Action or Confession?

[jonathonbyrd]

Whenever a preacher tells the congregation that if they believe in their heart and they confess with their mouth, they will surely be saved. I cringe. I went along with this story for a long time, until I started studying the bible myself.

The Confession alone
Romans 10

9That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.



The Confession without Action
Matthew 7 : A Tree and Its Fruit

21"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' 23Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'

2 Timothy 2 : A Workman Approved by God

19Nevertheless, God's solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: "The Lord knows those who are his," and, "Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness."

1 Corinthians 1:21

21For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.



In greek writing we know that when a word or sentence is used twice, it symbolizes emphasis. Jesus tells us in mathew that many will come to Him, not just saying He is lord, but emphasizing Him as their lord, and Jesus will send them away. Your confession in Jesus Christ as lord is worth absolutely nothing, Jesus is telling you that right here.

You tell me that it's not by works, so does the bible, yet God's solid foundation is given to us in Timothy, if you confess Jesus as your lord, you must turn from Evil, you must repent!

God goes as far as to tell us that preaching salvation through believe is foolish. If you think you're getting to heaven simply because you BELIEVE, then God thinks that you're a fool.



Let's wrap this up with Mathew 21:

The Parable of the Two Sons

28"What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, 'Son, go and work today in the vineyard.'
29" 'I will not,' he answered, but later he changed his mind and went.

30"Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, 'I will, sir,' but he did not go.

31"Which of the two did what his father wanted?"
"The first," they answered.

Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. 32For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.



Here's another little tip:
Luke 10 : The Parable of the Good Samaritan

25On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. "Teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?"
26"What is written in the Law?" he replied. "How do you read it?"

27He answered: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'"

28"You have answered correctly," Jesus replied. "Do this and you will live."


Jesus never asked anybody if they believed in their heart and if they confessed Him as their lord. So why do preachers in the 21st century? Since when was it acceptable to trim back the gospel to the two easiest items?

Why is there no weight applied to repentance? Why is it overlooked?

Could it be because repentance requires you to act out your beliefs? Yet we're all just too stubborn to submit to that?

 

[FaithPleases]

I think this is better known as the sinners prayer. I believe we must repent, but according to dictionary.com repentance does not mean to change ones way of thinking, althought that is a must, repentance is to feel sorry, self-reproachful, or contrite for past conduct; regret or be conscience-stricken about a past action, attitude, etc. (often fol. by of ): He repented after his thoughtless act. Then again in order to have true repentance we must turn from whatever it is that is holding us back. Awww I don't know this is confusing.


"Unless you repent, you will all likewise perish" (Luke 13:3, 5).

 

[jonathonbyrd]

@Faith, don't use the modern dictionary to define biblical words. The devil works through misleading the Truth. The first battle that he has won is to misguide your understanding of the bible. You need to use the bible to define biblical words.

This is done by reading every passage that contains the word and praying for understanding from God.

 

[stormdancer0]

Biblically , to repent is to turn away from. If you have repented of a sin, it means you will turn away from the thought pattern or action that causes you to sin.

 

[Hupomone10]

Because I've read and meditated on the scriptures many times, I understand the place and importance of confession. And confession means to say the same, to agree with God. I believe we should agree with God and admit not cover our sins, and not do religious compensation for them, but confess them. That's the starting point.

I also believe in obedience, and more than that, in walking in the Spirit which will always result in obedience, but will cut through many works done merely to puff up the sanctified flesh.

I also know the limit of works. The Christian life from start to finish is a life of faith. Romans 1:17 "For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith." A life of faith will be an obedient life. But it does not focus on its own works because it is focused on God. Because of this, it learns to hardly focus on itself at all. It focuses on Christ.

A life focused on Christ is an overcoming life.

We are all called to overcome, not to just get by (Rev 2,3, the 7 churches).

