Acts 16:31; 1 Peter 1:8-9; Romans 10:10; Ephesians 1:12-13; Titus 3:5-6; Once a person gets saved, they will want to do what is right to honor God in any circumstance! James 2:14-26; 1 John 5:11-13
f. Jesus' time of suffering & death came, but also His glorious resurrection, that through this Divine Act of God to redeem ALL men to Himself, both Jew & Gentile would now be acceptable to Him through faith in the efficacy of the shed Blood. Was the Sabbath & the Law still current for the Jew? As long as they lived according to the requirements of the Law, they had to abide by it & were judged by it; if they failed in one part of the given Law, they had failed in all ( Galatians 5:3, Romans 2:13, James 2:10). When the Jew put aside the Law as necessary for salvation, then the application of the Cross became real: that which was based on faith & promise, & not on the letter that only served to reveal him his sin & to draw him to Christ ( Galatians 3:24).
g. So why then is the keeping of the Sabbath still necessary? For the Jew without Christ, it remains a day of rest, as an act of obedience to God, & using that occasion for religious exercises. For the Jew & Gentile who is now "in Christ", the Sabbath, as all other Laws, have no binding, other than the importance of setting a Rest Day aside from our labours, & the Laws that reveal God's Mind & Purpose for both religious & social responsibility. If one, whether Jew, Gentile or Christian, chose to keep any of the Laws, including Sabbath, then they were bound to keep it & the whole Law - there's no option to pick & choose. And by keeping the Law to justify ourselves before God, even one Law, then precludes us from the Grace of God through Christ, because that is diametrically opposed to the meaning of the Law ( Galatians 5:4).
I must commend you for ending your prayer in the Name of Jesus. As you well know, Jesus is the Name of the Savior. Colossians 3:17 says"And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him." So by praying in the Name of Jesus, you are praying to God. Salvation came only by Jesus ( Acts 4:12; Matthew 1:21; John 17:6; Luke 3:31; John 1:14) So when you pray in the name of Jesus, you are praying to God. All of the fullness of God is in Jesus( Colossians 1:19). We are saved through Jesus--He died on the Cross and provided the means of escape for the whole world. The demons tremble at the name of Jesus( James 2:19) Again, I commend you for praying in Jesus' Name and ending your prayer in Jesus' Name. There is no other name given to us whereby we must be saved. Jesus even said that repentance and remission of sins would be preached in His name ( Luke 24:47). It is through His name that we are baptized ( Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 1:8; Acts 2:38; Acts 3: 19) I am so grateful to find believers who still hold to the Bible. God bless you and may God keep you is my prayer. I hope I provided some insight into Name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
I don't believe that the "works" in Matthew 16:27 is mentioned by Jesus in respect to salvation. He speaks of rewards according to what "every man has done". Also, Romans 2:6. The Matthew verse could speak of the righteous who receive reward for their deeds, or to the unrighteousness, who receive nothing because their deeds were evil, coming from the darkness of their hearts ( John 3:19,20).
And then in the New Testament economy, post Cross, where salvation is granted to the sinner because of God's Grace through our faith in Christ's Work ( Ephesians 2:8-10), we're reminded that no "works" can enter into this Divine arrangement as that would negate "grace". And 'works' was primarily the obedience & dependence on the given Law of God, which could only show man's failure before God & inability to justify himself. But 'works' would include those other things that those outside the purview of the Cross, could try to use to establish his favour with God.
And then we come to the Epistle of James, which the RCs use to justify their belief & position: James 2:14-18. They maintain that both 'faith & works' are necessary for salvation, rather "for further justification". This was the point that Martin Luther, at the Reformation, opposed the RC Church on: he maintained that the believer is fully saved & justified at the moment of salvation & it's not a progressive justification, to which the RC Church stated: that justification cannot be a once only immediate act of God, but that through the Christian's walk (i.e. in a life of producing works worthy of his salvation), the believer is increasingly justified by God. If this were so, then justification comes by faith & works.
Rather, James tells us that 'works' naturally follow a true salvation, without which it proves a defective salvation. James does not hint at all that there is an on-going work of justification by 'works', rather that justification is a declaration by God of the sinner as being no longer guilty before Him.
Hi Jackie, I believe salvation absolutely has to do with what we do or don't do. The reason I believe that is the entire gospel is based on someone taking action. People who do nothing by default will go to hell. Jesus says you must believe. That is an action. He calls people to follow Him- that's an action. He calls people to repent and confess of their sin- that's an action. Loving is an action. Acting like a Christian is an action. God gave us the gift of freewill to choose, which is an action. He loved us enough to give us a choice to follow Him. Good works are not bad. I hear some people saying it's bad to be good and that seems to have the stamp of the devil on it. While it's true we're saved by grace and not by works, we don't have grace if we don't believe or follow Jesus in the first place.
