Hi Sofa,
Previously, you had written, "It is faith AND good deeds that get your ticket to heaven punched."
And, I asked you, "Where, in the Bible, do you find that -- that salvation is based upon faith AND good deeds?"
Now, you tell me, "Matthew 7:21 though 27 is a good start, Bill. Essentially, it says that faith without deeds are a house built upon sand that can wither and blow away in a storm. Faith WITH good deeds is a house built upon rock. You, sir, with your hatred of anyone who does not believe exactly as you do, are walking in quick sand. This passage and other clearly show that salvation is a WORK in progress. Jesus Himself said that those who do not do good deeds will not be known to Him."
Matthew 7:24-27, "Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock. Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell — and great was its fall."
This tells us that a Christian life without works is like a house built upon the sand. It says nothing about our salvation. Sofa, we know that the Bible interprets the Bible -- that no verse or passage stands alone. So, lets lay Matthew 7:24-27 beside 1 Corinthians 3:10-15 and see what we find.
1 Corinthians 3:10-15, "According to the grace of God which was given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building on it. But each man must be careful how he builds on it. For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each man's work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man's work. If any man's work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. If any man's work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire."
The passage in 1 Corinthians 3 tells us that a man's work will be tested. In Matthew 7 we are told that if a man's house, i.e., his earthly work, what he has done for the kingdom of God and for his fellow man -- is built on a bad foundation -- it will not withstand the testing, the strong winds, rain, and flood of God's judgment.
Yet, we are told, "If any man's work is burned up, he will suffer loss -- but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire."
So, Sofa, you started down the right path -- but, you stopped far short of the full answer.
Then, Sofa, you tell me, "True, Bill, Jesus never says that compassionate deeds "earn" salvation, or that any of us could ever "merit" the very gift of our existence. He merely sets that as the standard for compliance. Just as a child may offer its parents or grandparents an awkwardly drawn piece of art, which likely holds little real artistic merit (perhaps in terms of art critics it might be as "filthy rags"), still the parents sincerely and genuinely cherish such efforts. It may not "merit" winning an art contest and may be able to "earn" very little, but loving parents find it good enough to represent the qualities THEY deem of real and lasting value."
That is true. And, when Christian believers stand before Jesus Christ at the Bema Seat Judgment; we will have to answer for all that we did in this life -- every deed, good and bad; every word, good and bad; every thought, good and bad. We all will have revelations which will make us very uncomfortable when openly displayed before the Lord. We are told in 2 Corinthians 5:10, "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad."
Yet, this Bema Seat Judgment for believers is a Rewards Judgment; not a judgment of salvation. Our salvation will be determined in this life -- based upon Ephesians 2:8-9, "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God -- not as a result of works, so that no one may boast." This judgment will take place in heaven during the seven year Tribulation which will be brought upon the world.
The judgment of punishment for non-believers will be the Great White Throne Judgment and this will happen at the end of the Millennial Kingdom, Christ's 1000 year reign on earth.
Next, you tell me, "The point is that Paul sets the standard for salvation as faith or belief in accepting Jesus while Jesus explicitly rejects this standard and sets the standard at universal compassionate love expressed in actions."
Paul, like all Biblical writers, wrote as he was inspired by the Holy Spirit. Thus, the books written by Paul, as well as all the book of the Bible -- were authored by God Himself. So, you are telling us that when God authored through Paul -- He said one thing. But, when He authored through John, He said something totally different, totally the opposite of what He had originally authored.
Sofa, God does not make mistakes. And, God does not change His mind -- God does not change (Malachi 3:6). What He has authored will stand for eternity.
You tell me, "For example, when asked by a lawyer what the most important commandment in the LAW was, Jesus answered (Matt 22:36-40 and Luke 10:25-37) with references from the Old Testament, that the GREATEST law was to love god and the second was to love your neighbor as yourself ."
Yes, if you will examine the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1-17) you will find that the first four, our personal relationship with God, are encompassed in Jesus first commandment, "You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind" (Matthew 22:37)
And, you will find that the last six, our relationship with our fellow man, are a summation of, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself" (Matthew 22:39).
What Jesus Christ was doing was giving us His "short form" version of the Ten Commandments. Sofa, do you keep all the Ten Commandments?
Finally, Sofa, you tell me, "Love your neighbor, Bill. Christians do that through ACTION and DEED. That means not to belittle them, be sarcastic with them, or threaten them with your own interpretation of judgment. You are a man filed with hate for those who do not meet your standard. You WILL be judged for this one day. I pray you come to your senses before that time."
Let's break down what you are saying: "Love your neighbor, Bill. Christians do that through ACTION and DEED."
Most certainly that is the way ALL Christians should live their Christian lives. However, this is NOT what determines our salvation. This should be the FRUIT of our salvation -- it is NOT the cause of our salvation.
Next, "That means not to belittle them, be sarcastic with them, or threaten them with your own interpretation of judgment."
You have repeatedly made that accusation of me. Yet, when I have asked you to give me one example of where I have "threatened" anyone with any judgment -- the silence is deafening!
Then, "You are a man filed with hate for those who do not meet your standard."
Once again, show me an example of my hate. The silence is even more deafening.
Sofa, it may come as a shock to you -- but, disagreeing with you is not considered hate -- it is considered good apologetics.
And, "You WILL be judged for this one day."
At last! Something we can agree upon! Amen! Amen! Amen!
God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,
Bill
