How to walk in THE Light.

[Bible Highlighter]

Ive not said that i dont keep the commandments.
Go read 40 Threads, and probably a few thousand posts, ive written.

I said that commandment keeping is not why God saves a person, nor is it why a person remains saved.

Commandment keeping is not the way to heaven.
Commandment keeping is the same as self effort, and that gospel is the gospel of works that is this.. Galatians 1:8

The gospel is 1 Corinthians 15:1-4. It is believing that Jesus died for our sins, He was buried, and He was risen three days later (for our salvation). That's the gospel. It's nothing more than that.

A person first needs to be saved by God's grace through faith. For without His grace, we would all be doomed. Our past slate of sin needs to be wiped out. This can only be done by seeking forgiveness with Jesus and by believing that Jesus died for our sins, He was buried, and He was risen three days later on our behalf for salvation (1 Corinthians 15:1-4).

However, after we are saved by God's grace (Which will include the gospel), we need to move on into the Sanctification Process (which is the next step in God's plan of salvation) (i.e. to live holy by God's power). How so? Well, 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14 says that God has chosen us to salvation by the Sanctification of the Spirit, and a belief of the truth (faith), which is a call of the gospel. In other words, the gospel calls us. Imagine an old phone ringing on your table that says, “the gospel.”

You pick up the phone...

and you hear a voice on the end of the other line says, “God has chosen us to salvation through Sanctification of the Spirit and a belief in the truth.”

Here is the verse:

“...God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through
sanctification of the Spirit
and belief of the truth:
Whereunto he called you by our gospel,...” (2 Thessalonians 2:13-14).
​

The question is: Will people pick up the phone and heed the call of the gospel?

Anyways, Paul was fighting against a heresy of which I call, "Circumcision Salvationism" (Which is Law Alone Salvationism without God's grace); A certain sect of Jews were trying to deceive some Christians into thinking they had to first be circumcised in order to be saved. This was a heresy that was clearly addressed at the Jerusalem council (See Acts of the Apostles 15:1, Acts of the Apostles 15:5, Acts of the Apostles 15:24). Paul also addressed this problem; Paul said to the Galatians that if you seek to be circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing (Galatians 5:2), and then Paul mentions how if you seek to be justified by the Law, you have fallen from grace (Galatians 5:4). This "law" is the Torah (i.e. the 613 Laws of Moses) because circumcision is not a part of the commands given to us by Jesus and His followers.

This is why Paul appeared to speak negatively against the Law and or works when it came to salvation. Paul was referring to being justified or saved by....

#1. Law ALONE Salvationism (that did not include God's grace).

#2. The Mosaic Old Law (i.e. the 613 Laws of Moses that included keeping things that do not apply under the New Covenant such as: Keeping the Saturday Sabbath, circumcision, dietary laws, etc.).​

Paul was not against keeping God's commands as a part of salvation after we are saved by God's grace because Paul said if any man does not agree with the words of Jesus Christ and the doctrine according to godliness, he is proud and he knows nothing (See: 1 Timothy 6:3-4). Jesus agreed with the lawyer that to love God (including certain details), and to love your neighbor is a part of inherting eternal life (See: Luke 10:25-28). So salvation is not as overly simplistic as you make it out to be. God's grace is not a license for immorality (Jude 1:4). For the moment anyone says that we are saved by a belief alone in Jesus alone and nothing else, they will justify sin on some level with the thinking they are saved. Even if they choose not to do so, the very teaching itself will lead it's listeners into into thinking they can sin and still be saved.

 

[Bible Highlighter]

Notice ...""" "IS passed from death to life".
See that IS?
That means its DONE.
That is the proof of being born again, that is the only proof of salvation.

Commandment keeping proves you keep commandments. It does not prove you are born again.
In fact, christian forums are full of people who are water baptized and not actually born again, whose personal gospel of "commandment keeping and law", is this.. Galatians 1:8

A person is born again spiritually by God in that they are awakened to His Word and will. Some folks may accept Jesus, but they may do so with the thought or intention of holding on to certain sins and think they can do such things and inherit the kingdom of God. But salvation does not work like that. In fact, I don't believe such individuals who believe this way starting out were ever truly born again or changed spiritually to begin with. Why? Well because they are still justifying their old man or sin. They have not put on the new man in Christ.

