Tank you all...
Stranger...
Yes, I think it resumes it all... you could have said something more to complement it but that say's it all.
John S...
Well, I saw your advise, but my friend that does not really answers the question... however makes me think that you are not sure of what makes man saved.
I'm I right?
Selene...
It's expressed in good works towards GOD, not man.
The expression of faith is believing and love which is based on knowledge of GOD, not deeds. The believers do HIS good works because HE guides them and what we do is HE's works, not ours, the decisions we take are the ones HE leads us to, not our selves... those are the good works the reborn does... and that's why no reborn can sin, it's out of his reach because it's Jesus who directs him, and even if he commits a sin (in the world's eyes - exterior) it was under GOD's will.... that's why he is not able to sin and only makes good works.
But concerning to man visible works, there is no faithful expression... many times the wicked does much better deeds than the saint, and the atheist behaves much better in therms of good works than a believer... what matter is the earth only, and is in that we do HIS good works... we build the SPIRITUAL grown man like Jesus by resisting sin and even by falling (falling externally in sin).
Actions are not a reflection of faith...
Horsecamp...
Exactly Horsecamp...
The promes was made to Abraham and is descendant (Jesus), and that promes are us, their sons... we are not the "deciders" nor the "payers", we are the fulfillment of that promes, and GOD did not left the keeping of that promes in our hands, but HE is keeping it to Abraham and Jesus... everytime one elect is reborn it's GOD giving them another son ... we are their sons that GOD promised them, we are the gift GOD gave Jesus.
We have nothing to do with HIS promess (if it happens or not), we're just the result of it. We're the result of GOD's fidelity... to say that an elect has to "won" or "achieve" salvation by his own means or own fidelity or works is saying that HE could fail because the keeping of HE's promess is in our hands.
Dodo...
This is why I said Stranger could have complement better his answer... you used that same passage but added that boast.
Like I said Selene, these works are not external, are internal and made by Jesus in us, we are the bricks of the new Jerusalem HE is building.
Now those works you're talking about mean nothing... you see good and bad works in the wicked has much as in the just.
I'm going now to open another topic to complement this one... it is a different topic but it's crucial to this one.