Are You Doing Enough?

[BNR32FAN]

If a person of no faith spends time helping others, not for personal gain or recognition, but because they feel it is only right to help, do you, or other Christians, consider such good work to be of less value than those carried out by Christians?

I can’t speak for other Christians but as for me personally I don’t see them to be of less value but God does because without Christ’s atonement our good works are still stained by our sin and are as filthy rags in God’s sight. Only after we have received Christ’s atonement can our good deeds be pleasing in God’s sight.

 

[Par5]

I can’t speak for other Christians but as for me personally I don’t see them to be of less value but God does because without Christ’s atonement our good works are still stained by our sin and are as filthy rags in God’s sight. Only after we have received Christ’s atonement can our good deeds be pleasing in God’s sight.

Seems to me that it is more about your god having a massive ego. Unless you consider him to be the main man then anything you do, no matter how good, is worthless in his eyes as you are just a filthy rag.
Nice bit of low self-esteem you have there. How on earth could you ever help anyone if you yourself feel so worthless?

 

[Par5]

1 Cor 13:3

if I give away all my possessions to charity, and if I surrender my body so that I may glory, but do not have love, it does me no good.

Are you saying that people of no faith can't do things out of love?
The last time I looked, Christians did not have the monopoly when it came to love. Has that changed?

 

[BNR32FAN]

Seems to me that it is more about your god having a massive ego. Unless you consider him to be the main man then anything you do, no matter how good, is worthless in his eyes as you are just a filthy rag.
Nice bit of low self-esteem you have there. How on earth could you ever help anyone if you yourself feel so worthless?

I don’t feel worthless at all because I have received Christ’s atonement so my good works are no longer filthy rags in His sight. In any case how God views a person’s work doesn’t reflect on how helpful their work was to another person. An atheist can give a hungry person food and while it is still a filthy rag in God’s sight it is still helpful to the hungry person.

 

[BNR32FAN]

Are you saying that people of no faith can't do things out of love?
The last time I looked, Christians did not have the monopoly when it came to love. Has that changed?

No he’s saying that if good deeds are done for self glorification then that person will not receive salvation. It will be unprofitable to him.

 

[Par5]

I don’t feel worthless at all because I have received Christ’s atonement so my good works are no longer filthy rags in His sight. In any case how God views a person’s work doesn’t reflect on how helpful their work was to another person. An atheist can give a hungry person food and while it is still a filthy rag in God’s sight it is still helpful to the hungry person.

Say for example you had a family member who was seriously ill and whose life was saved by the good work of a dedicated surgeon. If the surgeon wasn't a Christian, would you thank him by saying that his work in saving your family member's life was nothing more than a dirty rag? Unless you were willing to contradict what you believe your god says, then that is exactly what you have to think.
Many Christians posting on this thread have belittled the good works of anyone not of their faith. People who do things out of a sense of empathy and genuine concern for their fellow man have their works deemed unworthy and filthy rags.
Such an attitude is arrogance writ large.

 

[BNR32FAN]

Say for example you had a family member who was seriously ill and whose life was saved by the good work of a dedicated surgeon. If the surgeon wasn't a Christian, would you thank him by saying that his work in saving your family member's life was nothing more than a dirty rag? Unless you were willing to contradict what you believe your god says, then that is exactly what you have to think.
Many Christians posting on this thread have belittled the good works of anyone not of their faith. People who do things out of a sense of empathy and genuine concern for their fellow man have their works deemed unworthy and filthy rags.
Such an attitude is arrogance writ large.

I’ve thanked many doctors who’ve helped many of my family members and I never asked any of them if they were Christian or not. In any case a doctor or surgeon is a bad example to use because they don’t do it out of the kindness of their heart, this becomes evident when you receive the bill.

 

[cvanwey]

There's no Bible scripture that requires good works as a payment for salvation.

Yes there is... Does God label you a "sheep" or a "goat"?

Matthew 25:31-46

 

[BNR32FAN]

Yes there is... Does God label you a "sheep" or a "goat"?

Matthew 25:31-46

Was their judgment the result of their works or their love? Which group showed love for others and which didn’t?

 

[Carl Emerson]

Are you saying that people of no faith can't do things out of love?
The last time I looked, Christians did not have the monopoly when it came to love. Has that changed?

Works motivated by the indwelling Jesus are no longer of self.

It changed when Jesus gave birth to the church.

 

[Maria Billingsley]

Does everyone get eternal salvation?

No, only those who want to receive. Many reject His free gift of salvation.

 

[cvanwey]

Was their judgment the result of their works or their love? Which group showed love for others and which didn’t?

The passage speaks about works. @fwGod stated "There's no Bible scripture that requires good works as a payment for salvation."

This assertion is false. You can help your fellow neighbor and not love them, right? Have you ever stopped on the side of the road to give someone's car a jump start, or helped someone in the parking lot trying to place a heavy item into their truck? I doubt you love them.

 

[BNR32FAN]

The passage speaks about works. @fwGod stated "There's no Bible scripture that requires good works as a payment for salvation."

This assertion is false. You can help your fellow neighbor and not love them, right? Have you ever stopped on the side of the road to give someone's car a jump start, or helped someone in the parking lot trying to place a heavy item into their truck? I doubt you love them.

The word is used to express compassion and caring. These are both elements of love.

 

[cvanwey]

The word is used to express compassion and caring. These are both elements of love.

The interlocutor expressed that there exists no Scripture which speaks about doing "good works" in order to receive salvation. This is false.

Further, the fact Jesus states He will judge thee, based upon these works, more-so reinforces such a conclusion.

 

[Clizby WampusCat]

Grace is the free gift not salvation.

Please explain the difference.

 

[Clizby WampusCat]

Every Christian was an atheist.

Not what I asked.

if I die as an atheist, will I receive the free gift of salvation?

 

[HTacianas]

If God is going to judge in the end, then there is an answer to the question. So if you don't know the answer, are you doing everything you can to tilt the scales in your favor?

I would have to say that I am not doing everything that I can. No matter what anyone does it is not likely everything. Some people are cut out to do more than others, "...He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers", Ephesians 4:11. But at the very minimum we should "...always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear...", 1 Peter 3:15.

From the Didache: "For if you are able to bear all the yoke of the Lord, you will be perfect; but if you are not able, what you are able that do".

 

[Moral Orel]

Your problem is the first three words... If God exists

You must first know that He does.

However it is quite OK to ask Him to reveal Himself to you, but be warned, it may change your life completely.

I tried that a bunch of times and it didn't work.

 

[Moral Orel]

No, only those who want to receive. Many reject His free gift of salvation.

Okay, so I need to accept it, and I can't reject it. What does that entail?

 

[Moral Orel]

I would have to say that I am not doing everything that I can. No matter what anyone does it is not likely everything. Some people are cut out to do more than others, "...He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers", Ephesians 4:11. But at the very minimum we should "...always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear...", 1 Peter 3:15.

From the Didache: "For if you are able to bear all the yoke of the Lord, you will be perfect; but if you are not able, what you are able that do".

So you know you could do more. Are you sure you're doing enough to make the cut? It's not as though I'm saying God is keeping a score card of good deeds. But if you're the sort of person that puts your own comfort above the needs of others, do you think you're the sort of person God is letting in?