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?

[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.

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.

According to the Scriptures we must believe and THEN do WORKS befitting repentance. (See post 186.) Jesus said: "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father in heaven will enter." (Matthew 7:21, NASB)

"You are my friends if you do what I command you." (John 15:14, NASB)

There is definitely some ACTION involved.

(After all, the DEMONS believe and they shudder. James 2:19, NASB) Are the demons saved? Not according to the scriptures.

[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.

According to the Scriptures we must believe and THEN do WORKS befitting repentance. (See post 186.) Jesus said: "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father in heaven will enter." (Matthew 7:21, NASB)

"You are my friends if you do what I command you." (John 15:14, NASB)

There is definitely some ACTION involved.

(After all, the DEMONS believe and they shudder. James 2:19, NASB) Are the demons saved? Not according to the scriptures.

According to the scriptures, believers in Jesus will have everlasting life.

Demons were created with everlasting life -- and don't need to gain everlasting life.

[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.

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.

According to the Scriptures we must believe and THEN do WORKS befitting repentance. (See post 186.) Jesus said: "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father in heaven will enter." (Matthew 7:21, NASB)

"You are my friends if you do what I command you." (John 15:14, NASB)

There is definitely some ACTION involved.

(After all, the DEMONS believe and they shudder. James 2:19, NASB) Are the demons saved? Not according to the scriptures.

According to the scriptures, believers in Jesus will have everlasting life.

Demons were created with everlasting life -- and don't need to gain everlasting life.

Then why do the demons "shudder"? They know that their lives are soon to be ended. (They were not made to live forever no matter what they did. Only Jesus was the one and only that was immortal at the time of Paul's writings. That means that the demons were not immortal. They obviously were not created immortal, for Jesus was the only one.) I Timothy 6:16. BTW, why do you ignore the plethora of verses that have been given on these threads to show that action is involved in our worship? Belief first and then works. See James chapter 2. "I'll show you my faith BY my works."

[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.

According to the Scriptures we must believe and THEN do WORKS befitting repentance. (See post 186.) Jesus said: "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father in heaven will enter." (Matthew 7:21, NASB)

"You are my friends if you do what I command you." (John 15:14, NASB)

There is definitely some ACTION involved.

(After all, the DEMONS believe and they shudder. James 2:19, NASB) Are the demons saved? Not according to the scriptures.

According to the scriptures, believers in Jesus will have everlasting life.

Demons were created with everlasting life -- and don't need to gain everlasting life.

Then why do the demons "shudder"? They know that their lives are soon to be ended. (They were not made to live forever no matter what they did. Only Jesus was the one and only that was immortal at the time of Paul's writings. That means that the demons were not immortal. They obviously were not created immortal, for Jesus was the only one.) I Timothy 6:16.

Jesus was the only man to qualify as an heir to everlasting life under the original covenant between God and the Jews.

Under that covenant the wages of sin was death, and Jesus never sinned, thus He is the only heir to everlasting life under that covenant! He owns an inheritance of everlasting life.

What do you not understand about that?

BTW, why do you ignore the plethora of verses that have been given on these threads to show that action is involved in our worship? Belief first and then works. See James chapter 2. "I'll show you my faith BY my works."

It's involved in salvation, not worship.

Those who believe in Jesus will have everlasting life.

Do you believe John 3:16 or not?

[Capbook]

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.

Yes, through our faith/believe we are saved by God's grace, but not of our works.
Obedience or good works is the result of being saved, not to be saved.

[onewithhim]

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.

Yes, through our faith/believe we are saved by God's grace, but not of our works.
Obedience or good works is the result of being saved, not to be saved.

That's what I've been saying!

[Capbook]

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.

Yes, through our faith/believe we are saved by God's grace, but not of our works.
Obedience or good works is the result of being saved, not to be saved.

That's what I've been saying!

That is why I said yes.
But I believe my question, "How could we obey if we are not yet believers?" was addressed to myth-one.com.

[myth-one.com]

[Replying to AdHoc in post #1]

Regarding how we are to be like God:

There were originally two differences between mankind and God and the angels. Those differences were knowledge of good and evil, and body type.

Upon eating from the tree of knowledge, mankind became closer to God and the angels by being able to distinguish good from evil.

The only remaining difference between man and God and the angels now is body type. Man has a natural body and God and the angels have spiritual bodies.

Therefore, to become equal to God and the angels we must be born again of the Spirit as a spirit:

Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. (John 3:5-7)

[onewithhim]

[Replying to AdHoc in post #1]

Regarding how we are to be like God:

There were originally two differences between mankind and God and the angels. Those differences were knowledge of good and evil, and body type.

Upon eating from the tree of knowledge, mankind became closer to God and the angels by being able to distinguish good from evil.

The only remaining difference between man and God and the angels now is body type. Man has a natural body and God and the angels have spiritual bodies.

Therefore, to become equal to God and the angels we must be born again of the Spirit as a spirit:

Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. (John 3:5-7)

The knowledge of good and evil was given to Adam in the beginning. Otherwise he would not have been accountable to God for sinning (if he did not know right from wrong, that is). The forbidden tree was just a way of proving man's loyalty and love for God, by not touching it. "Knowledge of good and evil" meant that someone could make up his own mind as to what good and evil was comprised of, and go his own way from the commands and principles laid out by the Creator.

Man can never become equal to God. God will always be "the Most High." (Psalm 83:18, KJV) There are some who will have God's body type (spirit) but will not be equal to Him, just as the angels are not equal to God.

[myth-one.com]

There are some who will have God's body type (spirit) but will not be equal to Him, just as the angels are not equal to God.

Every human who believes in Jesus will be born again of the Spirit with spiritual bodies:

John 3:16
King James Version
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.

The only body type with everlasting life is the spiritual body.

Yes, believers will become equal unto the angels -- not equal to God.