Why do you feel it is so hard to be good?

[MatthewG]

@BloodBought1953 are doing okay today brother ? I know sometimes talking in forums can be kind of heavy… I had it happen to me today… I really hate that feeling of trying to get a point across or someone else and it’s all different perspectives and it’s just really stressful sometimes.

The only thing that calmed me down personally was writing down prayer to God to help me relax. Don’t know why sometimes I’ll get worked up over some of the encounters on forums.

 

[Ferris Bueller]

For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. 3 For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” 4 Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt. 5 But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness,(Rom.4)

What do you understand of v.2?

Paul is saying Abraham was not MADE righteous by works. James, on the other hand, is saying Abraham was SHOWN to be righteous by works. 'Justified' means, both, to be made righteous, and to be shown to be righteous. Context determines which definition is being used.

 

[MatthewG]

That is right, Abraham was made righteous by faith and his faith caused him to love God.


“It was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance. He went without knowing where he was going. And even when he reached the land God promised him, he lived there by faith—for he was like a foreigner, living in tents. And so did Isaac and Jacob, who inherited the same promise. Abraham was confidently looking forward to a city with eternal foundations, a city designed and built by God.”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭11:8-10‬ ‭NLT‬‬

 

[BloodBought 1953]

@BloodBought1953
Again address the topic or leave the thread.
I would prefer you would just leave.

When’s the last time “ANYBoDY” in here addressed your original inquiry ? Why do you single me out? All the posts ever written in these Forums have a way of meandering about ....you KNOW that.I think you just see me as a threat . I am. I think if you remove me, the audience will know why.....and it AIN’T because I get “ off topic”—— just like everybody else does.....

Do you REALLY think that I give a rat’s patootie about staying here or not? Don’t waste your time trying to threaten me....this thread has ran its course anyway.....it was a good one I have to admit...

 

[BloodBought 1953]

BB, there is a difference in timing between being made sinless and all our past sins have been cleansed by taking away our carnal nature, and giving us a divine nature that only does righteousness, until they have truly become perfect and holy. And Paul knew these steps and where he was in the process. The steps are in 2 Peter 1:5-11.

5 But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, 6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control a]">[a]perseverance, to perseverance godliness, 7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. 8 For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither b]">[b]barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.

10 Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; 11 for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

In Paul's LAST letter he had reached it. And like Peter said, he grew and made his call and election sure and didn't stumble.

6 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing. 2 Timothy 4:6-8

Stop taking verses out of context and relying on them to feed your false doctrines that will cause you to never be holy, and without holiness, no man shall see God. Don't make Jesus have to say to you, "I never knew you." Ask Jesus to baptize you in the Holy Spirit, if for nothing else like gifts, to become sinless. Then live the steps to perfection in the fruit of the Spirit.

Whew! How could Pure Silliness be so Windy? I am sorry ma’am .....you are just too far gone to be taken seriously .....best of luck to you.....you will be in my prayers...

 

[BloodBought 1953]

If you believe that the demons didn't know who Jesus was you are kidding yourself.

Lol.....did I say “ anything” that even “ inferred” that? Cut the dosage in half.....

 

[BloodBought 1953]

Now, what were you were saying about Abraham's faith in God's promises?



That was not the topic.....you were talking about people having to be “ obedient “ to prove that they had Faith....I proved you wrong.

 

[1stCenturyLady]

You are correct.....I do not know you. However I * DO* know your Demonic Doctrine Of “ Sinless Perfection”.....You are not the first Delusional one to try to promote this Hog Wash...... so silly it should never have to be commented on....there are Newbies here however that might fall for your Bunk....I just try to warn them about False, Perverted “ Gospels” .....it’s the least I can do.....Smart people “ get it”.You ? You never will...

