A lot of people want to twist scripture to suite their lifestyle

A lot of people want to twist scripture to suite their lifestyle

PERSONAL NOTE:

Hi friends,

A lot of my current posts have been responses that I have written to questions (or misguided statements) in social media sites. Instead of having it simply appear once and get forgotten, I like to add it here too for personal reference and for exposure to all who browse my blogs.

There is so much confusion and false advice out there today because people either post replies to bible questions based on their personal views of scripture, whether they have read or studied the bible or not, or they post replies based on modern denominational teachings, which in most cases is the doctrines of men's imaginations and not to rightly divided Word of truth.

Since the bulk of questions out on the social sites deal with salvation and Kingdom orientated views, there might be topical overlap with the posts that I'm uploading lately. I hope you don't mind and trust that the repeating advice or answers simply embed themselves deeper into your mind and spirit. If you do have questions of your own, or do want a specific topic dealt with, use the comments section below the post or use the Contact Form to contact me and request content.

Other than that, I trust you still enjoy this blog and its material. Thanks for your continued support and interest. May God bless you richly in knowledge and wisdom of His Word and may the Holy Spirit continue to work that Word out of you and into this world as a witness to our great hope and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

STATEMENT:

Concerning faith and works for salvation: People forget what James says, “Faith without works is dead,…” and they misunderstand that works without faith is the same thing. They go hand in hand when you have faith and are abiding in Christ. Just as Christ done the works of the Father, so must we. It seems a lot of people want to twist scripture to suite their lifestyle, so that they can continue in sin, thinking that grace will abound. God forbid.

ANSWER:

You quote James, but James 1:1 tells us that he is writing to his kinsmen (Jews) scattered abroad. James did not address his letter to you, thus the need to add works to quicken faith is a doctrine for Israel, not for us. If you persist with James, then you must persist with ALL the Mosaic laws, including Sabbath, sacrifices, circumcision, attending festivals, offerings, washings, etc…..!

Nowhere in Paul’s letters, the doctrine addressed for us today, does he say we must add works to our faith. Why? Because the work that Christ did on the cross already fully purchased our salvation,

Rom 4:5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

… and it has freed us from the law,

Rom 3:28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

So, when do works come into the picture?

Good works is not needed FOR salvation but is the result OF salvation. It originates due to our obedience to the written Word working in us.

Php 2:12-13 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. (13) For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

As we allow the written Word to change us, we become influenced in thought, speech, and action by the truth of the Word. We aim to do what the Word works within us. This is how we die to the flesh and allow Christ to live through us. As our mind becomes more and more renewed to the will and ways of God, we will learn to obey that welling up of ‘living water’ inside us, and then we start to walk by faith and by the Spirit. This results in the fruit of the Spirit and the good works that God wills and does in and through us.

The bottom line is this: Less work and more word. Less doing and more gaining knowledge of God’s word. The works will come when the word is working in you. No word equates to dead works.