The condition from passing from life to death is not only believing in Jesus, but it is obeying Jesus because the word “hear” means to “obey.”

In fact, in John 3:36 (The Greek word “apeitheō” used in John 3:36 for the English words: “believeth not” (KJB) is translated as “obey not” or “disobedient” in other English bible verses. For example: 1 Peter 3:1, and 1 Peter 3:20 translates apeitheō as “obey not” or “disobedient” and it is used context to being disobedient in regards to one’s righteous conduct (Whereas John 3:36 is translated as believeth not” in the King James Bible). Some translations render the KJB’s John 3:36 “believeth not" as “obey not” in other Translations (NLT, ESV, BLB, NASB, ASV, EXB, GNT). In other words, sometimes the words “believeth not” is synonymous with “obey not” (depending on the context). In fact, you can check this Greek word for yourself and it's usage here at BlueLetterBible.

G544 - apeitheō - Strong's Greek Lexicon (KJV)

 

[Bible Highlighter]

For if we had to HEAR God's Word with our ears in order to be saved, then I guess that would rule out deaf people (or people who have no hearing) from being saved. This is why “hear” means to obey in John 5:24. We need to OBEY Jesus in order to pass from death unto life. If not, then we will not pass unto life. Yes, there is God's grace. This grace helps us to obey. For God's grace teaches us to deny ungodliness and to live righteously and godly in this present world (See again: Titus 2:11-12).

 

[Bible Highlighter]

Ive not said that i dont keep the commandments.
Go read 40 Threads, and probably a few thousand posts, ive written.

I said that commandment keeping is not why God saves a person, nor is it why a person remains saved.

Commandment keeping is not the way to heaven.
Commandment keeping is the same as self effort, and that gospel is the gospel of works that is this.. Galatians 1:8

Even believing in Jesus is a commandment (See: 1 John 3:23).
So if a person is against commandment keeping as a way to Heaven, then they must be against believing in Jesus (Which is a command). Even the Bible uses language that sounds like it is a command for us to believe in the gospel (See: Mark 1:15). For if God tells us to do something directly by His Word, I take that as a command and not as a suggestion.

 

[Bible Highlighter]

Paul teaches that God justifies you by faith without works.
Paul teaches that "faith is counted as Righteousness."
Paul teaches that Salvation is a Gift.
Paul teaches that being "made righteous" is a Gift.
John says that you can KNOW you have eternal life, and explains that Jesus in you is your Eternal Life.

Do you see any commandment keeping in any of that?
Did you see commandments on the Cross, or do you see Jesus on the Cross.

One of them is not the savior.
You need to figure this out, Bible Highlighter.......asap.

It is written:

“...was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?” (1 Corinthians 1:13).

While we are initially and ultimately saved by God's grace through faith in Christ, the Bible also teaches that works of faith also play a part in the salvation process. For both Jesus and Paul taught and or implied that works play a part in eternal life.

#1. Both Jesus and Paul essentially say you can deny God by one's works.

For Jesus said,
"And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity" (Matthew 7:23).

Jesus said,
"And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth" (Matthew 25:30).

Paul said,
"They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate." (Titus 1:16).​

#2. Both Jesus and Paul essentially say you need to drink of (walk in) the Spirit as a part of everlasting life.

Jesus said,
"But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life." (John 4:14).

Jesus said,
"He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water." (John 7:38).

John said this of Jesus's words,
"(But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)" (John 7:39).

Paul said,
“...God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth” (2 Thessalonians 2:13).

Paul said,
“For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.” (Romans 8:13).

Paul said,
“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” (Romans 8:1).​

#3. Both Jesus and Paul say that the judgment involves those being condemned or punished in the afterlife for doing evil vs. doing good leading to glory or life as a part of God's kingdom.

Jesus said,
"And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.

Paul said,
"But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: For there is no respect of persons with God." (Romans 2:8-11).

Paul said,
19 "Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God." (Galatians 5:19-21).​

#4. Both Jesus and Paul taught that we have to continue to abide in the good works of the Lord or we will be cut off and or burned in the fire.

Jesus said,
4 "Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned" (John 15:4-6).

Paul said,
“For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee. Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.” (Romans 11:21-22).​

#5. Both Jesus and Paul essentially say that the fear of the Lord is a part of salvation.

