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Hi,
it sounds like a NO BRAINER question, huh?   :'( :'(

Anyone who pratices sin as a matter of everyday living, whether it be homosexuality or lieing, stealing, coveting, even one who lusts after a woman by watching sexy movies, magazines or other media, reveals himself to be someone other who he claims to be.

The Apostle writes this;

1 Cor 6
9  Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
10  Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
11  And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

Note the words of verse 11, "SUCH WERE SOME OF YOU", they use to practice these things but,  not after being washed, sanctified, justified in the name of Jesus by the Spirit of God.

So, any active sinner involved in the practice of sinning regularly denys the very word of God, whom he claims to believe in , this plain frfom this scripture, we all practiced sin without regard to Gods commandments, but the willingness to practice contrary to Gods commends shows that we may not be whom, we claim to be.

As for faith in Jesus, anyone can claim to believe in Him, the proof of whether one does or does not  keep Jesus words, if one can't keep the commandments of God ..neither..will he keep the commandments of Jesus.

Petro

 Ollie: Scripture teaches that we are saved thru faith (Eph.2:8) alone. It also teaches that faith which is without works or righteousness is not a real faith (James). Scripture never teaches that our works or our personal goodness save
us. They DO teach that if those things do not accompany faith then the faith is not genuine.

Are you saying one must not only believe, but also do?

"FAITH ALONE IN CHRIST ALONE"

Brother Love :)

DITTO ;D

1 John 3:6
Whoever abides in him does not [habitually] sin.  Whoever [habitually] sins has neither seen Him nor known Him.

I am with Petro, Bro. Love, and A4C on this one, but the question was about habitual sin.  You are saved through faith and faith alone.

Sure does and is.

There are those with ears that cannot hear and eyes that do not see. Once in awhile the no brainer has to be forthwith again praying that some may see and hear at last the light that is Jesus Christ.

Hello John, I want to make sure that I'm geting your beliefs right, you believe that it is by faith and works that one is saved?  I believe differently according to scripture so I disagree with Petro.  To me, when Jesus made a promise, He said it with no strings attached so now if he did, He had just told a white lie saying, "if you believe me...you have eternal life but..."

Ps.  I love to read verses but I can only deal with one verse at a time, so it is an even exchange of ideas and not a firefight.

God bless

Agur

Dear John

       Thank you for responding, it takes care and patience to deal with each person that differs from your opinions but especially so if you have seen it all before.  There is however, something I want to bring to your attention before we continue.
       Now - I dont mean to be rude but didn't I just say One by One?  Now I know where you come from, I am a former Catholic, but due to the length of the page and the number of verses, I won't read them unless you pick one for me so I can answer them.
       The reason I wanted an even exchange is that for one, fairness.  Some Christian might just come here with little pun, but a heart for God and some expert exherts his wits on this poor fellow with so much information the believer will be intimidated.  By the way, there are those who love to defeat other by unfair methods and one of such ways includes un-interuppted barrage of verses; I trust you are the opposite.
       Another is time.  A piece like yours though helpful, it takes time and energy to read and answer all passages when only one verse can be given just to show evidence.  If Salvation is Clearly stated by Works, then why assemble and piece together a puzzle?  Isn't the Bible clear enough?
       Finally, the real way of solving problem such as this is simply going through them one by one.  For example, if I give you one, you can tell me how I mis-interpret that verse; afterwards, you can give me one in return.  By solving each problematic verse, the Bible will reveal the truth; the clarity of Salvation will shine brighter and brighter until all that is left is a decision.
        But if you want I can start, i'll just give you a verse that I believe proves my point: John 5:24

24   Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. - John 5:24

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One verse?
OK: This sounds like a game? (hope not :'(, but we will see? read Titus 3:9-11 for 'our' thinking I hope)

I answer the verse that you give with a question. It is seen
in Matt. 4:6. It is a quoted PROMISE of the Master's own Word to Himself by the 'd'evil himself. (from Psalms 91:11) And even Christ's answer is from the O.T. of perhaps Deut. 6:16?

