"Faith"

[horsecamp]

Faith is not what some people think it is. Their human dream is a delusion. Because they observe that faith is not followed by good works or a better life, they fall into error, even though theyspeak and hear much about faith. ``Faith is not enough,'' theysay, ``You must do good works, you must be pious to be saved.''They think that, when you hear the gospel, you start working,creating by your own strength a thankful heart which says, ``Ibelieve.'' That is what they think true faith is. But, becausethis is a human idea, a dream, the heart never learns anythingfrom it, so it does nothing and reform doesn't come from this`faith,' either.Instead, faith is God's work in us, that changes us and gives new birth from God. (John 1:13). It kills the Old Adam and makes uscompletely different people. It changes our hearts, our spirits,our thoughts and all our powers. It brings the Holy Spirit withit. Yes, it is a living, creative, active and powerful thing, thisfaith. Faith cannot help doing good works constantly. It doesn'tstop to ask if good works ought to be done, but before anyoneasks, it already has done them and continues to do them withoutceasing. Anyone who does not do good works in this manner is anunbeliever. He stumbles around and looks for faith and goodworks, even though he does not know what faith or good works are.Yet he gossips and chatters about faith and good works with manywords.Faith is a living, bold trust in God's grace, so certain of God's favor that it would risk death a thousand times trusting in it.Such confidence and knowledge of God's grace makes you happy,joyful and bold in your relationship to God and all creatures. TheHoly Spirit makes this happen through faith. Because of it, youfreely, willingly and joyfully do good to everyone, serveeveryone, suffer all kinds of things, love and praise the God whohas shown you such grace. Thus, it is just as impossible toseparate faith and works as it is to separate heat and light fromfire! Therefore, watch out for your own false ideas and guardagainst good-for-nothing gossips, who think they're smart enoughto define faith and works, but really are the greatest of fools.Ask God to work faith in you, or you will remain forever withoutfaith, no matter what you wish, say or can do.-Martin Luther a newer more modern look to the what about Jesus website www.whataboutjesus.com

 

[Jackie D]

horsecamp;40916Faith is not what some people think it is. Their human dream is a delusion. Because they observe that faith is not followed by good works or a better life, they fall into error, even though theyspeak and hear much about faith. ``Faith is not enough,'' theysay, ``You must do good works, you must be pious to be saved.''They think that, when you hear the gospel, you start working,creating by your own strength a thankful heart which says, ``Ibelieve.'' That is what they think true faith is. But, becausethis is a human idea, a dream, the heart never learns anythingfrom it, so it does nothing and reform doesn't come from this`faith,' either.
Faith is something that grows and become stronger. A new believer should simply believe. It is alright just to have enough faith that small to bring them to a place that they have accepted Christ and want to know Him more. This really is sufficient for the moment.
Instead, faith is God's work in us, that changes us and gives new birth from God. (John 1:13). It kills the Old Adam and makes uscompletely different people. It changes our hearts, our spirits,our thoughts and all our powers. It brings the Holy Spirit withit. Yes, it is a living, creative, active and powerful thing, thisfaith. Faith cannot help doing good works constantly. It doesn'tstop to ask if good works ought to be done, but before anyoneasks, it already has done them and continues to do them withoutceasing. Anyone who does not do good works in this manner is anunbeliever. He stumbles around and looks for faith and goodworks, even though he does not know what faith or good works are.Yet he gossips and chatters about faith and good works with manywords.
I am reminded of the Apostles and their decision to stop the Jewish Christians from placing too much burden on the Gentile Christians. The Jewish Christians were trying to conform the Gentile Christians to their religious customs, including circumcision. The Apostles came up with these simple things for them Act 15:19 "Therefore I judge that we should not trouble those from among the Gentiles who are turning to God, Act 15:20 "but that we write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality,[fn4] from things strangled, and from blood. Though Martin Luther's heart is in the right place, a new believer may find themselves overwhelmed with all the "works" that prove their faith...faith without works is dead...very true, however let us not forget that the young in Christ should be learning the word that their faith might grow as faith grows so does the fruits of the Spirit grow, we become to know what works are and to perform them.Work without faith is dead...very true, however let us not forget that the young in Christ need to focus solely on learning the Word and not being distracted by the church or others placing on them a demand of performance in order to be a "proper" Christian.it would be entirely too easy to become "super-religious" just as the Jews were who were trying to convert the Gentile Christian to their custom without a well balanced process of knowing the Lord and learning His word.
Faith is a living, bold trust in God's grace, so certain of God's favor that it would risk death a thousand times trusting in it.Such confidence and knowledge of God's grace makes you happy,joyful and bold in your relationship to God and all creatures. TheHoly Spirit makes this happen through faith. Because of it, youfreely, willingly and joyfully do good to everyone, serveeveryone, suffer all kinds of things, love and praise the God whohas shown you such grace. Thus, it is just as impossible toseparate faith and works as it is to separate heat and light fromfire! Therefore, watch out for your own false ideas and guardagainst good-for-nothing gossips, who think they're smart enoughto define faith and works, but really are the greatest of fools.Ask God to work faith in you, or you will remain forever withoutfaith, no matter what you wish, say or can do.
As we become more mature in Christ, as we have learned the elementary principles of Christ:Hbr 6:1 THEREFORE, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, Hbr 6:2 of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. these are the milk supplements of Christ and all babes in Christ should know these before moving onto Hbr 5:14 But solid food belongs to those who are full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil...the understanding of Grace is born through the elementary priniples of Christ...these are what brings the joy. Let us not place burdens on the babes in Christ by expecting works before faith has truly taken root. All things will come in His time, His way.....blessings

