RWNJ
Gold Member
- Oct 22, 2015
- 4,287
- 641
- 275
- Banned
- #41
Righteousness does not come from works. In fact, no one is righteous. The only righteousness we have is through the blood of Christ.You have a serious problem with reading comprehension. The Bible specifically tells us that Salvation is a GIFT. Do you know what gift is? Look it up, if you don't. You can't earn it. Salvation happens the instant you repent and ask Jesus to be Lord of your life. Nothing else is required. Otherwise, how did the thief on the Cross make it to Heaven? He didn't do any good works.Maybe you wouldn't have to repeat yourself if you would acknowledge what I have said about works not saving you but only being a requirement before Jesus will save you. Good works are not the result of being saved but are the efforts of those who want Jesus to save them with his grace. They are the acts upon which God will judge us all to determine if we are to be saved or not. This is why it is important that we repent and do good works in order to have a hope in Christ to receive his mercy.
Matthew 4:17
17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Repentance, or turning from evil to good works, is required before you can obtain the kingdom of heaven.
Acts 26:20
20 But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judæa, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.
The works of repentance are necessary.
Acts 8:22
22 Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.
Notice how repentance is required before forgiveness. Repentance is nothing more than changing your ways of doing evil works to doing good works.
As stated in Ephesians 2:8 "We are saved by grace through faith". Faith must exist before we can receive the grace. And as James 2:17 states, "Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone". We must have faith unto good works before we can receive a forgiveness of sin.
Acts 26:18
18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.
We must be turned from darkness to light, in other words from doing evil to good, before receiving forgiveness of sin and being sanctified by faith which is coupled with good works.
Matthew 7:21
21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
The above verse clearly shows us that we must first do the good works which is the will of God in order to receive the mercy that will allow us entrance into the kingdom of heaven.
Works are not what saves us but they are a requirement! Without the atonement of Christ, no amount of works will save us. The works simply do not do the saving. But as a requirement of the Lord they must be met before the saving grace of the Lord will be given unto us.
The scriptures bear out the truth of the necessity to do good works. Good works are essential for us to obtain the grace of Jesus Christ to enter into his kingdom. We will all be judged according to our works.
" This is the work that God requires : Believe in the one he has sent."
If the guy lived longer that belief in Jesus would have compelled him to adjust his entire mental framework and conform to a new way of life...
"No one is righteous who does not do what is right"