It's possible you meant good works only by your comment, but my point is that our actions absolutely determine where we're going. If it didn't, Jesus would not have spent so much time telling parables about how most people will go to hell and how to avoid that, and to avoid sin, and don't be of this world. There's been false teachings spread around lately among Christians who are saying it's totally ok to sin and be in the world and that's the opposite of what the Bible says.
THE LAW versus UNMERITED FAVOR OF GOD on Genesis 1 - 4 years ago
GRACE IS UNMERITED FAVOR FROM GOD. (You didn't earn it)
Romans 10:4 - For Christ is the END OF THE LAW, for righteousness to every one that believeth.
Romans 6:14 - For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye ARE NOT under the law, but UNDER GRACE.
Romans 7:7 - What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.
Romans 3:31 - Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.
Romans 7:6 - But now WE ARE DELIVERED from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that WE SHOULD serve in newness of spirit, AND NOT in the oldness of the letter.
Galatians 3:10 - For as many as are of the works of the law are UNDER THE CURSE, for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.
James 2:10 - For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.
Romans 7:4 - Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ;
Galatians 5:18 - But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.
Romans 8:1-39 - There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are IN Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Romans 3:28 - Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by FAITH, without the deeds of the law.
* Ephesians 2:8 - For by GRACE are ye saved through FAITH; and that not of yourselves: it is the GIFT OF GOD:
This is for those who still persist in telling women that they are to be silent In Church and save all their questions for their husbands.
What if a woman is Not married, and chooses to live single like Apostle Paul?
What if the woman is saved and chooses to live within the grace of God and in the freedom that is in Christ?
Exactly, one can not just believe for salvation. That is a demonic religion.
We must Hear the word of God Roman's 10:17, Believe it John 8 :24, Repent Luke 13:3, Confess that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, Matthew 10:32-33, Be baptized fir the remission of our sins, Acts 2:38, Acts 22:16, Mark 16:6, and live faithful and obedient. Matthew 10:22, Rev.2:10.
Thou believeth there is one God ; thou doest well : the devils also believe and tremble .
7 times devils spoke to Jesus and called him " Son of God " never God , but they know there is only One God according to James .
Matthew 4.3
Matthew 4.6
Matthew.29
Luke 4.3
Luke4.9
Luke4.41
Luke8.28
They know the truth , but do it not .
The point is that works of faith are what's really important, and it's our works and all men's works that are going to be judged not what we believe alone .
We can do nothing apart from Jesus the Son of God born in Bethlehem died on the cross for the sins of the world , raised up 3 days later seen alive by more than 500 people, taken up into heaven and coming back again as he left but in Glory ... be ready ....
The poor in spirit are the ones that admit that we desperately need a savior from our sin, Jesus Christ:
Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth from death. ( Proverbs 11:4)
Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David. ( Isaiah 55:1-3)
Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest? For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word. ( Isaiah 66:1-2)
Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: ( Colossians 1:26-28)
Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him? ( James 2:5)
written to the believing jews before the revelation of the mysteries given to paul by THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. The disciples of apostles believed pauls gospel. Check out ken johnson a solid christian historian.
I believe that many Christians truly love God. What I don't understand is why most Christians believe that the Sabbath is done away with or that it is Sunday. The other nine commandments are fine, so why omit this one that identifies God as creator, Lord and owner of the universe? The idea that we are no longer under law just does not cut it. No society, nothing in nature, nothing mechanic can operate without laws.Without law there would be no grace . Therefore if someone were to say we are no longer under law, how do we get grace? The Law! If you are speeding on the road and is stopped by an officer to get a ticket, it is because you have broken the law. If you beg or he decides to give you a chance this time, that's grace, based on him giving you a chance because you broke the law. Some texts to consider
Romans 3: 31
Romans 6:15
Romans 7:7
Exudos 20: 8-11
James 2:10
Revelations 22:14
For more information about how Sabbath worship was changed to Sunday, visit the Roman Catholic website. God bless you dear reader.
What is considered as works? In James 2:14-26 it says that faith without works is dead. What can I do that's counted as works? If this is already told in the Bible, then please tell me the verses. I have not read the entire Bible yet.
I believe the opposite of what you stated, because of what I see in the scriptures. God forgiving our sin and cleaning us is different than claiming someone cannot sin- that it's impossible. That's a logical leap into a whole different territory in which there's a mountain of scripture warning us against sin (including Christians) and no scriptures saying it's impossible for us to sin. It's also different than God 'not seeing sin' due to grace covering us as long as we're following Christ (a Christian). The old testament verses above do not mean someone cannot sin. If no one can sin, what's the point of asking for forgiveness? If no one can sin, what's the point of avoiding sin and striving to be perfect like Jesus said? If no one can sin, what's the point of spreading the gospel? If no one can sin, then you can ignore the Bible and just follow the world and do whatever sin you want with no consequence? The Bible already said that's not the case. Paul wrote about his fleshly struggles to sin- if there was no sin would it make sense that he would write that? If no sin, does that mean you can't blaspheme the holy spirit, either? Why would Jesus preach and challenge his followers with all these instructions if they couldn't sin and their actions were irrelevant. Satan is the father of lies and one of these teachings is truth and one is a lie. They are not both true. So, if satan was going to deceive someone is it likely they would deceive someone into being 'gooder' than they need to be or to be 'badder'- to convince them it's ok to sin, that you will surely 'not' be punished for it. To me that sounds like the same being behind the 1st temptation in the garden of eden- the father of lies is always not far away from any false teaching. Once saved, always saved is another teaching people often distort in order to justify sinning and blaspheming against God.
