Judged according to our works

[Robert]

Did you also know that we will be judged according to our works?

John 5:29 "...They that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation."

This is just one verse among many.  I'm sure many SDA know these statements well.

Did you also know that there are two type of works. 

a] works of the law

b] works of faith

Knowing the difference has everything to do with our eternal destiny. 

[LifeHiscost]

Spending any length of time trying to receive continual assurance of my eternal security by accepting others' words to give me peace is a lesson in futility, be they well meaning brothers or sisters or well versed pastors or evangelists. Our best chance at settled peace is a result of what one brother in Christ described to me this week end,  prayer, praise and practice .

3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.....Isaiah 26

God is Love!~Jesus saves!  

[Robert]

13 minutes ago, LifeHiscost said:

Spending any length of time trying to receive continual assurance of my eternal security by accepting others' words to give me peace is a lesson in futility....

God is Love!~Jesus saves!  

I understand, because ultimately you have to study the Bible for yourself.  I won't be at the pearly gates with my clip board making sure your theology matches mine.   Another thing, I do not believe in eternal security.  I believe that we are saved as long as we keep our faith in Christ.  

That being said, perhaps you might read what I am about to write?

 

[Robert]

49 minutes ago, Robert said:

Did you also know that we will be judged according to our works?

John 5:29 "...They that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation."

This is just one verse among many.  I'm sure many SDA know these statements well.

Did you also know that there are two type of works. 

a] works of the law

b] works of faith

Knowing the difference has everything to do with our eternal destiny. 

There are two well known verses that seem to contradict each other. One is in Romans 3:28 and the other in James 2:24

Here they are, respectively:

"For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from the works of the Law." 

"You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone."

Before I jump into the context of both quotes, let me first say that Paul is writing about "works of the law" while James is writing about works of faith.  

Notice that James does use the phrase "works of the law" in James 2:24.  If he did it would read as follows:

"You see that a man is justified by [the works of the law] and not by faith alone."

More in a bit....

[LifeHiscost]

…9For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him. 11Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing....1 Thessalonian Works for me.

[Robert]

42 minutes ago, Robert said:

"You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone." James 2:24.  

First, let's go to the context of James chapter 2:

21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar? 

22 You see that faith was working with his works (i.e., in his offering up Isaac), and as a result of the works, his faith was perfected; 23 and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness,” and he was called the friend of God. 24 You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone.

Notice verse 22: What was perfected?  His works or his faith?  Right, his faith.

What is the issue here?

I'm sure you know the story.  Abram and Sarai were childless, but God had promised a son to them. Abram was 75 years old when God made this promise.

Abram and Sarai's faith started to wain and after about 11 years they decided that God needed some help in producing the child of promise (Isaac). Well you know what happened next.  Anyway, Abraham was 86 years old when he had Ishmael through Hagar.  But this was not the child of promise!

Because of Abram and Sarai's unfaithfulness God waited until it was impossible for either of them to produce a child. Abraham is now 100 and Sarai 90. But Abram's faith has had time to grow over that 14 years (86 to 100).

Here, at 100 years of age, is how the Bible presented Abraham's faith:

19 And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb. 20 He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief [like he did at 86], but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, 21 and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. 22 And therefore “it was accounted to him for righteousness.” (Romans 4:19-22)

But, there's a test...a test of faith coming.  Is Abraham's faith now perfected?  If so, there should be some work of faith involved.  

Back in a bit.

[Robert]

Heb 11:17 It was by faith that Abraham offered Isaac as a sacrifice when God was testing him (his faith). Abraham, who had received God’s promise (the child of promise, Issac), was ready to sacrifice his only son, Isaac, 18 even though God had told him, “Isaac is the son through whom your descendants will be counted.”

Why was Abraham willing to sacrifice Issac's life?

verse 9 Abraham reasoned that if Isaac died, God was able to bring him back to life again.

In other words Abraham's faith was now perfected.  How?  He trusted God so much that he reasoned:  God promised me that my descendants, through Issac, couldn't even be numbered! Therefore if I sacrifice Issac, God will have to raise him from the dead in order for Him to keep his promise!

The fact that Abraham was willing to sacrifice Issac was a work of faith.

[LifeHiscost]

In the story you're referring to, at the time God provided the evidence of Jesus' sacrifice on the cross, indicating clearly the Father would be clearly responsible for the fulfilling of His Law, whether performed by the suppliant to His grace or provided without our asking for the only means we can trust in for fulfillment of reward. One doesn't get reward for something they don't have something with which to do.

…7Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, "My father!" And he said, "Here I am, my son." And he said, "Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?" 8Abraham said, "God will provide for Himself the lamb for the burnt offering, my son....Genesis 22

Do you think Abraham would have received the promised ram had Abraham not gone up on the mount? The promise of the Sacrifice was contingent on Abraham revealing his faith by what instructions he followed and whether He followed them according to what His Father asked.

God is Love!~Jesus saves! 

 

 

[Robert]

8 minutes ago, LifeHiscost said:

Do you think Abraham would have received the promised ram had Abraham not gone up on the mount? The promise of the Sacrifice was contingent on Abraham revealing his faith by what instructions he followed and whether He followed them according to what His Father asked.

That's not the context of James chapter 2.  So I'll have to disagree with your conclusion.

[LifeHiscost]

4By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained the testimony that he was righteous, God testifying about his gifts, and through faith, though he is dead, he still speaks. 5By faith Enoch was taken up so that he would not see death; AND HE WAS NOT FOUND BECAUSE GOD TOOK HIM UP; for he obtained the witness that before his being taken up he was pleasing to God.…Hebrew 11

Nice spending time with you. Keep looking up!

God is Love!~Jesus saves!         

 

[Robert]

8 hours ago, LifeHiscost said:

4By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained the testimony that he was righteous, God testifying about his gifts, and through faith, though he is dead, he still speaks. 5By faith Enoch was taken up so that he would not see death; AND HE WAS NOT FOUND BECAUSE GOD TOOK HIM UP; for he obtained the witness that before his being taken up he was pleasing to God.…Hebrew 11

Nice spending time with you. Keep looking up!

God is Love!~Jesus saves!         

 

Yes, that Abel, not Abraham.  

[LifeHiscost]

7 hours ago, Robert said:

Yes, that Abel, not Abraham.  

I view the manner in which Jesus treats one person as opposed to another, determined by the principles involved. The only difference being the individual's behavior leading up to the reward or , God forbid, the punishment or chastisement deserved. For the person who puts his trust in following Jesus to the best of his understanding, his eternal rewards will be far greater than he might imagine. The Words of Christ are easy enough for the most simple minded to understand when their dependence is anchored in the Rock as revealed by the Holy Spirit. There are no contradictions in the Revelations of Christ as found in His written and spoken Word. Only misunderstandings by the recipients.

10 If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love....John 15

 

8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever...Hebrews 13

 

God is Love!~Jesus saves!  

 

 

[Robert]

Okay, you are trying to divert this thread to a works thread.  Take over, I'm done.