so how does that work....
if i remain silence and passive, today, in a particular incident, in
face of need, injustice and exploitation is to deny Christ..
and lose my
salvation?
and tomorrow i act
to fight against injustice and exploitation, i get my salvation
again?
the whole premise of works and faith lies with what practical
value does work have, if it cannot be measured and quantified. We
cannot always be doing good work all the time, and we cannot always
be doing evil all time. I may have a bad day and decided NOT to
stand up for the pregnant lady.... so how? die lah!
the statement that you quoted, to me, is a broadbase definition
on the need to do good works.
since your so cleverly quoted from the Methodist teachings, how
about going to the basic....
http://www.methodist.org.sg/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=177&phpMyAdmin=
46a9e51d7b3ae3a041b09291e30a7811
Article IX - Of the Justification of
Man
We are accounted righteous before God
only for the
merit of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, by faith, and
not for our own works or
deservings. Wherefore, that we are justified by
faith, only, is a most wholesome doctrine, and very full of
comfort.
Article X - Of Good Works
Although
good works, which are the
fruits of faith, and follow after justification,
cannot put away our
sins, and endure the severity of God's judgment;
yet are they pleasing and acceptable to God in Christ, and spring
out of a true and lively faith, insomuch that by them a lively
faith may be as evidently known as a tree is discerned by its
fruit.
... at the end of the day... and as i'd before, it does not
matter whether what you believe is right, or i am right.... good
works still get done....
Relax lah....don't get so excited.....not here to argue with
you... only trying to lighten your load.....
I said many times in the other thread that we do good works
because it's a commandement of Jesus....seems you forgot.
About this gaining salvation and loosing tomorrow etc... the
confusion is caused by you so cannot help you lah.
Don't like to quote bible verse but I think the last time, I
mentioned to dumbdumb about what Paul said about this......so no
issue for me.
Good works and justification already clearly explained between
me and Vince with the help of the Pope (hee...hee...hee...) so no
need to go further. If you want to understand, you will, if you
refused, no amount of explanation will.
Basically, I agree that we are justified by faith but only true
faith. How do you know if faith is true? By the fruits? What
fruits? It seems like the points you raised point towards good
works which is a commandment of Jesus.
If only true faith saves, then salvation must be either faith +
good works OR faith leading to good works and
NOT faith alone. And no one is saved until the
faith has works to show (that it is true).
As I mentioned before, you missed the point of doing good works,
it is about doing it from your heart. Your heart that wants to
follow Jesus and do what He tells us......not counting and keeping
track....God looks at your heart and not your spreadsheet.
If you did not miss the point, the deeds you did yesterday will
not split your hairs and you do not need to come here and complaint
about the need to do good works. It is what your heart wanted you
to do.
The scenario you painted of us dying together (choi!).....