Romans 3:31 is a great verse but looking at what Paul said earlier, i.e. "Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference" (3:20-22).
A few things here: Paul was speaking to all there (both Jew & Gentile converts) yet some stumbled on this matter, particularly from Jewry who were once under the Law & were circumcised, which marked them as God's chosen. To those still applying the Law to their lives & putting themselves under it, are obliged to keep all the Law ( Galatians 5:3). And "whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all." ( James 2:10). But the Law was given to Israel, not only as God's Standard of living for them, but to show them that they couldn't keep the Law, rather they fell far short of it. Hence, each year animal sacrifice was made to cover those sins. But after Jesus' death & resurrection, those who come by faith to Him are no longer bound to the Law, as God's Gift to us was the only One to have fully kept (& fulfilled) its Holy demands.
So Paul makes a clear distinction: either you keep the whole Law & by it you will be judged: "as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law" ( Romans 2:12), or you take hold of God's Righteousness which comes by faith in Christ. There's no possibility of fusing the two together for they oppose each other. "Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace" ( Galatians 5:4). So the observance of the Sabbath day was a hallmark of Israel & they faithfully observed it. To make the Sabbath observance mandatory now means that we are no longer in the liberty of Christ but in bondage ( Galatians 5:1).
What do you think of James 2:17? Do you think those are in agreement with your opinion, because it seems to say that faith alone isn't enough, does it not?
Here's some others like it; what's your take on these?
Romans 6:15
Hebrews 10:26
Rom 7:22
Matthew 7:21
John 14:15
Matt 5:13
Matthew 7:26-27
For example, I'd love to have premarital sex tonight, but I haven't before because I read in the Bible that it's a sin of fornication. So, if I follow your advice, since you say all future sins are forgiven, does that mean I can go ahead and have premarital sex tonight without any consequence from God?
The everlasting Law God established with those that desire to be called His children still stands.
The 10 Commandments still stand.
Any time we sin we are under the Law.
Everyone sins: Everyday!
Blood ordinances were fulfilled by the death of Christ ( Matthew 26:28, Romans 2:29, Colossians 1:14)
Priestly duties connected to the sons of Aaron were fulfilled in Christ. ( Hebrews 8:1)
The Temple was destroyed; as promised: ( Matthew 24:2)
Deuteronomy 29:29
"The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children FOR EVER, that we may do all the words of this law."
1 Chronicles 16:17
"And hath confirmed the same to Jacob for a law, and to Israel for an EVERLASTING covenant,"
Ephesians 2:15
"Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ORDINANCES; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;"
Hebrews 7:12
"For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law."
Matthew 27:51
"And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;"
All has not been fulfilled.
All will not be fulfilled until the return of Christ.
Believe the words of Jesus.
Mathew 5:18
"For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled."
Concerning works;
Why would Jesus care to evaluate the WORKS of the churches that are on earth at the end times when He comes back if they don't matter? ( Revelation 2:2, 9, 13, 19. 3:1, 3:8, 3:15)
The curtain being torn meant that you did not need the earthly high priest to go to the throne of grace on your behalf. The Sanctuary was not for worshipping but for the atonement of sins. The priest was the mediator using the lamb's blood for atonement. But after Christ died, He become our High Priest not using a lamb's blood, but His own. This meant that the earthly sanctuary system had been abolished.
The Sabbath day was to let us rest and to remind us that God created all that is. Christ observed this day, Luke 4:16.
Paul who came after the curtain was torn, kept the Sabbath, Acts 13:14,42-44, 16:13, 17:2, 18:4. No where in the Bible is the Sabbath abolished.
I believe that we are then given information concerning when the Holy Spirit might speak through us as well as how we are to prepare for it in Mark 13:11
"But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost."
I believe this applies specifically to the end times, but it can also be applied in a general way to the trials and tribulations a person endures throughout their own life, and their desire, or lack thereof, to seek Jesus; similar, in a sense, to your point of view.
Persecution of God's people has never ended since the Fall of Adam. There is, thank God, only one Great Tribulation for mankind to have to go through.
Concerning your understanding of Greek, I am sorry if I sounded condescending. Being zealous has never seemed to help my cause, nor has my built in northeast sarcasm.
Concerning Judas, (and for anyone for that matter), I would rather error on the side of the power of repentance and forgiveness, and again lean on Scripture concerning him being sorry for his actions and taking steps to repair the offence ( Matthew 27:3)
If I am able to make up for an error against my neighbor, I hope that I would make every effort to do so while I am still in this mortal body. James 2:14-26, Revelation 14:13, etc.