The human carnal mind cannot fathom the spiritual, only the unregenerated human nature. Answer this. Did Jesus have sinless perfection? Did He tell us He came to take away our sin? Did He tell us to be perfect as the Father is perfect? Don't you know that Jesus was the firstborn of MANY BRETHREN. Those are brethren LIKE HIMSELF. Romans 8:29-30 If you have the mind of Christ that He gives us, are we going to desire to sin? If we partake of the divine nature of God are we going to go off the regime of growing in the fruit of the Spirit towards perfection. Sinlessness is at the beginning, but perfection is a process that Paul didn't arrive at until the end of his ministry. This is not the first time you've put sinless and perfection together as if that is at the beginning and what I teach. Both are what Jesus preached, so I'm not going to settle for just sinlessness, but will continue on the path towards perfection. Sinlessness is righteous; perfection is holy. Revelation 22:11.

The first thing a newbie has to do is read the word. If they don't they won't know what Jesus can do for them. I didn't have to conquer my desire to commit adultery first before coming to Christ. I came to Him knowing that He was stronger than I was and could take away the desires He didn't want me to have, that frankly I enjoyed because my nature was carnal. I learned that in the Word. Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. But the Word also told me that without holiness no man shall see God.

Stop leading newbies down a path towards hell, telling them that just believe in Jesus and you can do whatever you like and still be saved.

 

[MatthewG]

@BloodBought1953 hey thank you for just being yourself brother. Don’t let what people say bother you so much. It’s hard. As a brother in Christ desire to remind you that you are important and that you matter, okay friend?

So does Gail, and 1st, and tong, and Ferris,

It’s just. A bunch of words on the screen with people with each their own unique way of how they are going to live their life in being responsible towards God as the live by faith.

The biggest thing is not complaining whining moaning and groaning and the your wrong I’m right type of thing.

Sometimes just gotta let things go and it was funny to read rats patootie lol.

 

[Ferris Bueller]

According to Paul, what is accounted for righteousness?

His faith is reckoned as righteousness.

According to James, what is accounted for righteousness?

He doesn't address that point, specifically, in his discourse, other than to point out that it isn't by faith only that a man is justified. Which shows us he knows a man is justified by faith, too. But that's not the particular point about justification he is addressing.

Are they saying the same thing about justification?

No, they aren't saying the same thing about justification.
Paul is talking about being made righteous through faith.
James is talking about being shown to be righteous by what you do.
Both are referred to as being justified.
And so a genuinely save person is justified by faith and works, not by faith alone (that is, faith that doesn't produce works) as Hyper Grace theology insists.

Are they speaking of the same justification? Are they making the same argument?

No, they are not making the same argument about justification.
Paul is talking about being justified in regard to being made righteous.
James is talking about being justified in regard to being shown to be righteous.
Two distinct definitions and usages of the word 'justified', both of which James says must exist in the genuinely believing person, like it did for Abraham. But Hyper Grace doctrine says that the genuinely believing person does not have to be justified by both faith and works because they are sure that would be a works gospel. People who teach that doctrine simply do not know what it means to be justified by works without that meaning salvation is by works. And so they discard James' teaching out of hand and cause people who aren't really saved to think they are saved while they languish in their unrepentant, unconverted lives.

 

[1stCenturyLady]

Whew! How could Pure Silliness be so Windy? I am sorry ma’am .....you are just too far gone to be taken seriously .....best of luck to you.....you will be in my prayers...

I have the mind of Christ. I hear His voice and know what the Scriptures actually mean. I have experienced many of the same types of miracles that Jesus performed. They were supernatural. Things that Jesus said we could do. Things someone like you are clueless to and mock. But I know who I am in Christ, and am truly a child of God and do not knowingly sin. And I also forgive any trespasses committed against me knowing the Word that tells me that is the way of love to enjoy sinlessness even for sins I unintentionally committed, continuing my sinlessness. And newbies can enjoy that too, but will never hear the truth from you. You don't know the truth. But it could set even you free.

By faith I didn't get rained on for 10 years until I retired and it didn't matter anymore. And it rains a lot in Tennessee. I commanded a dog's broken back and paralyzed back legs to be healed, and she was walking the next day, and running a couple weeks later. Before she was pulling herself forward with her front legs with her belly on the floor and her back legs straight back behind her. 100% of my prayers are now answered for the last 44 years, whereas for the first 30 years of my church attending life before being baptized in the Spirit, not one of my prayers were answered, making me wonder if there really was a God.

 

[MatthewG]

@1stCenturyLady cool.

