Salvation is "Grace through Faith".
Jesus died to provide it, and the believer is given what Jesus completed on the Cross.
1.) "The Gift of Salvation"
2.) "The Gift of Righteousness."
So, that is THAT...
And then, there is Discipleship.
Thats the part that we do, that isn't Salvation.
Its the part we do, subsequent to receiving : "The Gift of Salvation".
Salvation is what Jesus completed and our Discipleship is not that pert.
This is that "revelation hurdle" that is the one big one that has to be surmounted, or the believer exists in a un-renewed mind situation where there is no spiritual growth, found.
There is just a lot of talk about it.
A lot of talk about doing works, as if this is spiritual growth.
Let me show you something interesting.
Hebrews 13:9 is where a born again Christian has to LIVE, spiritually, In that requirement.
And if they don't, then the 2nd part of that verse, will happen to them.
You are right, we are emphasising different things, sensitive to different issues and putting the gospel around our emphasis.
When I was young I wondered what it would be like to fall in love. Then I did. You can know all the theory in the world, but
being in love is an event.
What appealed to me about Jesus was His desire for justice, truth, and empathy. The Lord of all became a man so He could walk with
us, teach us His ways, and hold out the hand of friendship and being together.
The ten lepers who were healed only one came back to say thank you.
What is difficult in man is his heart and his stubbornness to humble his heart and repent. In my life with all I had, it was the hardest
thing I needed to do, to bow the knee, to give up and ask the Lord to help and forgive.
What fascinated me about heaven was the offer of teaching us how to love and openly give and receive it. In a family lost in each
individuals feelings and incapable of showing love or even admitting this was healthy, heaven was a place I wanted to go to.
Now the spiritual, emotional, straightening out of ones heart is heaven come down to earth, the fulfilment of Gods intention for
man. So for me to hear Jesus say if you love me you will follow my commandments, this is not me trying to do something
I am not made for, this is where I want to go, because Gods commandments are music to my ears.
I know believers who will say they know Jesus but the law is condemnation to their souls. Paul would say this is simply this is their conscience telling them of sins they need to repent of. The beginning of Jesus's ministry was John the Baptist baptising Jesus.
The criticism of the Pharisees was their sin and lack of repentance. If any believer is condemned by their conscience, they need to resolve this. A believer cannot walk with Jesus is love does not dwell in them.
But if anyone obeys his word, God's love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him:
Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.
1 John 2:5-6
Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.
This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence
1 John 3:18-19
Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.
Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.
1 John 4:7-8
Love is eternal, it is God, and as children of God with the Holy Spirit, then this love works out.