How are we to be like God?

[AdHoc]

If you can only use one word to describe a characteristic of God that we should follow as an example what word would you use?

And why do you choose that word?

[Capbook]

People will have to become peaceful and loving and obedient to God. These are requirements for people to be living forever, in harmony with others and even the animals. (Isaiah 11:6-9; Romans 12:2; Colossians 3:9)

No, the one requirement for people to gain everlasting life is to believe in Jesus as their Saviour:


John 3:16
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

No, there must be obedience as well.

Can you name a sin that will prevent a believer in Jesus from gaining everlasting life?

All sins. Just like the demons have committed the ultimate sin of turning away from God, anyone who is not following Jesus is sinning and won't gain everlasting life, just like the demons will not.
"In fact, to this course you were called, because even Christ suffered for you, leaving you a model for you to follow his steps closely." (I Peter 2:21)
"He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him." (John 3:36, NASB) Once again, "belief" also requires action. With that belief we must obey Jesus.

Then you do not believe the following verse:

John 3:16
King James Version
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Yes I do. YOU do not believe John 3:36.

He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. (John 3:36)

Those two verses state basically the same thing -- that those who believe in Jesus will have everlasting life.

I don't know which version of the Bible you're using, but the New American Standard Bible says this (as well as the Revised Standard Version, the American Standard Version, the New American Bible, and the 21st Century New Testament, to name a few):

"He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life...."

So more than mere believing is necessary. We must obey, showing that there is action involved.

How could we obey if we are not believers?
We must have faith to be saved by God's grace, then obey, do good works of being already saved.

Lexicon define "believeth not" NT:544 apeitheo (ap-i-theh'-o); from NT:545; to disbelieve (wilfully and perversely):

KJV - not believe, disobedient, obey not, unbelieving.
(New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)

[myth-one.com]

"He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life...."

So more than mere believing is necessary. We must obey, showing that there is action involved.

The Son told us the one requirement or action required for us to be saved:

John 3:16
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

If we obey His advice and believe in Him as our Savior, we will be saved.

Our other works will not save us.

If we ignore His advice we will perish.

[onewithhim]

People will have to become peaceful and loving and obedient to God. These are requirements for people to be living forever, in harmony with others and even the animals. (Isaiah 11:6-9; Romans 12:2; Colossians 3:9)

No, the one requirement for people to gain everlasting life is to believe in Jesus as their Saviour:


John 3:16
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

No, there must be obedience as well.

Can you name a sin that will prevent a believer in Jesus from gaining everlasting life?

All sins. Just like the demons have committed the ultimate sin of turning away from God, anyone who is not following Jesus is sinning and won't gain everlasting life, just like the demons will not.
"In fact, to this course you were called, because even Christ suffered for you, leaving you a model for you to follow his steps closely." (I Peter 2:21)
"He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him." (John 3:36, NASB) Once again, "belief" also requires action. With that belief we must obey Jesus.

Then you do not believe the following verse:

John 3:16
King James Version
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Yes I do. YOU do not believe John 3:36.

He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. (John 3:36)

Those two verses state basically the same thing -- that those who believe in Jesus will have everlasting life.

I don't know which version of the Bible you're using, but the New American Standard Bible says this (as well as the Revised Standard Version, the American Standard Version, the New American Bible, and the 21st Century New Testament, to name a few):

"He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life...."

So more than mere believing is necessary. We must obey, showing that there is action involved.

How could we obey if we are not believers?

I wonder just how many times I have said that we must believe first and THEN obey. They are both necessary.

[myth-one.com]

I wonder just how many times I have said that we must believe first and THEN obey. They are both necessary.

It doesn't make any difference how many times you repeat yourself.

Repetitions will never make your statement correct.

And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. (Acts 16:31)

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)

[Capbook]

I wonder just how many times I have said that we must believe first and THEN obey. They are both necessary.

It doesn't make any difference how many times you repeat yourself.

Repetitions will never make your statement correct.

And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. (Acts 16:31)

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)

Yes, we will be save or have eternal life by believing in Jesus, but that does end there, doing good works is the result of being saved and not to be save. (Eph 2:10)

Eph 2:8-10
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
KJV

[onewithhim]

[Replying to Capbook in post #185] and also for myth

Jesus said: "Likewise let your light shine before men, that they may see your fine works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven." (Matthew 5:16)

"...Wisdom is proved righteous by its works." (Matthew 11:19b)

"Most truly I say to you, he that exercises faith in me, that one also will do the works that I do." (John 14:12a)

"...I [Paul] went bringing the message that they should repent and turn to God by doing works that befit repentance." (Acts 26:20b)

"And he will render to each one according to his works." (Romans 2:6)

"But in the way that befits women professing to reverence God, namely through good works." (I Timothy 2:10)

"To work at good, to be rich in fine works, to be liberal, ready to share." (I Timothy 6:18)

"Let us consider one another to incite to love and fine works." (Hebrews 10:24)

"I will show you my faith by my works." (James 2:18b)

I could go on, and one thing is clear, that AFTER we profess to believe in Christ, THEN we do works that befit repentance. Both need to be practiced.

[myth-one.com]

[Replying to Capbook in post #185] and also for myth

Jesus said: "Likewise let your light shine before men, that they may see your fine works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven." (Matthew 5:16)

"...Wisdom is proved righteous by its works." (Matthew 11:19b)

"Most truly I say to you, he that exercises faith in me, that one also will do the works that I do." (John 14:12a)

"...I [Paul] went bringing the message that they should repent and turn to God by doing works that befit repentance." (Acts 26:20b)

"And he will render to each one according to his works." (Romans 2:6)

"But in the way that befits women professing to reverence God, namely through good works." (I Timothy 2:10)

"To work at good, to be rich in fine works, to be liberal, ready to share." (I Timothy 6:18)

"Let us consider one another to incite to love and fine works." (Hebrews 10:24)

"I will show you my faith by my works." (James 2:18b)

I could go on, and one thing is clear, that AFTER we profess to believe in Christ, THEN we do works that befit repentance. Both need to be practiced.

<========================>


Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. (Galatians 2:16)

Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; (Titus 3:5)

Doing good works is great, but they do not gain one salvation, and I believe that those performing good works benefit more than those receiving the good works. That is:

It is more blessed to give than to receive. (Acts 20:35)

So when we do good works, in a sense are we using people?

There is a wonderful organization named the Make-A-Wish Foundation® whose very existence supports the verse, "It is more blessed to give than to receive." These people locate children with life-threatening medical conditions and allow them to wish for one thing they would like to have or do, then they attempt to make the "wish" come true. These wishes have included trips to Disney World, trips to the 2002 Winter Olympics, meeting favorite actors and sport stars, meeting the President of the United States, and other such things one might expect from children.

However, they were somewhat startled by a young boy's wish in the Houston area. This seven to ten year old lad who was dying from cancer, wished to be driven around in a neighborhood ice cream truck, while he handed out free ice cream to his friends and neighborhood children. I can imagine them explaining the process to him again. Are you sure you understand? You can wish for anything you desire to have or do.

He may have given it some more thought, but reached the same conclusion. If he had only one wish, and he could wish for absolutely anything in the world, it would be to hand out free ice cream to other children from a neighborhood ice cream truck.

It made the local TV news one night, as they showed this terminally ill, bald little boy with a gigantic smile on his face handing out free ice cream to other children from the back of an ice cream truck. A little boy much wiser than his years might indicate!

Certainly, some adults watching the news that night learned that:

It is more blessed to give than to receive. (Acts 20:35)

[Capbook]

[Replying to Capbook in post #185] and also for myth

Jesus said: "Likewise let your light shine before men, that they may see your fine works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven." (Matthew 5:16)

"...Wisdom is proved righteous by its works." (Matthew 11:19b)

"Most truly I say to you, he that exercises faith in me, that one also will do the works that I do." (John 14:12a)

"...I [Paul] went bringing the message that they should repent and turn to God by doing works that befit repentance." (Acts 26:20b)

"And he will render to each one according to his works." (Romans 2:6)

"But in the way that befits women professing to reverence God, namely through good works." (I Timothy 2:10)

"To work at good, to be rich in fine works, to be liberal, ready to share." (I Timothy 6:18)

"Let us consider one another to incite to love and fine works." (Hebrews 10:24)

"I will show you my faith by my works." (James 2:18b)

I could go on, and one thing is clear, that AFTER we profess to believe in Christ, THEN we do works that befit repentance. Both need to be practiced.

<========================>


Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. (Galatians 2:16)

Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; (Titus 3:5)

Doing good works is great, but they do not gain one salvation, and I believe that those performing good works benefit more than those receiving the good works. That is:

It is more blessed to give than to receive. (Acts 20:35)

So when we do good works, in a sense are we using people?

There is a wonderful organization named the Make-A-Wish Foundation® whose very existence supports the verse, "It is more blessed to give than to receive." These people locate children with life-threatening medical conditions and allow them to wish for one thing they would like to have or do, then they attempt to make the "wish" come true. These wishes have included trips to Disney World, trips to the 2002 Winter Olympics, meeting favorite actors and sport stars, meeting the President of the United States, and other such things one might expect from children.

However, they were somewhat startled by a young boy's wish in the Houston area. This seven to ten year old lad who was dying from cancer, wished to be driven around in a neighborhood ice cream truck, while he handed out free ice cream to his friends and neighborhood children. I can imagine them explaining the process to him again. Are you sure you understand? You can wish for anything you desire to have or do.

He may have given it some more thought, but reached the same conclusion. If he had only one wish, and he could wish for absolutely anything in the world, it would be to hand out free ice cream to other children from a neighborhood ice cream truck.

It made the local TV news one night, as they showed this terminally ill, bald little boy with a gigantic smile on his face handing out free ice cream to other children from the back of an ice cream truck. A little boy much wiser than his years might indicate!

Certainly, some adults watching the news that night learned that:

It is more blessed to give than to receive. (Acts 20:35)

Just like Eph 2:8-10, we are saved through our faith, not by our works. We do good works because we are already saved, not to be saved.

2 Tim 3:15,17
15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

[onewithhim]

[Replying to myth-one.com in post #187]

"Giving" is a part of good works. In fact, that would describe what good works is. So what I've written, from the Bible, does not go against what you're saying about it is better to give than to receive.

[myth-one.com]

[Replying to myth-one.com in post #187]

"Giving" is a part of good works. In fact, that would describe what good works is. So what I've written, from the Bible, does not go against what you're saying about it is better to give than to receive.

Here is what you've written:

I wonder just how many times I have said that we must believe first and THEN obey. They are both necessary.

That is incorrect according to the scriptures as inspired by God.

Whosoever believeth will be saved.