 

[1stCenturyLady]

Lol.....did I say “ anything” that even “ inferred” that? Cut the dosage in half.....

BB, you're 68, and frankly I have to wonder if you even care if you sin or not. Why wouldn't you want to purify yourself if you actually want to go to heaven. 1 John 3:2-3.

 

[BloodBought 1953]

The imputation of God's righteousness through the forgiveness of sins is entirely by faith, apart from works. A person is justified (MADE righteous) by faith. That is Paul's argument. But the person who has been justified by faith will ALSO be justified (SHOWN to be righteous) by their works. That is James' additional argument to this matter of justification (James 2:24). If you aren't justified by, both, faith and works, you haven't been justified by faith. Your fruit-less, unrighteous life shows it. Just as your fruitful, righteous life shows you have.

Here are Biblical examples of how the person who has been justified by faith is also justified by what they do, their works being the result of having been justified by faith. Their righteous actions justify them as having received the righteousness of God by faith:

"Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord, half of my possessions I give to the poor, and if I have cheated anyone, I will repay it fourfold.” Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house..." Luke 19:8-9

“...she wet My feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not greet Me with a kiss, but she has not stopped kissing My feet since I arrived. You did not anoint My head with oil, but she has anointed My feet with perfume. Therefore I tell you, because her many sins have been forgiven, she has loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little.”" Luke 7:44-47 ​

In a genuine salvation experience a person is justified by, both, faith and works. Their faith makes them righteous. Their works show them to be righteous. And so it is in that way that "a person is justified by works and not by faith alone." - James 2:24.

We agree more than you think we do.........Works SHOULD follow.....Given time, they WILL follow....my point is they do not HAVE to follow.....the BELIEF in Jesus that HAD to come First got the Salvation....The Works were a result....

If an Unbelieving man stands on a street corner and “ changes his mind” ( the only repentance that Saves a man) about Jesus and Believes the Gospel and then gets killed by a bus as he crosses the street, God is NOT going to say, “ Sorry pal....you ALMoST made it .....you became a True Believer in my Son, But dog-gone it.....you just did not get the Works to prove you were a Believer.....” I don’t think it works that way....

 

[1stCenturyLady]

@1stCenturyLady cool.

That was just a drop in a bucket of what I've experience. Instead of water into wine, God spoke to me about a lost diamond ring that I would find when I moved, and a vision of where it would be. (Top drawer of a three drawer dresser across the living room.) I went over there many times searching in that drawer full of pantyhose, and a salvaged brass screw that went to the back of that antique chest of drawers. 15 months later on the day I moved, I packed up that drawer of all those pantyhose, and the brass screw disappeared! There was the diamond ring!

 

[MatthewG]

@BloodBought1953 that is right.

all it takes is faith on the Lord Jesus Christ and knowing that he came, died, was buried, and rose again. That is the gospel in a nut shell Paul says.

It’s either faith in Jesus Christ or nothing.

@1stCenturyLady oh wow.

 

[MatthewG]

@BloodBought1953 im reminded of this


If an unbeliever changes his mind like you said and believes the gospel. God is going to start working on that persons heart. By the spirit.

 

[MatthewG]

A person can grow from a babe in Christ to a mature son or daughter of God if they desire to as well

it’s impossible to please God without faith.

so not one person can please God without faith.

Also God is. A rewarder for those who seek him.

Hebrews 11:6

 

[1stCenturyLady]

@BloodBought1953 that is right.

all it takes is faith on the Lord Jesus Christ and knowing that he came, died, was buried, and rose again. That is the gospel in a nut shell Paul says.

It’s either faith in Jesus Christ or nothing.

@1stCenturyLady oh wow.

One thing about belief. The opposite is disobedience.

1 Peter 2:7
Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient, “The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone,”

BB thinks belief without obedience is enough.

 

[MatthewG]

Those who were disobedient were those who rejected the chief cornerstone. @1stCenturyLady

and I’m not here to fight and bicker over this.

I too believe that all it takes is faith in the Gospel of Christ and that God himself will work on an individuals heart. That will hopefully lead them into a life devoted to God but if they do not over come the things of the flesh that doesn’t exclude them because of their faith.

So please keep that in mind.

Its about faith and love.