"He who practices righteousness is righteous" (1 John 3:7)

[BCsenior]

Revelation 21:
7 He who overcomes shall inherit all things,
and I will be his God and he shall be My son.
8 But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars
shall have their part in the lake
which burns with fire and brimstone,
which is the second death.

This is one of my favorites to contemplate.
IMO, this is referring to habitual sinners of all persuasions
… believers and non-believers alike.

Can a BAC get away with being a habitual sinner
(and goes to heaven)
whilst …
a non-believer cannot get away with being a habitual sinner
(and goes to hell)?
Now, there's a fun question for you!

 

[Gregory Thompson]

Revelation 21:
7 He who overcomes shall inherit all things,
and I will be his God and he shall be My son.
8 But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars
shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone,
which is the second death.

This is one of my favorites to contemplate.
IMO, this is referring to habitual sinners of all persuasions
… believers and non-believers alike.

Can a BAC get away with being a habitual sinner (and goes to heaven)
whilst …
a non-believer cannot get away with being a habitual sinner (and goes to hell)?
Now, there's a fun question for you!

Being born again translates our inner selves into something that is compatible for the new heaven and the new earth.

People who are not born again by the Holy Spirit have all this corrupted data, and it does not translate.

 

[BCsenior]

Seeds. Parable of the Sower. Good seed falls where they may. Many become corrupted. Not all that say Lord Lord will be recognized in the end.

'Tis universally recognized that the foist tree are NOT saved.
Only the foist won is saved.
And the proof is by the good fruit produced (whilst being saved).
(Ref: several NT verses such as John 15:1-6)

 

[BCsenior]

“… we know Him, if we obey His commandments.” (1 John 2:3)

It might just be a good idea to know Him and Him,
so it might just be a good idea to obey His commandments!

“And this is eternal life,
that they may know You, the only true God,
and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.” (John 17:3)

 

[Guojing]

Except there is one gospel and one kingdom of God, and one plan salvation was offered FIRST to the Jew AND THEN to the gentile.

All are one in Christ Jesus, which is why Paul preached the kingdom of God, and preached the same message to both Jew and Gentile, such as this:

Testifying BOTH to the Jews, AND also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

Act 28:30 And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him,

Act 28:31 Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding

Mid-Acts and/or Pauline dispensationalism is simply wrong, and everything concerning salvation, including John chapter 3, pertains to everyone.

As I stated, Galatians 2:7-9 in the KJV

7 But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter;

8 (For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles)

9 And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.

John, as stated in vs 9, would approve of me going to Paul for my salvation doctrine.

You are of course free to have a different view.

 

[Guojing]

Revelation 21:
7 He who overcomes shall inherit all things,
and I will be his God and he shall be My son.
8 But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars
shall have their part in the lake
which burns with fire and brimstone,
which is the second death.

This is one of my favorites to contemplate.
IMO, this is referring to habitual sinners of all persuasions
… believers and non-believers alike.

Can a BAC get away with being a habitual sinner
(and goes to heaven)
whilst …
a non-believer cannot get away with being a habitual sinner
(and goes to hell)?
Now, there's a fun question for you!

During the Tribulation, that is correct, faith alone will no longer save anyone then.

 

[timothyu]

Wouldn't it be interesting if James had been the go to guy for the Greeks and Romans.

 

[AbbaLove]

My understanding (77 years young) having never been unduly indoctrinated by any denominational dogmas and man-made doctrines is that TRUE Righteousness is only possible with the indwelling presence, guidance and leading of the Holy Spirit (Proverbs 1:23, Nehemiah 9:20, John 14:26, 1 John 2:27, Luke 12:12, 1 Corinthians 2:9-10,
1 Corinthians 2:12-13).

Too many of today's Christians rely/trust more on doctrinal theology and in part their belief based on the erroneous teaching that the nine supernatural GIFTS of His Holy SPIRIT ceased after the death of the last of the Apostles. Thus, for many it's their own religious self-righteousness with good intent, but is it good enuf ...

On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?' And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you evildoers'" (Matthew 7:21-23).

that they may all be one; just as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me. The glory which You have given Me I also have given to them, so that they may be one, just as We are one; I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and You loved them, just as You loved Me.
(John 17:21-23)
​

 

[BCsenior]

TRUE Righteousness is only possible with
the indwelling presence, guidance
and leading of the Holy Spirit!

Yes, it is only possible with the HELP of Holy Spirit.

And it is only possible if we CO-OPERATE with Him during
the process of sanctification unto holiness!

slave of obedience unto righteousness (Romans 6:16)
slave of righteousness unto holiness (Romans 6:19)

 

[Hammster]

Revelation 21:
7 He who overcomes shall inherit all things,
and I will be his God and he shall be My son.
8 But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars
shall have their part in the lake
which burns with fire and brimstone,
which is the second death.

This is one of my favorites to contemplate.
IMO, this is referring to habitual sinners of all persuasions
… believers and non-believers alike.

Can a BAC get away with being a habitual sinner
(and goes to heaven)
whilst …
a non-believer cannot get away with being a habitual sinner
(and goes to hell)?
Now, there's a fun question for you!

Here’s a question: since born again Christians are children of God, how does He handle disobedient children?

 

[BCsenior]

Here’s a question: since born again Christians are children of God, how does He handle disobedient children?

Here's a question: how does God handle His disobedient children,
if they continually refuse to listen to, obey, etc. the Holy Spirit
after being continually chastised?

 

[timothyu]

Takes away their smart phones and compels them to wander in the desert for 40 years?

 

[Guojing]

Here’s a question: since born again Christians are children of God, how does He handle disobedient children?

