Forums118
Topics9,199
Posts195,663
Members1,324
|
Most Online5,850 Feb 29th, 2020
|
|
S |
M |
T |
W |
T |
F |
S |
|
|
|
|
|
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
5
|
6
|
7
|
8
|
9
|
10
|
11
|
12
|
13
|
14
|
15
|
16
|
17
|
18
|
19
|
20
|
21
|
22
|
23
|
24
|
25
|
26
|
27
|
28
|
29
|
30
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Here is a link to show exactly where the Space Station is over earth right now: Click Here
|
|
8 registered members (Kevin H, dedication, Daryl, daylily, ProdigalOne, 3 invisible),
3,016
guests, and 7
spiders. |
Key:
Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod
|
|
|
Re: What is the truth about faith and works?
[Re: Johann]
#83184
12/30/06 05:06 AM
12/30/06 05:06 AM
|
Active Member 2012
14500+ Member
|
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 14,795
Lawrence, Kansas
|
|
Those who wait for the Bridegroom's coming are to say to the people, "Behold your God." The last rays of merciful light, the last message of mercy to be given to the world, is a revelation of His character of love.
|
|
|
Re: What is the truth about faith and works?
[Re: Johann]
#83202
12/30/06 03:55 PM
12/30/06 03:55 PM
|
OP
SDA Charter Member Active Member 2019
20000+ Member
|
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 22,256
Southwest USA
|
|
Pastor Johann: All of the points are excellent and of great value. My questioning is merely to stir up our pure (some may spell it "poor") minds to consider the options.
Will such a list assure that we are on the right track?
MM: It is the truth that sets us free – not lists. If we read and heed the truth we are free to be like Jesus – kind, loving, patient, compassionate, obedient, manifesting the fruits of the Spirit more and more unto the glorious day of Jesus Christ our Lord, thereby vindicating the kingdom and character of God our Father.
2. Men must go forth reproving, rebuking every manner of evil. . . let the message be heard through human agents rebuking carelessness, backsliding, and sin, that the people may be brought to repentance and confession of sin.
MM: How well does reproving and rebuking sinning go over in the church nowadays?
3. Never seek to cover sin; for in the message of rebuke, Christ is to be proclaimed as the first and the last, He who is all in all to the soul.
MM: Amen! Reprovers and rebukers should never divorce Jesus from their messages.
4. His power awaits the demand of those who would overcome.
MM: Amen! The power of God Almighty is at our disposal so that we can live in harmony with His will and way.
5. The [human] reprover is to animate his hearers so that they shall strive for the mastery.
MM: We must learn to master ourselves, to subdue and subject our unholy traits and tendencies to a sanctified will and mind, to recognize and resist the sinful thought and feelings that bombard us from within and from without ceaselessly.
6. He is to encourage them to struggle for deliverance from every sinful practice, to be free from every corrupt habit, even if his denial of self is like taking the right eye, or separating the right arm from the body.
MM: Reprovers and rebukers must not only help sinners understand their sinful practices and corrupt habits, but they must also encourage them to, by the grace of God, keep them under the subjection of a sanctified will and mind, to not allow them to resurface, to be manifested in their words or behaviour.
7. No concession or compromise is to be made to evil habits or sinful practices.
MM: Amen!
8. He is not to be ignorant as to what are right practices in eating and drinking, and in all the habits of life. The Lord designs that His human agents shall act as rational, accountable beings in every respect.
MM: Ignorance is not bliss – the truth is, that is, living the truth in our daily life is bliss and peace.
9. We cannot afford to neglect one ray of light God has given.
MM: Amen!
10. To be sluggish in our practice of those things which require diligence is to commit sin.
MM: God forbid, that is, God forbids us to commit sin. All the power in heaven and earth is ours for the asking, ours for the taking, ours for the making – the making of righteousness and true holiness. To God be the glory.
|
|
|
Re: What is the truth about faith and works?
[Re: Mountain Man]
#107294
01/08/09 06:06 AM
01/08/09 06:06 AM
|
Charter Member Active Member 2012
Dedicated Member
|
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 1,157
Jakarta, Indonesia
|
|
So, what would come first?
Faith that lead to works, or, works that lead to faith?
In His love.
|
|
|
Re: What is the truth about faith and works?
[Re: James Saptenno]
#107311
01/08/09 08:30 PM
01/08/09 08:30 PM
|
SDA Active Member 2024
Very Dedicated Member
|
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,984
CA, USA
|
|
that is an interesting question.
i remember when i first decided to keep the sabbath. i would say it was because i was supposed to-works. i would say that it led to faith. in that particular case "works that led to faith".
i will have to think if that has always been true, or if it has been a combination of the two.
Psa 64:5 ...an evil matter: they commune of laying snares privily; they say, Who shall see them?
Psa 7:14 Behold, he travaileth with iniquity, and hath conceived mischief, and brought forth falsehood. 15 He made a pit, and digged it, and is fallen into the ditch which he made. 16 His mischief (and his violent dealing) shall return upon his own head.
Psa 7:17 I will praise the LORD according to his righteousness: and will sing praise to the name of the LORD most high.
|
|
|
Re: What is the truth about faith and works?
[Re: Johann]
#107312
01/08/09 08:36 PM
01/08/09 08:36 PM
|
SDA Active Member 2024
Very Dedicated Member
|
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,984
CA, USA
|
|
MM: Please take a another look at the 23 points I posted and you'll see that all I did was enumerate the points Sister White made in the previous post.
Again, is it a waste of time to spend 13 minutes posting such things on MSDAOL?
All of the points are excellent and of great value. My questioning is merely to stir up our pure (some may spell it "poor") minds to consider the options. Will such a list assure that we are on the right track? your posts have given me some great thoughts to stop and consider and search my heart.
