The Church of Laodicea

[John3;16]

QUOTE

but only through faith can you recieve this gift

Dear John3:16,

And WHAT IS your faith?

In His Love,

Suzanne

If you are asking the question what religion do you practice?, or what church do you attend? I will tell you that neither of these will save you, only faith in Jesus Christ will save and the work he did on the cross.

The plan of salvation is very easy to understand and receive, the reason most won

[tsth]

If you are asking the question what religion do you practice?, or what church do you attend? I will tell you that neither of these will save you, only faith in Jesus Christ will save and the work he did on the cross.

No, that is not what I am asking. You claim "faith", and I ask, "what IS your faith"?

Can you describe it?

In His Love,

Suzanne

[tsth]

Christians today, very quickly throw around that phrase, that we are saved by "faith" in Jesus Christ! Yet, they never can seem to describe it? I know what it means to have faith, do you?

Can you describe it?

In His Love,

Suzanne

[serotta]

I think John3:16 did answer that by highlighting and underlining Hebrews 11:16.

[tsth]

Yes, I know that he quoted many verses, but I'm asking, can HE describe "his" faith? Why is it that many Christians cannot verbalize faith "in their lives"? What IS faith in your life? It's not just some "fuzzy" term that we are supposed to throw around. We're supposed to be able to explain it.

In His Love,

Suzanne

[Pilgrim7]

It might be well if people looked up the meaning of the word faith. It doesn't mean to intellectually agree with a fact. It has an all encompasing meaning which means to rely upon or lean upon, it includes the concept of obedience.

(4102)

[John3;16]

No, that is not what I am asking. You claim "faith", and I ask, "what IS your faith"?

Can you describe it?

In His Love,

Suzanne

My definition of saving faith is derived from the bible, it is believe or trust in what Gods word says, that Gods word (bible) is in fact God

[tsth]

God will never break his promise to us, so if you read something in his word, you can bank on it.

I agree wholeheartedly! And how about when God says these things?

John 15

2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away;

4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.

6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.

Romans 8

He condemned sin in the flesh, 4 that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

Galatians 5

16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. 18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

Are you just as willing to believe in faith on these things that God speaks? Or do we only take hold of what is pleasant and easy?

Romans 2

5 But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, 6 who "will render to each one according to his deeds": 7 eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; 8 but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness--indignation and wrath, 9 tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek; 10 but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 11 For there is no partiality with God.

We eagerly accept all that He speaks when it is "easy". But what about the the judgment to come? Do we claim exemption, even though we DO NOT obey/have faith in what He says in these instances? We have to believe Him in ALL that He says.

In His Truth,

Suzanne

Edited May 13, 2005 by tsth

[John3;16]

tsth

Take note of verse 15:3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken to you, It was not their works, or enduring but the word. Yes he is telling them to abide in him, and in John 15:5 we see that we can do nothing without Him. the Apostle

[tsth]

I think Romans 2 is the crux of where we differ.

How do you believe this?

2:11 For there is no partiality with God. 12 For as many as have sinned without law will also perish without law, and as many as have sinned in the law will be judged by the law 13 (for not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be justified; 14 for when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves, 15 who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them) 16 in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel.

For me, I read in alignment with Christ Jesus.

Romans 8:4 that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

You are assuming that free-will is lost once a person becomes saved. That choice is gone. I've seen too many claim to be Christians, who professed to be saved, prayed a prayer, were baptised, and then turn away from the Lord. Is ist about "how" we hear and believe and obey? Or not?

What do you take from Romans 2? If you leave out all the terminology you've been spoon-fed, and just read the Bible, God's Word is able to speak. The message is simple to hear, it is just a matter of pride and surrender.

In His Love,

Suzanne