Denying Jesus

[DamianWarS]

What do you suppose would be the opposite to denying Jesus? Jesus provides the answer: "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me." To deny self is a denial of our flesh and what our flesh desires. To deny self would mean obedience to Jesus. Taking up our cross means we crucify "the flesh with its passions and desires." (Galatians 5:24) If you are living according to the Spirit you will not be in a state of denying the Spirit's power to "put to death the misdeeds of the body" so that "you will live."

although broadly things of the "self" are things of the flesh a danger may be we can get trapped in checkbox-driven focus and miss the point. Anything that gets in the way of Christ is what needs to be denied regardless of what that "thing" is (even if superficially it appears wholesome). the projection of self can be things we hang on to so tightly that we can find ourselves saying "I'll do anything for you God just leave this part of my life alone". This often is connected to our identity like social status, job position, being a father/mother, husband/wife, being rich/poor, having "things", our education and the list goes on (even our sexuality which includes heterosexuality and celibacy). If we refuse to give up a certain identity to follow Christ we are refusing Christ.

Luke 14:26 tells us “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple." this is harsh language but it doesn't mean we can't love our father, mother, wife, children, etc... it means that Christ needs to come first. Preaching commandments-driven action can lead to loopholes and people missing the point (justifying putting things higher than Christ) For example with treatment towards our neighbour, the 10 commandments tell us not to steal, murder, lie, covet or sleep with their wife (maybe respect their parents too). Surprisingly, these are not that hard to keep but even if I keep those things I may still hate my neighbour (and his wife and parents). Or even if I don't hate him I may just ignore him and have no care for him.

The sum total of the law that relates to actions towards my neighbour is lacking and even if I keep them to the letter, because I have no love, their value is worthless. So Christ reveals to us a heuristic for serving him which is by loving God by way of loving others as ourselves under Christ. We can affirm this by a comparison of 1 Cor 7:19, Gal 5:6 and Gal 6:15. All these verses are talking about the same thing, they all start the same way they all use the same language concluding "what counts" and they are all written by Paul (and if you check your cross references they will all point to each other). They are in fact mirror versions of each other and all have the same meaning

1 Cor 7:19
Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. Keeping God’s commands is what counts.

Gal 5:6
For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.

Gal 6:15
Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is the new creation.

so it is clear what doesn't "count" which is circumcision. But what does "count" is "Keeping God’s commands" AND "faith expressing itself through love" AND "the new creation". but here's the secret: they are all the same thing.

so we can conclude confidently

Keeping God’s commands = faith expressing itself through love defined through the new creation

Paul brings clarify to the ambiguity of the phrase "God's commandments" so we don't have to rip our hair out wondering what the commandments are. These verse are not in addition to God's commandments, it is tantamount to God's commandments and should be our compass on how we approach action.

 

[SabbathBlessings]

Paul never taught anything different than what Jesus taught and even if we believe he did- Paul can't save us only Christ does. Paul was a servant of Christ and sadly some use Paul writings as a weapon against what Christ taught and I am sure he would be mortified because a servant is never greater than his master and Paul never placed himself above the authority of God.

We know what the commandments of God are because God identified them clearly- written and spoken by the Creator of anything Wxo 32:16 Exo 31:18

Right in the unit of the Ten God said this and added no more after Deut 5:22
Exo 20:6 but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.

Jesus also identified these same commandments as the commandment of God Mat 15:3-14

Paul is obviously referring to the same set of commandments because Paul never taught or exalted himself above God or Jesus, but is hard to understand which is why we have this pretty stern warning 2 Peter 3:16

Becoming a new creature in Christ through faith is how we keep God's commandments. These verses work in harmony, not one voiding out the other.

 

[Leaf473]

The commandments of God would be things like The Book of Leviticus

Bible Gateway passage: Leviticus 27:34 - New American Standard Bible

These are the commandments which the LORD commanded Moses for the sons of Israel on Mount Sinai.

www.biblegateway.com

 

[Leaf473]

In Christ, there is neither Jew nor gentile.

At the same time, there are Jewish believers

Bible Gateway passage: Acts 10:45 - New American Standard Bible

All the Jewish believers who came with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had also been poured out on the Gentiles.

www.biblegateway.com

 

[Bob S]

Jesus came teaching the Torah because He came for the people of Israel and Judah. Eph 2 tells us: 14 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15 by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, ​

Jesus set aside the Torah which was a barrier between Jews and Gentiles. To try to tell us we somehow are under the dictates of the old covenant laws smacks totally with the words of Jesus' apostle Paul. To teach that anyone is under the laws of the old covenant is heresy.

