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Can one repent anytime they choose? I don’t believe so.

Beth77

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As an alcoholic I repeatedly, for YEARS, prayed and begged God to let me stop drinking, yet I continued drinking. Now I'm not saying it was God's fault that I drank. However, I do believe that God may delay one's ability to repent (change). Why would God delay our repentance? Perhaps for us to learn. Maybe God was thinking "Beth, you chose this path and I'm not going to let you change until I know that you have learned a bitter lesson".

I looked up scriptures regarding repentance and it seems that repentance is indeed granted and withheld by the Father.

Acts 5:31
Verse Concepts
He is the one whom God exalted to His right hand as a Prince and a Savior, to grant repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.

Acts 11:18
Verse Concepts
When they heard this, they quieted down and glorified God, saying, “Well then, God has granted to the Gentiles also the repentance that leads to life.”

2 Timothy 2:25
Verse Concepts
with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth,

Romans 2:4
Verse Concepts
Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?

2 Peter 3:9
Verse Concepts
The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.
 
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d taylor

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God grants repentance He also grants being convicted of ones sin. Meaning that God has given a person the ability to be able to repent and yes believers and unbelievers can repent of sins.

Well it is different for believers and unbelievers.
God convicts the believer who is walking in fellowship with God with sins in his life. If we confess our sins, God grants us fellowship forgiveness (1 John 1:9). But if we reject His convicting work and decide that we like this sin and wish to wallow in it, then we depart into the spiritual far country. We cease to be in fellowship with God (Luke 15:11-32).


King David learned, when he did finally confess sins that he had stubbornly refused to confess, he was forgiven by God, but there still were major consequences for his sins of adultery and murder. God did not impose the death penalty, even though that is what the OT prescribed. But God took the life of the first son of David and Bathsheba. Absalom went in exile, and after he returned, he led a rebellion against David. Ultimately Absalom was killed. Then a plague killed thousands in Israel. All of this because of David’s sins. Forgiveness did not mean that all consequences were removed.

Repentance is for All Men – Grace Evangelical Society
 
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Beth77

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Just know that repentance is not a condition a person must do, to believe in Jesus and receive God's free gift of Eternal Life

I think we're supposed to at least try to repent from sin. Do you agree?
 
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d taylor

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I think we're supposed to at least try to repent from sin. Do you agree?
-
Not to receive Eternal Life, a person can repent if they want to, but they need to understand that repenting does not give them eternal life.

If repenting was a condition this would be found along with belief in The Gospel of John as a condition.


John 3:14,15 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

John 3:17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

John 3:18 “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is
condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only
begotten Son of God.

John 3:36 He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”

John 5:24 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.

John 6: 27,28,29 Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him.”
Then they said to Him, “What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?”
Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.”

John 6:47 Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believe in Me has everlasting life.

John 11:25,26,27
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”
She said to Him, “Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”

John 20:31
but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.
 
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Beth77

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Not to receive Eternal Life, a person can repent if they want to, but they need to understand that repenting does not give them eternal life.

If repenting was a condition this would be found along with belief in The Gospel of John as a condition.

My belief is that one who believes in Jesus but revels in a wicked lifestyle is likely going to hear Matthew 7:21-23 after death. To lead a wicked life in spite of knowing that Jesus is real has to lead to a very unpleasant experience in the hereafter.
 
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d taylor

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My belief is that one who believes in Jesus but revels in a wicked lifestyle is likely going to hear Matthew 7:21-23 after death. To lead a wicked life in spite of knowing that Jesus is real has to lead to a very unpleasant experience in the hereafter.
-
What does the verse say but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.
“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.

So what is The Fathers will
For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day. And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.”
 
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Spiritual Jew

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As an alcoholic I repeatedly, for YEARS, prayed and begged God to let me stop drinking, yet I continued drinking. Now I'm not saying it was God's fault that I drank. However, I do believe that God may delay one's ability to repent (change). Why would God delay our repentance? Perhaps for us to learn. Maybe God was thinking "Beth, you chose this path and I'm not going to let you change until I know that you have learned a bitter lesson".

I looked up scriptures regarding repentance and it seems that repentance is indeed granted and withheld by the Father.

Acts 5:31
Verse Concepts
He is the one whom God exalted to His right hand as a Prince and a Savior, to grant repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.

Acts 11:18
Verse Concepts
When they heard this, they quieted down and glorified God, saying, “Well then, God has granted to the Gentiles also the repentance that leads to life.”

2 Timothy 2:25
Verse Concepts
with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth,
These verses are talking about God granting the opportunity to repent and to be saved and have nothing to do with delaying repentance. Scripture says now is the time of salvation (2 Corinthians 6:1-2), so why would God want someone's repentance to be delayed?

Romans 2:4
Verse Concepts
Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?
How does this say anything about God delaying one's ability to repent? It doesn't. It indicates that God is patient with people while waiting for them to repent and giving them time to do so.

2 Peter 3:9
Verse Concepts
The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.
Again, how does this say anything about God delaying one's ability to repent? It doesn't. It indicates that God is patient with people while waiting for them to repent and giving them time to do so.
 
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Bobber

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As an alcoholic I repeatedly, for YEARS, prayed and begged God to let me stop drinking, yet I continued drinking. Now I'm not saying it was God's fault that I drank. However, I do believe that God may delay one's ability to repent (change). Why would God delay our repentance? Perhaps for us to learn. Maybe God was thinking "Beth, you chose this path and I'm not going to let you change until I know that you have learned a bitter lesson".

I looked up scriptures regarding repentance and it seems that repentance is indeed granted and withheld by the Father.

Acts 5:31
Verse Concepts
He is the one whom God exalted to His right hand as a Prince and a Savior, to grant repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.

Acts 11:18
Verse Concepts
When they heard this, they quieted down and glorified God, saying, “Well then, God has granted to the Gentiles also the repentance that leads to life.”

2 Timothy 2:25
Verse Concepts
with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth,

Romans 2:4
Verse Concepts
Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?

2 Peter 3:9
Verse Concepts
The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.
I respectfully disagree with the idea that God delays a person’s ability to repent. Scripture clearly teaches that God leads us to repentance through His kindness (Romans 2:4). The problem isn’t that He withholds the opportunity—it’s that we often resist or misunderstand His invitation. God is not playing games with our freedom or dangling repentance like a carrot until we "learn a lesson." That view risks portraying God as indifferent or manipulative, rather than gracious and merciful.
The verses cited (Acts 5:31, 11:18, etc.) show that repentance is a gift, absolutely—but gifts must be received. God’s desire is for all to come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9), not for anyone to be delayed in finding it. Sometimes people confuse delayed change with delayed permission. But often, we are still clinging to some part of the sin or have not fully surrendered. That delay is on us—not on God.
If someone struggled with addiction while sincerely praying to change, it wasn’t because God was saying “No,” but because He was patiently working through layers of brokenness, denial, and habit. He never withholds His grace. When we truly turn, He is always ready. The door to repentance is never locked from His side.
 
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fhansen

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As an alcoholic I repeatedly, for YEARS, prayed and begged God to let me stop drinking, yet I continued drinking. Now I'm not saying it was God's fault that I drank. However, I do believe that God may delay one's ability to repent (change). Why would God delay our repentance? Perhaps for us to learn. Maybe God was thinking "Beth, you chose this path and I'm not going to let you change until I know that you have learned a bitter lesson".

I looked up scriptures regarding repentance and it seems that repentance is indeed granted and withheld by the Father.

Acts 5:31
Verse Concepts
He is the one whom God exalted to His right hand as a Prince and a Savior, to grant repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.

Acts 11:18
Verse Concepts
When they heard this, they quieted down and glorified God, saying, “Well then, God has granted to the Gentiles also the repentance that leads to life.”

2 Timothy 2:25
Verse Concepts
with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth,

Romans 2:4
Verse Concepts
Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?

