Believers stay righteous by practicing righteousness

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Zachary

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Scripture teaches that one’s righteous standing before God can be lost.
Believers must be sanctified unto holiness progressively – for salvation is a process!


“… let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous just as He is righteous. He who sins is of the devil … Whoever has been born of God does not sin (habitually) … In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God” (1 John 3:7-10)
Notice who “the children of God” are vs. who belongs to Satan.

Believers who are “faithful” will be obedient to Jesus’ commandments and practice righteousness … and will have a standing of righteousness before the Lord.

“… you know that everyone who practices righteousness is born of Him.” (1 John 2:29)
But, do all believers who are born of God practice righteousness?

“… who fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him” (Acts 10:35)

“All Scripture … is profitable for … instruction in righteousness
(i.e. instruction in the practicing of righteousness)” (2 Timothy 3:16)

“… we, having died to sins, should live for righteousness
(i.e. live for the practicing of righteousness)” (1 Peter 2:24)

“But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness and a godly life …
Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts. Instead, pursue righteous living”
(1 Timothy 6:11, 2 Timothy 2:22)


“… you can choose to obey God, which leads to righteous living … Now you must
give yourselves to be slaves to righteous living so that you will become holy.”
(Romans 6:16-19)
“holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.”
(Hebrews 12:14)

“Seek the Kingdom of God above all else and live righteously” (Matthew 6:33)
Yes, we need to
seek to live like Jesus lived, which is righteously!

“But we who live by the Spirit eagerly wait to receive by faith
the righteousness God has promised to us.” (Galatians 5:5)

Living by the Spirit (practicing righteousness) results in continuing to be righteous!

“I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return. May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation – the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ”
(Philippians 1:10-11)

The fruit of being saved is a lifestyle of righteousness!

“Anyone who continues to live in him will not sin … Those who have been born into God’s family do not make a practice of sinning … We know that God’s children do not make a practice of sinning” (1 John 3:6, 3:9, 5:18)

“For it would have been better if they had never known the way to righteousness than to know it and then reject the command they were given to live a holy life.” (2 Peter 2:21)

“The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness
of men who suppress the truth (by living) in unrighteousness.” (Romans 1:18)


Of course, this is all a continuation of what God demanded in the old covenant:

“Whoever offers praise glorifies Me; and to him who orders his conduct aright
(i.e. by practicing righteousness) I will show the salvation of God.” (Psalm 50:23)


This multitude of Scripture verses should convince us that “works righteousness”
is also required for salvation.
 
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Zachary

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Huh? We create our own righteousness?
That's what the word says.
Actually, we get everything @ the moment of receiving the Holy Spirit within!
But, these blessings must be maintained.
That's our responsibility ... to co-operate with the precious Holy Spirit
... while He works on us to become more like Jesus.
It says BACs are chosen and called to be holy.
God doesn't force us to be holy; He has called us to progress unto holiness.
 

Zachary

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Romans 4:5 indicates that our identity in Christ is that we are righteous
even when we blow it.
"But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly,
his faith is accounted for righteousness." (Romans 4:5, NKJV)

We haven't understood exactly what these 2 critical words above mean!

"believes" in John 3:16 is in the present continuing tense in the Greek.
It must be the one-word version of: believe, have faith in, trust, and obey
... IF it is to agree/reconcile with the many other NT verses!
There is NO Greek or English word which includes all of the underlined,
so unfortunately, the translators just use the word "believes".
The following RECONCILES all of NT verses re: the problem of OSAS …
True Saving Belief = true heart belief, strong faith, trust, and obedience

Re: the John 3:16 above, would you like to see the full page of NT warning verses about:
Your FAITH must ENDURE until the end of your life for you to remain saved.

,
 
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justbyfaith

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Your FAITH must ENDURE until the end of your life for you to remain saved.
I only need one: Hebrews 3:14. It tells me that I am a partaker of Christ if I hold the beginning of my confidence stedfast unto the end.

And therefore my being a partaker of Christ means that I will.

His fear in me will keep me from departing from Him (Jeremiah 32:38-40).

I am eternally secure in Him (John 5:24, John 6:47, John 10:27-30, Hebrews 13:5, Matthew 28:20, etc.)
 

Zachary

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I only need one: Hebrews 3:14. It tells me that I am a partaker of Christ if I hold the beginning of my confidence stedfast unto the end.
And therefore my being a partaker of Christ means that I will.
His fear in me will keep me from departing from Him (Jeremiah 32:38-40).
It's always about me, me, me!
Is the BAC who is involved in habitual unrepentant sinning ... a partaker of Christ?
Do all BACs have enough fear of God in them to keep them from departing from Him?
I don't have the time to show what your security verses really mean.
But, I'll do one for you ... John 10:27-28 ...
Do you hear Jesus' voice? ... Do you follow Him?
Does He know (approve of, W.E.Vine) you?
Jesus says in 4 verses in John 14,
"Those who love Me will obey My commandments."
No, my friend, salvation is a life-long process.
.
 
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justbyfaith

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Thus the confusion...a BAC is not someone who generally continues in habitual sin.

Of course the righteous man falls seven times and gets back up again: and the good man, if he falls, will not be utterly cast down.

However the righteousness of the righteous is ever-increasing unto the day of glory (Proverbs 4:18).
 

justbyfaith

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Yes, but the churches today are full of them.
What do you think I'm doin' here anyway?
I would suggest that if they are walking in habitual sin, they are not truly born again. Of course Christ is the only one who can judge them, except for 1 Corinthians 6:2. Nevertheless 1 Corinthians 4:5 also applies.

Carnal Christians (Romans 7:14, 1 Corinthians 3:1) are still generally designated as believers; though some who consider themselves merely carnal are very likely unredeemed especially if they don't have the attitude that Paul mentioned in Romans 7:24-25.
 

Zachary

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I would suggest that if they are walking in habitual sin, they are not truly born again.
I would suggest that many BACs have been led drastically astray by their pastors
re: eternal security and God knows what else!
Hear an excerpt from the Lord speaking to one of His prophets/watchmen fairly recently:
"shepherds leading multitudes to hell".
That's why I'm here ... to warn you!
 

Helen

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"believers-stay-righteous-by-practicing-righteousness."

That is a load of rubbish. If that were the case then it would be "our" righteous...which it isn't...the only righteousness we have is Christ's righteous, not ours....wed have no righteousness of ourselves.
 

Zachary

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"believers-stay-righteous-by-practicing-righteousness."

That is a load of rubbish. If that were the case then it would be "our" righteous...which it isn't...the only righteousness we have is Christ's righteous, not ours....wed have no righteousness of ourselves.
That's nice ... you're calling some NT verses rubbish!
Nice going and congratulations!
BTW, can you read ... or can you just write?
 

Helen

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That's nice ... you're calling some NT verses rubbish!
Nice going and congratulations!
BTW, can you read ... or can you just write?

You are very childish and rude.
I did not call the NT rubbish, I called what you wrote rubbish...big difference.

I will say again , the only righteousness we can boast of is HIS.

We don't -" stay righteousness by practicing righteousness." That comes down to works righteousness.

We are righteous by staying in Him...and walking in the His Light.

" Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;
That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
"