However, are you not considering that we receive the Holy Spirit as new believers and the Spirit Himself prompts us to act. When these prompts are ignored we are in danger of losing the fire of the Holy Spirit with whom we were initially anointed...hence the passage...Do not put out the Spirit's fire.No, good works are the fruits of new life in Christ, not the cause or sustainer. That's the entire argument of Galatians.
There is a very specific time when God The Father will illuminate His chosen. I strongly believe that the world at large will experience The Truth, prior to going through the tribulations that come with being born again, can set you free. Since Christ is The Way The Truth and The Life, one must be called by God The Father before Christ enters the chosen. There are many mysteries in God’s Word that can only be revealed be The Holy Spirit. We try to be obedient to no avail without Christ. Only Christ can guide us to The Truth.Apostle Peter said Paul's writings contains some things that are hard to understand - 2 Peter 3:16.
Even Apostle Paul himself said, his actions could be misunderstood by other Christians and cause them to stumble!! (1 Corinthians 8 - read whole chapter).
And obviously, we are thousands of years apart from Paul and considering his many other writings that are probably lost and never made it into the Bible. There's simply a lot of unknowns and also considering the cultural background of the period.
Finally, Paul won't be able explain himself all the time for practical reasons......All These makes it quite likely for us to misinterpret him....
If no one thinks what I'm saying holds any merit, Look around you. We have so many denominations divided over interpretation of scriptures. And these disagreements are mostly centered around Paul's teachings!
We all can't be right with many differing, often contradicting understanding of scriptures against one another.
"Fortunately" we can understand Paul correctly. But this requires a more careful, unbiased approach, and more extensive study of scriptures. An effort that the vast majority of Christians are unwilling to devote. Unless this changes, then Christianity is in huge trouble.
You do the works Jesus did ...?
Heal the sick, preach the Gospel, drive out devils , cleanse the leper...
Or
Attend a building on sunday sing a song pay a tithe.. And just keep on being a sinner saying but im saved...
I wonder which
Apostle Peter said Paul's writings contains some things that are hard to understand - 2 Peter 3:16.
Even Apostle Paul himself said, his actions could be misunderstood by other Christians and cause them to stumble!! (1 Corinthians 8 - read whole chapter).
And obviously, we are thousands of years apart from Paul and considering his many other writings that are probably lost and never made it into the Bible. There's simply a lot of unknowns and also considering the cultural background of the period.
Finally, Paul won't be able explain himself all the time for practical reasons......All These makes it quite likely for us to misinterpret him....
If no one thinks what I'm saying holds any merit, Look around you. We have so many denominations divided over interpretation of scriptures. And these disagreements are mostly centered around Paul's teachings!
We all can't be right with many differing, often contradicting understanding of scriptures against one another.
"Fortunately" we can understand Paul correctly. But this requires a more careful, unbiased approach, and more extensive study of scriptures. An effort that the vast majority of Christians are unwilling to devote. Unless this changes, then Christianity is in huge trouble.
However, are you not considering that we receive the Holy Spirit as new believers and the Spirit Himself prompts us to act. When these prompts are ignored we are in danger of losing the fire of the Holy Spirit with whom we were initially anointed...hence the passage...Do not put out the Spirit's fire.
Indeed, full agreement that salvation is a gift of God and is by faith. I was responding to your other comment; I think????It is also written that we are created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them, and that we unprofitable servants. Good works do not merit salvation, nor do they sustain our salvation. God is the one who upholds us. Even so, we are still to do good, because these are the fruits of the Holy Spirit.
The work prepared beforehand is also carried out by Him to accomplish the good works for Him.It is also written that we are created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them, and that we unprofitable servants. Good works do not merit salvation, nor do they sustain our salvation. God is the one who upholds us. Even so, we are still to do good, because these are the fruits of the Holy Spirit.
Good works = Love God and love your neighbour. Man cannot do the works of Christ, nor merit salvation, but he still needs to do good works. What's the confusion?
Loving our neighbor the right way - 1 John 3:16-18
Man cannot do the works of Christ? I'm not so sure about that.
John 14:12
Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.
The work prepared beforehand is also carried out by Him to accomplish the good works for Him.
1 Peter 4
10As good stewards of the manifold grace of God, each of you should use whatever gift he has received to serve one another. 11If anyone speaks, he should speak as one conveying the words of God. If anyone serves, he should serve with the strength God supplies, so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.
But what happens if someone led by the holy spirit doesn’t agree with your group?Reading the epistles can't cause people to stumble. Saying or suggesting they could to others might though.
