Matthew 7 "everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them"

zoidar

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How do you understand Matthew 7 ? Especially "faith only" believers.

24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and ACTS on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock. 26 Everyone who hears these words of Mine and DOES NOT ACT on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell--and great was its fall.”
 

redleghunter

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How do you understand Matthew 7 ? Especially "faith only" believers.

24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and ACTS on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock. 26 Everyone who hears these words of Mine and DOES NOT ACT on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell--and great was its fall.”
Faith is the "ACT."
 
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zoidar

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Faith is an action.

You can't mean it says: "Everyone who has faith in these words" unless faith means acting accordingly.

I agree that faith also means action, not just belief.
 
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~Anastasia~

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This passage describes one discourse which begins in Ch 5. Jesus went up and began to teach - taught on many things - and at the end explained that we must FOLLOW His teachings. Meaning all of them in general - not necessarily pulling out a verse or few. And I'm not talking about "keeping commandments" one by one in a legalistic sense. But how we think, how we are formed, what kind of person we become and from that will flow our words, thoughts, actions, and attitudes.

Bottom line is that we should be FORMED to BE LIKE CHRIST. If we are, then when difficulties come (remember the persecutions and martyrdom the Christians soon began to face!) ... if we are like Christ, then whatever storms come, we have that foundation and will not be shaken.

If we merely hear the words but remain as we always have been, we will not have the roots to withstand the storms of life and will miserably collapse.

Following Christ changes us, strengthens us, makes us become truly "little Christs" (i.e. true Christians). God's instructions are for our GOOD - He wants to see us healed from the effects of sin (the word we usually translate as "saved" means both saved and healed). He doesn't give commands because He is a tyrant. All God's teachings are to HELP us for our best good. God is love.

All of this of course requires the grace of God as well, but He faithfully does His part when we are trying to follow and cooperate with Him.
 
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zoidar

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This passage describes one discourse which begins in Ch 5. Jesus went up and began to teach - taught on many things - and at the end explained that we must FOLLOW His teachings. Meaning all of them in general - not necessarily pulling out a verse or few. And I'm not talking about "keeping commandments" one by one in a legalistic sense. But how we think, how we are formed, what kind of person we become and from that will flow our words, thoughts, actions, and attitudes.

Bottom line is that we should be FORMED to BE LIKE CHRIST. If we are, then when difficulties come (remember the persecutions and martyrdom the Christians soon began to face!) ... if we are like Christ, then whatever storms come, we have that foundation and will not be shaken.

If we merely hear the words but remain as we always have been, we will not have the roots to withstand the storms of life and will miserably collapse.

Following Christ changes us, strengthens us, makes us become truly "little Christs" (i.e. true Christians). God's instructions are for our GOOD - He wants to see us healed from the effects of sin (the word we usually translate as "saved" means both saved and healed). He doesn't give commands because He is a tyrant. All God's teachings are to HELP us for our best good. God is love.

All of this of course requires the grace of God as well, but He faithfully does His part when we are trying to follow and cooperate with Him.

My question is how much do I have to follow and act on Jesus words in sermon of the plain and sermon of the mount to be saved?
 
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FenderTL5

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My question is how much do I have to follow and act on Jesus words in sermon of the plain and sermon of the mount to be saved?
All of it. Then when you miss the mark, you confess/repent and start again.
 
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How do you understand Matthew 7 ? Especially "faith only" believers.

24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and ACTS on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock. 26 Everyone who hears these words of Mine and DOES NOT ACT on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell--and great was its fall.”
Scripture says that faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things unseen. The way I see it applicable in Matthew 7, is that Faith is believing if I do this that Christ says, you will be able to endure intact through bad things that will come.

If you were looking forward to a faith vs. works debate, I would point out that Paul is referring to works of the law are futile as a means of obtaining righteousness, which is not actually in any opposition to James, who preaches that faith produces righteous works.
 
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zoidar

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Won't that be like repenting and confessing every hour?

The question might be what we consider to be sin. I've heard some say that you are forgiven when taking Lords supper, but allready on the way back to your seat in Church you have sinned again.
 
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zoidar

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Scripture says that faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things unseen. The way I see it applicable in Matthew 7, is that Faith is believing if I do this that Christ says, you will be able to endure intact through bad things that will come.

If you were looking forward to a faith vs. works debate, I would point out that Paul is referring to works of the law are futile as a means of obtaining righteousness, which is not actually in any opposition to James, who preaches that faith produces righteous works.

Actually I am trying to understand how this could be interpreted to "faith only". I'm not 100% sure if I believe in faith only or faith + obedience.

Also I'm trying to find out how to have peace in your heart if you need to be obedient to be saved.
 
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redleghunter

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You can't mean it says: "Everyone who has faith in these words" unless faith means acting accordingly.

I agree that faith also means action, not just belief.
Faith implies faithfulness. I think you are reading too much into the text. Those who believe in God follow Him. Abraham believed the promises of God and left his hometown for the Promised Land. If Abraham said "sure God I believe you but I'm staying here" then that would be unbelief.

In John chapter 6 the people who were fed by Jesus asked Him:

Therefore they said to Him, “What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God?” Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.”
 
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redleghunter

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Actually I am trying to understand how this could be interpreted to "faith only". I'm not 100% sure if I believe in faith only or faith + obedience.

Also I'm trying to find out how to have peace in your heart if you need to be obedient to be saved.
The Book of Romans addresses what you inquire about. All of it.
 
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redleghunter

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Scripture says that faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things unseen. The way I see it applicable in Matthew 7, is that Faith is believing if I do this that Christ says, you will be able to endure intact through bad things that will come.

If you were looking forward to a faith vs. works debate, I would point out that Paul is referring to works of the law are futile as a means of obtaining righteousness, which is not actually in any opposition to James, who preaches that faith produces righteous works.
Indeed...We act, do things, based on what or Who we have faith in.
 
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zoidar

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Faith implies faithfulness. I think you are reading too much into the text. Those who believe in God follow Him. Abraham believed the promises of God and left his hometown for the Promised Land. If Abraham said "sure God I believe you but I'm staying here" then that would be unbelief.

In John chapter 6 the people who were fed by Jesus asked Him:

Therefore they said to Him, “What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God?” Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.”

So those who trust in Jesus for salvation and don't live faithfully aren't saved?
 
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zoidar

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The Book of Romans addresses what you inquire about. All of it.

There are so many different interpretations of Romans. Did Paul describe his unsaved state or his saved state in Romans 7 for an example?
 
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