 

[daq]

The commandments of God would be things like The Book of Leviticus

Bible Gateway passage: Leviticus 27:34 - New American Standard Bible

These are the commandments which the LORD commanded Moses for the sons of Israel on Mount Sinai.

www.biblegateway.com

Amen, and here is a teaching of the Master from Leviticus concerning sacrifices:

Mark 9:43-50 KJV
43 And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:
44 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
45 And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:
46 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
47 And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire:
48 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
49 For every one shall be salted with fire, and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt. [Lev 2:13]
50 Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his saltness, wherewith will ye season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another.

The following is the only place in the Torah where the commandment to salt every sacrifice-offering is given.

Leviticus 2:13 KJV
13 And every oblation of thy meat offering shalt thou season with salt; neither shalt thou suffer the salt of the covenant of thy God to be lacking from thy meat offering: with all thine offerings thou shalt offer salt.

Moreover, in the Matthew companion passage for Mark 9:43-50, he specifies the word members, and this is a key word which Paul then also employs to teach much about the same doctrine in his epistles, ("mortify your members", KJV, (putting them to death or to sleep because it is in a figurative sense)).

Matthew 5:29-30 KJV
29 And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.
30 And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.

Rom 7:14-25, Rom 8:13, Rom 12:1, Col 3:5 ...

Romans 7:14-23 KJV
14 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.
15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.
16 If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good.
17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.
19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.
20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.
22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:
23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.

Romans 8:13 KJV
13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.

Romans 12:1 KJV
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

Colossians 3:5 KJV
5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:

Peter teaches the same by/through the Master, (1 Pet 2:5 re: Mrk 9:43-50), and from Exo 19:6 and Exo 23:22 LXX, no doubt meaning he learned the doctrine directly by way of the Testimony of the Master which is now recorded for us in the Gospel accounts.

1 Peter 2:5-9 KJV
5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.
7 Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,
8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.
9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

 

[DamianWarS]

Paul never taught anything different than what Jesus taught and even if we believe he did- Paul can't save us only Christ does. Paul was a servant of Christ and sadly some use Paul writings as a weapon against what Christ taught and I am sure he would be mortified because a servant is never greater than his master and Paul never placed himself above the authority of God.

We know what the commandments of God are because God identified them clearly- written and spoken by the Creator of anything Wxo 32:16 Exo 31:18

Right in the unit of the Ten God said this and added no more after Deut 5:22
Exo 20:6 but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.

Jesus also identified these same commandments as the commandment of God Mat 15:3-14

Paul is obviously referring to the same set of commandments because Paul never taught or exalted himself above God or Jesus, but is hard to understand which is why we have this pretty stern warning 2 Peter 3:16

Paul does not conflict with Christ, his message is of Christ (Gal 1:11). Paul does not save us, his message is of Christ and it is Christ who saves us. While he was still alive his epistles were already considered scripture (2 Peter 3:16) Anything Paul says should be in harmony with Christ.

You are conflating "God's commandments" with the 10. God may have added nothing more to the 10, but they are innately bound to the old covenant, called the tablets of covenant law multiple times and placed in the ark of the covenant. They are not separated from the covenant they are bound in and are not declared universal moral law, not one area of scripture even suggests this.

1 Cor 7:19; Gal 5:6; Gal 6:15 must mean the exact same thing, if they are not then these verses are unreliable, and if the verses are unreliable so are the epitisles they are written in, and if the epistles are, so is Paul and the gospel message is compromised. Paul intentionally opened his letters saying he was an apostle of Christ, in Galatians he specifically says his message is direct from Christ and no one else. He does this to establish authority under Christ in what he is saying.

Gal 5:6; Gal 6:15 is not in addition to 1 Cor 7:19 it is the exact same message and it cannot be anything else if Paul is going to be reliable. It is fortunate to get such clarity with these verses where many other subjects Paul touches on have wide overlap but they don't often take such a mirror approach as it does here. The fortunate part is it gives us greater confidence as to what Paul's intention of the message is, and we may use one to understand another or consider them interchangeable and of course combine them to establish a clearer message.

