WHO IS GOD'S TRUE CHURCH ACCORDING TO GOD'S WORD?

[Karola]

I don't believe "the law written on our hearts" means we can't choose to do otherwise. If we walk in the flesh, we certainly won't obey the law written on our hearts. God never removes the choice. He expects us to make the right one by walking with the Spirit.

I agree with you in regards to the Scriptures you shared. So why are you quarreling with the guy over the two issues Paul said not to quarrel with him over? If he is convinced and acts on that conviction, great for him. But, if we don't believe what he believes and we are convinced of the opposite and act on that conviction, then what he says, in those regards, are irrelevant to us, right?

Because he follows the written code/law written in ink. That is not where the law is for believers. And because he follows the law written in ink, he tells everyone they must follow a set saturday sabbath.
I agree with you, Christians can and do at times go against the law written in their minds and placed on their hearts, for at times, as you say, they follow after the flesh. however, born again christians, must then have a conscience at doing this, for the law remains in their hearts, and they will, and must have heartfelt conviction of sin when they wilfully transgress that law, for:
Through the law we become conscious of sin Rom3:20

 

[LoveGodsWord]

Because he follows the written code/law written in ink. That is not where the law is for believers. And because he follows the law written in ink, he tells everyone they must follow a set saturday sabbath.

Your post has no truth in it. God's WORD is very clear who walks in his Spirit and who does not *GALATIANS 5:16. Salvation is indeed a free gift and there is nothing that you can do to earn it. OBEDIENCE is the fruit of Faith in all those who BELIEVE and FOLLOW God's WORD. If you do not have it you do not know God and are still in your sins neither do you have God's Spirit *1 JOHN 2:3-4; 1 JOHN 3:3-10; JAMES 2:18-20; 26; ACTS 2:38; 3:19; GALATIANS 5:16.

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SIN is the breaking of God's Commandments (James 2:9-11; Romans 7:7; 1 John 3:4)
Those who CONTINUE in UNREPENTANT SIN will NOT enter into the KINGDOM of HEAVEN.

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God's 4th commandment is one of the ten (Exodus 20:8-11) If we knowingly break it when God asks us not to we stand guilty before God of committing sin (James 2:8-12). If we do not seek him in repentance and forgiveness we are in danger of the Judgement (Hebrews 10:26-27)

Sunday worship is a tradition and teaching of man that has led many to break the commandments of God. Jesus says that if we follow the traditions of man that break the commandments of God we are not following God (Matthew 15:3-9)

There is not one scripture in all of God's Word that says that God's 4th Commandment is now ABOLISHED and we are now commanded to KEEP Sunday as a Holy day.

Who should we follow the teachings and traditions of men or the Word of God? Who should we believe the Words of men or the Word of God?

In times of ignorance God winks at but now ,<when a KNOWLEDGE of the truth has come> calls all men everywhere to REPENT (FOLLOW) (Acts 17:30-31).

 

[Johnny4ChristJesus]

Indeed CIRCUMCISION is not a requirement for salvation neither is it one of God's 10 commandments *ACTS 15:1-2. No one has God's Spirit while knowingly breaking any of God's Commandments *ACTS 2:38; 3:19; GALATIANS 5:16; 1 JOHN 2:3-4 and is why we need to be born again to love another *1 JOHN 3:3-10.

Again, you can be under the law. That's your choice, not mine. But, think about this: What is harder, to be physically circumcised once or to follow all the dietary laws and follow the sabbath? Which is a harder burden to handle? That is why the ruling wasn't limited to circumcision and in fact said nothing about it. The ruling in Acts 15 said "We write unto [gentiles] that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood." I maintain they picked those four things because if the gentile believers did any of those four it would expressly offend the jewish believers and therefore not be acting out of love; but they also didn't download the Mosaic Law on the gentile believers either. In fact, in contrast to you, they didn't even mention the 10 Commandments!