If you are talking about during the Tribulation years, the simple answer to your question, is to cast them into the lake of fire (Matthew 25:41-46)

 

[Hammster]

Here's a question: how does God handle His disobedient children,
if they continually refuse to listen to, obey, etc. the Holy Spirit
after being continually chastised?

He continues to discipline them. A Father doesn’t abandon His children.

Or, if you prefer another biblical example, He prunes them as a Good Vinedresser.

Now, I answered your question. What’s your answer?

 

[Hammster]

If you are talking about during the Tribulation years, the simple answer to your question, is to cast them into the lake of fire (Matthew 25:41-46)

Well, those aren’t His children.

 

[Guojing]

Well, those aren’t His children.

Yes, people like to use this to reconcile James with Paul

You are saved by faith alone apart from works
But if there are no works after you are saved, then you aren't really saved

To me, its a circular argument, a way to sneak works in thru the backdoor, but whatever floats your boat I guess.

 

[setst777]

Is the practice necessarily perfect?

OR

"Practice makes perfect?"

Greetings

Both would likely be accurate.

However, a true Gospel Faith in Lord Jesus is represented in Baptism, and so is repentance toward God and faith in Lord Jesus (Acts 20:18-21).

A repentant faith is represented by dying to the old life of living for and serving our fleshly desires, to instead, a faith commitment to follow Lord Jesus into a holy life of righteousness and love. . .

This is the Gospel Faith - a new life in Christ Jesus by which we will take part in the resurrection of Lord Jesus (Romans 6:1-5).

Our faith is tested and refined by the temptations and trials of life. The one who has a true Gospel Faith is not a fence-sitter, or one who looks back on the old life, because he has repented of that old life and now lives to follow Lord Jesus.

• You cannot serve two masters – it’s one or the other (Matthew 6:24).
• You can’t be lukewarm (Revelation 3:16; 1 John 2:15-17; Luke 11:27-28),
• You can’t be a fence sitter (James 1:5-7).
• No one looking back to the old life will inherit eternal life (Luke 9:62; Romans 6:19-23; 1 Peter 1:17-19).
• Do not sell your eternal inheritance for the carnal pleasures of this temporary life (Hebrews 12:16-17).

Blessings

 

[Paulomycin]

Greetings

Both would likely be accurate.

However, a true Gospel Faith in Lord Jesus is represented in Baptism, and so is repentance toward God and faith in Lord Jesus (Acts 20:18-21).

A repentant faith is represented by dying to the old life of living for and serving our fleshly desires, to instead, a faith commitment to follow Lord Jesus into a holy life of righteousness and love. . .

This is the Gospel Faith - a new life in Christ Jesus by which we will take part in the resurrection of Lord Jesus (Romans 6:1-5).

Our faith is tested and refined by the temptations and trials of life. The one who has a true Gospel Faith is not a fence-sitter, or one who looks back on the old life, because he has repented of that old life and now lives to follow Lord Jesus.

• You cannot serve two masters – it’s one or the other (Matthew 6:24).
• You can’t be lukewarm (Revelation 3:16; 1 John 2:15-17; Luke 11:27-28),
• You can’t be a fence sitter (James 1:5-7).
• No one looking back to the old life will inherit eternal life (Luke 9:62; Romans 6:19-23; 1 Peter 1:17-19).
• Do not sell your eternal inheritance for the carnal pleasures of this temporary life (Hebrews 12:16-17).

Blessings

Do works (such as baptism) facilitate salvation, yes or no?

 

[setst777]

Let me use a biblical illustration. In Matthew 25, when Jesus talks about separating the sheep and the goats, notice that He doesn’t separate them by what they do, but by who they are. It’s not the good works that made the sheep sheep. They did good works because they were sheep.

Those who are His practice righteousness.

God himself identifies the sheep as those who listen to and follow Lord Jesus. These are the sheep the Father gives to the Son.

John 10:27-29 (WEB) 27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give eternal life to them. They will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father who has given them to me is greater than all. No one is able to snatch them out of my Father’s hand.

The ones whom the Father gives to the Son, those who are guaranteed eternal life, are the ones who hear His voice and follow Him. Those who believe, demonstrated by hearing and following Jesus, are identified as the sheep that the Father gives to the Son. That is the condition to receive the promise – the guarantee of eternal life.

Matthew 25 starts out with the Parable of the Ten Virgins, who both believed in Jesus and were waiting for His return. But five of them did not remain ready to meet their Lord, and so God rejected them.

Matthew 25 continues with another Parable of the Master how entrusts talents to his own servants. Two of His servants invested wisely, but the last servant was lazy wicked and kept the talent hidden for safe keeping.

In each of the above cases, the virgins and servants of the Lord all knew the Lord, but they were not faithful to carry out the Lord's will.

Then comes the description of the Judgment. We see that God judges our faith by our actions, for the doers of the Word are those who demonstrate a Gospel Faith in Lord Jesus.

Doer of the Word

A true Gospel Faith is a new life of righteousess and love, demonstrated by good works.

Acts 26:19-20 (WEB) 19 “Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, 20 but declared first to them of Damascus, at Jerusalem, and throughout all the country of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, doing works worthy of repentance.

Matthew 7:21-28 (WEB)
21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

Matthew 28:19-20 (WEB) 19 Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I commanded you. Behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

James 1:21-22 (WEB)
21 Therefore, putting away all filthiness and overflowing of wickedness, receive with humility the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

22 But be doers of the word, and not only hearers, deluding your own selves.

Blessings

 

[setst777]

Do works (such as baptism) facilitate salvation, yes or no?

No.

Galatians 3:26-27 (WEB) 26 For you are all children of God, through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

1 Peter 3:21 (WEB) 21 This is a symbol of baptism, which now saves you—not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

Blessings