Just an idea..ac_gimpJanuary 28 2006, 18:43:26 UTC
I've been thinking a lot lately about what James says: "faith without works is dead"
It's a pretty controversial subject, so I wouldn't necessarily go preach this at every pulpit, but I feel that James is NOT saying that works is necessary for salvation... but instead is referring to how the world will see us - how our faith will appear as dead to the world, because they will see no fruit. I honestly believe, however, that once we have allowed Christ into our lives, that we will bear fruit. As a christian, the Holy Spirit dwells within us, and the FRUIT (singular) is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. If we are filled with the Spirit (which hypothetically speaking, every christian is [or should be]) then we will bear fruit, and do good works, which will make our faith seem alive to the world. Now, though our body is the temple of the Lord, we are still human, and thus have that sinful nature within us, but Christ came to this earth, not to condemn us. Instead, He came to save us... once and for all. Someone shared this idea with me a little while ago, and it's pretty helpful: When we come to know Christ as Savior, it's as though we are veiled with His blood, so that whenever we come to the Father, He sees us through His Son's flowing crimson tide, and thus we are forever cleansed. I am completely sure that God the Father would honor the sacrifice that our blessed Savior made by dying on our behalf.
May our hearts be stirred to give our all for Him as He gave His all for us..
Re: Just an idea..archen4January 28 2006, 20:26:46 UTC
To a point, I agree. God is the Judge of all men, and He knows every heart, but we often glaze over certain scriptures, and I include myself in that most of all. Never to say that salvation is wrought by works, because we know that it is not, salvation is by Grace, but we ought to examine ourselves as well, which I often do not. Ephesians 2:8-9 says "By Grace are ye saved through Faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast." Ephesians 2:10 says "For we are created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which he hath before ordained, that we should walk in them." In the gospel of John, Jesus says "I am the vine, you are the branches, he who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit, for without Me, you can do nothing." You were right in saying that if we have Christ, we WILL bear fruit, and without Christ, we cannot bear fruit, because without Him, we can do nothing. Later in John 15, which we memorized together at Boy's Camp, so I know you know this, lol, but to repeat it, it says "If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned." Then, "If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love." If we do not keep His commandments, we will not abide in His love. I'm still confused, so I think I'm just gonna get ready for work now. Ugh.
Re: Just an idea..ac_gimpJanuary 28 2006, 20:41:18 UTC
I guess what makes it so difficult to understand is that our God is both just and merciful, yet He can somehow balance the two in such a way that our finite minds will never comprehend until we reach those pearly gates and walk with Him into eternity...
till then, I suppose we might as well just keep doing good, haha
It's a pretty controversial subject, so I wouldn't necessarily go preach this at every pulpit, but I feel that James is NOT saying that works is necessary for salvation... but instead is referring to how the world will see us - how our faith will appear as dead to the world, because they will see no fruit. I honestly believe, however, that once we have allowed Christ into our lives, that we will bear fruit. As a christian, the Holy Spirit dwells within us, and the FRUIT (singular) is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. If we are filled with the Spirit (which hypothetically speaking, every christian is [or should be]) then we will bear fruit, and do good works, which will make our faith seem alive to the world. Now, though our body is the temple of the Lord, we are still human, and thus have that sinful nature within us, but Christ came to this earth, not to condemn us. Instead, He came to save us... once and for all. Someone shared this idea with me a little while ago, and it's pretty helpful: When we come to know Christ as Savior, it's as though we are veiled with His blood, so that whenever we come to the Father, He sees us through His Son's flowing crimson tide, and thus we are forever cleansed. I am completely sure that God the Father would honor the sacrifice that our blessed Savior made by dying on our behalf.
May our hearts be stirred to give our all for Him as He gave His all for us..
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till then, I suppose we might as well just keep doing good, haha
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