Stephende, I actually was one of those who, on the 25th October 1979, cried out "Jesus, Jesus, Jesus". I had come to see the greatness of my sins before God, by a deep intrusion into my heart by God's Spirit. It was a miracle in a moment: the burden of my sins was removed when I cried out in repentance & instantly the Peace of God from His forgiveness flooded my soul. It was a great personal transaction that can never be forgotten.
Yes, I was born again by God's Spirit; if that is 'an empty cliche' to you, it has been to me, the very source of bringing a worthless, hell-bound sinner to understand the greatness of God Love & His eternal Plan to restore mankind to Himself.
"What the Law (as perfect & Holy as it was) could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." Romans 8:3,4.
It is wonderful to read of your love & obedience to God. And do you obey Him fully? Remembering: "For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all." James 2:10. If that is you & your perfection is that which is attributed to God & His Christ, it is true, you have no need of such 'empty cliches' & you're Heaven-bound. However, I would say, for the rest of us, we would need His Sacrifice desperately as we could never keep His Laws & satisfy His Demands perfectly. To that end, God sent His only begotten Son into this World, for our sake & for our redemption through the shedding of His Blood. What the blood of bulls & goats couldn't do for Israel, Jesus Christ's Blood fully did for the sins of both Jew & Gentile alike. Keep reading His Word: Light & Truth are its blessings for all with a singular heart for God.
I appreciate your feedback concerning the Seventh Day.
In considering the other side of the teaching that you presented, I will respond below.
The Seventh day was declared by God BEFORE He chose Israel. This Law was established for ALL to obey and enjoy.
The 10 Commandments are OT LAW, are they abolished?
Do you still follow the 10 Commandments?
Jesus abolished BLOOD Ordinances, and either partially or completely fulfilled OT prophecy concerning His first coming, but Christ did not come to abolish the LAW.
So, then, if a person claims to have FAITH in Jesus but all of his WORKS are evil, where do you think this person ends up? Jesus tells us very plainly ( Matthew 7:23). Looks like FAITH has a lot to do with following the LAW ( Galatians 3:11-12) and with WORKS, ( James 2:17).
The English word "week" is defined from the Greek word meaning "Sabbath" or "day of rest;" also a 7 day period of time.
You state that the Lord God or His only begotten Son changed the holy Sabbath day based upon Scripture (from your understanding of Acts 20:7, 1 Corinthians 16:2, and Revelation 1:10):
"The first day of the week began to be recognized as the Lord's Day and that the Church began worshipping on that day"
Acts 20:7, concerns the first day of the Sabbath in reckoning the 7 Sabbaths to Pentecost.
1 Corinthians 16:2 has to do with preparation (work) for when Paul returns.
Revelation 1:10 concerns John being taken "in the spirit" to the great and dreadful "day of the Lord" or the "Lord's day"
when the Messiah shall return, and John is given testimony in relation to that. (Not Sunday!)
None of these Scriptures you offer give authorization to change the Sabbath day from the SEVENTH DAY to the FIRST DAY of the week.
Christ FORETOLD US EVERYTHING WE NEED TO KNOW. God did not give us instruction to change the Sabbath, neither did Jesus, nor did the Prophets and Apostles.
James 2:24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?
26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
John 14:23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. 24 He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.
Alan, I wasn't able to receive all your comments sent under "Satisfaction Theories". You wrote about Anselm & that comment didn't finish off completely, as well as no further comment on Calvin & Aquinas. I'm not sure that I am adequately qualified to comment too deeply on anything you put forward as I haven't studied this matter to any great depth; just having a general understanding of our sin nature, God's View of our corruption, the extent of it & separation from Him, our inability to rectify matters & His involvement to adequately & eternally deal with it so that His punishment no longer bears upon us. I had simply responded to your initial question: "What did the early church (Before Augustine) believe?" I saw that as a general enquiry, hence my response, rather than a question to lead into a more in-depth analysis of the matter. However, thank you for your comments - they have been very interesting thus far.
By the time Augustine came on the scene, Western church fathers had departed from the theology of sin of the Eastern Church, with one exception; they still held to the notion of human free will and responsibility. Augustine was quick to pounce on this awkward combination of ideas his western predecessors had left behind; namely, involuntary inherited sinfulness coupled with free choice. In 395 CE he wrote, "We have all become one lump of clay, that is, a lump of sinwe as sinners deserve nothing other than eternal damnation" (74). A few years later, in 397 CE he first "uses the epoc-making phrase, 'original sin' for the first time in the history of Christian thought" (74).
