faithfulness

[shad]

Many Christians argue that faithfulness does not count for salvation. Is it really biblical saying that?
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[Adullam]

Actually the word faithfulness and faith are interchangeable for the most part. We are saved by grace through faithfulness. We must endure to the end to be saved, after all.

 

[shad]

Actually the word faithfulness and faith are interchangeable for the most part. We are saved by grace through faithfulness. We must endure to the end to be saved, after all.

I was expecting someone else, you seem to be with me on this one.

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[XTruth]

I also agree. Without holiness, no one will inherit eternal life.

In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life (Lk.1:75).

14Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
15And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
16And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
17Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.
18And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
1Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God (2 Cor.6:14-7:1).

19Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
20Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
21Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
24And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts (Gal.5:19-24).


And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness (Eph.4:24).

For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness (1 Thes.4:7).

11For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
12Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world (Tit.2:11-12).

Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord (Heb.12:14).

13Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
14As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:
15But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;
16Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
17And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear (1 Pt.1:13-17).

17Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
18Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
19Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble (Jas.2:17-19).

11He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still (Rev.22:11).

 

[Ret]

Heb 11:6
6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe
that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. KJV

Rev 2:10
...be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. KJV

Wonderful to contemplate!

 

[shad]

Heb 11:6
6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe
that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. KJV

Rev 2:10
...be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. KJV

Wonderful to contemplate!

Faithfulness, holiness, and righteousness are not being talked about in the churches as much as they should.

.

 

[XTruth]

Heb 11:6
6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe
that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. KJV

Rev 2:10
...be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. KJV

Wonderful to contemplate!

Faithfulness, holiness, and righteousness are not being talked about in the churches as much as they should.

.

I've read some great things today, but that Shad, is the most basic and true statement today. Most churches teach faithfulness, holiness, and righteousness as if it were desired by God, but not required by Him. This is the core subject that led to heated conversations over email by me to my 2 pastors...so I left their church.

 

[shad]

I've read some great things today, but that Shad, is the most basic and true statement today. Most churches teach faithfulness, holiness, and righteousness as if it were desired by God, but not required by Him. This is the core subject that led to heated conversations over email by me to my 2 pastors...so I left their church.

Holiness, faithfulness and righteousness are the core of Jesus' teachings and required for getting into God's kingdom. It is really tragic that the churches take them so lightly. I guess it is not so popular to talk about for church members.

.

 

[XTruth]

I've read some great things today, but that Shad, is the most basic and true statement today. Most churches teach faithfulness, holiness, and righteousness as if it were desired by God, but not required by Him. This is the core subject that led to heated conversations over email by me to my 2 pastors...so I left their church.

Holiness, faithfulness and righteousness are the core of Jesus' teachings and required for getting into God's kingdom. It is really tragic that the churches take them so lightly. I guess it is not so popular to talk about for church members.

.

The pastors are just making sure they still have a congregation after the Rapture I guess

 

[JoJo]

Now if only Christians could learn the difference between righteous and self-righteous. :yes

 

[XTruth]

Now if only Christians could learn the difference between righteous and self-righteous. :yes

I agree.
We are only made righteous by faith in the blood of Jesus to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past (Jn.14:6; Acts 4:12; Rom.3:25). This initial righteousness is given b/c all past sins are taken away. There is no sin in righteousness (1 Jn.1:5-6; 2:3-6). This is ephesians 2:8-9 and Titus 3:5. It is up to each individual at that point on to walk in righteousness and sin no more (Jas.2:24).





This doesn’t contradict Paul’s epistle to the Ephesians one bit. It is true that, “For 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. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them (Eph. 2:8-10).†We are saved initially from our sins by grace. No one or nothing can take away our sins except Christ. By this we are made righteous and have been given initial salvation. Only the righteous, or those without sin, will be saved at the end of life and given eternal salvation, as it is only a hope for the righteous at this time (Heb.3:6; 5:9). God is no respecter of persons and winks at the sin of no man (Eze.3:17-21; 18:20-32; 1 Pt.1:17). If you sin after becoming righteous, then you are now in the state of unrighteousness and condemned. Only past sins are forgiven, and you must make future confessions for future sins (Rom.3:25); but we are told to sin no more (Ex.20:20; Jn.5:14). Perfection is required for eternal life (Gen.17:1; Lev.11:44; Mat.5:48; 1 Pt.1:16), so the justification that we are only human, still sinners, and are only supposed to try for righteousness until we get to heaven is totally unscriptural and can’t be found anywhere in the Bible. If you sow to the flesh, you have passed from sonship into the arena of being His enemy (Gal.6:7-8; Jas.4:4; 1 Jn.3:8-10).