• If I live the Christian life by self-effort & personal strength, I will overcome only what I am capable of overcoming. My works will be wood, hay, and stubble.(1 Cor. 3:11-15)
• If I live the Christian life by faith, Christ will do through me what I cannot do for myself. My works will be gold, silver, costly stones. (1 Cor. 3:11-15)
• If I try to overcome sin by personal strength, I’m living by the power of the flesh, which is weak (Matt. 26:41).
• If I live by faith, I’m living in the power of the Spirit. (Rom 1:17; Gal 5:25; Gal 5:16)
• By my own efforts, “to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not, (Rom 7:18).·
• By faith, God’s Spirit is at work in me to will and to do what pleases Him (Phil. 2:13)

This is the walk that truly overcomes: the walk of faith in Christ's indwelling Presence which will not change, His finished work which cannot change, and His Word which will never fail.
H.

 

[Interestingpov]

Do as I say, not as I do.

Believe your interpretation of the bible's words, do not depend on other people's interpretations.
We each have experiences to draw on, and some things are more significant to one person than another.

 

[jonathonbyrd]

@Hupomone10, I agree with everything that you have to say. I'm a proponent of action, action, action. I do agree that confession is important, for God tells us that if we confess our sins He is faithful and will forgive us of our transgressions.

@Interestingpov, what point are you trying to make with your quote "Do as I say, not as I do." ?

 

[aiki]

Jesus never asked anybody if they believed in their heart and if they confessed Him as their lord.

No one, not even Christ's disciples, fully understood who Jesus was and what he would do as the sacrificial Lamb of God. No one could have believed in or confessed Christ as Saviour and Lord while he walked among them because he had not yet died for them.

Faith, however, was often at issue between Christ and those he miraculously healed. Many times Christ would ask those whom he would heal, "Do you believe?" or he would heal in response to their faith in him to do so, or challenge their lack of faith in his claim to be the Messiah. (Matt. 8:13; 9:28; Mk. 5:36; 9:23; Jn. 4:42; 10:37, 38, etc.)

So why do preachers in the 21st century? Since when was it acceptable to trim back the gospel to the two easiest items?

Was the thief on the cross next to Christ able to do any more than Paul writes of in Romans 10? No, but Christ said to him that he would be with him in Paradise. Works only give evidence of an intangible, spiritual regeneration; works do not secure this regeneration.

Why is there no weight applied to repentance? Why is it overlooked?

I don't know that it is. Perhaps in some places it is ignored, but not in every place.

Could it be because repentance requires you to act out your beliefs? Yet we're all just too stubborn to submit to that?

A life of righteousness and forsaking of sin is the natural result of genuine salvation. It happens as a matter of course for those who are truly born again. Acting out one's faith in Christ doesn't secure one's salvation, but it is the inevitable result of real faith in him. When one is genuinely saved one can't help but live that truth out.

Selah.

 

[FaithPleases]

No one, not even Christ's disciples, fully understood who Jesus was and what he would do as the sacrificial Lamb of God. No one could have believed in or confessed Christ as Saviour and Lord while he walked among them because he had not yet died for them.

Faith, however, was often at issue between Christ and those he miraculously healed. Many times Christ would ask those whom he would heal, "Do you believe?" or he would heal in response to their faith in him to do so, or challenge their lack of faith in his claim to be the Messiah. (Matt. 8:13; 9:28; Mk. 5:36; 9:23; Jn. 4:42; 10:37, 38, etc.)



Was the thief on the cross next to Christ able to do any more than Paul writes of in Romans 10? No, but Christ said to him that he would be with him in Paradise. Works only give evidence of an intangible, spiritual regeneration; works do not secure this regeneration.



I don't know that it is. Perhaps in some places it is ignored, but not in every place.



A life of righteousness and forsaking of sin is the natural result of genuine salvation. It happens as a matter of course for those who are truly born again. Acting out one's faith in Christ doesn't secure one's salvation, but it is the inevitable result of real faith in him. When one is genuinely saved one can't help but live that truth out.

Selah.

Good Point.

 

[jonathonbyrd]

@Aiki, Well said. I can submit to that.

 

[Chris_G]

To confess "Jesus is Lord" and believe that God raised Him from the dead means that you recognize that Jesus is God Himself and if He's telling you to repent of your sins and believe in Him to be saved, you better do it. If someone does not do that, he is showing that his confession is empty.

Confessing and believing means doing what He said you must do to be saved: Repent and believe the Gospel.

