Bible Questions?

I've never advocated faith without action. I think that it's extremely important, but it's not what validates our salvation. Our salvation is completely undeserved.

I'm not sure why all those things happened, probably from because of my limited intellect. I completely agree that it's our purpose to display the faith we have been given, but the source is not our actions it is a gift from God. As Romans 12:3 says "in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you." If he gives it, he must also make it grow.

I'm not saying we shouldn't endure to the end or do all the things to strengthen it. And I believe that faith and action work together like a hand and glove. All I'm saying is that the actions we take are because of this love not the other way around and it's an underserving gift from God.

My whole point is when we come before Christ will we say "I endured to the end" or will we come before like the prodical son who says "I'm a sinner and not worthy"

 

And I don't believe I've said you can earn your salvation either.

Yes but we have to do the planting and watering.

It's an undeserved gift that true. To me it's a little like someone saving your life, you didn't "deserve" it, you should be dead but you're not, so how should you live the rest of your life? You can never pay back what was done for you or earn that salvation. To me at that point you should live life differently to show that you appreciate what has been done for you. It's not that the act of being saved some how makes you act differently, it's because you were saved you have decided to live your life differently.

Hopefully both.

To me God gave us free will so we can decide how to act and live our lives, if he takes that away from us why did he give us free will in the first place.

 

You have lost the point of not only what I said but the meaning of what you had originally said as well, has anyone ever told you that your posts are like one long fortune cookie message?

 

If someone saves my life shouldn't I simply say "thankyou" instead of saying "look what I did and thanks". It doesn't make any sense.

 

Maybe it's more like, "Thanks for saving my life. Here, I made you this painting to show you my appreciation. I know it isn't anywhere near as nice as what you have done for me, but it's the only way I can show you my gratitude."

Why not show that gratitude?

 

I would be happy if you could properly reorient or direct me in that case.
There has been an enormous variety of characterizations of my posts. But you are right. It is the way life presents itself to me. I see a situation and automatically it is accompanied by a statement of principle. Some people make the statement I dream in color, well I tend to think in statements of principle.

 

It's not a problem. It just can be a little confusing at times is all.

 

I would definitely show that gratitude. That's what the Christian life is all about. Showing graditude to others because of what Christ did for us.

However, OWB is saying that his gratitude it what helped save him.

 

No idea of "how do I show my appreciation" can prepare you for the awe inspiring, overwhelming sense of gratitude that floods your being at the sight of the kingdom of heaven. This sense comes from the recognition of the truth of the length and depth and breadth of the fine free life which is our true inheritance in creation.
Curious as I come away the sense that had I never been incorporated, I would have not missed one thing.

 

Your patience is appreciated, I mean no one any harm and I am always open to requests to expand.

 

I see.

I thought that what he was saying was more in lines of being giving a car and God asking you to drive it as much as you can while refueling (anointing oil ) when needed but still moving. Otherwise, that's like saying God gave us a car and we never ride in it; it would make the car useless and it would squander the talents that were given to us; We can either bury our talents or invest in it somehow.

When Jesus asks us to follow his way, what was his way? If he asked us to exert ourselves vigorously, then that is what Jesus is asking of us. He is our master because he bought us. And he returns would he ask, "Thanks for having faith in me. You wished people well and sent them on their way. Thanks for being cheerful and merry and full of life!" or would he say "Thanks for having faith in me. You were cheerful and merry and full of life! So what did you do in all the time that you waited for my return? Nothing? I gave you those talents to invest... this is highly disappointing. I didn't ask you spit shine my talents and keep guard of them, I specifically asked you to invest in them and not merely hope that someone comes to you and invests for you."

I think there is a fine line of semantics going on here. I think you and OWB are saying the same thing just differently and the only issue here is the wording involved. We are saved by God's grace alone, but it seems to me that Jesus is asking us to invest what has been giving to us, otherwise mere faith alone would be the equivalent to a man burying his talents hoping that they grow on their own. Or a farmer being given seeds freely from his master and never planting and watering it. Then saying, "I really appreciated these free seeds. I think I'll keep them in my pocket."

 

Thanks, I didn't have the heart to tell him.

 

I beg your pardon, where did I ever say that?

 

Thanks, nicely said. The parable of the Talents had slipped my mind but it certainly fits the discussion.

 

There are many unexamined terms and assumptions that are part of our discourses and it is these things that wound clarity.
Jesus used parable to describe functional arrangements. He used the example of familial arrangement to describe the nature of our functional relationship to our creator.
Jesus displayed mastery, he is not the master. He went to some lengths to emphasize that those who believe in him believe not in him but the father who sent him. In the familial arrangement that Jesus describes, he would be older brother to ourselves the sons of God.

 

Don't be shy friend.

 

Thanks.

I am a huge sluggard. When I looked into whether or not I need to act, I was like "Damnit, I'm too lazy to be a servant for Christ. I was afraid of this..." Now I'm looking to the ant

 

Busted, I've always felt that way my self. But that parable about the talents has always helped, with the different levels of profits gained from the talents. The master was happy with any level of increase, the only thing he was unhappy with was the one who didn't even try.

 

What you're describing here is Christianity as a movement. Christ saved our life and in gratitude we try to live like him and do for others the way he did things for us. Awesome. If this is what you believe we are in complete agreement. Of course, the big assumption here is that Christ already saved us.

 

We are given the keys to the kingdom in which a place is already prepared. We enter through the door. Only the time we take to do so, is optional.