- Dec 13, 2015
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A true faith will always have repentance and works. This is stated in scripture over and over again but I'm only going to give one example due to time and length of the OP. In John 15 for example Jesus shows a beautiful illustration in how true faith works.
In John 15:2 Jesus says:
"Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit."
John 15:4
"Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.
In John 15:6 Jesus again warns that those who do not bear fruit will be tossed into the fire and burned.
In John 15:8 Jesus says that the Father's will is that the Christian will bear much fruit and prove to him and to the world that we are his true disciples. When we Christians bear fruit God prunes and takes care of it (See John 15:1)
Now we turn to the Book of Ephesians.
In Ephesians 2:8-9 Paul says "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast."
This proves that we are not saved by works as does Romans 4:5 but in the very next verse Paul teaches where our works come from and what they're for.
Ephesians 2:10 says "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
So if you call yourself a Christian and you don't bear fruit that can be problematic and I would question whether or not your faith is genuine as Paul says in 2 Corinthians 13:5. Repentance on the other hand is a sign that you're saved and sealed because Repentance comes from the regeneration of the Holy Spirit. Without us being regenerated by the Holy Spirit we have no hope for heaven (See John 3).
In John 15:2 Jesus says:
"Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit."
John 15:4
"Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.
In John 15:6 Jesus again warns that those who do not bear fruit will be tossed into the fire and burned.
In John 15:8 Jesus says that the Father's will is that the Christian will bear much fruit and prove to him and to the world that we are his true disciples. When we Christians bear fruit God prunes and takes care of it (See John 15:1)
Now we turn to the Book of Ephesians.
In Ephesians 2:8-9 Paul says "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast."
This proves that we are not saved by works as does Romans 4:5 but in the very next verse Paul teaches where our works come from and what they're for.
Ephesians 2:10 says "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
So if you call yourself a Christian and you don't bear fruit that can be problematic and I would question whether or not your faith is genuine as Paul says in 2 Corinthians 13:5. Repentance on the other hand is a sign that you're saved and sealed because Repentance comes from the regeneration of the Holy Spirit. Without us being regenerated by the Holy Spirit we have no hope for heaven (See John 3).