 

[Jeshu]

Whenever a preacher tells the congregation that if they believe in their heart and they confess with their mouth, they will surely be saved. I cringe. I went along with this story for a long time, until I started studying the bible myself.

The Confession alone
Romans 10

9That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.



The Confession without Action
Matthew 7 : A Tree and Its Fruit

21"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' 23Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'

2 Timothy 2 : A Workman Approved by God

19Nevertheless, God's solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: "The Lord knows those who are his," and, "Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness."

1 Corinthians 1:21

21For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.



In greek writing we know that when a word or sentence is used twice, it symbolizes emphasis. Jesus tells us in mathew that many will come to Him, not just saying He is lord, but emphasizing Him as their lord, and Jesus will send them away. Your confession in Jesus Christ as lord is worth absolutely nothing, Jesus is telling you that right here.

You tell me that it's not by works, so does the bible, yet God's solid foundation is given to us in Timothy, if you confess Jesus as your lord, you must turn from Evil, you must repent!

God goes as far as to tell us that preaching salvation through believe is foolish. If you think you're getting to heaven simply because you BELIEVE, then God thinks that you're a fool.



Let's wrap this up with Mathew 21:

The Parable of the Two Sons

28"What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, 'Son, go and work today in the vineyard.'
29" 'I will not,' he answered, but later he changed his mind and went.

30"Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, 'I will, sir,' but he did not go.

31"Which of the two did what his father wanted?"
"The first," they answered.

Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. 32For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.



Here's another little tip:
Luke 10 : The Parable of the Good Samaritan

25On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. "Teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?"
26"What is written in the Law?" he replied. "How do you read it?"

27He answered: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'"

28"You have answered correctly," Jesus replied. "Do this and you will live."


Jesus never asked anybody if they believed in their heart and if they confessed Him as their lord. So why do preachers in the 21st century? Since when was it acceptable to trim back the gospel to the two easiest items?

Why is there no weight applied to repentance? Why is it overlooked?

Could it be because repentance requires you to act out your beliefs? Yet we're all just too stubborn to submit to that?

Salvation is within - for Jesus divides the Sheep from The Goats - such a process is described as 50/50 by the way!

So if we sin - the wilful sinner in us always dies - for there is no salvation for those who sin - as the Bible says - those who sin shall die - but if we repent that means we are taken away from our sinful spirit in charge - those goats dwelling in our flesh - and find New Life in Christ's Spirit - eternal life - this is how salvation works - day by day!

So being lustful, hateful, untrue, loveless is never saved - no matter how much we believe in Jesus at other times in our life - such spiritualities within us must die - it will NEVER live forever in bliss that's for sure.

This is how we - who have been lustful, hateful, untrue and loveless - can be saved - through faith and repentance from heeding lying spirit within us - heeding God's Life giving Spirit instead - such it is to be reborn!


A poem to seal the matter.


Please Kiss The Son!

I see lies shaping your heart and soul within.
Why continue to deny Him the right to live?
Please kiss the Son lest He be angry!
The Truth is a fire for the dark and secretive!

Don't you fear grilling His Hell forever more?
Seeing His Good Life was lost because of you?
Please kiss The Son lest He be angry!
Letting His loving truth redeem you too!

Also you His Holy Name to praise for aye!
Seeds of truthful love inside of you growing.
Please kiss The Son lest He be angry!
Redeeming Love like living waters flowing.

 

[Hupomone10]

If any sin can unsave, then every sin can unsave.

James 2:10
"For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all."



Does anyone out there know the only scriptural basis for falling from grace?

 

[Jeshu]

If any sin can unsave, then every sin can unsave.

James 2:10
"For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all."



Does anyone out there know the only scriptural basis for falling from grace?

Hebrews 6:4-6

It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age, if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance, because to their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace.

Sin against The Holy Spirit is the unforgiven sin.

Please beloved of The Lord - understand that when you sin against God's Spirit you want nothing to do with God or Jesus no more - your heart will be cold to His truth and unbelief will now rule your once believing heart - sinning against The Holy Spirit means you have killed God's Good and Holy Life in you - your saved life you murdered - and in that spirit ruling you, you will certainly perish.

Fearing you sinned against The Holy Spirit means you haven't done it!