Jesus said,
"Fear not them who can kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear Him (The Lord, i.e. Jesus) who is able to destroy both soul and body in Gehenna (i.e. the Lake of Fire) (‭‭Matthew‬ ‭10:28‬).

Paul said,
"...work out your own salvation with fear and trembling." (Philippians 2:12).​

#6. Both Jesus and Paul taught that laboring for the right kind of food relates to everlasting life.

Jesus says,
"Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you..." (John 6:29).

Jesus says,
"My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work." (John 4:34).

Paul said,
“...And having become servants of God, ye have your fruit unto holiness and the end, everlasting life.” (Romans 6:22).​

#7. Both Jesus and Paul spoke of a time in the last days of where false prophets shall arise who are faithless and who do not love (i.e. they will have a form of godliness).

Jesus said,
"Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?" (Luke 18:8).

Jesus said,
"And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold." (Matthew 24:12).

Jesus said,
"And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many" (Matthew 24:11).

Paul said,
1 "This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,
7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
8 Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.
9 But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was."
(2 Timothy 3:1-9).

​

Side Note:

Please take note that James says he will show you his faith by his works (James 2:18). So the faithless that Jesus talks about are those who are fruitless or those who do not have any truly good works. 2 Timothy 3:1-9 is also a revealing passage, as well. Basically it is saying what you are not supposed to be like. For this passage describes those who have a form of godliness and they are lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God. This means that a Belief Alone Type Gospel (that leads to one not being concerned about sin or not treating it as seriously) is simply not true. For the moment I tell someone that all they need to do to be saved is to believe in Jesus and nothing else, they are going to not be concerned with living holy (because they do not think it is necessary to enter God's Kingdom).

 

[Sidon]

It is written:

“...was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?” (1 Corinthians 1:13).

While we are initially and ultimately saved by God's grace through faith in Christ, the Bible also teaches that works of faith also play a part in the salvation process.

When you teach a hybrid Gospel of "Faith + Works", you insult the Blood of Jesus by lowering it in value as equal to man's self effort. (Yours).
Don't do that, as you end up here. Galatians 1:8

 

[Sidon]

So if a person is against commandment keeping as a way to Heaven,

If commandment keeping died for you on the Cross, then continue to believe you save yourself by that same.

 

[Sidon]

A person is born again spiritually by God in that they are awakened to His Word and will. )

No.
A person is born again to exit as "One with God , In Christ".

We are not born again for the bible, we are born again by the word of Truth.
"faith comes by hearing'....>Not a bible, but the Gospel.
The Gospel is Jesus on the Cross, that was completed before any Greek Text or English version, or Apostle's letter, was written.

The Cross is the reason it all started, because the Cross is the Gospel.

 

[Sidon]

However, after we are saved by God's grace (Which will include the gospel), we need to move on into the Sanctification Process

Jesus is our Sanctification. 1 Corinthians 1:30

 

[Bible Highlighter]

Jesus is our Sanctification. 1 Corinthians 1:30

Right, that would include “Progressive Sanctification” and not “Positional Sanctification” alone by a sole belief in Jesus.

“And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.” (1 John 3:5).

“ And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.”(1 John 3:3).

John 15:5 says,
“ I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.”

 

[Bible Highlighter]

If commandment keeping died for you on the Cross, then continue to believe you save yourself by that same.

So you disagree with 1 John 3:23?

 

[Bible Highlighter]

We are not born again for the bible,

Not true.

1 John 2:29 says,
“If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.”

we are born again by the word of Truth.
"faith comes by hearing'....>Not a bible, but the Gospel.
The Gospel is Jesus on the Cross, that was completed before any Greek Text or English version, or Apostle's letter, was written. The Cross is the reason it all started, because the Cross is the Gospel.

Where do we get the gospel today?
The Bible. Also the gospel is defined for us in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4. It is believing that Jesus died for our sins, He was buried, and He was risen three days later. Did you even 1 Corinthians 15 before? Paul’s point in that chapter is if a believer denies the bodily resurrection then they are denying the resurrection of Christ and their faith is in vain.

 

[Bible Highlighter]

When you teach a hybrid Gospel of "Faith + Works", you insult the Blood of Jesus by lowering it in value as equal to man's self effort. (Yours).
Don't do that, as you end up here. Galatians 1:8

Not really because 1 John 1:7 basically says you have to walk in the light in order for the blood of Jesus to cleanse us from all sin. Walking in the light is loving your brother by the indirect wording used in 1 John 2:9-11.