2 Peter 3:9
Verse Concepts
The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.
God works with what He has in us weak, limited, often sinful beings with a variety of experiences and backgrounds who're nonetheless made in His own image and whom He loves intensely. And, yes, that work includes allowing us to wallow in our godlessness, in sin, so we might become sufficiently sick and tired of it to finally turn, like prodigals from the pigsty, back to Him, to our true home.
 
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d taylor

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Must a person love God?
-

Here are verses stating how a person receives God's free gift of Eternal Life and the one condition given is to believe in Jesus. So why add a human requirement of love, to God's clear message of belief in Jesus.

Loving God is something a believer will come to do, that is if they seek out to leave the world behind and live a Godly life not a worldly life.


John 3:14,15 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

John 3:17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

John 3:18 “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is
condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only
begotten Son of God.

John 3:36 He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”

John 5:24 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.

John 6: 27,28,29 Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him.”
Then they said to Him, “What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?”
Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.”

John 6:47 Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believe in Me has everlasting life.

John 11:25,26,27
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”
She said to Him, “Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”

John 20:31
but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.
 
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NextLevel

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Here are verses stating how a person receives God's free gift of Eternal Life and the one condition given is to believe in Jesus. So why add a human requirement of love, to God's clear message of belief in Jesus.

Loving God is something a believer will come to do, that is if they seek out to leave the world behind and live a Godly life not a worldly life.
So an adult need not even love God to be saved?

Not even a little bit?
 
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d taylor

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So an adult need not even love God to be saved?

Not even a little bit?
-
Lets cut this short. You believe a person must love God to receive God's free gift of Eternal Life.

So post the verses or verse that states this and be sure the verses (or verse) say it as clear as the verses i posted that say belief in Jesus gives a person Eternal Life.
 
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NextLevel

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Lets cut this short. You believe a person must love God to receive God's free gift of Eternal Life.
Yes. I do believe that a person must love God. What a crazy idea that one must not hate the Lord.
So post the verses or verse that states this and be sure the verses (or verse) say it as clear as the verses i posted that say belief in Jesus gives a person Eternal Life.
These two should get you started:

(1) If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.

(2) I, Paul, say to you that if you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you. I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that he is obligated to keep the whole law. You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace. For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.
 
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d taylor

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Yes. I do believe that a person must love God. What a crazy idea that one must not hate the Lord.

These two should get you started:

(1) If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.

(2) I, Paul, say to you that if you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you. I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that he is obligated to keep the whole law. You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace. For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.
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We were discussing what God requires to receive His free gift of Eternal Life. I posted verses that clearly state it is belief in Jesus and i ask you since you believe a person must love God to receive Eternal Life. To post verses saying this as clear as the ones i posted.

But yet you post two verses that say nothing about love being required to receive Eternal Life. Eternal Life is not even mention in these verses. The Galatians verse is addressing people who are already believers and that circumcision is not spiritually profitable only faith working through love is spiritually profitable.

The verses in Galatians are in no way addressing what an unbeliever must do to receive God's free gift of Eternal Life.

Do you realize The Gospel of John was written specifically for the very purpose of telling people how to have life (eternal life).

Galatians and Corinthians was not written to tell people how to have life (eternal life) , these books are written to people who are already born again children of God and these books focus on discipleship of the believer.
 
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NextLevel

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We were discussing what God requires to receive His free gift of Eternal Life. I posted verses that clearly state it is belief in Jesus and i ask you since you believe a person must love God to receive Eternal Life. To post verses saying this as clear as the ones i posted.

But yet you post two verses that say nothing about love being required to receive Eternal Life. Eternal Life is not even mention in these verses. The Galatians verse is addressing people who are already believers and that circumcision is not spiritually profitable only faith working through love is spiritually profitable.

The verses in Galatians are in no way addressing what an unbeliever must do to receive God's free gift of Eternal Life.

Do you realize The Gospel of John was written specifically for the very purpose of telling people how to have life (eternal life).

Galatians and Corinthians was not written to tell people how to have life (eternal life) , these books are written to people who are already born again children of God and these books focus on discipleship of the believer.
(1) Paul stated that if he has faith to move mountains but not love, then he is nothing. Now, a saved person is not nothing. I think we can both agree on that. A saved person is a child of God redeemed by our Lord Jesus. From there it logically follows that a saved person must love God.