The following are the works of keeping salvation and the conditions of eternal life. Salvation isn’t kept and manifested as eternal unless you labor for it (Jn.6:27). We must also: come to Christ (Jn.6:37, 44, 45, 65); eat His flesh and drink His blood (Jn.6:50-51, 53, 58); reap (Jn.4:35-38); hate (love less) the life in this world (Jn.12:25); know God and Christ (Jn.17:2-3); enter right gate (Mat.7:13-14); cause no offense (Mat. 18:8-9); keep commandments (Mat.19:17; Jn.8:31, 51); forsake all (Mat.19:27-29; Mk.10:28-30; Lk.18:28-30); live free from sin (Rom.5:21; 6:16-23; 8:1-13; Tit.2:11-14); continue in well doing and seek eternal life (Rom.2:7); sow to the Spirit (Gal.6:7-8); fight the good fight of faith; lay hold on it (1 Tim.6:12, 19); be sober and hope to the end for it (Tit.1:2; 3:7; 1 Pt.1:5, 9, 13; Rom.8:24); endure temptations (Jas.1:12); let the promise of it remain in you and continue in God and Christ (1 Jn.2:24-25; 5:11-20); love everybody (1 Jn.3:14-15); keep yourself in the love of God, looking for eternal life (Jude 20-24); overcome sin (Rev.2:7, 11, 17, 26; 3:5, 12, 21); be faithful unto death (Rev.2:10; Heb.12:14-15); believe and obey the gospel (Jn.3:15-19, 36; 4:14; 5:24; 6:40; 47, 54; 2 Cor.5:17; Rom.1:5); and be born again, hear Christ, and follow Him (Jn.3; 10:27-29).

The epistles have been written to the church for it’s entire age for the purpose of maintaining church order, correct doctrine, and Christian discipline. We can take one of the shortest epistles and learn what true assurance of salvation is. In the following commands and warnings from the book of Philippians, you’ll see the work one must continue in if they want to remain justified. Believing Jesus is the Son of God is the only place to start your walk of salvation, but obeying the gospel program is the only assurance one has. For true eternal security and assurance of salvation, a Christian must:
Become a subject of God’s grace (Phil.1:6); be a partaker of God’s grace (Phil.1:7); abound more and more in love (Phil.1:9); approve things that are excellent (Phil.1:10); be sincere until the end (Phil.1:10); be without offence till the end (Phil.1:10); be filled with the fruits of righteousness (Phil.1:11); let your manner of life be as becomes the gospel of Christ (Phil.1:27); stand fast in one spirit and one mind with others striving together for the gospel (Phil.1:27); be not terrified by the enemy (Phil.1:28); suffer for His sake (Phil.1:29); be likeminded with Christ (Phil.2:2); have the same love (Phil.2:2); be of one accord and of one mind with others (Phil.2:2; 3:16); and let nothing be done through strife or vain glory (Phil.2:3).

Continuing on, we must also: esteem others better than yourself (Phil.2:3); be interested in others (Phil.2:4); let the mind of Christ be in you (Phil.2:5); obey the gospel (Phil.2:12); work out your own salvation (Phil.2:12-13); do all things without murmuring and disputing (Phil.2:14); be blameless, harmless, and without rebuke among men (Phil.2:15); hold forth the Word of Life (Phil.2:16); beware of dogs, evil workers, and the circumcision party (Phil.3:2); press toward the high calling (Phil.3:13-16); walk by the gospel standard (Phil.3:16); and be followers of the apostles and mark the enemies of the cross of Christ (Phil.3:17-20).

Take a deep breathe, I know it sounds too hard, but we must also: stand fast in the Lord (Phil.4:1); help all workers of Christ (Phil.4:3); rejoice in the Lord always (Phil.4:4); let your moderation be known to all men (Phil.4:5); be anxious for nothing (Phil.4:6); let request be known to God (Phil.4:6); think on right things (Phil.4:8); and do what you’ve learned, received, and heard (Phil.4:9). To simplify this in your memory, just love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength; also loving people by treating them better than yourself, because the one you call Father has given His beloved Son to die for them as well.

"Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only?" (Jas.2:24)

 

[Joe67]

Rom 3:3
3 For what if some were without faith? shall their want of faith make of none effect the faithfulness of God? ASV

This is an important part of this meal.

Joe

 

[shad]

Now if only Christians could learn the difference between righteous and self-righteous. :yes

Dont worry about self-righteousness. God will judge who is true ones or not. His followers should preach faithfulness regardless and aim for perfection.

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[Ret]

Now if only Christians could learn the difference between righteous and self-righteous. :yes

Dont worry about self-righteousness. God will judge who is true ones or not. His followers should preach faithfulness regardless and aim for perfection.

Job did not understand how self-righteous he was until afflictions came upon him...

Job 32:1 So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes. KJV

 

[shad]

Now if only Christians could learn the difference between righteous and self-righteous. :yes

Dont worry about self-righteousness. God will judge who is true ones or not. His followers should preach faithfulness regardless and aim for perfection.

Job did not understand how self-righteous he was until afflictions came upon him...

Job 32:1 So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes. KJV

We dont know individuals' walk with God. Let God handle the judgements.

 

[Joe67]

Rom 3:4,7
let God be found true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy words, And mightest prevail when thou comest into judgment.
7 But if the truth of God through my lie abounded unto his glory, why am I also still judged as a sinner?
ASV

Peter and the disciples lied when they promised to go to prison and death. They could not fulfill their promise. Judas lied when he kissed Jesus and called him "master."

God's righteousness in Jesus Christ is made manifest in Jesus' relationship to both lies.

Joe