 

[Sidon]

“ And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.”(1 John 3:3).
John 15:5 says,
“ I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.”

Notice your 2 verses?
They deal with self effort.

In 1 Jn3, that is discipleship., yet dont get caught up in the idea that you can spiritually purify yourself.
You can't.
Only the blood of Jesus can deal with Spiritual Purification = Born again.

Your 2nd verse, is symbolic. You'll perhaps recognize that branches are not Humans.
So.....Dont fall into the heretics trap of using symbolic verses to try to prove Legalism.

 

[Sidon]

So you disagree with 1 John 3:23?

What i do with that verse, if you are a student in my class, is show you that you compare scripture with scripture, so that you get context.
So, the context of that verse you posted is this.. verse.

"The work of God, is that YOU believe on Jesus, whom God sent".

 

[Sidon]

Not true.

1 John 2:29 says,
“If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.”

The only way a sinner can "doeth rightesouness" is to be born again.
That is how you do it.
You become it, by becoming "one with God, IN Christ", which is the same way you '"abide in the vine".

 

[Sidon]

Not really because 1 John 1:7 basically says you have to walk in the light .

I have a Thread on that.....

So, let me condense.

Jesus is the "light of the World".
The born again are "Children of the Light".
Why?
Because the born again are "translated from darkness....>TO LIGHT".

That is the eternal status of all the born again.
The born again EXIST in the Kingdom of Light , that is the Kingdom of God, that is the Spirit of God.

 

[Navair2]

The question is: Will people pick up the phone and heed the call of the gospel?

If they are of God and have ears to hear, they will.

 

[Bible Highlighter]

What i do with that verse, if you are a student in my class, is show you that you compare scripture with scripture, so that you get context.
So, the context of that verse you posted is this.. verse.

"The work of God, is that YOU believe on Jesus, whom God sent".

I don't care if you lead millions of people at a megachurch. Your interpretation of Scripture is not in line with basic logic of how we read things normally. First, just because believing n Jesus is a work of God does not undo the fact that to believe in Jesus is a commandment according to 1 John 3:23. Second, to believe on Jesus is also called a work in John 6:29 because it takes work to follow Jesus. For believing in Jesus is more than just having a belief alone like demons (James 2:19), but it is in doing what the Lord Jesus says. For Jesus says in Luke 6:46, “And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?”

Jesus said, “And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (Matthew 25:30).

 

[Bible Highlighter]

If they are of God and have ears to hear, they will.

I am not buying the whole they will obey the Lord (according to His Word) in Belief Alone-ism. The problem with Belief Alone-ism is that if you tell a child that they are saved by a belief alone in Jesus and it is nothing else in that they do, and you never see them again, they could turn out to be the next George Sodini or Kenneth Nally.

In an LA Fitness Gym in Pennsylvania on August 4, 2009, a man named George Sodini fired 50 rounds into an aerobic class before turning the gun on himself. The shooting resulted in four deaths (including Sodini himself) and nine injured. George Sodini was a member of the Tetelestai Church where he sat quietly for many years, listening to the deceptions of his preacher. Talking about the pastor of his Church, Sodini wrote in his blog dated Dec. 31, 2008,

“this guy” (Alan “Rick” Knapp) “teaches (and convinced me) you can commit mass murder then still go to heaven. Ask him.“

And in a post dated August 3, 2009, Sodini said;

“Maybe soon, I will see God and Jesus. At least that is what I was told. Eternal life does NOT depend on works. If it did, we will all be in hell. Christ paid for every sin, so how can I or you be judged by GOD for a sin when the penalty was already paid. People judge but that does not matter. I was reading the Bible and The Integrity of God beginning yesterday, because soon I will see them.

After the horrible incident in Pennsylvania, Pastor Knapp’s deacon, Jack Rickard commented on Sodini’s death and said;

“George is going to heaven, but he’s not going to get his rewards,” (SOURCE )

Kenneth Nally, another believer of Belief Alone-ism, committed suicide in 1980 after he was taught that even self-murder would not stop a person once saved from going to heaven.

This is the true fruit of Belief Alone-ism.

Article source:
O.S.A.S. – THE WATCHMAN'S CRY