 

[Karola]

I don't believe "the law written on our hearts" means we can't choose to do otherwise. If we walk in the flesh, we certainly won't obey the law written on our hearts. God never removes the choice. He expects us to make the right one by walking with the Spirit.

I agree with you in regards to the Scriptures you shared. So why are you quarreling with the guy over the two issues Paul said not to quarrel with him over? If he is convinced and acts on that conviction, great for him. But, if we don't believe what he believes and we are convinced of the opposite and act on that conviction, then what he says, in those regards, are irrelevant to us, right?

Incidentally, from my experience(over decades) people who follow after the written code/law written in ink, have nowhere near the conviction of sin as do those who have the inner witness of it, without having to firstly read law written in ink. Why is that?
Who is the convictor of sin?
But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code/law written in ink. Rom7:6

If you follow after the written code, law written in ink, you cannot at the same time follow after the Holy Spirit. You then have a trinity of: Father, Son and the bible(cherry picked verses of the bible at that)

 

[LoveGodsWord]

Again, you can be under the law. That's your choice, not mine. But, think about this: What is harder, to be physically circumcised once or to follow all the dietary laws and follow the sabbath? Which is a harder burden to handle? That is why the ruling wasn't limited to circumcision and in fact said nothing about it. The ruling in Acts 15 said "We write unto [gentiles] that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood." I maintain they picked those four things because if the gentile believers did any of those four it would expressly offend the jewish believers and therefore not be acting out of love; but they also didn't download the Mosaic Law on the gentile believers either. In fact, in contrast to you, they didn't even mention the 10 Commandments!

Your only 'UNDER THE LAW" if you stand guilty before God of breaking it.

ROMANS 3:19-20
[19], Now we know that whatsoever things the law says, it says to them who are UNDER THE LAW: that EVERY MOUTH MAY BE STOPPED, and ALL THE WORLD may become guilty before God.
[20], Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

 

[Saint Steven]

It's funny how you term yourself as considering yourself born again. I would think it would be glaring you in the face with it's reality. Receiving the indwelling Holy Spirit for me was a life changing event and continues to be some 40 years later. The world should know this term, because I came out of a Christian system who did not teach on this, yet it happened to me in spite of them. When I took up real bible study many years, in fact decades later, I then saw in black and white what had happened as described in scripture. It was indeed another revelation to see " hey that's exactly what happened to me". The difference is one is dead the other alive in Christ, the very person of Jesus Christ. People can talk church doctrine, church literature, even preach and be completely dead in Christ Jesus. I was fortunate, I was brought low, to a point with no way to turn and came to Jesus Christ from that vantage point and non other than Him saved me.

The pharisees could talk a great game and Jesus said they were blasphemers, never mind even another church member but rather the worse of the worse who never would come to believe His truths..

So, are you suggesting that we put the term "born again" out front, even though it might be off-putting? "Full speed ahead; #### the torpedoes!"

 

[LoveGodsWord]

Incidentally, from my experience(over decades) people who follow after the written code/law written in ink, have nowhere near the conviction of sin as do those who have the inner witness of it, without having to firstly read law written in ink. Why is that?
Who is the convictor of sin?
But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code/law written in ink. Rom7:6

If you follow after the written code, law written in ink, you cannot at the same time follow after the Holy Spirit. You then have a trinity of: Father, Son and the bible(cherry picked verses of the bible at that)

What is sad about your post is that you try and accuse people of things they are not doing or believe despite having clarified your mistake earlier you continue. Now your just spreading misinformation.

Salvation is indeed a free gift and there is nothing that you can do to earn it. OBEDIENCE is the fruit of Faith in all those who BELIEVE and FOLLOW God's WORD. If you do not have it you do not know God and are still in your sins neither do you have God's Spirit *1 JOHN 2:3-4; 1 JOHN 3:3-10; JAMES 2:18-20; 26; ACTS 2:38; 3:19; GALATIANS 5:16.

 

[Johnny4ChristJesus]

Your only 'UNDER THE LAW" if you stand guilty before God of breaking it.