(2) In Galatians Paul is obviously writing in the context of salvation. He speaks of circumcision, which to Jews was a sign that they had entered into a covenant with God under which they hoped to be saved. Paul then states that if they are still relying on circumcision, then they have fallen from grace (in other words, that relying on circumcision is not a way to be saved). Then, in contrast to circumcision, Paul indicates what does save: faith working through love.

So both verses clearly indicate that a person must love God in order to be saved.

But if you are not convinced by those verses, these should also be of use to you:

(3) Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me.

(4) Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.

(5) Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him?
 
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d taylor

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(1) Paul stated that if he has faith to move mountains but not love, then he is nothing. Now, a saved person is not nothing. I think we can both agree on that. A saved person is a child of God redeemed by our Lord Jesus. From there it logically follows that a saved person must love God.

(2) In Galatians Paul is obviously writing in the context of salvation. He speaks of circumcision, which to Jews was a sign that they had entered into a covenant with God under which they hoped to be saved. Paul then states that if they are still relying on circumcision, then they have fallen from grace (in other words, that relying on circumcision is not a way to be saved). Then, in contrast to circumcision, Paul indicates what does save: faith working through love.

So both verses clearly indicate that a person must love God in order to be saved.

But if you are not convinced by those verses, these should also be of use to you:

(3) Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me.

(4) Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.

(5) Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him?
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Loving God is simply not a condition. Loving God is something only a disciplined, mature believer can do.
That is why love from a believer gives them rewards in The Kingdom

Receiving God's free gift of Eternal Life is not a life long pursuit, this happens in a moment of time it takes for a person to believe in Jesus. Saying receiving eternal life takes a lifetime of faith, love, repentance, etc.. is a works approach to receiving eternal life and gives no one eternal life.
_____________________________________________

Jesus is speaking to unbelievers and Jesus never states to receive eternal life a person must love Him
(3) Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I
came not of my own accord, but he sent me.



The crown of life is a reward
(4) Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.


Again this is addressing rewards for believers
(5) Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him?
 
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NextLevel

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Loving God is simply not a condition. Loving God is something only a disciplined, mature believer can do.
Many non-Christians love God. It is not something that only a Christian can do.

Sacred Scripture is clear about that. Here are two examples of Jews who loved God.

(1) Solomon loved the Lord, walking in the statutes of David his father, only he sacrificed and made offerings at the high places.

(2) I love you, O' Lord, my strength. (Psalm 18)

Receiving God's free gift of Eternal Life is not a life long pursuit, this happens in a moment of time it takes for a person to believe in Jesus. Saying receiving eternal life takes a lifetime of faith, love, repentance, etc.. is a works approach to receiving eternal life and gives no one eternal life.
I did not write all of that. I simply wrote that one must love God in order to be saved. And I gave you many verses from Holy Scripture that clearly teach that. Here is another verse that teaches it:

(3) If anyone has no love for the Lord, let him be accursed.

Can someone have no love for the Lord and be accursed, and be saved at the same time? I highly doubt it.

Now, as for the question of whether the gift of eternal life takes a lifetime of faith, love and repentance, here are a few more Bible verses for your consideration. Please draw your own conclusions from them.

(1) I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name's sake, and you have not grown weary. But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.

(2) Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.

(3) But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

(4) Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.

(5) He will render to each one according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury. There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek, but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek. For God shows no partiality.

For all who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law. For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified. For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus.

(6) But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life.

(7) Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest. Already the one who reaps is receiving wages and gathering fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together.

(8) You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.
 
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Richard T

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On the love question. Jesus asked Peter three times if he loved him, the first two were agape love and peter responded with phileo love. Finally Jesus said do you phileo love me? and Peter again said he Phileo loved Jesus.
The I Cor 13 requirement of love is agape. I assume Peter's condition was temporary. How do you know if you (Agape) love God?
John 14:15 (NASB)
15 "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.

I'll assume here the two commandments to love God and neighbor?
 
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