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What does it mean to run the race.
Dave in Tenn:
Just an observation:
Galatians 5:22-23
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Though a few of those can refer also to an "attitude" or even a "feeling", every one of those aspects of the fruit of the Spirit is something one does, or describes a way or inner-manner in which something is done. Save me from "salvation" that doesn't include GOOD works--genuinely, honestly, un-ostentationously, done with all of the above.
Rick, if you can do ANYTHING at all that follows that broad description, I'm confident you will know "who" is doing the work and you'll be just a little bit less confused.
rick:
--- Quote from: Dave in Tenn on June 12, 2016, 01:45:13 AM ---Just an observation:
Galatians 5:22-23
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Though a few of those can refer also to an "attitude" or even a "feeling", every one of those aspects of the fruit of the Spirit is something one does, or describes a way or inner-manner in which something is done. Save me from "salvation" that doesn't include GOOD works--genuinely, honestly, un-ostentationously, done with all of the above.
Rick, if you can do ANYTHING at all that follows that broad description, I'm confident you will know "who" is doing the work and you'll be just a little bit less confused.
--- End quote ---
Hi Dave,
You said it's just and observation but I say it's a great observation , I'm thankful you mentioned the things you did because I see something in what you said that gives me the assurence I was looking for.
I now understand why I'm going through all these crazy things in my life that are constant with no relief in site, I don't say what these things I'm going through are and they are many things all at the same time but these things do instill long suffering , patience and with patience gentleness and with gentleness love and with love forgiveness .
I now understand why God is doing all these things to me , I am running the race and didn't realize it because it's truly all one.
Thank you Dave and God bless.
Chris:
--- Quote from: John from Kentucky on June 11, 2016, 09:36:57 PM ---It's best not to overthink or get bent out of shape over salvation.
God will save everyone, each at their appointed time.
Jesus is the chosen One who will bring about the salvation of all. Nothing for us to worry about.
--- End quote ---
Good insight John, thank you
Colin:
Thank you Alex, it IS very relevant. I have re-read the complete transcript and found that what I wrote fits in with this bible study, which Ray did.
Alex, you inserted a short piece from Ray’s study, with the comment about “our own works being filthy rags”; I studied what Ray said at that stage of his presentation…..
Quote from Do James and Paul Contradict Bible Study July 1, 2007:
FAITH ALONE - NEEDS NO GOOD WORKS
[Comment from someone in audience: Well if it says ‘faith alone,’ it gets them out of works.] Well yeah, there you go, it gets you out of works. Now not only does it get you out of good works, but it actually pardons you for bad works. Because it’s “faith alone”.
We who believe do enter into His rest and cease from our own works. From our own filthy rags. His Holy Spirit works in us to bring forth fruits worthy of repentance.
Now we are going to see what James talks about, when he talks about works, not works of the law. We are going to see what he talks about and see if he is talking about these days and times and circumcisions and washings and cups and eating and “touch not” and this endless array of laws that Israel had to do.
GOOD WORKS
Before I go to James I want a little bit yet on Paul.
Rom 13:8 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.
v. 9 For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
v. 10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
v. 11 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.
Paul says “love is the fulfilling the law.” Does that sound like, “how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements”? He says love is the fulfilling of the law, now [the other] that would be a contradiction, wouldn’t it. These weak and beggarly elements of the law is not what is meant by love, where it is the fulfilling of the law. You can’t love somebody by keeping new moons and Sabbath days and holy days and different seasons. You can’t really show love towards somebody by … ‘well I’m physically circumcised, would you like to see, would you like to see my good works.’ I mean come on, it’s gross. GOOD WORKS are never referred to as “works of the law.”
1Tim 2:10 But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.
He talks about women that they should have good works. No one is going to be justified… but it says the women, with good works. But he doesn’t say good works of the law, does he… “good works.” He says what those good works are:- take care of your home, take care of your children, be a good example to the younger women, don’t be a busybody, don’t be a tattle-tale. These are all good things that a woman should do.
1Tim 6:18 That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;
2Tim 3:17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
Titus 1:16 They profess that they know God…
Okay this is a strong admonition.
v. 16 …but in works they deny Him…
He doesn’t say in works of the law did he? What kind of works is he talking about? Good works. Works of the law? No. Good works.
v. 16 …being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.
How in the world can these theologians believe that the Apostle Paul did not believe in good works and that it wasn’t a necessary part of the Christian life? Just faith alone, just believe [they say].
If you don’t have good works, he says you are abominable and a reprobate. That’s pretty strong.
End of quote.
As I proceeded through Ray’s study, I came to Quote:
Titus 2:7 In all things showing thyself a pattern of good works:
Titus 3:8 This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.
Titus 3:14 And let ours also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful. End of quote.
Then in the next section explaining about “whose faith”, Ray wrote Quote:-
Here it is, here we get to bring it on down. It’s “not of works,” it’s of FAITH. But it’s not your own faith, it’s this gift of God faith and this gift of God grace. That’s how you’re saved, not by your works. Not by works, because that is something you do. This faith and this grace, it’s not yours, it comes from God. It a gift, that’s not yours; it’s God’s, but He gives it to you. That’s what is going to save you, not your own works. Your own works will not save you, it takes this gift of grace, gratuitous, free, favour, love from God and the faith of God as a gift to you. That’s going to save you, not your good works, lest you boast.
v. 9 …lest any man should boast.
What kind of workmanship? v. 10 …created in Christ Jesus unto good works…
Now are good works absolutely essential to this thing called salvation? Absolutely, you just have to get it straight in your mind. It’s not your faith, it’s Christ’s faith, it’s God’s faith. It’s not your grace, it’s God’s grace. It’s not your works, it’s GOD’S works in you. Do you see it? It’s God’s works in you.
v. 10 …which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
This is ordained, it’s got to be. This is not like, ‘well it’s nice if you have some, but it’s okay if you don’t, because you’re saved by faith alone.’ No, this is essential. Do you see how he brings faith and works together? They are both essential, they just come from God. End of quote.
Further on, Quote:
DID JESUS CHRIST HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY ABOUT "GOOD WORKS?"
Two other important Scriptures. Did Jesus Christ have anything to say about good works or was He one of these faith and grace people like Paul supposedly was ?.
Mat 5:15 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.
v. 16 Let your light so shine before men…
Now He is talking to His Apostles - this is the Sermon on the Mount; if you read my last instalment you know that the Sermon on the Mount is for us. This is for us, His disciples.
v. 16 … that they may see your good works…
Works of the law? It didn’t say works of the law, it said “good works.”
v. 16 …and glorify your Father which is in heaven. End of Quote.
Thank you for drawing our attention to that Bible Study, Alex. It has refreshed and consolidated many of the thoughts which I had, but I may not have expressed them sufficiently clearly or detailed. There are many valuable points in it, to aid us in our “race”. We can certainly gain much from studying this entire Bible Study.
Colin
rick:
It seems to me that because we are saved by grace through faith and it's all one thing then good works would follow because it's all of God.
What are good works anyways ? Could it be just giving someone a bottle of water if they ask ? Or maybe a cheeseburger?
I wonder if good works is and attitude of the heart ? After all one could give begrudgingly, what good is that. It all goes together, you can't have one without the other.
But God made sure we have it all.
God bless.
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