Satisfaction theories start from the idea that human sin constitutes a grave offense against God, the magnitude of which renders forgiveness and reconciliation morally impossible unless something is done either to satisfy the demands of justice or to compensate God for the wrong done to him. These theories go on to note that human beings are absolutely incapable on their own of compensating God for the wrong they have done to him, and that the only way for them to satisfy the demands of justice is to suffer death and eternal separation from God. Thus, in order to avoid this fate, they are in dire need of help. Christ, through his death (and, on some versions, through his sinless life as well) has provided that help. The different versions of the satisfaction theory are differentiated by their claims about what sort of help the work of Christ has provided. Here we'll discuss three versions: St. Anselm's debt-cancellation theory, the penal substitution theory defended by John Calvin and many others in the reformed tradition, and the penitential substitution theory, attributed to Thomas Aquinas and defended most recently by Eleonore Stump and Richard Swinburne.
According to Anselm, our sin puts us in a kind of debt toward God. As our creator, God is entitled to our submission and obedience. By sinning, we therefore fail to give God something that we owe him. Thus, we deserve to be punished until we do give God what we owe him. Indeed, on Anselm's view, not only is it just for God to punish us
Every soul that is born into flesh is soiled by the filth of wickedness and sin. And if it should seem necessary to do so, there may be added to the aforementioned considerations [referring to previous Scriptures cited that we all sin] the fact that in the Church, Baptism is given for the remission of sin; and according to the usage of the Church, Baptism is given even to infants. And indeed if there were nothing in infants which required a remission of sins and nothing in them pertinent to forgiveness, the grace of Baptism would seem superfluous. (Homilies on Leviticus 8:3)
The Church received from the Apostles the tradition of giving Baptism even to infants. For the Apostles, to whom were committed the secrets of divine mysteries, knew that there is in everyone the innate stains of sin, which must be washed away through water and the Spirit.
Cyprian of Carthage (c. 250 AD):
If, in the case of the worst sinners and of those who formerly sinned much against God, when afterwards they believe, the remission of their sins is granted and no one is held back from Baptism and grace, how much more, then, should an infant not be held back, who, having but recently been born, has done no sin [committed no personal sin], except that, born of the flesh according to Adam, he has contracted the contagion of that old Death from his first being born. (Letters 64:5 of Cyprian and his 66 colleagues in Council to Fidus)
f. Jesus' time of suffering & death came, but also His glorious resurrection, that through this Divine Act of God to redeem ALL men to Himself, both Jew & Gentile would now be acceptable to Him through faith in the efficacy of the shed Blood. Was the Sabbath & the Law still current for the Jew? As long as they lived according to the requirements of the Law, they had to abide by it & were judged by it; if they failed in one part of the given Law, they had failed in all ( Galatians 5:3, Romans 2:13, James 2:10). When the Jew put aside the Law as necessary for salvation, then the application of the Cross became real: that which was based on faith & promise, & not on the letter that only served to reveal him his sin & to draw him to Christ ( Galatians 3:24).
g. So why then is the keeping of the Sabbath still necessary? For the Jew without Christ, it remains a day of rest, as an act of obedience to God, & using that occasion for religious exercises. For the Jew & Gentile who is now "in Christ", the Sabbath, as all other Laws, have no binding, other than the importance of setting a Rest Day aside from our labours, & the Laws that reveal God's Mind & Purpose for both religious & social responsibility. If one, whether Jew, Gentile or Christian, chose to keep any of the Laws, including Sabbath, then they were bound to keep it & the whole Law - there's no option to pick & choose. And by keeping the Law to justify ourselves before God, even one Law, then precludes us from the Grace of God through Christ, because that is diametrically opposed to the meaning of the Law ( Galatians 5:4).
And then in the New Testament economy, post Cross, where salvation is granted to the sinner because of God's Grace through our faith in Christ's Work ( Ephesians 2:8-10), we're reminded that no "works" can enter into this Divine arrangement as that would negate "grace". And 'works' was primarily the obedience & dependence on the given Law of God, which could only show man's failure before God & inability to justify himself. But 'works' would include those other things that those outside the purview of the Cross, could try to use to establish his favour with God.
And then we come to the Epistle of James, which the RCs use to justify their belief & position: James 2:14-18. They maintain that both 'faith & works' are necessary for salvation, rather "for further justification". This was the point that Martin Luther, at the Reformation, opposed the RC Church on: he maintained that the believer is fully saved & justified at the moment of salvation & it's not a progressive justification, to which the RC Church stated: that justification cannot be a once only immediate act of God, but that through the Christian's walk (i.e. in a life of producing works worthy of his salvation), the believer is increasingly justified by God. If this were so, then justification comes by faith & works.
Rather, James tells us that 'works' naturally follow a true salvation, without which it proves a defective salvation. James does not hint at all that there is an on-going work of justification by 'works', rather that justification is a declaration by God of the sinner as being no longer guilty before Him.
Hi Jackie, I believe salvation absolutely has to do with what we do or don't do. The reason I believe that is the entire gospel is based on someone taking action. People who do nothing by default will go to hell. Jesus says you must believe. That is an action. He calls people to follow Him- that's an action. He calls people to repent and confess of their sin- that's an action. Loving is an action. Acting like a Christian is an action. God gave us the gift of freewill to choose, which is an action. He loved us enough to give us a choice to follow Him. Good works are not bad. I hear some people saying it's bad to be good and that seems to have the stamp of the devil on it. While it's true we're saved by grace and not by works, we don't have grace if we don't believe or follow Jesus in the first place.