Becoming a new creature in Christ through faith is how we keep God's commandments. These verses work in harmony, not one voiding out the other.

I don't think you're listening to me. I never said they void each other, I said they are mirror versions and have the same meaning. If we only say Gal 5:6 and 6:15 inform us on the manner we do God's commandments then what commandments are these? We cannot just simply insert what we want in here and must have scriptural support. It points to Christ's law, Galations is not just 2 verses, it well establishes Christ's law, saying in the immediate context of these verses "For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbour as yourself." (Gal 5:14) Galatians as a whole is insightful for this topic. It would be impossible to walk away after reading Galatians armed with the knowledge of the 10 commandments as obedience to Christ but you would know to love each other and what it's fruit is and to walk in the Spirit all contrasting law which the 10 are a part of. Is Paul that irresponsible that he would miss what you seem to view as foundational to Christian living?

 

[DamianWarS]

Was paul the one chosen to be the apostle to the gentile by GOD?

Not sure where all this discrediting Paul is coming from but he was indeed an apostle sent of God called to the Gentiles.

Galatians 1:1
Paul, an apostle—sent not from men nor by a man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead

keep reading Galatians...

Galatians 1:11-12
I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel I preached is not of human origin. I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.

keep reading Galatians...

Galatians 2:8
For God, who was at work in Peter as an apostle to the circumcised, was also at work in me as an apostle to the Gentiles.

(Peter also affirms Paul's written as scripture - 2 Peter 3:16)

Galatians is considered to be the earliest epistle Paul wrote (c48 AD) Whereas 1 Corinthians was after (c53–54) and Romans shortly after again (the epistles are organized from largest to smallest in the NT not chronologically). So when comparing verses like 1 Cor 7:19 with Gal 5:6 and Gal 6:15 which are near mirror versions just know that Galatians was written first and Paul wasn't rethinking or amending what he previously wrote, instead, he would have had his letter to the Galatians in his mind when writing that near mirror verse. This also makes sense as to perhaps why Paul went to such lengths explaining his authority as an apostle and needed to say his message is of Christ in Galatians.

After reading Galatians Paul unfolds quiet clearly this law of love and how we are to treat each other under Christ and be guided by things of the spirit. Paul brings up the law of love saying it completely fulfills the law (Gal 5:14) but he makes no mention of any 10 commandments and in fact contrasts law quite a bit. If we are to consider the 10 commandments to be so foundational to Christian living this would irresponsible of Paul as his letter would be incomplete.

 

[SabbathBlessings]

Yet the Ten are all throughout the New Covenant until the return of Christ Rev 22:14-15. Always best to stick with what the scriptures say, as there is no scripture that says the Ten Commandments is the “old covenant”. Instead God said He would write His law which includes Exo 20:6 in the New Covenant that is established on better promises Heb 8:6 not better or new laws. God is perfect and could not write an imperfect law- which is why when we have faith in Him to believe in what He asks and do it, it converts our souls. Psa 19:7 instead of being just hearers James 1:22

 

[Bob S]

Yes trophy 33, we are saved from sin by obeying God and the 10 commandments he left for us.

I thought we are saved by believing in Jesus Christ and His Grace. Grace is unmerited favor. You would have us believe we are saved by what we do or as Paul calls it "by the works of the Law". John 3:16, John 5:24

about free will this and the Commandments, this if what God says;

To whom did God tell it? Did God tell any of this to the Gentile nations? Where in scripture did God tell it to the Gentile nations?

Deu 30:16 In that I command thee this day to love the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commandments and his statutes and his judgments, that thou mayest live and multiply: and the LORD thy God shall bless thee in the land whither thou goest to possess it.

Deu 30:17 But if thine heart turn away, so that thou wilt not hear, but shalt be drawn away, and worship other gods, and serve them;

Deu 30:18 I denounce unto you this day, that ye shall surely perish, and that ye shall not prolong your days upon the land, whither thou passest over Jordan to go to possess it.

Deu 30:19 I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:

Deu 30:20 That thou mayest love the LORD thy God, andthat thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.

