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#Post#: 1720--------------------------------------------------
Balance
By: Helen Date: June 7, 2025, 11:31 am
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Works
We know that we can not work our way to heaven by our good
works, but we should have good works, shouldn't we?
"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good
works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." Matthew
5:16.
Because we have been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb, we will
have good works - not to be saved, but because we are saved. If
Jesus Christ is living and dwelling in our hearts, we cannot
help but have good works in our lives.
We don't forget that Jesus is going to reward us according to
our works. This does not do away with grace, we are still saved
by grace.
"And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give
every man according as his work shall be." Revelation 22:12.
Faith
If we say we have faith and do not have works, then do we
really have faith?
"What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath
faith, and have not works? can faith save him?" James 2:14.
"Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea,
a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy
faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my
works." James 2:17,18.
So, faith without works is dead. If we have faith, we will also
have works. But our works will not save us, because we are saved
by grace. But , our works will be judged and rewarded.
I asked myself today if I have these in balance .
I weighed myself and found it wanting.
#Post#: 1723--------------------------------------------------
Re: Balance
By: Mike Waters Date: June 7, 2025, 5:27 pm
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[quote author=Helen link=topic=54.msg1720#msg1720
date=1749313915]
Works
If we say we have faith and do not have works, then do we
really have faith?
"What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath
faith, and have not works? can faith save him?" James 2:14.
"Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea,
a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy
faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my
works." James 2:17,18.
So, faith without works is dead. If we have faith, we will also
have works. But our works will not save us, because we are saved
by grace. But , our works will be judged and rewarded.
I asked myself today if I have these in balance .
I weighed myself and found it wanting.
[/quote]
You need a 'Checklist of Good Works'
So here it is :-
Blessed are the poor in spirit
Blessed are they that mourn
Blessed are the meek
Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness
Blessed are the merciful
Blessed are the pure in heart
Blessed are the peacemakers
Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake
Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you,
and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my
sake.
Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his
savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for
nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of
men. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an
hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it
under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto
all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men,
that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which
is in heaven.
Ye have heard that it was said of them of old time, Thou shalt
not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the
judgment: But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his
brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and
whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of
the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in
danger of hell fire. Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the
altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against
thee; Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way;
first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy
gift.
Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way
with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the
judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be
cast into prison. Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means
come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing.
Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt
not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh
on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her
already in his heart.
If thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from
thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members
should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into
hell. And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it
from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members
should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into
hell.
It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him
give her a writing of divorcement: But I say unto you, That
whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of
fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall
marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.
Ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou
shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord
thine oaths: But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by
heaven; for it is God's throne: Nor by the earth; for it is his
footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great
King. Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst
not make one hair white or black. But let your communication be,
Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of
evil.
Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a
tooth for a tooth: But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil:
but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him
the other also.
If any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let
him have thy cloak also.
Whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.
Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of
thee turn not thou away.
Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy
neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your
enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate
you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute
you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in
heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the
good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. For if ye
love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the
publicans the same?
And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than
others? do not even the publicans so?
#Post#: 1725--------------------------------------------------
Re: Balance
By: Helen Date: June 7, 2025, 5:51 pm
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Mike ….
That makes me think of the words of Peter - “ Who then can be
saved ..”
#Post#: 1726--------------------------------------------------
Re: Balance
By: Mike Waters Date: June 7, 2025, 7:06 pm
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[quote author=Helen link=topic=54.msg1725#msg1725
date=1749336699]
Mike ….
That makes me think of the words of Peter - “ Who then can be
saved ..”
[/quote]
You answered that Earlier.
Its the differentiation between faith and works, or between the
Gift and the Prize.
John writes in Revelation about those who are "accounted
'Worthy' (that's works) to live and reign with Christ for a
thousand years". That's the time limited 'Prize', which is
followed by the 'Gift' (which is 'Eternal' Life in the New
Jerusalem.)
The first resurrection is for those 'worthy' to reign, and the
second resurrection is for those not accounted 'Worthy' but who
received the 'Gift' of Eternal life by believing in Christ (Also
described as being a 'work')
Paul similarly refers in Corinthians to the difference between
the two stages when he he says that those without sufficient
'Works' would be 'Saved' "Yet so as through fire"
Paul (who surely had the 'gift' of Salvation') nevertheless also
wrote that he "pressed on to be accounted 'worthy' of the
prize".
#Post#: 1727--------------------------------------------------
Re: Balance
By: Helen Date: June 8, 2025, 1:53 am
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I don’t like the sermon on the mount.reading that too much would
cause me to lose faith in His finished work.
Before I turned 65 I didn’t find it so scary …but ‘works’
after 70 seems to have much wanting!
I think I see a lot of wood hay and stubble in my future .
The verse that encourages me is - Where they say to Him
in John -“ What must we do to work the works of God “
He answered them by saying “ THIS is the Work of God - that you
*believe on Him whom He has sent”.
#Post#: 1729--------------------------------------------------
Re: Balance
By: Pat Date: June 8, 2025, 7:17 am
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These days I'm not so much about seeking or wondering, I'm more
about just accepting, believing and resting and being glad that
God has revealed so much of himself to me through Jesus.
#Post#: 1731--------------------------------------------------
Re: Balance
By: Kerry Date: June 8, 2025, 8:28 am
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One of the verses which comes to my mind frequently when I'm out
walking comes from James:
James 4:17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth
it not, to him it is sin.
If I am walking to my house from my car and see a piece of trash
on the sidewalk, that verse often comes to mind. No, I didn't
throw the trash there; but I can pick it up so other people
don't have to see it. I admit I don't always stop to pick it
up; but I should.
A black man helped me the other day at Walmart. The shopping
carts often stick together, and you need to raise a part so it's
not sticking with the one behind it. He saw me tugging at a
cart and dashed over to lift the part for me.
I'm also thinking of the man who helped Mike get up. He saw he
could do something good and did it.
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