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True faith includes obedience.

In John 3:36, John wrote, "He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him"

Romans 16:25. Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,
26. But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:
27. To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen.


ollie

Brother Ollie,

You have some pretty serious errors here, and your premise is NOT correct. First, I have no idea what translation of the Bible you are quoting from because John 3:36 does not say anywhere near what you have quoted.

Here's the KJV:
John 3:36  He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

The only disobedience that can possibly be referred to here is rejecting JESUS CHRIST as Lord and Saviour, and that would be the ONLY unforgivable sin. Faith in JESUS CHRIST is also referred to the Law of Faith in JESUS CHRIST. Thus, the Law of Faith in JESUS CHRIST has set us free from the curse of sin and death.

The second portion of Scripture you quoted also deals with the Law of Faith In JESUS CHRIST, certainly not Laws, Ordinances, Commandments, or Statutes that no man could ever keep. This is why JESUS CHRIST went to the CROSS for us. It is completely possible for mankind to believe in JESUS CHRIST, and hosts have escaped the fires of hell with this ONLY WAY to Salvation. In short:  1) JESUS CHRIST made the only Perfect Sacrifice that is acceptable on the CROSS to Save us;  2) JESUS CHRIST finished the work of Salvation for us on the CROSS;  3) No man or woman has ever been saved by obeying the Law, and no man or woman ever will be;  4) Obedience to the Law in the Old Testament did NOT result in Salvation for a single person, and the same is TRUE in the New Testament;  5) The purpose of the Law and Commandments is to make men and women aware of what is sin and convince them that no man is righteous and certainly without sin;  6) Man's knowledge of sin and the impossibility of man obtaining any righteousness leads to the sure knowledge that all of us are in desperate need of a SAVIOUR, and our ONLY SAVIOUR is JESUS CHRIST. NO MAN has ever been able to obey, and that's one of the primary reasons why JESUS CHRIST fulfilled the LAW completely and died on the CROSS in our place.

Brother, I must simply tell you the truth and state that you are very confused on this issue.

Love In Christ,
Tom

(1 John 1:8)  If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

(1 John 1:9)  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

(1 John 1:10)  If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
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1:  Romans 3:10 NASB  as it is written, "THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE; THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS, THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS FOR GOD; ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE, TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME USELESS; THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD, THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE."

2:  Romans 3:23  NASB  for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

3:  Romans 5:12  NASB  Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned--

4:  Romans 6:23  NASB  For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

5:  Romans 1:18  NASB  For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,

6:  Romans 3:20  NASB  because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin.

7:  Romans 3:27  NASB  Where then is boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith.

8:  Romans 5:8-9  NASB  But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him.

9:  Romans 2:4  NASB  Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?

10:  Romans 3:22  NASB  even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction;

11:  Romans 3:28  NASB  For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law.

12:  Romans 10:9  NASB  that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;

13:  Romans 4:21  NASB  and being fully assured that what God had promised, He was able also to perform.

14:  Romans 4:24 NASB  but for our sake also, to whom it will be credited, as those who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead,

15:  Romans 5:1  NASB  Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

16:  Romans 10:10  NASB  for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.

17:  Romans 10:13  NASB  for "WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED."


 

Amen Brother Tom!

The good news of the wonderful mercy that we are bestowed through Jesus Christ is indeed by the grace of God and His finished work.

I some how missed this post earlier.

Ollie,

I see that you are mixing Bible versions. You use the NASB for John 3:36 and the KJV for the Romans verses. There is nothing wrong with that but when we do such we need to insure that we take all things into consideration. The comparing of versions, the context of the entire scriptures .....

As it shows in Rom 16:26 it is talking of "obedience of faith" as in the opposite of the rejection of faith in Jesus.

(NIV)  Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him.

(AMP)  And he who believes in (has faith in, clings to, relies on) the Son has (now possesses) eternal life. But whoever disobeys (is unbelieving toward, refuses to trust in, disregards, is not subject to) the Son will never see (experience) life, but [instead] the wrath of God abides on him. [God's displeasure remains on him; His indignation hangs over him continually.]


In John 3 we see Christ teaching Nicodemus the necessity of regeneration, Joh_3:14. of faith in his death, Joh_3:16. the great love of God towards the world, Joh_3:18. and the condemnation for unbelief.

Heb 10:29  Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?

Thanks Pastor Roger! I think that I now understand how Brother Ollie got confused on this issue.

Disbelief in JESUS CHRIST is disobedience. In fact, disbelief in JESUS CHRIST is the worst kind of disobedience. Many portions of the Holy Bible refer to the obedience of FAITH in JESUS CHRIST, and this is the ONLY WAY for SALVATION. See Romans 1:5 as an example.

The first sentence of John 3:36 is a fascinating Bible study all by itself.

NASB:  "He who believes in the Son has eternal life;

KJV:  He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life:

NIV:  Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life,

NLT:  And all who believe in God's Son have eternal life.

Wuest:  The one who places his trust in the Son has life eternal.

NKJV:  He who believes in the Son has everlasting life;

ESV:  Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life;
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The point of interest is the tense of the possession of eternal life. It is present tense - right now - already has eternal life. Many other precious portions of Scripture describe many things that happen immediately - at the moment of Salvation. This is an incredibly beautiful Bible study that involves the Promises of GOD that are carried out immediately. As an example, the new believer is "Quickened" or "Translated" into the CHURCH WHICH IS THE BODY OF CHRIST, and the HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD SEALS the heart of the new believer - setting him or her apart as a possession of JESUS CHRIST forever. Salvation is not on the installment plan, as the full payment has already been made on the CROSS by JESUS CHRIST. See Ephesians 2.

There are some Promises of GOD that will not be received by believers in this short life. Example: receiving our glorified body. BUT, this is a Promise of GOD that will be fulfilled perfectly at GOD'S Appointed Time. There are only two categories of Salvation:  1) Lost - disbelief and rejection of JESUS CHRIST;  2) Saved - belief and acceptance of JESUS CHRIST.

Many people confuse what comes after Salvation with Salvation. As examples, there are many levels of fellowship, strength, maturity, and joy that are associated with what a Christian does or does not do after Salvation. The quantity and quality of these things should not be confused with Salvation.

Love In Christ,
Tom

Galatians 3:22-26 NASB  But the Scripture has shut up everyone under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, being shut up to the faith which was later to be revealed. Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.

You're most welcome brother. This portion of scripture is often misunderstood and is used by those that would place us all back under the law.

Yes scripture talks of obedience to faith in many places even if it doesn't use those precise words, not obedience to the law but obedience to faith.