It's possible you meant good works only by your comment, but my point is that our actions absolutely determine where we're going. If it didn't, Jesus would not have spent so much time telling parables about how most people will go to hell and how to avoid that, and to avoid sin, and don't be of this world. There's been false teachings spread around lately among Christians who are saying it's totally ok to sin and be in the world and that's the opposite of what the Bible says.
God bless...
James 2:17
Romans 6:15
Hebrews 10:26
Rom 7:22
Matthew 7:21
John 14:15
Matt 5:13
Matthew 7:26-27
Eph 5:5-6
Rom 11:19-23
Romans 10:4 - For Christ is the END OF THE LAW, for righteousness to every one that believeth.
Romans 6:14 - For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye ARE NOT under the law, but UNDER GRACE.
Romans 7:7 - What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.
Romans 3:31 - Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.
Romans 7:6 - But now WE ARE DELIVERED from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that WE SHOULD serve in newness of spirit, AND NOT in the oldness of the letter.
Galatians 3:10 - For as many as are of the works of the law are UNDER THE CURSE, for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.
James 2:10 - For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.
Romans 7:4 - Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ;
Galatians 5:18 - But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.
Romans 8:1-39 - There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are IN Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Romans 3:28 - Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by FAITH, without the deeds of the law.
* Ephesians 2:8 - For by GRACE are ye saved through FAITH; and that not of yourselves: it is the GIFT OF GOD:
This is for those who still persist in telling women that they are to be silent In Church and save all their questions for their husbands.
What if a woman is Not married, and chooses to live single like Apostle Paul?
What if the woman is saved and chooses to live within the grace of God and in the freedom that is in Christ?
Mishael
We must Hear the word of God Roman's 10:17, Believe it John 8 :24, Repent Luke 13:3, Confess that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, Matthew 10:32-33, Be baptized fir the remission of our sins, Acts 2:38, Acts 22:16, Mark 16:6, and live faithful and obedient. Matthew 10:22, Rev.2:10.
Thou believeth there is one God ; thou doest well : the devils also believe and tremble .
7 times devils spoke to Jesus and called him " Son of God " never God , but they know there is only One God according to James .
Matthew 4.3
Matthew 4.6
Matthew.29
Luke 4.3
Luke4.9
Luke4.41
Luke8.28
They know the truth , but do it not .
The point is that works of faith are what's really important, and it's our works and all men's works that are going to be judged not what we believe alone .
We can do nothing apart from Jesus the Son of God born in Bethlehem died on the cross for the sins of the world , raised up 3 days later seen alive by more than 500 people, taken up into heaven and coming back again as he left but in Glory ... be ready ....
Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth from death. ( Proverbs 11:4)
Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David. ( Isaiah 55:1-3)
Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest? For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word. ( Isaiah 66:1-2)
Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: ( Colossians 1:26-28)
Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him? ( James 2:5)
Romans 3: 31
Romans 6:15
Romans 7:7
Exudos 20: 8-11
James 2:10
Revelations 22:14
For more information about how Sabbath worship was changed to Sunday, visit the Roman Catholic website. God bless you dear reader.
I believe the opposite of what you stated, because of what I see in the scriptures. God forgiving our sin and cleaning us is different than claiming someone cannot sin- that it's impossible. That's a logical leap into a whole different territory in which there's a mountain of scripture warning us against sin (including Christians) and no scriptures saying it's impossible for us to sin. It's also different than God 'not seeing sin' due to grace covering us as long as we're following Christ (a Christian). The old testament verses above do not mean someone cannot sin. If no one can sin, what's the point of asking for forgiveness? If no one can sin, what's the point of avoiding sin and striving to be perfect like Jesus said? If no one can sin, what's the point of spreading the gospel? If no one can sin, then you can ignore the Bible and just follow the world and do whatever sin you want with no consequence? The Bible already said that's not the case. Paul wrote about his fleshly struggles to sin- if there was no sin would it make sense that he would write that? If no sin, does that mean you can't blaspheme the holy spirit, either? Why would Jesus preach and challenge his followers with all these instructions if they couldn't sin and their actions were irrelevant. Satan is the father of lies and one of these teachings is truth and one is a lie. They are not both true. So, if satan was going to deceive someone is it likely they would deceive someone into being 'gooder' than they need to be or to be 'badder'- to convince them it's ok to sin, that you will surely 'not' be punished for it. To me that sounds like the same being behind the 1st temptation in the garden of eden- the father of lies is always not far away from any false teaching. Once saved, always saved is another teaching people often distort in order to justify sinning and blaspheming against God.
Here's what the Bible actually says:
James 2:17
Romans 6:15
Hebrews 10:26
Rom 7:22
Matthew 7:21
John 14:15
Matt 5:13
Matthew 7:26-27
Eph 5:5-6
Rom 11:19-23
God bless...