 

[Jerusalem Junkie]

Though Martin Luther's heart is in the right place, a new believer may find themselves overwhelmed with all the "works" that prove their faith...
Martin Luther Triggered the Reformation..when he nailed his 95 Theses to the cathderal door.He was convinced that his new brand of Christianity would have Jews rushing to join him. But when the Jews failed to respond to his brand of Christianity he turned on them with a vengence. A lot of his text would soon prove viable for Hitlers murderous extermination in WWII...Some his most vicious Jew hating statements were made in his tract entitles "The Jews and Their Lies" too long for me to print here. Now was his heart in the right place?

 

[Jackie D]

(Two;41038)
Martin Luther Triggered the Reformation..when he nailed his 95 Theses to the cathderal door.He was convinced that his new brand of Christianity would have Jews rushing to join him. But when the Jews failed to respond to his brand of Christianity he turned on them with a vengence. A lot of his text would soon prove viable for Hitlers murderous extermination in WWII...Some his most vicious Jew hating statements were made in his tract entitles "The Jews and Their Lies" too long for me to print here. Now was his heart in the right place?
I could respond quite strongly to you right now Phillip, but it would accomplish nothing. So I will simply say that reformation of the church was quite necessary and could even use a face lift today..IMOI don't know enough about Luther to judge him but his statements were not wrong regarding faith and works. My entire point was made toward the fact that this thread was started in the new christian forum and felt that it might be a bit heavy to place on those who don't know the elementary principles of Christ.As far as what Hilter did with the message that Luther gave is on Hitler, he was a nut and could have taken anything and turned it into using as a campaign against the Jewish nation. And if Luther was wrong in his thesis, that is also on him. Here is what I believe. The Jewish nation was destined by God's hand to be persecuted and murdered (all of this belief stems from the OT and the heavy judgment God placed on them for their disobedience and harlotry, it has been fulfilment of prophecy just as the things the church has experienced, all God's design), and if it were not for Hitler it would have been another. Now I don't condone what has happened to them, it saddens me deeply. But if you want to be angry, be angry with the enemy the devil and his principalities and how they temp and entice the sinful nature of man's flesh!...we are all vessels, we all serve God's purpose. The potter determines the use of the clay pot......

 

[Jerusalem Junkie]

http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsourc...er_on_Jews.htmlJackie I am not angry at anyone just making a point is all...sorry if it came across that way...just I have no faith in the Christian faith anymore none at all...

 

[Jackie D]

(Two;41217)
http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsourc...er_on_Jews.htmlJackie I am not angry at anyone just making a point is all...sorry if it came across that way...just I have no faith in the Christian faith anymore none at all...
well we can praise God that true Christian faith is not having faith in man but having faith in God...be blessed brother