True vs False Conversation, Faith & Works

[Siskie]

So I guess one thing new Christians get scared about, and I am new myself, is when we realize there are False Conversions. Then you get scared, am I a false convert?

Another thing that pops up, is works. Works before faith, is just self righteousness; where as True Faith + Salvation will naturally lead to producing fruit and good works.

This is where questions can arrive, such as “is the good works I have been doing from my true faith or am I a false convert and doing good works because I know intellectually from scripture that faith naturally produces good works, and I may be forcing it?

The process of sanctification is always working in a true Christian, the pruning of their branch in Jesus to produce good fruit, when certain areas of a Christian still need work.

How do some of you more mature Christians go about these subjects in a way that makes sense?

 

[HTacianas]

So I guess one thing new Christians get scared about, and I am new myself, is when we realize there are False Conversions. Then you get scared, am I a false convert?

Another thing that pops up, is works. Works before faith, is just self righteousness; where as True Faith + Salvation will naturally lead to producing fruit and good works.

This is where questions can arrive, such as “is the good works I have been doing from my true faith or am I a false convert and doing good works because I know intellectually from scripture that faith naturally produces good works, and I may be forcing it?

The process of sanctification is always working in a true Christian, the pruning of their branch in Jesus to produce good fruit, when certain areas of a Christian still need work.

How do some of you more mature Christians go about these subjects in a way that makes sense?

Ephesians 2:1-9 teaches that salvation is not a reward for any works done previously. Then verse 2:10 states that we are to perform the works God has preordained that we do. It is those works afterwards that continuously justify us, just as James said at James 2:4. Whether you perform those works because you feel like it, or if you perform the works because you are commanded to really doesn't matter. In the end -literally- you will be judged by them, see Matthew 25:31-46.

 

[NewLifeInChristJesus]

So I guess one thing new Christians get scared about, and I am new myself, is when we realize there are False Conversions. Then you get scared, am I a false convert?

Another thing that pops up, is works. Works before faith, is just self righteousness; where as True Faith + Salvation will naturally lead to producing fruit and good works.

This is where questions can arrive, such as “is the good works I have been doing from my true faith or am I a false convert and doing good works because I know intellectually from scripture that faith naturally produces good works, and I may be forcing it?

The process of sanctification is always working in a true Christian, the pruning of their branch in Jesus to produce good fruit, when certain areas of a Christian still need work.

How do some of you more mature Christians go about these subjects in a way that makes sense?

The true test of one's salvation is the presence of Jesus in your heart. The go-to verses for this are 1 John 5:11-13 -- "God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life". One's assurance of salvation comes from knowing that Jesus lives in his/her heart.

Concerning works, it is important to know that the sinful flesh (which we must live with on this earth) is pulling us in one direction, and the Spirit of God (who lives in us and whose presence makes us new creatures in Christ) is pulling us in the opposite direction. Gratifying the flesh's desires produces unsavory works/fruits. Gratifying the Spirit's desires produces wonderful works/fruits. The only way to deny the flesh what it wants is to walk in lock step with the Spirit (Galatians 5:16-26). As verse 26 says, walking in the Spirit is not something that should cause one to be conceited/boasful. The reason should be obvious... to be boastful about walking in lock step with the Spirit would give the flesh credit for something it did not produce.

 

[Aussie Pete]

So I guess one thing new Christians get scared about, and I am new myself, is when we realize there are False Conversions. Then you get scared, am I a false convert?

Another thing that pops up, is works. Works before faith, is just self righteousness; where as True Faith + Salvation will naturally lead to producing fruit and good works.

This is where questions can arrive, such as “is the good works I have been doing from my true faith or am I a false convert and doing good works because I know intellectually from scripture that faith naturally produces good works, and I may be forcing it?

The process of sanctification is always working in a true Christian, the pruning of their branch in Jesus to produce good fruit, when certain areas of a Christian still need work.

How do some of you more mature Christians go about these subjects in a way that makes sense?

I know a number of people who are genuinely born again but who have ceased to be active Christians. Many of them were offended by something that happened in their Christian experience. This is one reason why forgiving those who offend us is so vital.

I've been in that position myself. I spent nearly 9 years in a spirtual wilderness. Finally, God broke through and brought me to my senses. It is possible to be born again and yet show no sign of it.

One of my problems was over analysing everything. I did not always "feel" saved so I suffered doubts. I did not always behave as a saved person should, so other opportunities to doubt arose. Somewhere along the line, we must decide to take God at his word and make that the absolute authority in our lives. I accepted Christ shortly before my 21st birthday. I was born again and I knew that something had happened that changed me forever. Satan has not changed his methods of attacking Christians. "Has God said......?" We need always to say, yes, God has said.

Sanctification is not the correct term for spiritual growth. The Bible calls it the salvation of the soul. To be saved is not just going to heaven when we die. It also means to be delivered. The real gospel is Luke 4:18.

A bird does not worry about flying. It is inherent in its nature. Christians have a new nature also, that of Christ Himself. We have the indwelling Holy Spirit who produces fruit. We only have to bear the fruit, not produce it. When we see these truths, life becomes much easier. I never query my salvation now. If I sin, I confess it and get on with living.