How to understand " the law of liberty."
A few things here: Paul was speaking to all there (both Jew & Gentile converts) yet some stumbled on this matter, particularly from Jewry who were once under the Law & were circumcised, which marked them as God's chosen. To those still applying the Law to their lives & putting themselves under it, are obliged to keep all the Law ( Galatians 5:3). And "whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all." ( James 2:10). But the Law was given to Israel, not only as God's Standard of living for them, but to show them that they couldn't keep the Law, rather they fell far short of it. Hence, each year animal sacrifice was made to cover those sins. But after Jesus' death & resurrection, those who come by faith to Him are no longer bound to the Law, as God's Gift to us was the only One to have fully kept (& fulfilled) its Holy demands.
So Paul makes a clear distinction: either you keep the whole Law & by it you will be judged: "as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law" ( Romans 2:12), or you take hold of God's Righteousness which comes by faith in Christ. There's no possibility of fusing the two together for they oppose each other. "Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace" ( Galatians 5:4). So the observance of the Sabbath day was a hallmark of Israel & they faithfully observed it. To make the Sabbath observance mandatory now means that we are no longer in the liberty of Christ but in bondage ( Galatians 5:1).
Isaiah 53
Mathew 26:2 Mathew 26:14-16 Mathew 26:21 Mathew 26:31 Mathew 26:47-50
John 15:15
James 2:22-23
John 8:39-40
Hope this helps your question.
What do you think of James 2:17? Do you think those are in agreement with your opinion, because it seems to say that faith alone isn't enough, does it not?
Here's some others like it; what's your take on these?
Romans 6:15
Hebrews 10:26
Rom 7:22
Matthew 7:21
John 14:15
Matt 5:13
Matthew 7:26-27
For example, I'd love to have premarital sex tonight, but I haven't before because I read in the Bible that it's a sin of fornication. So, if I follow your advice, since you say all future sins are forgiven, does that mean I can go ahead and have premarital sex tonight without any consequence from God?
Revelation 22 v 12
Concerning the Law;
The everlasting Law God established with those that desire to be called His children still stands.
The 10 Commandments still stand.
Any time we sin we are under the Law.
Everyone sins: Everyday!
Blood ordinances were fulfilled by the death of Christ ( Matthew 26:28, Romans 2:29, Colossians 1:14)
Priestly duties connected to the sons of Aaron were fulfilled in Christ. ( Hebrews 8:1)
The Temple was destroyed; as promised: ( Matthew 24:2)
Deuteronomy 29:29
"The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children FOR EVER, that we may do all the words of this law."
1 Chronicles 16:17
"And hath confirmed the same to Jacob for a law, and to Israel for an EVERLASTING covenant,"
Ephesians 2:15
"Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ORDINANCES; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;"
Hebrews 7:12
"For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law."
Matthew 27:51
"And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;"
All has not been fulfilled.
All will not be fulfilled until the return of Christ.
Believe the words of Jesus.
Mathew 5:18
"For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled."
Concerning works;
Why would Jesus care to evaluate the WORKS of the churches that are on earth at the end times when He comes back if they don't matter? ( Revelation 2:2, 9, 13, 19. 3:1, 3:8, 3:15)
Also look at:
James 2:14-26 - "Faith without works is dead"
Revelation 14:13
Revelation 20:12
The Sabbath day was to let us rest and to remind us that God created all that is. Christ observed this day, Luke 4:16.
Paul who came after the curtain was torn, kept the Sabbath, Acts 13:14,42-44, 16:13, 17:2, 18:4. No where in the Bible is the Sabbath abolished.
Read James 2:8-11.
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I believe that we are then given information concerning when the Holy Spirit might speak through us as well as how we are to prepare for it in Mark 13:11
"But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost."
I believe this applies specifically to the end times, but it can also be applied in a general way to the trials and tribulations a person endures throughout their own life, and their desire, or lack thereof, to seek Jesus; similar, in a sense, to your point of view.
Persecution of God's people has never ended since the Fall of Adam. There is, thank God, only one Great Tribulation for mankind to have to go through.
Concerning your understanding of Greek, I am sorry if I sounded condescending. Being zealous has never seemed to help my cause, nor has my built in northeast sarcasm.
Concerning Judas, (and for anyone for that matter), I would rather error on the side of the power of repentance and forgiveness, and again lean on Scripture concerning him being sorry for his actions and taking steps to repair the offence ( Matthew 27:3)
If I am able to make up for an error against my neighbor, I hope that I would make every effort to do so while I am still in this mortal body. James 2:14-26, Revelation 14:13, etc.
Thanks again Jesse for your time.
Yes, I was born again by God's Spirit; if that is 'an empty cliche' to you, it has been to me, the very source of bringing a worthless, hell-bound sinner to understand the greatness of God Love & His eternal Plan to restore mankind to Himself.
"What the Law (as perfect & Holy as it was) could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." Romans 8:3,4.
