What are these terms we throw around and debate over ad nauseam? Why do many pit Paul, James, and Peter against one another? Paul saw it happening and warned us against it.
For me, I agree with Paul (and all the other writers) when he said there is no division in Christ - all the writers, apostles, disciples and followers are pointing to Christ, who is pointing to the Father, who is in fact, pointing back to Christ!
True faith is suspending your disbelief - your internal critic, AND loving outwardly even when your inner critic is screaming BS!
(I cringe when people declare, with pride and self satisfaction that they have an alert and tuned BS meter......yikes! Makes me wonder how they get out of bed)
True works is loving outwardly because you are following the Spirit instead of you internal critic.
False Faith is barking your knowledge about Jesus, without lifting a finger
Likewise, false works it running around looking busy for personal glory
True faith and true works cannot be separated - only false faith and false works stand alone.
Obedience is loving God and neighbor through service - it is faith/works
Love is the complete package - it erases all sin....like a sealant waterproofs. It is the double edge sword that cuts across all dichotomies.
Christians that like to revel in the war between God and the Devil are in danger of falling into the same trap that the Jewish people did when they expected a warrior Messiah, which ended up in their rejection of Christ. I am not claiming that the war between good and evil doesn’t exist, but our participation in that war is loving others. Yes, Jesus is coming back to judge the world, but it doesn’t change our role, at all.
Some Christians laugh and scoff at “wimpy, snowflake Christians” who promote flitting around and loving people who don’t deserve it and calling it following Christ. Of course, true love is not for snowflakes....it is serving others without reservation and without judgment. It is hospice work for the world - sitting with terminal illness and loving the person in spite of the behaviors you disapprove of.....it is visiting the prisoners of sin like an AA volunteer - loving the person with a message of freedom in spite of their crimes.
Love is our calling, our role, and our sanctification. We love because Christ loves us and we were created to do so.
For me, I agree with Paul (and all the other writers) when he said there is no division in Christ - all the writers, apostles, disciples and followers are pointing to Christ, who is pointing to the Father, who is in fact, pointing back to Christ!
True faith is suspending your disbelief - your internal critic, AND loving outwardly even when your inner critic is screaming BS!
(I cringe when people declare, with pride and self satisfaction that they have an alert and tuned BS meter......yikes! Makes me wonder how they get out of bed)
True works is loving outwardly because you are following the Spirit instead of you internal critic.
False Faith is barking your knowledge about Jesus, without lifting a finger
Likewise, false works it running around looking busy for personal glory
True faith and true works cannot be separated - only false faith and false works stand alone.
Obedience is loving God and neighbor through service - it is faith/works
Love is the complete package - it erases all sin....like a sealant waterproofs. It is the double edge sword that cuts across all dichotomies.
Christians that like to revel in the war between God and the Devil are in danger of falling into the same trap that the Jewish people did when they expected a warrior Messiah, which ended up in their rejection of Christ. I am not claiming that the war between good and evil doesn’t exist, but our participation in that war is loving others. Yes, Jesus is coming back to judge the world, but it doesn’t change our role, at all.
Some Christians laugh and scoff at “wimpy, snowflake Christians” who promote flitting around and loving people who don’t deserve it and calling it following Christ. Of course, true love is not for snowflakes....it is serving others without reservation and without judgment. It is hospice work for the world - sitting with terminal illness and loving the person in spite of the behaviors you disapprove of.....it is visiting the prisoners of sin like an AA volunteer - loving the person with a message of freedom in spite of their crimes.
Love is our calling, our role, and our sanctification. We love because Christ loves us and we were created to do so.