My answer is the same as Christ's answer. NO one verse can be the COMPLETE PACKAGE. Matt. 4:4 & 2 Tim. 3:16 for starters. (both are in the N.T.) What am I saying? Two verses are C-L-E-A-R to me. Rev. 14:6 & Heb. 13:20 use the WORD of EVERLASTING GOSPEL & EVERLASTING COVENANT. It Takes the TOTAL package to understand BOTH. Such as the Tree in the Midst of the garden for TESTING a [PERFECTLY] created Adam & Eve. Why???

[Your] below words are seen as argumentive? Who ever said that anyone was, is, or ever was trying to EARN salvation??

The Born Again Christian has now at [THIS TIME] that recreated [time,] a NEW HEART TRANSPLANT! (See 2 Cor. 3:3) Does Christ when stating this TRUTH say, "[IF] ye LOVE ME keep my COMMANDMENTS as a way to earn salvation??? Come on now? :'( :'(

One DEVELOPS A CHARACTER from Rom. 8:1 of NO CONDEMNATION to MORAL MATURITY! The POWER IS SUPPLIED by Christ as seen in Phil. 4:13 & HIS GRACE in 2 Cor. 12:9.  :) :) Now for your one verse, do you suppose that it can be taken without these others?? Sounds like we have a 'lukewarm' Love if that is the case?

---John
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       Notice, it doesn't say believe and earn, nor does it say baptize but believe and when they do, they has or Have everlasting life (has or have, present tense), and shall NOT come into condemnation but HAS passed from death Unto Life...

Ps.  If you do not want to follow this way, then I will think that you are not interested in listening, but only to defeat so that you can walk away and add another to your tally.  I have a number of bad experiences so I do know what i'm talking about - now it's your turn.

15   But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
1 Peter 3:15



Agur (and not agrue)

Dear John
 
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Now that is a wonderful verse, and is useful to remind us of the necessity of study, but where does it say here in this passage that we need to study to be apporoved to heaven?

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We have perhaps a different 180 degree 'belief' on one approved, staying approved!? :) There is NO CONDENMATION to those who are IN CHRIST JESUS. Now what? We are ALL SAVED, lets just take a long sleep.


       Precisely that, and thats exactly what John 5:24 says, but the idea that we sleep long seems always a mis-conception for those not familiar with Eternal Security. but for the record, I say no.  I believe God Works in us to will and to work for his own good pleasure, and what I quoted is a bible verse (Phil 2:13).


Well, Matt. 4:4 followed verse one of Christ as man, being tempted. (tested is a better understanding. Unless one believes God delibertly & presumptously walked into temptation)


       Now how is this relating to salvation?


So what was the GodHeads purpose of testing anyone? Christ was PERFECT! So was Luciffer created perfect. And Adam & Eve were both created Very Good as is stated! (Perfect) So why in the world was the tree allowed to be put right there in the Midst of the Garden Of Eden???


       What is this about perfect at first and tests?  Are they clear pictures to you that they are what salvation is all about?  Remember that when God made things perfect, that does not mean, he created them Saved!  Notice that Adam and Eve did not know that they were naked -hence tey are innocent, they were perfect.  The meaning of perfect in context of creation and the fall of adam is this - uncorruption of sin.  
       Notice, before Adam sinned, all is perfect, after sin, there was weeds, thorns and thistles (Gen 3:19).  Animals that were once all vegitarians now grew fangs and claws.  Now everything was perfect, no storm, earthquakes, and other harsh conditions but now that Adam sinned, all that were once good, now are corrupted.  Now what is the difference between Adam and Satan?  Satan is the LightBearer.
       Adam as an innocent creature have yet to know good and evil, thats why he'd care less whether he is naked.  Satan However was in the presence of God, and he more than Adam knew about God.  Since he was a Servent by creation, He absolutly know who God is.  Therefore, as angels, the line is already drawn.  Knowing God, there was absolutly no reason to defy for God is the essence of Good.  Unfortunately, He has already made his decision:

14   Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire.
15   Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.
Ezekiel 28:14-15

12   How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!
13   For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:
14   I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.
15   Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit. - Isaiah 14:12-15

       What is the difference between Satan and Man?  Satan Knew God fully, more than Man limited in mind so when He ate the fruit of the knowledge of good and evil, all men died - sin entered into the World.


       Now lets say that the going ons in genesis are pictures of Salvation, then you must account for the fact that when Adam sinned, he didn't make that sin up.  What atoned for his Sins?  God; the Lord killed an animal, and innocent creature, and covered his nakedmess and hers.  Adam didn't kill that animal, God did and HE covered the shame of man.  Now that is the Picture, of the coming sacrifice to end all sacrifices for sin.


