There are many here who do not understand the power of God so I will explain it to them.
All good works come from the Holy Spirit. And this is why Paul wrote Ephesians 2:8-9 and spent the majority of the book of Romans explaining this. Ephesians 2:8-9, "For it is by grace you have been saved. Through faith-and this-not from yourlseves-it is the gift from God, not by works so that no one can boast."
This passage says everything we need to know about salvation. Everything.
Works come from the Holy Spirit which is why they are called "the fruits of the Spirit", not the fruits of ourselves. Jesus said; "First clean the cup from the inside and the outside will become clean as well." But sadly, many people do not know what that means.
Jesus cleans our cup from the inside by replacing all of our envy, greed, lust, anger, sloth, pride, and gluttony with love and forgiveness. Then the outside will automatically become clean as well, "for out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks."
You can't work at love or pretend to love. Real love comes from our cleased hearts and our actions are a response from our cleaned heart. That's about as much work as thankining someone for rescuing us from a burning fire. it takes zero effort which is why it souldn't even be called work.
But those whose hearts are not cleased by the Holy Spirit see the bible as a rule book. Which would you rather have? A husband/wife who loves you because he/she's supposed to or because he/she genuinely loves you? if he/she genuinely loves you, then she doesn't have to consult a rule book to show you love. She will eagerly express it to the point of not being able to contain her joy. She doesn't see it as work! She sees it as love!
And that's how God wants us to respond to him. not from grim duty, chore, or obligation or even obedience, but from love. And that is why Paul said that if we have not love, then all of our works are meaningless.
once the Holy Spirit has cleansed our hearts, good works naturally follow, which is again why they are called the "fruits of the Spirit", not the fruits of ourselves. What takes effort, however, is to keep from thanking someone for rescuing us from a burning fire.
Therefore, those born again of the Spirit can't help but do good works because they're hearts have been cleansed. But those who have not been cleansed by the Holy Spirit are left with trying to earn their way to heaven. But as paul said; "Flesh and blood cannot enter the kingdom of heaven." Only those born again of the Holy Spirit because the Spirit inside of us is heaven! :angel:
All good works come from the Holy Spirit. And this is why Paul wrote Ephesians 2:8-9 and spent the majority of the book of Romans explaining this. Ephesians 2:8-9, "For it is by grace you have been saved. Through faith-and this-not from yourlseves-it is the gift from God, not by works so that no one can boast."
This passage says everything we need to know about salvation. Everything.
Works come from the Holy Spirit which is why they are called "the fruits of the Spirit", not the fruits of ourselves. Jesus said; "First clean the cup from the inside and the outside will become clean as well." But sadly, many people do not know what that means.
Jesus cleans our cup from the inside by replacing all of our envy, greed, lust, anger, sloth, pride, and gluttony with love and forgiveness. Then the outside will automatically become clean as well, "for out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks."
You can't work at love or pretend to love. Real love comes from our cleased hearts and our actions are a response from our cleaned heart. That's about as much work as thankining someone for rescuing us from a burning fire. it takes zero effort which is why it souldn't even be called work.
But those whose hearts are not cleased by the Holy Spirit see the bible as a rule book. Which would you rather have? A husband/wife who loves you because he/she's supposed to or because he/she genuinely loves you? if he/she genuinely loves you, then she doesn't have to consult a rule book to show you love. She will eagerly express it to the point of not being able to contain her joy. She doesn't see it as work! She sees it as love!
And that's how God wants us to respond to him. not from grim duty, chore, or obligation or even obedience, but from love. And that is why Paul said that if we have not love, then all of our works are meaningless.
once the Holy Spirit has cleansed our hearts, good works naturally follow, which is again why they are called the "fruits of the Spirit", not the fruits of ourselves. What takes effort, however, is to keep from thanking someone for rescuing us from a burning fire.
Therefore, those born again of the Spirit can't help but do good works because they're hearts have been cleansed. But those who have not been cleansed by the Holy Spirit are left with trying to earn their way to heaven. But as paul said; "Flesh and blood cannot enter the kingdom of heaven." Only those born again of the Holy Spirit because the Spirit inside of us is heaven! :angel: