Faith...

[Ironside]

God's mercy is everlasting, time will come to every generations.
Ayaw ka problema sa ubang tawo nga wala maluwas physically, Ginoo ang bahala nila.
Give you instance in the bible nga naay maluwas bisan wala sila kaila sa Ginoo, just read patiently.
32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:
33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
42 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:
43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.
44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?
45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.
46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

Matthew 25:32-46.



These verses do not say that these men got saved inspite of the fact that they do not know God. What these verses are saying is that these people did not RECOGNIZE that ministering to their brethren is doing it to Christ. that's all. For all we know, these guys might have served their brethren because they knew God. the thing was they did not recognize that serving their brethren was actually ministering to Christ.


It is a rather too hasty a conclusion to say that these men do not know God.




Because wrote a law unto their hearts even they don't know God.
13 (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.
14 For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:
15 Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another
Romans 2:13-15.



Again this is a case of not reading the passage in context. These verses do not say that they do not know God. Read it again.


Romans 1-3 is an indictment of Paul that both the Jews and the Gentiles are all under sin.

God has given all man light and revelation regarind HIm. He has given them creation and conscience whether Jew oor Gentile [non-Israelite].


Romans 1:18-2:16 is directed to the Gentile. A Gentile may say to God: "God I am excused from the charge of being guilty regarding sin. You see, I dont have the LAW like your chosen people the Israelites have. Dont know anything about it. I am excused."


Paul counters: "NO. You are still guilty. Creation itself tells you that there is a God but you did not seek and worship Him".

He directs his first indictments against the crude Gentiles. {note: verse 14 of chapter one. paul divides the Gentiles into two categories:Ro 1:14 I have a debt to Greeks and to the nations outside; to the wise and to those who have no learning. }



Ro 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,

Ro 1:19 because that which is known of God is revealed in them, for God revealed it to them.


Ro 1:20 For the invisible things of him since the creation of the world are clearly seen, being perceived through the things that are made, even his everlasting power and divinity; that they may be without excuse

Ro 1:21 Because, knowing God, they didn't glorify him as God, neither gave thanks, but became vain in their reasoning, and their senseless heart was darkened.


Then starting from chapter 2:1-16 paul faces the educated Gentiles. Those who have acquired cultured manners. They may say: "bitaw, we condemned such behavior. what they did was wrong."

But Paul says in effect to them: "you are equally guilty too. many are the times that you have done bad when you know you should have done good. God gave you a sense of right and wrong. A conscience. but you did not follow the dictates of your conscience many a time. Many a time your conscience accuses you of sin. you know it yourself. you are also under sin. you are guilty".


Ro 2:1 You are therefore inexcusable, O man, whoever you are, that sits in judgment; for in judging another you are condemning yourself. You, the judge, are habitually practising the very same things.

Ro 2:2 "We know that God's judgment against those who practise such vices is in accord with the truth," you say?

Ro 2:3 Very well; and do you suppose, you who judge those that practise such vices, and are doing the very same, that you will elude the judgment of God?


Ro 2:15 who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and the thoughts between one another accusing or even excusing one another,


Then on chapter 2:17 to 24. Paul now faces the self righteous Jews who despise the Gentiles. The jews may say: "Yes, these Gentiles are dogs. These are immoral people unlike us we are the people of God, we have the Law, we are not sinners like them."

Paul says: "wrong!!!. You are much guilty. God has given you much yet you remian unfaitful. God gave you Creation, conscience and LAw but what did you do? YOu disobeyed it." Therefore you are guilty. you are under sin as they."


Ro 2:17 Now if you bear the name of a Jew, and rely upon law, and boast yourself in God,


Ro 2:18 and know his will, and can test the things that differ; if you are instructed out of the Law,


Ro 2:19 and persuading yourselves to be a guide of the blind, a light to those in darkness;


Ro 2:21 Therefore the one teaching another, do you not teach yourself? The one preaching not to steal, do you steal?


Ro 2:23 You who boast in Law, do you dishonor God through breaking the Law?


Ro 2:24 For the name of God is blasphemed among the nations because of you, as it is written.


That is the context. But notice Romans 2: 14-16, these verses are spoken to the Gentiles and what does God say concerning the Gentiles? They know God through Creation!!!!!!!!!!!!! They are without excuse.


Ro 1:20 For the unseen things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being realized by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, for them to be without excuse.
Ro 1:21 Because, knowing God, they did not glorify Him as God, neither were thankful. But they became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.









P.s. we are all sinners. We need a Savior. And that is what Paul writes about next in the proceeding verses. He shows that all maybe guilty and under sin. they can find salvation in Christ alone who died for our sins and rose again. chapter 3:21 following.

[thinkrich]

@ironside

hmm... i believe nga that's a better explanation Mt 25:32-46 than what rcruman is saying nga naluwas sila bisan pa if wa sila kaila sa Ginoo. yup, i think jud nga that is the message of this particular gospel. thanks for clarifying.

[aleyson]

what are your thoughts on this?
because in the religion i am in...they are quite strict to what you wear, eat and etc. but for me i believe that it's not what you eat or wear will save you. its what in you that counts and if you have faith in God and believe in Jesus.

[brown_dog]

not only faith but also actions which is fruits of the spirit which translates to e.g: courage to obey Gods will, obedience, patience, gentleness, meekness, humble, forgiveness, Love for God, Love for one another, Christlikeness.

[ernest9]

It is not a matter of faith... It is a matter of practice.

[junmar4]

not only faith but also actions which translates to the fruits of the spirit e.g: courage to obey Gods will, obedience, patience, gentleness, meekness, humble, forgiveness, Love for God, Love for one another, Christlikeness.

asa ni siya nakuha nga fruit of the spirits? source?

[Sinyalan]

Faith – let's define this properly brown_dog. It's confidence, reliance, trust, assurance, conviction, belief, devotion and loyalty. These words defines as synonymous to faith… but the truth to the fact that, everybody would understand if we use it for religious adherence but some people misuse the word for political gain. Like, keep faith with somebody or something to be loyal or true to a person or a promise but this sometimes fall into separate dedication. Now, as you are in a sect where faith to you is a question, try not to dissuade your personal acceptance unless the very essence of your faith is all about your commitment, then your faith is loosing to its hold. The main question is, who do you believe…?

[Ironside]

what are your thoughts on this?
because in the religion i am in...they are quite strict to what you wear, eat and etc. but for me i believe that it's not what you eat or wear will save you. its what in you that counts and if you have faith in God and believe in Jesus.

its not what we wear, what we eat or what we do or what we are that saves us. All my life, I've never heard these things called the Savior. None of these died on the cross for our sins.

The only one who can save is the Lord Jesus Christ. He died for our sins and rose again that if we put our trust in that one eternal sacrifice alone for salvation, we will be saved.

its not even how big or small our faith is, its who our faith latches on. Even if we have the biggest faith in the world, bigger than our universe, if it is not ON the Savior, it saves you not.

After the experience of salvation, it would invariably [sometime, somehow, somewhere] evinces itself in our lives. it affects the way we live, dress, eat, talk etc. changes our lives, in short. These are the results of salvation, not the cause or source.



Is faith enough to Save us?


Well, was Jesus' sacrifice on the cross sufficient? Was it enough? The Word of God says: "Yes it is eternally enough. God accepted His sacrifice on the cross, God was satisfied with it."

So if God was satisfied with it for our salvation, why can't we? why add so many conditions like, we must not eat this or wear that etc. to be saved?

the only proper response to Christ's saving work on the cross is to be satisfied with it, in other words, have faith in it.

[aleyson]

its not what we wear, what we eat or what we do or what we are that saves us. All my life, I've never heard these things called the Savior. None of these died on the cross for our sins.

The only one who can save is the Lord Jesus Christ. He died for our sins and rose again that if we put our trust in that one eternal sacrifice alone for salvation, we will be saved.

its not even how big or small our faith is, its who our faith latches on. Even if we have the biggest faith in the world, bigger than our universe, if it is not ON the Savior, it saves you not.

After the experience of salvation, it would invariably [sometime, somehow, somewhere] evinces itself in our lives. it affects the way we live, dress, eat, talk etc. changes our lives, in short. These are the results of salvation, not the cause or source.



Is faith enough to Save us?


Well, was Jesus' sacrifice on the cross sufficient? Was it enough? The Word of God says: "Yes it is eternally enough. God accepted His sacrifice on the cross, God was satisfied with it."

So if God was satisfied with it for our salvation, why can't we? why add so many conditions like, we must not eat this or wear that etc. to be saved?

the only proper response to Christ's saving work on the cross is to be satisfied with it, in other words, have faith in it.

I like your thoughts on that Ironside...you have to have faith in the Lord.

Also, diba ni ingon man in John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish and have everlasting life...Meaning that if you believe in God and his Son you will be saved right? But what about those people who do not believe in the Lord but yet they have christ-like attitudes and practice towards life??

[--Makoy--]

faith is not enough.. faith+actions will