Search results

That is exactly what it is. And these characteristics cause us to perform specific tasks commanded by God - lending to the poor, not holding grudges, not stealing, staying away from your neighbor's wife and property...

We know from the whole counsel of scripture that fruitlessness (a dead branch) is the sign of the unbeliever, not the believer: 10By this the children of God are distinguished from the children of the devil: Anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is anyone who does not...

The idea being conveyed is not that their faith was once alive and now is dead, but rather that it doesn't do anything. 17So too, faith by itself, if it does not result in action,f is dead. James 2:17 He compares it to the 'believing' that the demons have, which we know is no faith at all, not...

And that's the point I don't think they're getting. James is not talking about a person who has genuine faith but who remains in sin and has no works. That person does not exist: 9Anyone born of God refuses to practice sin, because God’s seed abides in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he...

I explained this. The branches that are 'in him' but are dead and do not produce any fruit are analogous to the tares 'in the kingdom' sown by the enemy that do not produce the head of grain (Matthew 13:41. Neither the dead branches nor the tares belong to Christ in salvation. Yet they are...

The branch that is trimmed back is the believing branch in John 15. The branches that are removed are unbelieving branches. Their fruitlessness is the evidence of their unbelief. Whether or not they were ever believing branches is another subject altogether. The point is, they are not believing...

A believer is joined to Christ. Fake believers just look like they are by reason of proximity and association. Their branch is fruitless. They are the branches that are cut off, not the believing, but sometimes sinning, branches. Sinning does not cause Christ to cut you out of the vine. Unbelief...

Works are necessary. They are necessary as the expected and obligatory outcome of having faith. Like when a person must be wet who claims to have been swimming in the pool. It is necessary that being dripping wet accompany their claim to being in the pool. What works are not necessary for is...

Only in outward appearance. Like the unsaved guy you've been sitting next to in church who has been attending and participating in all your church functions for twenty years. There are lots of people who have 'joined' themselves to the vine, but in pretense only. Recall the great revival in...

Here's an interesting note you may not be aware of. In the story of the sinful woman who washed Jesus' feet with her tears, 'have been forgiven' is a verb in the Perfect tense: 47Therefore I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven, for she has loved much. But he who has been forgiven little...

Correct. Justification is by faith, apart from consideration of your sin. If justification was conditioned on whether you sin or not no one would be justified. That's why justification is by faith, not works. Correct. Justification is not conditioned on whether you obey what Jesus taught. If it...

God is the root. Jesus is the vine. We are the branches. No one is in disagreement with this. Real, believing Christians are not fruitless. The true believer would have to go back to unbelief to become a fruitless branch that will be cut off. And that's assuming a true believer can stop believing.

They absolutely can. I have noticed that when the church talks about carnality they automatically think of sexual immorality. But that is just one of many sins of the carnal (fleshly) nature (Galatians 5:19-21). Paul chastises the believers in Christ at Corinth for the jealousy of their petty...

If you are trying to be justified by your works, as you are doing, then you must perform them perfectly all the time. If you disagree with that, read this: 10All who rely on works of the law (for justification-see context) are under a curse. For it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not...

I don't either. Hebrews 6:4-6 makes it clear that God does not allow that kind of relationship with him.

Jesus did not die so you can save yourself. He did all the work of salvation. Your part is to believe, and continue to believe in the forgiveness God has provided you through his death and resurrection. You are righteous in God's sight because he has cleansed and forgiven and removed all the...

Yes, I do. But not to make myself righteous enough for entry into the kingdom of God as you think good works are to be done.

No, the fruitless branch is not saved. 8The one who practices sin is of the devil... 9Anyone born of God refuses to practice sin, because God’s seed abides in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God. 10By this the children of God are distinguished from the children of the...

I do mean that: 31Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Certainly not! Instead, we uphold the law (by this faith). - Romans 3:31 9The commandments “Do not commit adultery,” “Do not murder,” “Do not steal,” “Do not covet,”a and any other commandments, are summed up in this one decree...

Explain how you come to the conclusion that this means you make yourself righteous enough by doing good works to be eligible to enter into eternal life.