Psa 64:5 ...an evil matter: they commune of laying snares privily; they say, Who shall see them?
Psa 7:14 Behold, he travaileth with iniquity, and hath conceived mischief, and brought forth falsehood. 15 He made a pit, and digged it, and is fallen into the ditch which he made. 16 His mischief (and his violent dealing) shall return upon his own head.
Psa 7:17 I will praise the LORD according to his righteousness: and will sing praise to the name of the LORD most high.
|
|
|
Re: What is the truth about faith and works?
[Re: James Saptenno]
#107414
01/10/09 07:38 PM
01/10/09 07:38 PM
|
OP
SDA Charter Member Active Member 2019
20000+ Member
|
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 22,256
Southwest USA
|
|
So, what would come first? Faith that lead to works, or, works that lead to faith? They happen simultaneously. They are inseparable. Apart from one another they cease to be what they are when united. Faith without works ceases to be faith. And, works without faith ceases to be works. This is, of course, looking at it from God's perspective. Which is how we need to view it.
|
|
|
Re: What is the truth about faith and works?
[Re: Mountain Man]
#186113
03/04/18 03:55 PM
03/04/18 03:55 PM
|
|
Rather than create a new topic, I am resurrecting this one.
I came across this while reading through the book, Patriarchs & Prophets:
True faith, which relies wholly upon Christ, will be manifested by obedience to all the requirements of God. From Adam's day to the present time the great controversy has been concerning obedience to God's law. In all ages there have been those who claimed a right to the favor of God even while they were disregarding some of His commands. But the Scriptures declare that by works is "faith made perfect;" and that, without the works of obedience, faith "is dead." James 2:22, 17. He that professes to know God, "and keepeth not His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him." 1 John 2:4. {PP 73.2}
|
|
|
Re: What is the truth about faith and works?
[Re: Mountain Man]
#186120
03/05/18 06:37 AM
03/05/18 06:37 AM
|
SDA Active Member 2018
Regular Member
|
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 63
Colorado, USA
|
|
Let's consider what it means for works to make faith perfect and a lack of works to cause the death of faith. In Luke 17:5 there's an interesting request made to Jesus- "And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith."
The answer was-
6 And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you. 7 But which of you, having a servant plowing or feeding cattle, will say unto him by and by, when he is come from the field, Go and sit down to meat? 8 And will not rather say unto him, Make ready wherewith I may sup, and gird thyself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken; and afterward thou shalt eat and drink? 9 Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I trow not. 10 So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.
The lesson presented is that we have a Master and have been given both a commission an a law. Obeying these, not as a gift of works to God for which we would deserve a payment (see Romans 4:4), but out of a sense of duty to the God whom we love and choose to serve will increase our faith.
It's designed to be a cycle that eternally benefits us. Faith produces works which increases faith which produces more works. Without the works the cycle breaks and, rather than increasing, like any muscle that goes unused, faith withers and dies. Without the faith, works are only an imitating drudgery because works born of faith are faith put into action.
|
|
|
Re: What is the truth about faith and works?
[Re: Mountain Man]
#186161
03/09/18 09:20 PM
03/09/18 09:20 PM
|
Global Moderator Supporting Member 2022
5500+ Member
|
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 6,455
Canada
|
|
"He that professes to know God, "and keepeth not His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him." 1 John 2:4. Too often we focus on the last part of that verse and fall into a "works" program trying to keep God's commandments by works. But notice the first part -- He that professes to know God... That is the point we really need to concentrate on. Are we seeking to know God; not just have knowledge about Him, but to know Him on a personal, relationship basis? Or is our knowledge of God just a profession, an intellectual acquiesce but not an actual "knowing" Him? And yes -- "True faith, which relies wholly upon Christ, will be manifested by obedience to all the requirements of God."It's also true that God invites us to "taste and see". Ps. 34:8 O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him. A new believer may wonder "how can I give up my worldly way of life?" Instead of telling them "you better or you will be lost" -- invite them "taste and see that the LORD is good" Try it and see -- not to earn anything, but to experience the blessings that come from trusting in Him. God invites us to prove for ourselves the reality of His Word, the truth of His promises. Trust and follow --- He will never leave you. 1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with Him, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanses us from all sin. "He who is trying to become holy by his own works in keeping the law, is attempting an impossibility. All that man can do without Christ is polluted with selfishness and sin. It is the grace of Christ alone, through faith, that can make us holy....
notice here that obedience is not a mere outward compliance, but the service of love. The law of God is an expression of His very nature; it is an embodiment of the great principle of love, and hence is the foundation of His government in heaven and earth. If our hearts are renewed in the likeness of God, if the divine love is implanted in the soul, will not the law of God be carried out in the life? When the principle of love is implanted in the heart, when man is renewed after the image of Him that created him, the new covenant promise is fulfilled. . . . Obedience--the service and allegiance of love--is the true sign of discipleship (Steps to Christ, pp. 59, 60).
The Christian's life should be one of faith, of victory, and joy in God. "Whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith." Truly spake God's servant Nehemiah, "The joy of the Lord is your strength." Nehemiah 8:10. {FLB 126.2}
Faith claims God's promises, and brings forth fruit in obedience. To abide in faith is to walk humbly with the Lord, to appropriate His promises, and apply them to all occasions, believing that God will work out His own plans and purposes in your heart and life. What could be more reliable than pure faith in God's promises? Take the blessed promises of God and apply them to yourself, bearing your whole weight upon them? This is faith.
|
|
|
|
Here is the link to this week's Sabbath School Lesson Study and Discussion Material: Click Here
|
|
|