First of all Love cannot be demanded. That was Moses speaking not God. Love comes from the heart. There is no threat of reprisal that would change a hardened heart to love God or our fellow man. This is why there is no word about Love in the Ten Commandments. All of the ten were about duty. The Israelites out of duty could have kept them all. If they didn't the rules found in the book of the Law provided the consequences.

under the new and better covenant Israel and Judah have been given a new way to believe. Love and Grace are the great themes. John 15: 9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

If we all would love each other as Jesus has asked us what a wonderful World this would be. Jesus cannot make us love, Love must come from the heart.

 

[Bob S]

SB, in one of your posts you say we cannot know we are saved. That is against all of the promises found in the Holy Writ. I know Ellen has her followers believing such a lie, but if you would only read the promises you too would know the real truth,

 

[Bob S]

Followers of Ellen White believe the following:
But if we turn aside from the fourth commandment, so positively given by God, to adopt the inventions of Satan, voiced and acted by men under his control, we cannot be saved. We cannot with safety receive his traditions and subtleties as truth. {RH, July 6, 1897 par. 4}

The big problem is the Sabbath was given by God to only one nation on Earth, Israel. Nowhere in the New Testament is there any command given to Gentiles about observing any day. What we do know is that we are not saved by what we do, we are saved just as Abraham was saved, by the Grace of our loved Savior, Jesus Christ.

 

[Bob S]

The SDA church has its believers believe where commandments are stated in the New Testament it is referring to the stone tablets given Israel at Sinai. 1Jn3 refutes that belief. Verse 4 begins by stating: 4 Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness.

In verse 19 it states: 19 This is how we know that we belong to the truth and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence: 20 If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. 21 Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God 22 and receive from him anything we ask, because we keep his commands and do what pleases him.

Then John tells us what will keep us from being condemned: 23 And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us. 24 The one who keeps God’s commands lives in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us.

 

[Bob S]

A sentence taken out of context. She said many non Sabbath keepers will be saved.

Only if we have never heard of the Sabbath. How could she even make a statement like that, she claimed no one knew they were saved.

We are only judged based on our knowledge, we all have access to the Bible’s and there is no thus saith the Lord that says to keep 9 commandments, or 8, they came in a unit of Ten Deut 4:13 written by the finger of God that Jesus and the apostles all kept and taught. Jesus is our example to follow 1 John 2:5-6. God said Remember, man says forget, I am sticking with what He said. Guess all will get sorted out soon enough.

Jesus in Jn 5:24 tells us if we believe we will not even be judged. Ellen has steered so many in the wrong direction. It is not a pleasant feeling believing. you do not know if you have eternal life. Actually, I do know the feeling because I once was under the spell of Ellen. Why do people bind themselves to Ellen when we have beautiful Biblical promises from Jesus?

 

[JesusFollowerForever]

Only if we have never heard of the Sabbath. How could she even make a statement like that, she claimed no one knew they were saved.

Jesus in Jn 5:24 tells us if we believe we will not even be judged. Ellen has steered so many in the wrong direction. It is not a pleasant feeling believing. you do not know if you have eternal life. Actually, I do know the feeling because I once was under the spell of Ellen. Why do people bind themselves to Ellen when we have beautiful Biblical promises from Jesus?

Hi Bob salvation is a bit more complex than a few verses. All that Jesus said and did complements one another and need to be taken as a whole as an example Jesus said what to do inherit eternal life.

Matthew 19:16-22 (NKJV)​

16 Now behold, one came and said to Him, “Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?”
17 So He said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.”
18 He said to Him, “Which ones?” Jesus said, “You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not bear false witness,
19 honor your father and your mother, and, you shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
20 The young man said to Him, “All these things I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack?”
21 Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”
22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

Here Jesus was asking to keep the 10 Commandments!

What does it mean to believe in Jesus? simply believe, or follow what he was teaching us? No action necessary?

In Matthew 7:21-23 (NKJV), Jesus talks about those who claim to know Him but do not do the will of the Father:

"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. Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'"

According to the Bible, doing the will of the Father involves several things. First, it requires faith in Jesus, as He explains in John 6:40, where He says that believing in Him leads to everlasting life. Obedience to His commands is also crucial; in John 14:15, Jesus states that if we love Him, we will keep His commandments.

Living a life of love is central to His teachings. In John 13:34-35, Jesus explains to love one another, indicating that our love for others reflects our discipleship.

Bearing fruit is also important; in Matthew 7:17-20, Jesus teaches that true followers will show their faith through their actions. Lastly, seeking God’s kingdom first, as stated in Matthew 6:33, is essential to following with GOD's will.

