Belief in Jesus is a "Work"

[leftrightleftrightleft]

When Jesus spoke of the negative effects of works it was often because he didn't want people judging others and grouping people into categories based on how many works they did. He thought that we were all sinners and none of us were worthy to cast the first stone.

Hasn't Christianity fallen into this similar problem whereby "belief in Jesus" has become in itself a "work" which one must "do" in order to be "saved"? And those that haven't "done" this "work" are grouped into categories and judged.

How is belief in Jesus not an action?

 

[drich0150]

When Jesus spoke of the negative effects of works it was often because he didn't want people judging others and grouping people into categories based on how many works they did. He thought that we were all sinners and none of us were worthy to cast the first stone.

Hasn't Christianity fallen into this similar problem whereby "belief in Jesus" has become in itself a "work" which one must "do" in order to be "saved"? And those that haven't "done" this "work" are grouped into categories and judged.

How is belief in Jesus not an action?

We are told a faith without works is dead. Works are not a sin they are a symptom of a greater faith. That said what the bible is trying to tell us is that "works" do not save, but the condition of the heart that inspire works does.

Not all who "work" get to heaven, but all in Heaven have "worked"

 

[Hog Red]

accepting the free gift of eternal life doesn't sound like work to me. Jesus did all the work.

 

[drich0150]

Their are many who will except, but shall not receive. For not all who say Lord, Lord will He recognize.

 

[leftrightleftrightleft]

We are told a faith without works is dead. Works are not a sin they are a symptom of a greater faith. That said what the bible is trying to tell us is that "works" do not save, but the condition of the heart that inspire works does.

Not all who "work" get to heaven, but all in Heaven have "worked"

You didn't really discuss the fact that "belief in Jesus" is itself a "work". Its something you "must do".

 

[leftrightleftrightleft]

accepting the free gift of eternal life doesn't sound like work to me. Jesus did all the work.

"Work" as in "something that must be done". What's the difference between "doing" the act of "accepting Jesus" and "doing" any other act?

 

[drich0150]

You didn't really discuss the fact that "belief in Jesus" is itself a "work". Its something you "must do".

How are you defining work?

Belief in of itself is not a work. A work describes or points to an action. It is possible to believe and not follow up with an action.

The bible tells us true belief or "Faith" is alway followed up with a corresponding work/action.

 

[Hog Red]

"Work" as in "something that must be done". What's the difference between "doing" the act of "accepting Jesus" and "doing" any other act?

if i give you something that is free, did you work for it? No
your semantic games will not work for you when you stand before Almighty God.

 

[98cwitr]

How is belief in Jesus not an action?

because faith isn't a verb...it's a noun

Seriously, faith is instilled by God, which requires no action on our part /thread.

 

[leftrightleftrightleft]

How are you defining work?

Belief in of itself is not a work. A work describes or points to an action. It is possible to believe and not follow up with an action.

The bible tells us true belief or "Faith" is alway followed up with a corresponding work/action.

"Believing" is an action. People who don't "believe" properly are judged just like the Pharisees judged those who did not do the proper "works". I don't see the distinction.

 

[Isatis]

You didn't really discuss the fact that "belief in Jesus" is itself a "work". Its something you "must do".

If you tell me that your name is "John" and I "believe" you, is this faith or work?

Remember Thomas, he needed to "touch" Jesus to convince himself that it truly was Jesus and what did Jesus say?

Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (John 20:29)

Hebrews 11 :1 "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."

 

[leftrightleftrightleft]

if i give you something that is free, did you work for it? No
your semantic games will not work for you when you stand before Almighty God.

I just noticed your tag line. Based on this tag line, there's really no point in me or anyone discussing anything with you.

Why is your tag line "narrow minded"? Is this something to be desired that you're happy with?

Sins of omission are all things that you don't really have to "work" to do or not do. Working for something is not the same as a "work". A "work" denotes action and merit. You "do" something to "earn" your place.

What I'm saying is that the action of "believing" fulfills the definition of a "work". If you believe then you "earn" your place among the Christian community.

 

[leftrightleftrightleft]

because faith isn't a verb...it's a noun

Seriously, faith is instilled by God, which requires no action on our part /thread.

Do you believe that Jesus rose from the dead?

"To believe" is a verb. Functionally, there is no difference between the way people respond to "belief" as a non-work and the way they respond to a work.

People judge and categorize people based on whether they perform the action of "believing in Jesus". I see no distinction between this and the Pharisees judging people based on them performing other actions.

 

[leftrightleftrightleft]

If you tell me that your name is "John" and I "believe" you, is this faith or work?

It is the action of believing. You can either "do" or "not do" it. John may judge you depending on your course of action.

Remember Thomas, he needed to "touch" Jesus to convince himself that it truly was Jesus and what did Jesus say?

Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (John 20:29)

Believing is an action. A work. A thing you must do. A thing which earns merit. If you do not perform the act of believing there are consequences. If you do not perform the act of believing you will be judged.

 

[Hog Red]

I just noticed your tag line. Based on this tag line, there's really no point in me or anyone discussing anything with you.

Why is your tag line "narrow minded"? Is this something to be desired that you're happy with?

Sins of omission are all things that you don't really have to "work" to do or not do. Working for something is not the same as a "work". A "work" denotes action and merit. You "do" something to "earn" your place.

What I'm saying is that the action of "believing" fulfills the definition of a "work". If you believe then you "earn" your place among the Christian community.

narrow is the path, you bet i'm narrow minded and proud of it.

 

[leftrightleftrightleft]

narrow is the path, you bet i'm narrow minded and proud of it.

Ah, clever play on words. My mistake.

However, I would suggest you don't literally become narrow-minded because that's essentially what the Pharisees were and they missed Jesus as he was right among them because they were too stuck in their ways. Don't miss God trying to tell you things because you have some sort of narrow expectation of what he "should" be telling you.

 

[drich0150]

"Believing" is an action.

Not according to scripture. It plainly says that "Belief without works is dead." Therefore belief in of itself does not warrant the action require by God to constitute the minimum "faith" needed.

People who don't "believe" properly are judged just like the Pharisees judged those who did not do the proper "works". I don't see the distinction

If you adopt the bible as the standard in which to "judge properly" the "distinction" will be provided for you.

 

[golgotha61]

leftrightleftrightleft;58879301]When Jesus spoke of the negative effects of works it was often because he didn't want people judging others and grouping people into categories based on how many works they did.

Can you give some scripture to support your premiss and how you arrived at the interpretation given?

He thought that we were all sinners and none of us were worthy to cast the first stone.

We are all sinners but the reference your use of "the first stone" is in direct relation to a situation much different than the "we are all sinners" scenario. When the woman was caught in adultery, (John 8:3-11) it was a set up by the Scribes and Pharisees to catch Jesus in violation of Mosaic law, which is obvious since the man involved in the act was not brought and he would have shared the same judgment and punishment. The sin question He asks (vs. 7) is directed to them specifically; at the Scribes and Pharisees, calling out their sin of complicity and solicitation to sin.

The "first stone" phrase is often used to embarrass Christians into not using the responsibility of judging sins that we are called to do. 1 Corinthians 6 is an instance where Paul chastises the church in Corinth for not judging one who is guilty of a certain sin and even reminds us that Christians will "judge angels" (vs. 3).

We are called to judge right from wrong in relation to the moral standards given to us in the New Testament. The judgment that does not belong to us in this life, is to judge another's eternal abode.

Hasn't Christianity fallen into this similar problem whereby "belief in Jesus" has become in itself a "work" which one must "do" in order to be "saved"? And those that haven't "done" this "work" are grouped into categories and judged.

How is belief in Jesus not an action?

Since I need clarification of your beginning premiss, I think it best to investigate the scriptures you use and how you arrived at your interpretation before going on in this discussion.

 

[Emmy]

Dear leftrightleftrightleft. In Matthew, chapter 22, verses 35-40, Jesus tells us: " The first and great Commandment is: Love God with all our hearts, with all our souls, and with all our minds. The second is likewise: Love our neighbour as ourselves." Then Jesus makes sure that we understood, and tells us: " On these two Commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets." God wants our Love, freely given and no conditions made. Love is not only a wonderful feeling, Love is also a " doing-word," and Love changes people and animosity, dislike and enmity. May I also point out , words of love alone do not achieve what God wants from us, God wants us to prove and do, not only with mouth and heart, also with hands and feet, if necessary. Belief in Jesus is no Work, it is a grateful heart showing deeds of Love and Care. I say this with love, leftrigt. Greetings from Emmy, sister in Christ.

 

[Publius]

When Jesus spoke of the negative effects of works it was often because he didn't want people judging others and grouping people into categories based on how many works they did. He thought that we were all sinners and none of us were worthy to cast the first stone.

Hasn't Christianity fallen into this similar problem whereby "belief in Jesus" has become in itself a "work" which one must "do" in order to be "saved"? And those that haven't "done" this "work" are grouped into categories and judged.

How is belief in Jesus not an action?

We are spiritually dead. Our nature is so corrupt and so anti-Christ that we cannot believe in Christ unless the Holy Spirit causes us to.

So if you want to say that faith is a work, then you're right. The difference is that it's a work of God, done in us, and not a work of our own.

As Paul asked the Corinthians, in 1 Cor 4:7 - "What do you have that you did not receive [from God]? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?"