ROMANS 3:19-20
[19], Now we know that whatsoever things the law says, it says to them who are UNDER THE LAW: that EVERY MOUTH MAY BE STOPPED, and ALL THE WORLD may become guilty before God.
[20], Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

So, we agree here.

So, why did Jesus die? What is the good news--that we were rescued from obeying one set of rules to obey that set of rules again?

Whose righteousness am I alive in Him because of?

Philippians 3:9 9and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ-the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith.

2 Corinthians 5:21 21God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.​

1 Corinthians 1:30 30It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God-that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.

Can anyone apart from Jesus keep the Law?

“I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.” (Gal 2:21)

"O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain. He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham. For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them. Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith." (Gal 3:1-14)

 

[LoveGodsWord]

So, we agree here.

So, why did Jesus die? What is the good news--that we were rescued from obeying one set of rules to obey that set of rules again?

Whose righteousness am I alive in Him because of?

Philippians 3:9 9and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ-the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith.

2 Corinthians 5:21 21God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.​

1 Corinthians 1:30 30It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God-that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.

Can anyone apart from Jesus keep the Law?

“I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.” (Gal 2:21)

"O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain. He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham. For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them. Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith." (Gal 3:1-14)

No one is telling you to get your rightouesness from the law brother or are we made righteouss through the works of the law. We are only rightoeus by faith in God's WORD that works by LOVE and LOVE is the fulfilling of God's LAW in those who walk in God's Spirit *ROMANS 3:31; GALATIANS 5:16. If Jesus did away with God's 10 commandments then he would not have had to die for our sins. Salvation is from sin not in sin *JOHN 8:31-36. Those who continue in sin do not know him who calls us in LOVE to LOVE another *1 JOHN 2:3-4; ROMANS 13:8-10; HEBREWS 10:26-27

 

[Johnny4ChristJesus]

So, are you suggesting that we put the term "born again" out front, even though it might be off-putting? "Full speed ahead; #### the torpedoes!"

I'm a bit confused why you are concerned about offending with "born again" but not by calling yourself a saint? Both would be true--if you are truly born again--but declaring yourself to be a saint is much more likely to offend more people than claiming to be born again.

 

[Dave G.]

So, are you suggesting that we put the term "born again" out front, even though it might be off-putting? "Full speed ahead; #### the torpedoes!"

It's biblical terminology, can't handle the truth of the Word then they have more to consider than just the two words. It comes to mind actually " there will come a time when they can not endure sound doctrine". And so we fluff up the truth to please the masses, that is another Jesus not the one I know..

 

[Johnny4ChristJesus]

No one is telling you to get your rightouesness from the law brother or are we made rightoeuss through the works of the law. We are only rightoeus by faith in God's WORD that works by LOVE and LOVE is the fulfilling of God's LAW in those who walk in God's Spirit *ROMANS 3:31; GALATIANS 5:16. If Jesus did away with God's 10 commandments then he would not have had to die for our sins. Salvation is from sin not in sin *JOHN 8:31-36. Those who continue in sin do not know him who calls us in LOVE to LOVE another *1 JOHN 2:3-4; ROMANS 13:8-10; HEBREWS 10:26-27

Exactly, He calls us to love one another. "For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." (Gal 5:14) That is very different from going back to what He rescued us from. If John viewed things the way you think he did, then he must have thought of Paul as living a life of willful sin. It is clear from Scripture that Paul violated the Old Testament Laws to the point that Jews believed that he defiled the temple by being in it. He announced things to be clean, that they said were defiled. How do you reconcile that with God's selection of Paul and Peter's confirmation that Paul's writings should be treated like the other Scriptures?

 

[Saint Steven]

Your making stuff up again Steve no one is saying to you. Salvation is indeed a free gift and there is nothing that you can do to earn it. OBEDIENCE is the fruit of Faith in all those who BELIEVE and FOLLOW God's WORD. If you do not have it you do not know God and are still in your sins *1 JOHN 2:3-4; 1 JOHN 3:3-10; JAMES 2:18-20; 26.

