The "justification" Paul spoke of in Rom. 5:1-5 concerns being forgiven of sins. Under no circumstance was Paul preaching a theology that was devoid of the responsibility to live according to God's commandments. The existence of sin logically shows an existing responsibility to keep God's commandments since sin is defined in scripture as violating those same commandments.
If you had to pay a fine for speeding, does that mean you should continue disregarding speed limit signs, or does it mean you should do a better job at honoring what is posted on those signs? The gospel of Christ does NOT exclude obedience, hence Christ repeatedly preaching repentance and warning about the consequences that awaits the people who refuse to repent.
Well said.
The gospel of Christ does NOT exclude obedience, hence Christ repeatedly preaching repentance and warning about the consequences that awaits the people who refuse to repent.
Salvation does not exclude obedience. This whole thread is to debunk the lie of a salvation by faith of hearing only, that is before, apart, and entirely independent of obeying Him. If salvation begins independent of obedience to the faith, then it will always remain independent of doing the will of God: disobedience souls are saved, so long as they still 'agree' Jesus is Lord and do not curse His name.
If you had to pay a fine for speeding,
Them that preach they have no responsibility nor part in their salvation, other than to agree with the gospel, would put it this way: He paid for all our traffic fines past, present, and future at the cross.
Once someone believes that, then they are home free: a lifetime get-out-of-hell-free card. They agree there is a race to run, but not for their soul's sake, and so whether run lawfully or unlawfully or not has nothing to do with attaining to the resurrection of the just.
They literally think to separate their 'saved' soul and spirit from the deeds of the body and are not more responcilbe for their continued life of sins, because that can't be judged for them.
They are saved from judgment of their sins, not from their sins.
does that mean you should continue disregarding speed limit signs,
Scripturally it means we of all people ought be doing it right:
For the time
is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if
it first
begin at us, what shall the end
be of them that obey not the gospel of God?
God' command for all men to repent doesn't end by 'agreeing with Him' that He is right and we ought to. They literally think agreeing with Him, that sin is sinful, they are then justified with Him. Actually doing it is not necessary for salvation. It is 'beneficial' for fellowship only.
The doctrine of justification by works exposes the corrupt hearers-only doctrine of salvation: We are being saved and forgiven of
past sins with a completely new beginning upon believing Jesus is the Christ in the heart, and proof that His faith is in indeed in our hearts is when we love and obey Him with the heart in deed and in truth.
Until we obey Him with the heart, our faith has yet to be buried fruitfully in the heart and remains only in the ears.
If we hear and agree but do not obey, then the devil immediately takes away the word sown in the heart, and the only thing remaining is a knowledge of what was heard: knowing He knocked only without opening the door.