This no doubt is where we disagree? Salvation & ALL Promises of God are conditional unless stated! (such as the rainbow in the sky) Heb. 13:20's EVERLASTING COVENANT is just that. CONDITIONS!  Perfect Love for the Master is what is needed to be tested to see if it was safe for eternity.
That is, the 'Perfect' Born Again ones, not the Gentils. John 3:3.

 (Nah. 1:9) Before sin, man had a perfect inmature Love. Yet it was not CREATED FULLY MATURE. Love MUST BE MATURED. Free will of choice demanded that His creation develope a CHARACTER that could not be given or created in its maturity without being as a robot. The provision is there in Christ (Phil. 4:13 & 2 Cor. 12:9) but the FREE CHOICE is our to make.


       The free agency to choose is a gift of God indeed, but to say that such agency applies to Salvation is a mere  reading in to scriptures.  Remember that Matthew 4:4 has nothing to do with Salvation.  If so, point to me where you read salvation there IN verse 4

Ps.  the verses you gave, I trust that you are not using them as proof text to a loss of salvation.

Why is it that some will pick and choose the believe and faith only verses and completely ignore the obedience of righteous living verses? Which when all studied as a whole and not singularly tells us that faith is obedience and obedience is faith. They go hand in hand one cannot be faithful without righteous obedience and one cannot be obedient without righteous faith.

Dear Heidi, John, and Ollie ...

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       Now you are saying that we need to not single out, not pick and choose what we want to believe.  Amen, I agree, but John, you have yet to tell me how that verse (Matthew 4:4) is relevant to Salvation.  Now, it is a good analogy but what does 4:4, has to do with Salvation?

Agur

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Man does not LIVE BY BREAD ALONE, "[BUT BY EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDETH OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD]" That is conclusive! All Scripture! See 2 Tim. 3:16. The Gospel IS EVERLASTING & THE COVENANT IS EVERLASTING! How does one KNOW THIS if one DOES NOT LIVE BY EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDETH OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD? Why is the Bible CALLED THE WORD OF GOD?? See John 1:1-14.

Jesus says that not one of His believers can be snatched out of His hand. He also says that the Holy Spirit will never go away.
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John here:
The Holy Spirit will never go away you say? Catch this Truth! Gen 6:2 "MY SPIRIT SHALL NOT ALWAYS [STRIVE] WITH MAN". And about being snatched from Christ?? That IS THE TRUTH! But NEVER IS IT TRUTH THAT YOU CANNOT CHANGE [YOU] LEADER! 1 John 2:4! Hosea 4:6 Rev. 18:4 & Gen. 4:7 & on & on & on! :)  If you care? I will give you another host of Bibical 'inspired' TRUTH!
*******

 You can believe His words or someone else's. He also says that as long as we remain in His love, we will be FRUITFUL. If we don't remain in His love, we cannot produce good fruit. Some people get to heaven kicking and dragging their feet. Others produce good fruit. That's what he means when he says some seeds will fall on rocky soil and some on good soil.

Satan is a separate entity just like the Holy Spirit. Satan doesn't have the holy Spirit or He wouldn't be Satan. Eve fell from Grace just like all of us do. But those whose names are written in the Book of life will be forgiven. Once we receive forgiveness, that can never be taken back.

Ephesians 2:5
5Even when we were dead in
sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye
are saved;)

Ephesians 2:8,9
8For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the
gift of God:
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J/t/B here:
You seem to miss the point all together if you are saying that TRUE SAVING 'FAITH'  IS ALONE!!? Are you BORN AGAIN???

There is just NO SUCH thing as SAVING FAITH BEING ALONE!! LOVE IS THE [MOTIVE], but it still is not to be SILENT IN NO/OBEDIENCE! See Rev. 3:16-17's Lukewarn sickening stuff! Spewed OUT the Master's Word says!
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9Not of works, lest any man
should boast.

Of course you need more than just faith, but through grace
you are saved. Yes, works do come, once you accept the
Lord through grace by faith. And you also come to the Lord
in full repentance. I'm just stating what the Word says.

May the Lord Jesus Christ bless you richly.