Your doctrine does not agree with "God's WORD".

It's all about the workarounds in your house of cards doctrine.
In order to PREVENT salvation from REALLY being a gift from God, you have redefined "faith" to mean WORKS by calling it OBEDIENCE. Nice try, but you are SO busted.

What is your work around for the past tense statement, "... by grace you have been saved."? This means salvation in the here and now. But you don't believe that. Do you? Is it not true that you believe salvation is a result of the judgment of works at the end? That there is no salvation in the here and now?

Ephesians 2:5
made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.

Ephesians 2:8
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—

 

[LoveGodsWord]

Exactly, He calls us to love one another. "For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." (Gal 5:14) That is very different from going back to what He rescued us from. If John viewed things the way you think he did, then he must have thought of Paul as living a life of willful sin. It is clear from Scripture that Paul violated the Old Testament Laws to the point that Jews believed that he defiled the temple by being in it. He announced things to be clean, that they said were defiled. How do you reconcile that with God's selection of Paul and Peter's confirmation that Paul's writings should be treated like the other Scriptures?

Jesus rescued us from SIN *JOHN 8:31-36. God's LAW only gives us a KNOWLEDGE of GOOD and EVIL; SIN AND RIGHTEOUSNESS *ROMANS 3:20; ROMANS 7:7; JAMES 2:10-11; PSALMS 119:172.

Brother you cannot separate LOVE from God's LAW because LOVE is the very expression of God's LAW. Take a look at the following scriptures..

What does Jesus say when he talk about the commandments. Jesus is quoting from Old testament scriptures of Deuteronomy 6:5 and Leviticus 19:18.

Matthew 22:36-40
[36], Master, which is the great commandment in the law?
[37], Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
[38], This is the first and great commandment.
[39], And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.
[40], ON THESE TWO COMMANDMENTS HANG ALL THE LAW AND THE PROPHETS.

Let's get clearer...

Matthew 19:16-21
[16], And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?
[17], And he said unto him, Why call thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: BUT IF YOU WILL ENTER INTO LIFE KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS.
[18], He saith unto him, WHICH? JESUS SAID, THOU SHALT NOT MURDER, THOU SHALT NOT COMMIT ADULTERY, THOU SHALT NOT STEAL, THOU SHALT NOT LIE, HONOR YOU MOTHER AND FATHER AND THOU SHALT LOVE THY NEIGHBOR AS THYSELF
[20], The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?
[21], Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. <Jesus showed him that he may have fulfilled His duty of love to his neighbor but not to God breaking commandment 1 and 2 loving riches more than God>

Well Jesus makes it very clear that what he is talking about it is the 10 commandments of God's Law.

What about James...

James 2:8-12
[8], If ye fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, THOU SHALT LOVE THY NEIGHBOR AS THYSELF, ye do well:
[9], But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.
[10], FOR WHOSOEVER SHALL KEEP THE WHOLE LAW AND YET OFFEND IN ONE POINT, HE SHALL BE GUILTY OF ALL.
[11], FOR HE THAT SAID, DO NOT COMMIT ADULTERY SAID ALSO DO NOT KILL. NOW IF YOU DO NOT COMMIT ADULTERY AND YOU KILL, YOU HAVE BECOME A TRANSGRESSOR OF GOD'S LAW.
[12], So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.

Well James makes it very clear what he is talking about when he talks about the Royal Law of love. He is talking about the 10 commandments. So Jesus and James both agree that they are talking about God's 10 commandments which also include the 4th commandment which is one of the ten.

What about Paul? He wrote a lot of books in God's Word...

Romans 13:8-10
8, Owe no man anything, but to LOVE ONE ANOTHER: for HE THAT LOVES ANOTHER HAS FULFILLED THE LAW.
9, For this, THOU SHALT NOT COMMIT ADULTERY, THOU SHALT NOT KILL, THOU SHALT NOT STEAL, THOU SHALT NOT LIE, THOU SHALT NOT COVET; and IF THERE SHALL BE ANY OTHER COMMANDMENT, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, THOU SHALT LOVE THY NEIGHBOR AS THYSELF.
10, Love works no ill to his neighbor: therefore LOVE IS THE FULFILLING OF THE LAW.