Satan seeks to get us to consider ourselves apart from Christ. Some become proud because maybe they've had some experiences in the Lord and think that they have changed. We never change. God's way is exchange, removing self and putting Christ instead. Some rebel because they want to remain independent or fear God's will. God will work to set us free, if we ask Him. We can have the humility of Christ and also the obedience of Christ. I don't know of anyone ever who was not in need of both.

One of the best proofs of being born again is our attitude to other born again Christians. We show that we have passed from death to life when we love the brethren.

 

[eleos1954]

So I guess one thing new Christians get scared about, and I am new myself, is when we realize there are False Conversions. Then you get scared, am I a false convert?

Another thing that pops up, is works. Works before faith, is just self righteousness; where as True Faith + Salvation will naturally lead to producing fruit and good works.

This is where questions can arrive, such as “is the good works I have been doing from my true faith or am I a false convert and doing good works because I know intellectually from scripture that faith naturally produces good works, and I may be forcing it?

The process of sanctification is always working in a true Christian, the pruning of their branch in Jesus to produce good fruit, when certain areas of a Christian still need work.

How do some of you more mature Christians go about these subjects in a way that makes sense?

It's what you are thinking .... if you think your works will get you into heaven (by pleasing God) ... that is not so ... so if this is not the case ... then do works according to what God has set in your heart to do ... not expecting anything in return.

 

[Soyeong]

So I guess one thing new Christians get scared about, and I am new myself, is when we realize there are False Conversions. Then you get scared, am I a false convert?

Another thing that pops up, is works. Works before faith, is just self righteousness; where as True Faith + Salvation will naturally lead to producing fruit and good works.

This is where questions can arrive, such as “is the good works I have been doing from my true faith or am I a false convert and doing good works because I know intellectually from scripture that faith naturally produces good works, and I may be forcing it?

The process of sanctification is always working in a true Christian, the pruning of their branch in Jesus to produce good fruit, when certain areas of a Christian still need work.

How do some of you more mature Christians go about these subjects in a way that makes sense?

The only way to become righteous is through faith and to become righteous means to become someone who practices righteousness. God's law is His instructions for how to practice righteousness, not for how to become righteous. For example, God's law reveals that helping the poor is a way to practice righteousness, but no amount of helping the poor will ever cause someone to become righteous because the only way to become righteous is through faith. So when God declares us to be righteous through faith He is declaring us to be someone who practices righteousness in obedience to His law through the same faith. God is trustworthy, therefore what He has instructed is also trustworthy (Psalms 19:7), so the way to rely on God is by obediently relying on what He has instructed. Self-righteousness does not involve relying on anyone else, so it is contradictory to think that we can become self-righteous by relying on what God has instructed. In Proverbs 3:5-7, we have a choice of whether we are going to lean on our own understanding of right and wrong by doing what is right in our own eyes or whether we are going to trust in God with all of our heart to correctly divide between right and wrong through what He has instructed, and He will make our way straight, and this is what it means to have faith.

 

[SavedByGrace3]

So I guess one thing new Christians get scared about, and I am new myself, is when we realize there are False Conversions. Then you get scared, am I a false convert?

Another thing that pops up, is works. Works before faith, is just self righteousness; where as True Faith + Salvation will naturally lead to producing fruit and good works.

This is where questions can arrive, such as “is the good works I have been doing from my true faith or am I a false convert and doing good works because I know intellectually from scripture that faith naturally produces good works, and I may be forcing it?

The process of sanctification is always working in a true Christian, the pruning of their branch in Jesus to produce good fruit, when certain areas of a Christian still need work.

How do some of you more mature Christians go about these subjects in a way that makes sense?

As John said about false believers. If you are true, you will stay. If you are not of us, then you will leave.

1 John 2:19 ISV
19. They left us, but they were not part of us, for if they had been part of us,
they would have stayed with us. Their leaving made it clear that none of them was really part of us.


Down through the years I have becomed discouraged and had doubts. I tried to leave. I packed up my Bibles and tried to stay away.
I could not do it. I was always drawn back.

 

[d taylor]

So I guess one thing new Christians get scared about, and I am new myself, is when we realize there are False Conversions. Then you get scared, am I a false convert?

Another thing that pops up, is works. Works before faith, is just self righteousness; where as True Faith + Salvation will naturally lead to producing fruit and good works.

This is where questions can arrive, such as “is the good works I have been doing from my true faith or am I a false convert and doing good works because I know intellectually from scripture that faith naturally produces good works, and I may be forcing it?

The process of sanctification is always working in a true Christian, the pruning of their branch in Jesus to produce good fruit, when certain areas of a Christian still need work.

How do some of you more mature Christians go about these subjects in a way that makes sense?

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False conversions only happen when people place their faith in something other than Jesus, for God's free gift of Eternal Life.

Example: Someone who thinks they are saved because they said a sinners prayer. But they have actually never believed in Jesus for Eternal Life salvation.

There are no false conversions when a person believes in Jesus for God's free gift of Eternal Life salvation.