Also, do you still not believe in the Old Testament? Disregarding both the Old Testament and much of the NT that alligns with the OT?
Christianity is not in huge trouble. There are many of us who are in fellowship and communion with one heart and mind on many key doctrines. The Holy Spirit guided us to this blessed fellowship.
I suppose if it is something you must agree upon as one organized body that you'd have to part company as did the Apostle Paul and Barnabas.But what happens if someone led by the holy spirit doesn’t agree with your group?
I agree but I hate that it has to be like that. All led by the spirit but don’t come to the same conclusions. Not cool!I suppose if it is something you must agree upon as one organized body that you'd have to part company as did the Apostle Paul and Barnabas.
Apostle Peter said Paul's writings contains some things that are hard to understand - 2 Peter 3:16.
Even Apostle Paul himself said, his actions could be misunderstood by other Christians and cause them to stumble!! (1 Corinthians 8 - read whole chapter).
And obviously, we are thousands of years apart from Paul and considering his many other writings that are probably lost and never made it into the Bible. There's simply a lot of unknowns and also considering the cultural background of the period.
Finally, Paul won't be able explain himself all the time for practical reasons......All These makes it quite likely for us to misinterpret him....
If no one thinks what I'm saying holds any merit, Look around you. We have so many denominations divided over interpretation of scriptures. And these disagreements are mostly centered around Paul's teachings!
We all can't be right with many differing, often contradicting understanding of scriptures against one another.
"Fortunately" we can understand Paul correctly. But this requires a more careful, unbiased approach, and more extensive study of scriptures. An effort that the vast majority of Christians are unwilling to devote. Unless this changes, then Christianity is in huge trouble.
Oh, I don't believe it is that hard to find the need for sanctification via Paul's Epistles at all. A few...Paul's words are easiest to distort so as defend OSAS or a Belief Alone type gospel. This is why his words being hard to be understood they twist them to their own destruction. For one does not usually read Paul and quickly think he taught salvation also involves the Sanctification process (After being saved by God's grace through faith in Christ). That would be more of Jesus and or John that we get a clear understanding on the importance of the Sanctification Process as a part of the salvation equation. But, Paul does teach Sanctification as a part of the salvation process. One has to carefully read Paul in order to catch it. But alas, most do not want to hear that and so they close their ears, so as not to hear it.
Anyways, the solution to understand Paul is to pray, pray, pray, and pray some more as one compares Scripture with Scripture to truly understand.
I hope this helps;
And may God bless you.
Oh, I don't believe it is that hard to find the need for sanctification via Paul's Epistles at all. A few...
Philippians 3:12-13:
Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead...
I Corinthians 9:26-27:
Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.
II Thessalonians 3:7-9:
For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. We were not idle when we were with you, nor did we eat anyone’s food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you. We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help, but in order to offer ourselves as a model for you to imitate.
II Thessalonians 3:10-11:
For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: “The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat.”
We hear that some among you are idle and disruptive. They are not busy; they are busybodies.
Romans 12:1-2:
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
But there is sooo much more in Paul's Epistles (which are God's hand) to illustrate we must move on to perfection. Apostle Paul's/God's writings are all about becoming sanctified.
Apostle Peter said Paul's writings contains some things that are hard to understand - 2 Peter 3:16.
Even Apostle Paul himself said, his actions could be misunderstood by other Christians and cause them to stumble!! (1 Corinthians 8 - read whole chapter).
And obviously, we are thousands of years apart from Paul and considering his many other writings that are probably lost and never made it into the Bible.
There's simply a lot of unknowns and also considering the cultural background of the period.
Finally, Paul won't be able explain himself all the time for practical reasons......All These makes it quite likely for us to misinterpret him....
If no one thinks what I'm saying holds any merit, Look around you. We have so many denominations divided over interpretation of scriptures. And these disagreements are mostly centered around Paul's teachings!
We all can't be right with many differing, often contradicting understanding of scriptures against one another.
"Fortunately" we can understand Paul correctly. But this requires a more careful, unbiased approach, and more extensive study of scriptures.
Then they are not led by the Holy Spirit if they come to conclusions that are not alligned with truth. The Holy Spirit is called by Christ the Spirit of Truth. It is called in Isaiah the Spirit of Wisdom, Knowledge. People often say the Spirit is leading them to xyz things and conclusions but in actuality it was just emotional falsehood and itchy ears fulfilling their desires to see what they want to see.But what happens if someone led by the holy spirit doesn’t agree with your group?