Titus 1:16 One's Actions Reflect One's Faith

[bcbsr]

One's Actions Reflect One's Faith

Titus 1:16 They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good.

A person's claim of being a Christian should not solely be the measure as to whether they actually are. For there is a correlation between a person's salvation status and their behavior. Thus, for example, John says, "This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother." 1John 3:10

"unfit" is the same Greek word "disqualified" as in the following, "Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? ——unless indeed you are disqualified. But I trust that you will know that we are not disqualified." 2Cor 13:5,6

 

[levnishbar]

There are many verses which attest to this as well, such as James 2 - Faith without Works is Dead, Matthew 25 - As you have done to the least of these you have done to me.

Another one which I like is the Parable of the Good Samaritan. Both the Priest and the Levite walked by (who ostensibly would probably claim to know God), but the Samaritan gave aid to a stranger in need. If we are ignorant, and act accordingly, perhaps we may be acquitted. If we profess to be wise, but act foolishly, we are condemned.

Of course, a thorny question arises, when someone who does not claim to know God, or does not profess faith in Yeshua, yet does righteous deeds - will they be saved? I do not have a definitive answer for this, but I believe that, as Yeshua said, "Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy."

Also Exodus 33:19 & Romans 9:18 I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.

Perhaps God will find them guilty of sin, but when sentenced, they will receive mercy. Anyone have any thoughts on this?

Nevertheless, let us not skate on thin ice and instead both profess our faith and do good deeds. In summary:
Micah 6:8 He has told you, O man, what is good, and what the Lord demands of you; but to do justice, to love loving-kindness, and to walk discreetly with your God.

Shabbat shalom.

 

[bcbsr]

There are many verses which attest to this as well, such as James 2 - Faith without Works is Dead, Matthew 25 - As you have done to the least of these you have done to me.

Another one which I like is the Parable of the Good Samaritan. Both the Priest and the Levite walked by (who ostensibly would probably claim to know God), but the Samaritan gave aid to a stranger in need. If we are ignorant, and act accordingly, perhaps we may be acquitted. If we profess to be wise, but act foolishly, we are condemned.

Of course, a thorny question arises, when someone who does not claim to know God, or does not profess faith in Yeshua, yet does righteous deeds - will they be saved? I do not have a definitive answer for this, but I believe that, as Yeshua said, "Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy."

Also Exodus 33:19 & Romans 9:18 I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.

Perhaps God will find them guilty of sin, but when sentenced, they will receive mercy. Anyone have any thoughts on this?

Nevertheless, let us not skate on thin ice and instead both profess our faith and do good deeds. In summary:
Micah 6:8 He has told you, O man, what is good, and what the Lord demands of you; but to do justice, to love loving-kindness, and to walk discreetly with your God.

Shabbat shalom.

2Th 1:8,9 "He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the majesty of his power"

John 3:36 "He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him."

 

[levnishbar]

2Th 1:8,9 "He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the majesty of his power"

John 3:36 "He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him."

From Matt 25:31-46 is a matter of salvation; of Jesus separating the sheep from the goats. There will be those who did good, who didn't know they were doing it to the Lord, and those who did evil, who likewise didn't know they were doing evil to the Lord.

For man is made in the image of God (Gen 1:27), and so as we do to our fellow man we do to God. And God is the defender of the weak (Psalm 82:3 and many other places) so it is no surprise that God's anger is against those who mistreat or exploit the weak. So we should feed the poor, give water to the parched, take in strangers, clothe the naked, visit the sick and those in prison.

What does it mean to know God? Is it just the name? Or the academic knowledge of what God did and to believe it is true? Or to have an idea of what God's character is like? Or to emulate His character? Or to have gone through what they have gone through? Or to follow/to submit to what He tells us to do? Or to experience different aspects of God's nature - God the Shepherd, God the Provider, God the Healer, etc.?

In the story of the Rich Man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31), which happened before Yeshua appeared, please explain how did Lazarus end up in Heaven and the Rich Man in Hell? Which one of them knew God, and how?