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Not what scripture teachs
Eph. 2:
8
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9
Not of works, lest any man should boast.
The bible teaches one message. That we need to be in a right relationship with God. That this is only by faith in Jesus and we are to live to serve God.
We are justified by faith alone. If you add ....."we are to live to serve God" as an ingredient of justification, you add works. I think much of the confusion can be cleared up by understanding........
"that which is born of the flesh is flesh and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit" (John 3:6). Then we can discern that "soul man" is speaking of things that pertain to the "new man in Christ", which we must become before we can possibly "live to serve God".
There are many ways I could reply to you, I 'll make one simple reply.
Jesus commanded us that if we Love him we will obey him. That obedience is what I and every verse that the NT refers to works is referring to.
Any replies given that don't align with the truth of scripture as it pertains to receiving "justification of life" are worthless opinions. Read the scripture! It's only based on His obedience that we have the opportunity to be justified through faith in Him. If you can read these passages and still trust in your "obedience" to justify yourself before God, be my guest. I will always trust the Word of God over the opinion of any man.
Romans 5:1-2
5 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
2 By whom also we have access by faith into this ***grace*** wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
Romans 5:7-9
7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.
8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
Romans 5:18-19
18 Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.
19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.
No where have I said or implied that we are saved by our obedience to Jesus's commands.
I have merely gently pointed out that Christianity is not easy believism. but involves hard work.
Okay, I agree if you are speaking of sanctification, but not justification. Salvation is free, but service requires sacrifice on our part.
Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. The one who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous. New Living Translation Dear children, don't let anyone deceive you about this: When people do what is right, it shows that they are righteous, even as Christ is righteous. English Standard VersionLittle ...If you can read these passages and still trust in your "obedience" to justify yourself before God, be my guest. I will always trust the Word of God over the opinion of any man.
no, no, no - sacrifice would be works
we are saved by our obedience to Christ's commands.
pick up your stake and follow Me; anyone who can't is not worthyThe only command we have for salvation is to trust the gospel of Christ.
yes, and you can understand this differently also wadr; iow i do not disagree with you, but that is not the whole story eitherIsaiah 64:6 says we have no righteousness, but God demands perfection, which is only found through faith in Christ Jesus.
pick up your stake and follow Me; anyone who can't is not worthy
don't be deceived, little children
count the cost
faith without works is dead
imo most of the confusion and disagreement is actually about the definition of "saved, salvation" here, and i think once it is recognized that all are forgiven, the concept of saved actually becomes intrinsic to served; what do you think? I've been going around with @H. Richard et al, @mjrhealth, on this for over a year--all insightful ppl imo--and this reasoning just came to me in the last couple days.it is about discipleship (service), not salvation.
i suspect this of being counterfeit tbh, or at least essentially moot, the way we define it.they're already saved!
Yet according to the verse you've quoted God's ultimate intention is that we live Godly lives.
How are we defining "saved" iow.