We now live by the law of the Spirit, the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus. Romans 6:17 says we became obedient from the heart. God changes our heart when he regenerates us through faith. Salvation by grace through faith. To say that that is how we are initially saved, but then its up to us to keep our salvation by our works negates this. Col 2:6 Says as you have received Christ Jesus, so walk in Him. How do we receive Him? By faith. How do we walk in Him? By faith. And that faith will result in obedience. Its the obedience of faith. This was true even under the Old Covenant. "The just shall live by faith". Hab 2:4. Now, though we are sealed with the Spirit, born of the Spirit who is our guarantee. Eph 1:14. We are God's workmanship, saved by grace through faith, not of works, but created in Christ Jesus for good works. Eph 2:8-10. You are absolutely teaching a works salvation, and that is absolutely futile, and contrary to the gospel of grace. Paul said in Gal 5:4 that you have become estanged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. And that is what you are teaching. You say one is justified initially by faith, but then must work to keep themselves justified. That negates the initial justification, and puts man's salvation in his own hands, and man cannot, never save himself.
First, you did not attempt to explain the verses I brought forth that refer to how John was talking to believers and not unbelievers in John's 1st epistle (Which means 1 John 1:9 is written to the believer and not the unbeliever).
Second, James says show me your faith without works and I will show you my faith by my works (James 2:18). So when the just LIVE by faith, they live it out by doing good works. For faith without works is dead (James 2:17). James says that we are justified by works and not by faith alone (James 2:24).
As for Romans 6:17 that says we become obedient from the heart:
Well, you also need to weigh that verse in the balance of other verses that say things like this to the believer:
“...We are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end.” (
Hebrews 3:13-14).
"Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life,...” (
James 1:12).
“...He that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.” (
Matthew 24:13).
"...be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life." (
Revelation 2:10).
“To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life,...” (
Revelation 2:7).
"...He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death." (
Revelation 2:11).
"He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life,...” (
Revelation 3:5).
"Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life." (
Jude 1:21).
In fact, we are told to:
- Continue in the grace of God (Acts of the Apostles 13:43).
- Continue in the faith (Acts of the Apostles 14:22) (Colossians 1:23).
- Continue in his goodness, otherwise we can be cut off (just like the Jews were cut off) (Romans 11:21-22).
How can these above truths in Scripture be true if the believer just automatically obeys?
You also quoted Colossians 2:6 that says,
"as you have received Christ Jesus, so walk in Him. "
I am not sure how this verse helps you. Walking in Jesus is about keeping His commandments.
"And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it." (2 John 1:6).
"If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love." (John 15:10).
Paul says if any man does not love the Lord Jesus Christ let him be accursed (1 Corinthians 16:22). This means if we are not loving Jesus in the way that Jesus wants by the keeping of His commandments, we are accursed.
As for your reference to Ephesians 2:8-9:
This is talking primarily about "Initial Salvation." For by grace are saved through faith, and not that of yourselves, it is the gift of God." Gifts are received how many times? One time. So this is referring to "Initial Salvation." Ephesians 2:1 says that you have been quickened. How many times have you been quickened? I am assuming one time, right? So this is referring to "Initial Salvation." Ephesians 3:17 talks about how Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith. So Paul is talking about how Christ needs to dwell in a person's heart (i.e. Initial Salvation).
Ephesians 2:9 is referring to "Man Directed Works Alone Salvationism" (Without God's grace) because it is referring to how a man would boast in his own work.
I believe God does the good work through me as Scriptures teaches (John 15:5) (Philippians 2:13). This means any good work done in my life results in me boasting in God and not in myself. Ephesians 2:9 is referring to a man directed work whereby he would boast in himself about it.
For I do not believe I am saved by works of my own power in how I am initially or ultimately saved. I believe I am initially and ultimately saved by God's grace.
Ephesians 2:10 switches gears and talks about God directed works done through the believer because they are the kind of works that the believer is created to do in Christ Jesus since the foundation of the world.
Paul is saying do not put the cart before the horse.
However, why did Paul appear at times to speak against works and or the Law?
Well, Paul was fighting against "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 because circumcision is not a part of the commands given to us by Jesus and His followers.
Paul was not against the necessity of obedience to the commands of Jesus Christ.
For Paul says if any man does not agree with the words of the Lord Jesus Christ and the doctrine according to godliness, he is proud and he knows nothing (1 Timothy 6:3-4).
James says God resists the proud and He gives grace to the humble (James 4:6).