Paul makes it very clear what he is talking about as well when he is talking about God's Law. It seems like Jesus, James and Paul all agree together what it is they are referring to when talking about God's Law. They are all referring to God's 10 commandments which includes the 4th commandment which is one of the ten (Exodus 20:1-17)

So now that God's Word shows us what it is referring to. No need to guess, what are talking about, God’s Law of Love is God's 10 commandments. It is only through Faith that works by love that anyone can walk in the Spirit which produces the fruit of obedience because love is the fulfilling of God’s Law in those that walk by faith and not by sight.

 

[Saint Steven]

I like the NIV version of Rom1:5

Through him we received grace and apostleship to call all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith for his name’s sake.

Right. That puts grace received before the outcome of obedience. Rather than making the obedience a qualifier for grace to be received.

 

[LoveGodsWord]

Your doctrine does not agree with "God's WORD".

It's all about the workarounds in your house of cards doctrine.
In order to PREVENT salvation from REALLY being a gift from God, you have redefined "faith" to mean WORKS by calling it OBEDIENCE. Nice try, but you are SO busted.

What is your work around for the past tense statement, "... by grace you have been saved."? This means salvation in the here and now. But you don't believe that. Do you? Is it not true that you believe salvation is a result of the judgment of works at the end? That there is no salvation in the here and now?

Ephesians 2:5
made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.

Ephesians 2:8
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—

It is sad you feel the need to make things up Steve despite your errors being corrected. I will leave that between you and God. It is God's WORD not mine that says that Grace is for OBEDIENCE to the faith. *ROMANS 1:5 By whom we have received GRACE and apostleship, FOR OBEDIENCE TO THE FAITH among all nations, for his name. Grace is not as liscence to sin and faith establishes God's LAW in the lives of those who BELIEVE and FOLLOW God's WORD. *ROMANS 3:31 Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, WE ESTABLISH THE LAW. If your faith does not have any fruit then you do not have saving faith *JAMES 2:18-20;26 and you are still in your sins and need to be Born again *1 JOHN 2:3-4; 1 JOHN 3:3-10.

 

[JLB777]

( 7 ) : ” THE GREATEST FALSE TEACHING OF THE CHURCHES ! “
August 17, 2017gigoboy777 Leave a comment


