I read a thread of yours last night to which I plan to respond because I think we'll agree on a lot.
But I read all of the below and I DO think we Protestants are changing the rules of Christianity.
It's really being watered down and I find it rather distressing.
Islam is growing...but more about this on your thread.
Here is the disagreement.
We are saved for good works.
Jesus commanded us to do good works.
So if we don't do them...are we till saved?
This reasoning that we do them BECAUSE we are saved and because we WANT to is becoming very tiring.
I don't really care if we WANT to obey God or not.
Maybe we do.
Maybe we don't.
The POINT is that God demands obedience...in the OT and in the NT.
God said He prefers obedience to sacrifice....
1 Samuel 15:22
John 3:36 states that we must believe to be saved and obey to forego the wrath of God.
I've heard some on these Forums state that we could return to sinning and still be saved.
I'd like to never have to hear this coming from someone that calls themselves a Christian,,,,
YOU have just stated that our good works do not KEEP US SAVED....
but Jesus said they do.
Matthew 7:26 The foolish man does NOT ACT on the words of Jesus and his house fell.
WHERE in the NT does it state that our works are of no value?
What did Jesus come here to do anyway?
Was it for the atonement or was there also another reason?
You sound really intelligent - what do you think?
I agree. But I'd love to never hear isaiah 64:6 again.
However, you've used it correctly, so no problem.
I DO see it used to justify possibly not doing good works, and how they are NOT necessary for the NT....
I've now begun asking where Jesus states that our good works are as dung....guess that's even worse than rags.
Jesus taught good works for His entire ministry.
John 15 is not such a good passage for your point.
Look at what
John 15.2 states.
2 "Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away;
Every branch IN JESUS....that's a saved person.....
that does NOT BEAR FRUIT....
is taken away.
Of course we can't do anything without the help of the Holy Spirit...
without abiding in Christ...
BUT
Jesus does expect good deeds from us.
Right.
But we like to forget
Matthew 7:21
21 "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.
What do you think the will of the Father is?
Jesus states it in verse 23...lawlessness....not following the law....
the law of Christ
NOT The Law.
Read verse 2 again and harmonize the two.
Yes.
We seem to be depending totally on God....
the early church did not teach this.
The change has come about since Calvinism...
it seems to have affected every denomination.
Agreed.
But Jesus taught that it's possible to forfeit/lose our salvation...
and it seems some believe in OSAS and not only that...l
but NO MATTER HOW THEY LIVE.