And now part 2 ...
BNR Before I provide other scriptures to support this statement let’s get to the question what are His expectations. What does God expect from His children? I believe Jesus answered this question when He was asked what is the greatest commandment. He replied “And He said to him, " ' YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.' This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, ' YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.' On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets."” Matthew 22:37-40 NASB Jesus reveals His expectation in John 15:12. “"This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you.” John 15:12 NASB DJ Expectations for children to honor parents is NOT to be equated with expectations to remain “children” of the parents. Did not King David 1) commit adultery; 2) commit murder; and 3) stay out of God's house until Nathan the prophet of God confronted him? Does not the Scripture tell us that David was a man that sought after God's own heart? Did God disown David? The nation of Israel are God's chosen people … Has God disowned them as well? BNR Love is at the very root of bearing fruit or doing good works because love is the very root of Christ. In almost everything Jesus taught at the very core was love. Take for example Matthew 25:31-46. What were the goats lacking that condemned them? “"Then He will also say to those on His left, 'Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry, and you gave Me nothing to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me nothing to drink; I was a stranger, and you did not invite Me in; naked, and you did not clothe Me; sick, and in prison, and you did not visit Me.'” Matthew 25:41-43 NASB Notice all of these examples are the result of love and compassion. It wasn’t the lack of faith or lack of believing or even lack of works themselves but the lack of love that resulted in a lack of works or fruit. James 2:14-17 gives a similar example. DJ So in all this, salvation throughout the Scriptures, must be based on our works, not God's grace. Paul distinctly teaches in Romans that grace cannot be works, and works cannot be grace. BNR “What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and be filled," and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that? Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.” James 2:14-17 NASB Many believe that we are saved by faith alone. Paul said something interesting in 1 Cor 13:2 “If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.” 1 Corinthians 13:2 NASB DJ This entire argument is based on the presupposition that salvation of the soul, and works of the flesh are joined together, for the PURPOSE of giving us a complete salvation. This is a false presupposition. Salvation of the soul is what God does for us; while works of the flesh are what we do for God, BECAUSE of what God has done for us, not to complete the work He has begun. 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews How can Jesus be the “finisher of our faith", if we are doing the work? BNR I think the problem is that many misunderstand what justification is. They confuse justification with salvation. We are justified by faith before we have done any good works. The word justified means to be rendered, counted, shown, or evinced as being right with God. Just because we have been made right with God does not mean that we cannot be made wrong with Him afterwards. DJ I'm not sure if you noticed that “Dr.” in front of “Jack", but that Dr. is representative of a Doctorate of Theology in Pastoral Theology. I assure you, I have sat through several classes pertaining to justification, and salvation. Furthermore, I have also taught a few. In short, Justification is a legal term that is associated with a defense, in order to be cleared of charges brought against and individual in criminal justice. 4:23 Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him;4:24 But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;4:25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification. Romans 5:15 But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.5:16 And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification.5:17 For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)5:18 Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.5:19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. Romans Notice: Our justification is 1) a free gift; and 2) obtained “by the obedience of one”. BNR Notice Paul’s words to the saints who are faithful to Christ in Ephesus in Ephesians 4. “Therefore, laying aside falsehood, SPEAK TRUTH EACH ONE of you WITH HIS NEIGHBOR, for we are members of one another. BE ANGRY, AND yet DO NOT SIN; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not give the devil an opportunity.” Ephesians 4:25-27 NASB Here I would like to inject Romans 6:15-16 because I think this makes a very valid point on this subject. “What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? May it never be! Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness?” Romans 6:15-16 NASB DJ You are now insinuating that I believe that I “should” sin. No, we need to submit to the power of the Holy Spirit to have power over sin. But that is not a requirement to be saved. That is a requirement to be of service to God, and thereby glorify Him. Furthermore, Paul is telling them not to live in their former manner. However, if you use this text as a reference for salvation, you are then saying people could be saved by simply obeying the law. BNR Paul said this to believers who are saved indicating that even believers who are saved are capable of serving satan resulting in death if they don’t repent. DJ I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but the simple truth is, if we are not working under the leading, and power of the Holy Spirit, we are at least indirectly serving Satan, period. BNR Let’s continue Ephesians 4 and on into chapter 5 and continue Paul’s message to the saints who are faithful to Christ in Ephesus. “He who steals must steal no longer; but rather he must labor, performing with his own hands what is good, so that he will have something to share with one who has need. Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear. Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.” Ephesians 4:28-32 NASB Paul continues to emphasize the importance of refraining from sin and expressing love towards others. Even tho we are sealed with the Holy Spirit unto the day of redemption we are still capable of grieving the Holy Spirit. Now this next portion in chapter 5 is very interesting. Notice that he begins with the word “Therefore” indicating that he is reiterating on what he had previously said in chapter 4. “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma. But immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints; and there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.” Ephesians 5:1-6 NASB DJ Paul's teaching here isn’t what believers must do to be saved. It was a rhetorical teaching. Paul is telling them that they need to put off the old things to grow in Christ, and glorify Him. In essence, Paul is saying, Why would you want do live like those headed for Hell? Take for example the church at Corinth. Paul clearly tells them, they are carnal, and NOT spiritual! Yet, he addressed them as … 1:2 Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both their's and our's: 1 Corinthians