The standard teaching in the present day churches is that yes, we cannot save ourselves : That the only thing we have is our own free will, to either choose or reject God . Well does the Bible teach that we choose God of our own free will ? JOHN 1 ( 13) : ” Which were born NOT OF THE WILL OF MAN , BUT OF GOD ! ” ROMANS 9 ( 16 ) : ” So then IT IS NOT OF HIM THAT WILLETH , BUT OF GOD . ” JAMES 1 ( 18 ) : ” OF HIS OWN WILL begat he us with the word . ” So according to the Bible : It is NOT OF MAN’S WILL , BUT ONLY GOD’S WILL ! EPHESIANS 1 ( 11 ) : ” Him who works ALL THINGS AFTER the counsel of HIS OWN WILL . ” : ALL THINGS AFTER HIS WILL LEAVES NO PLACE FOR OUR OWN SUPPOSED FREE WILL ! So this teaching that man has his own free will is completely contrary to scripture : It falsely exalts man with power that he in truth does not have. Well you might ask : Why did not God not give man his own free will ? HEBREWS 12 ( 2 ) : ” Looking unto JESUS , THE AUTHOR AND FINISHER OF OUR FAITH ! ” : So CHRIST IS THE SOLE AUTHOR AND FINISHER OF OUR FAITH ! THERE IS NO ONE BETTER QUALIFIED THAN CHRIST TO TRAIN US : CERTAINLY NOT OURSELVES : SO THIS IS PRECISELY WHY CHRIST DID NOT GIVE US A FREE WILL , BECAUSE ONLY CHRIST CAN DO A PROPER JOB ! Only CHRIST knows what things we need to learn , we do not know these things : so what in the world would we do with a free will if such a thing existed : Answer : We wouldn’t have a clue , which is of course why CHRIST did not give us a free will : WE ARE JUST CLAY IN THE GREAT POTTERS HANDS , and thank God , no one can do a better job then God! PHILIPPIANS 1 ( 6 ) : ” He which began a good work in you will continue it unto the day of CHRIST . ” : He began it , not us , and he will finish it not us ! PHILIPPIANS 2 ( 13 ) : ” For IT IS GOD WHICH WORKETH IN YOU , BOTH TO WILL AND TO DO OF HIS GOOD PLEASURE ” : GOD NOT US ! This is solely the work of God : to say that man has any part in it is falsely exalting man : usurping the work of God and falsely placing it in man’s hands : an obvious blasphemy against God , and it is widely taught in the mainstream churches, and needs to be exposed for the blasphemy that it is ! EPHESIANS 2 ( 8-10 ) : 8 : ” For by grace are you saved through faith, AND THAT NOT OF YOURSELVES, it is the gift OF GOD ” 9 : ” NOT OF WORKS LEST ANY MAN SHOULD BOAST ” 10 : ” For we are HIS WORKMANSHIP ” Nothing of ourselves! ROMANS 13 ( 1 ) : ” THERE IS NO POWER BUT GOD ! ” No room here for man to have his own power of free will : No power but God. PSALMS 65 ( 4 ) : ” Blessed is the man whom THOU CHOOSEST AND CAUSEST TO APPROACH UNTO THEE . ” : God chooses his elect , and God causes them to come to him by his call, not us by our own supposed free will : totally unscriptural ! Choosing God would of course be a good thing to do, and if we really did choose God of our own free will we would be at least partially righteous, because choosing God would be a good thing, but such is definitely not the case as the Bible clearly says there are non righteous because we do not have the power to come to God of our own will as CHRIST clearly says in JOHN 6 ( 44 ) : ” No man can come to me unless THE FATHER DRAWS HIM . ” : ONLY THE FATHER CAN DRAW HIM : HE CANNOT COME OF HIS OWN POWER ! STOP BLASPHEMING AND SAYING THAT MAN SAVES HIMSELF BY HIS OWN FREE WILL WORK OF CHOOSING GOD : IT IS TOTALLY AND SOLELY THE WORK OF GOD !

Who obeys Christ?

The Christian or does God do the obeying for us?


Each person must choose to obey the Gospel, by God’s grace.


Each born again Christian must choose to obey Christ to love our neighbor.


Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. 1 John 3:15



JLB

 

[Saint Steven]

A few years later God opened my eyes to grace. It truly was a miracle, so entrenched was I as described.
I realised then, Jesus was my righteousness before the Father, I had none of my own, once I believed that the sin started to decrease, whereas before, it had only increased

That's good. Thanks. Are you familiar with this scripture?

Romans 4:4-5
Now to the one who works, wages are not credited as a gift but as an obligation. 5 However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness.

 

[Saint Steven]

I'm a bit confused why you are concerned about offending with "born again" but not by calling yourself a saint? Both would be true--if you are truly born again--but declaring yourself to be a saint is much more likely to offend more people than claiming to be born again.

Depends on the audience.
This is a Christian forum. To call oneself "born again" out in the world brings with it a lot of negative baggage. I would say it is off-putting.

As for my username, are we not all saints?
Over 2,200 posts and you are the second to even mention it. And both seem to be misusing the term.

Ephesians 2:19
Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;

 

[Saint Steven]

It's biblical terminology, can't handle the truth of the Word then they have more to consider than just the two words. It comes to mind actually " there will come a time when they can not endure sound doctrine". And so we fluff up the truth to please the masses, that is another Jesus not the one I know..

Do you find that people are excited to hear about the Lord when you tell them you are born again? Or does that throw a cold wet blanket on the discussion?