I love your post Abishag, but just wanted to add the following:Works in and of themselves outside of the saving blood/grace of Jesus Christ will not save a person, since we are all born into sin and fall into sin. Without the redemption/forgiveness of Christ, our guilt remains! For none is righteous in the eyes God and all fall short of the glory of God. However are good works necessary? ABSOLUTELY YES! The evidence of ones sincere faith/conversion is in the fruits -(good works/obedience).
(Romans 10:13)
For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Is often, unfortunately used in isolation and taken out of context and some see it as a "free ticket" to Heaven when it is not read/understood in relation to the rest of the bible This is why it is vitally important for us believers to become familiar with the bible.
Consider the following:
(Matthew 7:19)
"Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
(Hebrews 10:26-27) "For if we go on sinning willfully after acquiring the knowledge of the truth, there is no longer left any sacrifice for sins, but some dreadful anticipation of judgment and of a fierce fire that is to devour those who oppose God."
(John 14:21)
He that has my commandments (law), and keeps them, he it is that loves me: and he that loves me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him
And hereby we do know that we know Him, if we keep His Commandments. 4 He that saith, I know Him, and keepeth not His Commandments, is a liar, and the Truth is not in Him" (1 John 2:3-4).
(Phil 2:12,13):
So, my dear friends, you have always been obedient; your obedience must not be limited at times when I am present. Now that I am absent it must be more in evidence, so work out your salvation in fear and trembling. It is God who, for His own generous purpose, gives you the intention and the powers to act.
(Luke 6:46)
"And why call me Lord, Lord, and do not do the things I say?"
(Acts 10:34-35)
Cornelius was commended and approved by Peter for working righteousness (Acts 10:34-35).
(II Cor 5:17).
So for anyone who is in Christ, there is a new creation: the old order is gone and a new being is ther to see.
Personal advice to Titus
(Titus 3:8)
I want you to be quite uncompromising in teaching all this, so that those who now believe in God may keep their minds constantly occupied in doing good works. All this is good, and useful for everybody.
(I Tim 6:12).
Fight the good fight of faith and win the eternal life to which you were called and for which you made your noble profession of faith before many witnesses.
(James 2:14-26)
How does it help, my brothers, when someone who has never done a single good act claims to have faith? will that faith bring salvation?
(Rev 2:11).
(Rev 2:17).
(Re 2:26-28).
(Rev 3:5).
(Rev 3:12).
(Rev 3:21).
(Rev 12:17).
(Phil 3:8-14). (II Timothy 4:7-8)
I have fought the good fight to the end; I have run the race to the finish; I have kept the faith; all there is to come for me now is the crown of uprightness which the Lord, the upright judge, will give to me on that Day; and not only to me but to all those who have longed for his appearing.
(James 1:21-25)
so do away with all impurities and remnants of evil. Humbly welcome the Word which has been planted in you and can save your souls.
(Luke 9:23)
Then speaking to all, he said, 'If anyone wants to be a follower of mine, let him renounce himself and take up his cross everyday and follow me. Anyone who wants to save his life will lose it; but anyone who loses his life for my sake, will save it. What benefit is it to anyone to win the whole world and forfeit or lose his very self? For if anyone is ashamed of me and of my words, of him the Son of man will be ashamed when he comes in his own glory and in the glory of the Father and the holy angels
.
(Luke 14:27).
No one who does not carry his cross and come after me can be my disciple.
(Matt 28:19-20)
Go, therefore, make disciples of all nations; baptise them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teach them to observe all the commands I gave you. And look, I am with you always; yes, to the end of time.
(John 5:29)
those who did good will come forth to life; and those who did evil will come forth to judgement.
(Romans 8:13)
If you do live in that way, you are doomed to die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the habits originating in the body, you will have life.
(Rom 8:17)
And if we are children, then we are heirs, heirs of God and join-heirs with Christ, provided that we share his suffering, so as to share his glory.
(1 Corinthians 10:12)
Everyone, no matter how firmly he thinks he is standing, must be careful he does not fall. none of the trials which have come upon you is more than a human being can stand. You can trust that God will not let you be put to the test beyond your strength, but with any trial will also provide a way out by enabling you to put up with it.
(Deuteronomy 13:4)
"Ye shall walk after the LORD your God, and fear Him, and keep His Commandments, and obey His Voice, and ye shall serve Him, and cleave unto Him".
(Luke 16:13)
"Ye cannot serve God and mammon".
If we "cleave unto Him" (Deuteronomy 13:4), Who is "[our] Life" (30:20), then we will not sin against our God.
(1 John 3:6).
"Whosoever abideth in Him sinneth not".
(Matthew 7:21)
Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter the Kingdom of Heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in Heaven.
The good fruit believers should have in their lives is listed in Galatians 5:22-23.
we were created to do good works (Ephesians 2:10).
If a person claims to be a believer, but has no good works in his life - then he likely does not have genuine faith in Christ (James 2:14, 17, 20, 26).
Matthew 7
“Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ 23 “And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.’
24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 “And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock. 26 “Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 “The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell—and great was its fall.”
The bible is clear time and time again that faith/conversion should = change. The old to the new. The strive for eternal life by resisting/fleeing from temptation/sin, obeying God's commandments, putting His word into action. Should we fall/fail along the way? God's grace and mercy are there to lift those with sincere regret/repentance back on track and our intention, if sincere, should be to avoid future occassions of sin.
This is not just the sake of our own souls, but also to set the right example to others.
