Christianity
Posts  1 - 12  of  12
rbfan
Is it possible to be a good Christian without action that demonstrates your faith.
Save
Cancel
Reply
replied to:  rbfan
silverglass
Replied to:  Is it possible to be a good Christian without action that...
Not unless your action is belief in the Son. What is it that makes one acceptable to god? Is it what you do in deed? Or is it what the Son did for you in deed. Not to mince words but you have opened up more questions that can be answered in one post. The scripture states that all have sinned and fallen short of what Christ did. He kept the law perfectly and because he did he was sinless. Can anyone else do this? If not then what we do in action has nothing to do with our sanctification. Rather, our sanctification is tied up with our reconciliation. Would you not agree?
Save
Cancel
Reply
replied to:  silverglass
rbfan
Replied to:  Not unless your action is belief in the Son. What...
My belief at this point in my life is that action ignited by the spirit of God is all good. When I say action I mean doing for others the poor, the sick etc. following the Beatitudes. This done with humility and in gratitude for what God has bestowed on us is a crucial aspect of the spiritual life in my opinion. I wanted to get some input beacause I did not do much early on. Thanks for your reply.
Save
Cancel
Reply
replied to:  rbfan
silverglass
Replied to:  My belief at this point in my life is that action...
As long as you understand that your works are not of any vaule toward sanctification. As I said in my last post , your sanctification is tied up with your reconciliation.

We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: BE RECONCILED TO GOD. 21God made him who had no sin to be sin[a] for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:20-21 (New International Version)

So your good works is your love for God and your neighbor. This is how love works.
For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but FAITH WHICH WORKS BY LOVE. Galatians 5:6 (King James Version)

NOT OF WORKS >By Grace Through Faith
(A) And you were(B) dead in the trespasses and sins 2(C) in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following(D) the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in(E) the sons of disobedience— 3among whom we all once lived in(F) the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body[a] and the mind, and(G) were by nature(H) children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. 4But[b] God, being(I) rich in mercy,(J) because of the great love with which he loved us, 5even(K) when we were dead in our trespasses,(L) made us alive together with Christ—(M) by grace you have been saved— 6and raised us up with him and(N) seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable(O) riches of his grace in(P) kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8For(Q) by grace you have been saved(R) through faith. And this is(S) not your own doing;(T) it is the gift of God, 9(U) not a result of works,(V) so that no one may boast. 10For(W) we are his workmanship,(X) created in Christ Jesus(Y) for good works,(Z) which God prepared beforehand,(AA) that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:1-10 (English Standard Version)
Save
Cancel
Reply
replied to:  silverglass
rbfan
Replied to:  As long as you understand that your works are not of...
Exactly Good works for the love of God. I feel that is why Christ gave us the Beatitudes.
Save
Cancel
Reply
replied to:  rbfan
silverglass
Replied to:  Exactly Good works for the love of God. I feel that...

Jesus presents the Beatitudes in a positive sense, virtues in life which will ultimately lead to reward. Love becomes the motivation for the Christian. All of the Beatitudes have an eschatological meaning, that is, they promise us salvation - not in this world, but in the next. The Beatitudes initiate one of the main themes of Matthew's Gospel, that the Kingdom so long awaited in the Old Testament is not of this world, but of the next, the Kingdom of Heaven.
While the Beatitudes of Jesus provide a way of life that promises salvation, they also provide peace in the midst of our trials and tribulations on this earth.

You say good works for the love of God.
Galations 5:6 says it is our love that works. Do you see what I am getting at ? It may be that tradition is clouding the issue. I am coming from a protestant tradition.
Save
Cancel
Reply
replied to:  rbfan
exhan443
Replied to:  Is it possible to be a good Christian without action that...
The action that demonstrates your faith is praying, singing to god and that kind of actions. Those actions are some of the easiest things to do to show faith. You can also show your faith by attending church every Sunday and give offering. You could go to far countries and teach people about God. If you do't do anythig, now thats kind of serious. I pray every night and morning, attend church and sing, give offering offten.
Save
Cancel
Reply
replied to:  silverglass
rbfan
Replied to:  Jesus presents the Beatitudes in a positive sense, virtues in...
A lot of good stuff here. Another more pragmatic aspect is all the good done for those we actually help and perhaps their turning to God. For me the driving force is the love and gratitude to God for stooping down to me, before that I was a mutt,and did nothing. And so when I am really not feeling like doing meals on wheels or some of the other projects we are invoved with that's what gets me going.
After a time it becomes very personel and you know this is a good thing. " We fight the dragon at our own risk. We keep the beggar warm at our own cost." Evelyn Underhill I am from the Catholic tradition.
Save
Cancel
Reply
replied to:  rbfan
silverglass
Replied to:  A lot of good stuff here. Another more pragmatic aspect is...


I see you are a true believer. Since tradition always is secondary to my theology I treat it as suspect to the message of the NT as it was taught by Jesus himself. So ultimately I am at odds with the idea that works are necessarily involved in our salvation. I believe that salvation is neither determined or solely ours. There is a tension throughout the old and new testaments that is obviously not easily understood. So there are texts that show both determinism and free will at work in the process. I have spent some time and effort in evaluating this tension. It appears to me that God selects and then elects people out of the world and out of their sins. What is interesting is how our free wills are involved in turning to God but there is so much more freedom once one is regenerated and empowered to walk by faith. Thanks for your replies. I totally agree with your thoughts on how we work as laborers in his field.
Mike Vastano
Save
Cancel
Reply
replied to:  silverglass
rbfan
Replied to:  I see you are a true believer. Since...
Excellent Mike about your free will turning to God and the freedom which comes from that conversion. Your observations on God elects & selects is a subject Theologians would spend much time on, very deep stuff. Thanks for your replies Mike. God Bless. Richard Crane
Save
Cancel
Reply
replied to:  rbfan
lehmann520
Replied to:  Is it possible to be a good Christian without action that...
How would yo be Christian without acts that demonstrate your faith? Once you have Christ, how can you do else?
Save
Cancel
Reply
replied to:  lehmann520
Explorer72
Replied to:  How would yo be Christian without acts that demonstrate your faith?...
YOU could definitely use a refresher course.
Save
Cancel
Reply
 
x
OK