It is wonderful to read of your love & obedience to God. And do you obey Him fully? Remembering: "For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all." James 2:10. If that is you & your perfection is that which is attributed to God & His Christ, it is true, you have no need of such 'empty cliches' & you're Heaven-bound. However, I would say, for the rest of us, we would need His Sacrifice desperately as we could never keep His Laws & satisfy His Demands perfectly. To that end, God sent His only begotten Son into this World, for our sake & for our redemption through the shedding of His Blood. What the blood of bulls & goats couldn't do for Israel, Jesus Christ's Blood fully did for the sins of both Jew & Gentile alike. Keep reading His Word: Light & Truth are its blessings for all with a singular heart for God.
I appreciate your feedback concerning the Seventh Day.
In considering the other side of the teaching that you presented, I will respond below.
The Seventh day was declared by God BEFORE He chose Israel. This Law was established for ALL to obey and enjoy.
The 10 Commandments are OT LAW, are they abolished?
Do you still follow the 10 Commandments?
Jesus abolished BLOOD Ordinances, and either partially or completely fulfilled OT prophecy concerning His first coming, but Christ did not come to abolish the LAW.
So, then, if a person claims to have FAITH in Jesus but all of his WORKS are evil, where do you think this person ends up? Jesus tells us very plainly ( Matthew 7:23). Looks like FAITH has a lot to do with following the LAW ( Galatians 3:11-12) and with WORKS, ( James 2:17).
The English word "week" is defined from the Greek word meaning "Sabbath" or "day of rest;" also a 7 day period of time.
You state that the Lord God or His only begotten Son changed the holy Sabbath day based upon Scripture (from your understanding of Acts 20:7, 1 Corinthians 16:2, and Revelation 1:10):
"The first day of the week began to be recognized as the Lord's Day and that the Church began worshipping on that day"
Acts 20:7, concerns the first day of the Sabbath in reckoning the 7 Sabbaths to Pentecost.
1 Corinthians 16:2 has to do with preparation (work) for when Paul returns.
Revelation 1:10 concerns John being taken "in the spirit" to the great and dreadful "day of the Lord" or the "Lord's day"
when the Messiah shall return, and John is given testimony in relation to that. (Not Sunday!)
None of these Scriptures you offer give authorization to change the Sabbath day from the SEVENTH DAY to the FIRST DAY of the week.
Christ FORETOLD US EVERYTHING WE NEED TO KNOW. God did not give us instruction to change the Sabbath, neither did Jesus, nor did the Prophets and Apostles.
25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?
26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
John 14:23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. 24 He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.
Satisfaction theories start from the idea that human sin constitutes a grave offense against God, the magnitude of which renders forgiveness and reconciliation morally impossible unless something is done either to satisfy the demands of justice or to compensate God for the wrong done to him. These theories go on to note that human beings are absolutely incapable on their own of compensating God for the wrong they have done to him, and that the only way for them to satisfy the demands of justice is to suffer death and eternal separation from God. Thus, in order to avoid this fate, they are in dire need of help. Christ, through his death (and, on some versions, through his sinless life as well) has provided that help. The different versions of the satisfaction theory are differentiated by their claims about what sort of help the work of Christ has provided. Here we'll discuss three versions: St. Anselm's debt-cancellation theory, the penal substitution theory defended by John Calvin and many others in the reformed tradition, and the penitential substitution theory, attributed to Thomas Aquinas and defended most recently by Eleonore Stump and Richard Swinburne.
According to Anselm, our sin puts us in a kind of debt toward God. As our creator, God is entitled to our submission and obedience. By sinning, we therefore fail to give God something that we owe him. Thus, we deserve to be punished until we do give God what we owe him. Indeed, on Anselm's view, not only is it just for God to punish us
Origen (c. 244 AD):
Every soul that is born into flesh is soiled by the filth of wickedness and sin. And if it should seem necessary to do so, there may be added to the aforementioned considerations [referring to previous Scriptures cited that we all sin] the fact that in the Church, Baptism is given for the remission of sin; and according to the usage of the Church, Baptism is given even to infants. And indeed if there were nothing in infants which required a remission of sins and nothing in them pertinent to forgiveness, the grace of Baptism would seem superfluous. (Homilies on Leviticus 8:3)
The Church received from the Apostles the tradition of giving Baptism even to infants. For the Apostles, to whom were committed the secrets of divine mysteries, knew that there is in everyone the innate stains of sin, which must be washed away through water and the Spirit.
Cyprian of Carthage (c. 250 AD):
If, in the case of the worst sinners and of those who formerly sinned much against God, when afterwards they believe, the remission of their sins is granted and no one is held back from Baptism and grace, how much more, then, should an infant not be held back, who, having but recently been born, has done no sin [committed no personal sin], except that, born of the flesh according to Adam, he has contracted the contagion of that old Death from his first being born. (Letters 64:5 of Cyprian and his 66 colleagues in Council to Fidus)