"Real Christian’s believe that it is faith, along with genuine “repentance,” which is a change of mind about or regret or remorse for one’s sins that results in a change in behavior that saves them. That is the only way to obtain salvation and for sinful man to come into fellowship with God. The entire premise of Christianity is that it's by grace through faith alone! It is grace through faith, not rituals or works or outside actions or anything that anyone can do, such as being a good person i.e., “Religion.” This is NOT to say that one’s good works mean nothing. James 2:14-26 clearly teaches us that faith without works is dead!"
Do you not see the contradiction here? Compare line #2 with line #5. "change of behavior" and "being a good person". One saves, the other doesn't. Hmmmm....
Thanks for commenting! Perhaps I stated it inarticulately but, in a nutshell it is this:
No one merits salvation either as a result of who they are or what they do. Works do not save! However, if someone is saved, there will be fruit that is likely manifested through their works.
My chief complaint is that many, not all churches and even whole denominations, teach a cheap grace such as, a tearful trip down the sawdust trail at a tent revival and the reciting of a sinner's prayer gets someone a "Get Out of Hell Free" card redeemable at the pearly gates. Then you can live as you please without fear. The problem is that Christ teaches both a narrow gate and way where few find it. Paul said people need to work out their salvation with fear and trembling. I believe that means we need to live our lives differently, in gratitude, as a result of receiving God's gift. I hope that helps clarify my position.
Thank you again and if you have further comments or concerns, I welcome them.
" if someone is saved, there will be fruit that is likely manifested through their works."
How likely?
"Real Christian’s believe that it is faith, along with genuine “repentance,” which is a change of mind about or regret or remorse for one’s sins that results in a change in behavior that saves them. "
What exactly is "GENUINE "repentance"? Don't you say in this line that a "change in behavior saves them"?
It's is NOT the "change in behavior" (fruit) that saves them. That is just the evidence that the conversion is real. Contrast that with an act of repentance that produces no fruit whatsoever that is so typical today.
So then, what DOES save? Faith. But what is faith? An alteration in one's internal intelectual-psycho-emotional state? (but definitely not tears and sawdust, right?).
You also seem to say that "genuine repentance" is "likely" an additional requirement. It seems also that the quality of my faith and repentance needs to meet a certain minimum standard (needs to be "genuine"). How big / long lasting does my "change in behavior" need to be to provide enough "evidence" that my faith is adequate?. And again, how "likely" is it that I should have a change in behavior?
We can see when someone is bearing what appears to be the fruit of the spirit but, only God really knows what is genuine. There are a lot of actors out there, wolves in sheep's clothing. We need to be as wise as serpents but as gentle as doves.
Are you going to answer my questions? I'm genuinely trying to understand what you are saying. Please answer them, or we are simply making assumptions about what each other "are saying". I will start: no I am not saying that repentance "means nothing". Actually, I havn't "said" anything, I've just asked questions!
Very good evangelism.
From you article:
"Real Christian’s believe that it is faith, along with genuine “repentance,” which is a change of mind about or regret or remorse for one’s sins that results in a change in behavior that saves them. That is the only way to obtain salvation and for sinful man to come into fellowship with God. The entire premise of Christianity is that it's by grace through faith alone! It is grace through faith, not rituals or works or outside actions or anything that anyone can do, such as being a good person i.e., “Religion.” This is NOT to say that one’s good works mean nothing. James 2:14-26 clearly teaches us that faith without works is dead!"
Do you not see the contradiction here? Compare line #2 with line #5. "change of behavior" and "being a good person". One saves, the other doesn't. Hmmmm....
Thanks for commenting! Perhaps I stated it inarticulately but, in a nutshell it is this:
No one merits salvation either as a result of who they are or what they do. Works do not save! However, if someone is saved, there will be fruit that is likely manifested through their works.
My chief complaint is that many, not all churches and even whole denominations, teach a cheap grace such as, a tearful trip down the sawdust trail at a tent revival and the reciting of a sinner's prayer gets someone a "Get Out of Hell Free" card redeemable at the pearly gates. Then you can live as you please without fear. The problem is that Christ teaches both a narrow gate and way where few find it. Paul said people need to work out their salvation with fear and trembling. I believe that means we need to live our lives differently, in gratitude, as a result of receiving God's gift. I hope that helps clarify my position.
Thank you again and if you have further comments or concerns, I welcome them.
" if someone is saved, there will be fruit that is likely manifested through their works."
How likely?
"Real Christian’s believe that it is faith, along with genuine “repentance,” which is a change of mind about or regret or remorse for one’s sins that results in a change in behavior that saves them. "
What exactly is "GENUINE "repentance"? Don't you say in this line that a "change in behavior saves them"?
What exactly is "faith"?
It's is NOT the "change in behavior" (fruit) that saves them. That is just the evidence that the conversion is real. Contrast that with an act of repentance that produces no fruit whatsoever that is so typical today.
So then, what DOES save? Faith. But what is faith? An alteration in one's internal intelectual-psycho-emotional state? (but definitely not tears and sawdust, right?).
You also seem to say that "genuine repentance" is "likely" an additional requirement. It seems also that the quality of my faith and repentance needs to meet a certain minimum standard (needs to be "genuine"). How big / long lasting does my "change in behavior" need to be to provide enough "evidence" that my faith is adequate?. And again, how "likely" is it that I should have a change in behavior?
We can see when someone is bearing what appears to be the fruit of the spirit but, only God really knows what is genuine. There are a lot of actors out there, wolves in sheep's clothing. We need to be as wise as serpents but as gentle as doves.
So, are you saying that repentance means nothing?https://openthebible.org/article/how-when-god-forgives/
and:https://www.gotquestions.org/repentance.html
Are you going to answer my questions? I'm genuinely trying to understand what you are saying. Please answer them, or we are simply making assumptions about what each other "are saying". I will start: no I am not saying that repentance "means nothing". Actually, I havn't "said" anything, I've just asked questions!