus on God just like Peter discovered while walking on water. "Eph. 2:8-9 doesn't say that we are saved by works done in the proper attitude." James 2 on the other hand does make it clear that "faith without works is dead" and thus worthless to both us and to God. "Nor does James 2 talk about works done with a proper attidute. The individuals in James 2 were claiming to have faith and did not need to demonstrate any works. James was showing them that real faith 'works', thus they did not have real faith. "Thus, 'works' are the result and evidence of faith, not the basis of salvation." This is the only item with which I can agree in part. Yes indeed our works should be thought of by us as being proof of our faith. But notice the reverse is also true. If we have no works to look back on how can we say we have true and genuine faith for the devil himself believes in God and yet continues to disobey? If we can't lay claim to ANY acts of obedience, how can we claim to love God or our fellow man? So, yes, I agree with you, works is most certainly NOT the basis of salvation as the ONLY foundation for salvation MUST be Jesus Christ, He alone and the Grace of God, His Father and ours. I guess you might compare this Grace and our works as a marriage. One can't be married to another human being WITHOUT accepting the idea that there may come some days of trial and difficulties but the couple stays married regardless for that's God's Will. In the same way, when we become children of God, that automatically means we agree to bear the costs as Christ suggests in his parable AND we MUST bear our own cross of submission to His Will as he commanded. We can't have one (Grace) on the one hand and NOT have the other (acts of obedience). God DEMANDS real and genuine faith and I'm afraid He's going to be looking for our proofs of that faith on Judgment Day. How do you anticipate that God is going to distinguish between christians and other sinners on the Day? I hope this helps to clarify. God bless. Rowdy |