Believing in Jesus is an active process not simply a passive one.

 

[Bob S]

Hi Bob salvation is a bit more complex than a few verses. All that Jesus said and did complements one another and need to be taken as a whole as an example Jesus said what to do inherit eternal life.

Yes it WAS. Jesus was under the Law teaching those under the Law. The new covenant of Grace had yet to become the New Way. It took the Blood of the Lamb, our Savior Jesus Christ to do away with the old way. It seems like those who teach the laws of the old covenant just are not able to comprehend the Simple Plan of Salvation Jesus introduced through His disciples to all mankind.

Just to make it very clear, laws that deal with morality, how we treat our fellow man and our loving God, are forever. The laws dealing with ceremonial issues that were given only to Israel are not part of God's new covenant. The New Testament makes that very clear. I quoted from 1jn3 in my last post. Did that go right over your head? If not then how would you explain those verses?

It is not what we do, it is what Jesus did. Salvation should be so simple that even a child can comprehend it . Some try to make it so hard no one can comprehend it.

 

[daq]

Hi Bob salvation is a bit more complex than a few verses. All that Jesus said and did complements one another and need to be taken as a whole as an example Jesus said what to do inherit eternal life.

Matthew 19:16-22 (NKJV)​

16 Now behold, one came and said to Him, “Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?”
17 So He said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.”
18 He said to Him, “Which ones?” Jesus said, “You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not bear false witness,
19 honor your father and your mother, and, you shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
20 The young man said to Him, “All these things I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack?”
21 Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”
22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

Here Jesus was asking to keep the 10 Commandments!

What does it mean to believe in Jesus? simply believe, or follow what he was teaching us? No action necessary?

In Matthew 7:21-23 (NKJV), Jesus talks about those who claim to know Him but do not do the will of the Father:

"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. Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'"

According to the Bible, doing the will of the Father involves several things. First, it requires faith in Jesus, as He explains in John 6:40, where He says that believing in Him leads to everlasting life. Obedience to His commands is also crucial; in John 14:15, Jesus states that if we love Him, we will keep His commandments.

Living a life of love is central to His teachings. In John 13:34-35, Jesus explains to love one another, indicating that our love for others reflects our discipleship.

Bearing fruit is also important; in Matthew 7:17-20, Jesus teaches that true followers will show their faith through their actions. Lastly, seeking God’s kingdom first, as stated in Matthew 6:33, is essential to following with GOD's will.

Believing in Jesus is an active process not simply a passive one.

Amen. I would only add that the following statement reveals that both hearing (understanding) the Testimony of the Master, and also believing on the One who sent him are required, (and the One who sent him is no doubt the Father, as we all know). It is not possible to separate the commandments of the Father from the commandments of the Son in the Gospel accounts because the Son is expounding the correct understandings of the commandments of the Father.

John 5:24 KJV
24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

 

[HARK!]

MOD HAT ON

MOD HAT OFF​

 

[DamianWarS]

Yet the Ten are all throughout the New Covenant until the return of Christ Rev 22:14-15. Always best to stick with what the scriptures say, as there is no scripture that says the Ten Commandments is the “old covenant”. Instead God said He would write His law which includes Exo 20:6 in the New Covenant that is established on better promises Heb 8:6 not better or new laws. God is perfect and could not write an imperfect law- which is why when we have faith in Him to believe in what He asks and do it, it converts our souls. Psa 19:7 instead of being just hearers James 1:22

old is a contrasting term that passages like Jer 31:31-34 pick up on as well as implicitly when the NT contrast law. The 10 also clearly establishes a covenant (Due 5:1) that predates all of these references thus implicitly an older covenant. What covenant exactly do you think "old covenant" means if not Due 5? You're the first I've heard to challenge this.

 

[JesusFollowerForever]

SB, in one of your posts you say we cannot know we are saved. That is against all of the promises found in the Holy Writ. I know Ellen has her followers believing such a lie, but if you would only read the promises you too would know the real truth,

here are some verses I found for you, the real truth the only truth.

Matthew 24:40-41, it says, "Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left."

Matthew 7:13-14 states, "Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it."\\

The Final Judgment​

Matthew 25:31-46:
31 "When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:
32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:
33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
42 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:
43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.
44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?
45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.
46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal."

Not everyone will make it Bob.