True saving faith is proven by practicing righteousness

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Scripture teaches that one’s righteous standing before God can be lost.
Believers must be sanctified unto holiness progressively – for salvation is a process!


“… let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous just as He is righteous.
He who sins is of the devil … Whoever has been born of God does not sin (habitually)
… In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest:
whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God” (1 John 3:7-10)

Notice who “the children of God” are vs. who belongs to Satan.

Believers who are “faithful” will be obedient to Jesus’ commandments and practice righteousness
… and will have a standing of righteousness before the Lord.


“… you know that everyone who practices righteousness is born of Him.” (1 John 2:29)
But, do all believers who are born of God practice righteousness?

“… who fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him” (Acts 10:35)

“All Scripture … is profitable for … instruction in righteousness
(i.e. instruction in the practicing of righteousness)” (2 Timothy 3:16)

“… we, having died to sins, should live for righteousness
(i.e. live for the practicing of righteousness)” (1 Peter 2:24)

“But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness and a godly life
… Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts.
Instead, pursue righteous living
(1 Timothy 6:11, 2 Timothy 2:22)


“… you can choose to obey God, which leads to righteous living … Now you must give
yourselves to be slaves to righteous living so that you will become holy.” (Romans 6:16-19)
“holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.”
(Hebrews 12:14)

“Seek the Kingdom of God above all else and live righteously (Matthew 6:33)
Yes, we need to
seek to live like Jesus lived, which is righteously!

“But we who live by the Spirit eagerly wait to receive by faith
the righteousness God has promised to us.” (Galatians 5:5)

Living by the Spirit (practicing righteousness) results in continuing to be righteous!

“I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives
until the day of Christ’s return. May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation –
the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:10-11)

The fruit of being saved is a lifestyle of righteousness!

“Anyone who continues to live in him will not sin … Those who have been born into
God’s family do not make a practice of sinning … We know that God’s children
do not make a practice of sinning” (1 John 3:6, 3:9, 5:18)


“For it would have been better if they had never known the way to righteousness than
to know it and then reject the command they were given to live a holy life.” (2 Peter 2:21)


“The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness
of men who suppress the truth (by living) in unrighteousness.” (Romans 1:18)


Of course, this is all a continuation of what God demanded in the old covenant:
“Whoever offers praise glorifies Me; and to him who orders his conduct aright
(i.e. by practicing righteousness) I will show the salvation of God.” (Psalm 50:23)


This multitude of Scripture verses should convince us that
so-called “works righteousness” is also required for salvation.
 

BCsenior

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I notice you also have an op stating "True saving faith is proven by obedience."
Is there a difference between righteousness and obedience?
If so what is it and would you mind briefly articulating that difference?
I believe you're not the first to ask that.
I just naturally separate the 2 ... because I see 2 sets of verses.
Perhaps there are ways to be righteous that have nothing to do with obedience?
I don't know ... you tell me.
 
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SkyWriting

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True saving faith is proven by practicing righteousness

"Evidenced by works" is accurate. There is no idea of "proof" in your quotes.
People can do good works all day long. God only looks at the heart, not works.

1 Samuel 16:7
But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”
 
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Josheb

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I believe you're not the first to ask that.
I just naturally separate the 2 ... because I see 2 sets of verses.
Perhaps there are ways to be righteous that have nothing to do with obedience?
Anything not done in faith is sin (Rom. 14:23).

That is a much different standard than mere obedience to commands. A lot of Christians with whom I have discussed the nature of sin think is is only lawlessness (1 Jn. 3:4) and nothing more. They unintentionally or unwittingly imagine and "only" in the verse where none exists. This then is an example of how sin is disclosed in the Bible to be much more than a matter of obedience to the law.



And skywriting is correct: these things evidence saving faith. The only Person who knows anyone's eternal disposition on this side of the grave is God. We see only varying degrees of evidence (or a lack thereof).
 
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SkyWriting

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But the Lord said to baby Jerry in his crib,
“Do not trust the writing in the sky, trust My Scriptures!"

He wouldn't ever say that, according to the scriptures.

Romans 1:20
For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.

Romans 1:19
For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them.

Psalm 19:1-6
The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard. Their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them he has set a tent for the sun, which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber, and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy.

Psalm 33:6-9
By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, and by the breath of his mouth all their host. He gathers the waters of the sea as a heap; he puts the deeps in storehouses. Let all the earth fear the Lord; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him! For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm.

Psalm 8:3
When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,

Psalm 104:5
He set the earth on its foundations, so that it should never be moved.
 
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SkyWriting

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“I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return. May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation – the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:10-11)
The fruit of being saved is a lifestyle of righteousness!

The fruit is a result. The fruit is not proof.
 
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