James1

I don't mean to have an "I'm right and you're wrong" mentality. I just wanted to share with you what the Bible indicates. We have to base truth on the word of God. If we get a feel on that or somebody says something that contradicts what the bible says then that thought or feeling is false if it doesn't line up with what the bible already says.

Hello, just wanted to share some thoughts. Do we look for a feeling or base truth on what the Bible says? Let's take a look. Jeremiah 17:10 says, "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?" In Acts 17:11 Paul and Silas are kicked out of Thessalonica. They come to Berea and begin to preach the Gospel. Now, the Bereans have never seen Paul and Silas before, nor have they heard this Gospel. How are they going to know that it is true? If the Mormon position is right, we should read that they hit their knees and began praying to receive a testimony. Is this what we find? No. Acts 17:11 says: "These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so." The word of God was the standard the Bereans appealed to, not their emotions. Now, it is true that James tells us that if we lack wisdom, we are to ask of God. However, it is important to note that the word used at James 1:5 is wisdom (Gr: sophia), not knowledge (Gr: gnosis). Hence we see that the Bible does not contradict itself, but does indeed tell us that God's revealed Word is the final authority, not our feelings or prayers, no matter how strong those feelings, or sincere those prayers.

Thanks for the response. So you agree that faith alone saves, but the faith that saves is not alone? I know I'm hammering this. Thanks!

Thanks for the response. I would say Salvation only comes about from faith because Christ did the work on the cross. At the moment one places their faith in Christ they are immediately made right before God and therefore saved. Evidence that they have been saved is shown through Christ in them transforming the inside which produces fruits or works. Romans 3:28 says: For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law. In Galatians chapter 5 Paul says that Christ has become no effect to you, whosoever of you attempts to be justified by law-you have fallen from grace. He said that in Galations to people who were saying its faith in Jesus and also just keep obedience to this work of the law which was circumcision. So Paul says if anyone tries to mix faith in Jesus with any work of the law to get right before God, he says that's not Grace, you're under the curse of the law to fulfill all of it. If someone is choosing works in tandem with grace and faith Paul says that that's false gospel and anyone preaching it is eternally condemned. Paul says very clearly in Romans chapter 3 that by the deeds of the law shall no flash be justified in God's sight and then says, "but now" apart from the law the righteousness of God has been manifested in the law and the prophets-in other words his righteousness from God is through faith in Jesus, it's a gift by his grace through the redemption that's in Christ. You don't need works to be saved but you'll have works if you're already saved. The Christian does not need faith and works. A Christian only needs faith and then they will have works. If someone came to me and said, "I have faith now I just need to get baptized to be justified in Gods sight," I would talk to them. The believer says, "I have faith in Christ now I will get baptized because I'm already made right in Gods sight therefore I want to obey and be obedient." The Christian doesn't do good works to be saved rather they do good works because they're already saved through faith. Agree?

What makes someone a Christian? Faith or works? What makes someone right before God as you see it? Faith or works?

I think people can make salvation more complicated than it needs to be. Protestant churches teach that we should rely entirely on the righteousness of Christ imputed to us by faith alone as the ground of God being 100% for us after which necessary sanctification comes. That\\\'s it. So do you believe that faith alone saves(is the only thing that makes us right before God) but the saving faith is not alone(good works come about as a result of Christ transforming the believer)? The Christian doesn\\\'t do good works to be saved but Good works come forth and fruits of the spirit are evident because the Christian is already saved through faith. Do you agree with that? The word religion in that context was meant to show how many people rely on their own effort to be made right before God whereas the Bible says only Faith in Jesus can make us right before God-after which comes necessary sanctification. The cleansing or sanctification justifies the saving faith or shows that you have it. Religion in its traditional definition is fine. I think many evangelicals have always said that The Bible talks about having a relationship with God and that\\\'s the most important thing. So if people ask me if I\\\'m religious I tell them I\\\'m a follower of Jesus and that it\\\'s about a daily walk with God-a relationship with God. I don\\\'t think religion is a bad word per se but I do want to give people a clear idea about what Christianity is really about. The Bible says good works can\\\'t save you, going to church can\\\'t make you right before God, only faith in Jesus makes you right before God. As one has God in their heart and surrenders, that\\\'s when transformation takes place. This is a really good passage it\\\'s Romans 4:1-6 New American Standard Bible: 4 What then shall we say that Abraham, [a]our forefather according to the flesh, has found? 2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not [c]before God. 3 For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” 4 Now to the one who works, his wage is not credited as a favor, but as what is due. 5 But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness, 6 just as David also speaks of the blessing on the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:

Thanks so much for the detailed response. To answer some of your comments, Biblically based Protestant churches teach that we\\\'re saved by Grace through faith and that not of ourselves. Salvation is a gift from God that can\\\'t be earned or acquired through good works just through faith. Protestant churches teach that we should rely entirely on the righteousness of Christ imputed to us by faith alone as the ground of God being 100% for us after which necessary sanctification comes. That\\\'s it. Faith alone saves but the faith that saves is not alone. That\\\'s the position that Pastor Chaddick takes from what I understand. The Christian is already accepted by God through faith and therefore does good works out of Gratitutde and joy not out of fear. Thanks for the comments really appreciated.

Thanks for responding! I was just wondering if you agreed with what was said in the videos. Did you watch the whole first video? At the end he says(1:30 mark)\"Religion is I obey therefore God accepts me. And the gospel is I\'m accepted through what Jesus Christ has done on the cross therefore I obey. So in religion I\'m obeying out of fear that God is going to reject me and in order to feel good about myself where as in the Gospel I\'m obeying out of gratitude and joy, not to get things from God, but just to get God.. to delight in Him and nearness to Him. And it brings a humility because it\'s all an act of grace it\'s all a function of grace and in the Prodigal God(his book) we\'re bringing that fundamental model to people of what it means to be a Christian and why it makes us different in this city.\" Do LDS agree with what Pastor Tim Keller said in the first video? That\'s what I want to know. He\'s basically saying faith alone saves but the faith that saves is not alone. When we accept Christ and ask him to come into our lives, we are immediately made right in Gods eyes through having faith in Jesus. When Jesus comes into our lives a transformation takes place that produces the fruits of the spirit and good works inside of us. For the Christian every good work is done in Christ and because of Christ. We don\'t do good works to be made right before God but rather good works come about because we are already made right before God through faith. I don\'t do good works to be saved but the works are the result of already being saved as God is inside transforming me and fruits are produced. That\'s the Protestant view of what the Bible says. Do LDS agree? The videos following the first one are of a pastor in LA and I just posted those to give LDS people perspective on what a normal kind of Protestant church is like and what they teach as I\'m not sure if they (lds) really know what\'s being taught there or what goes on. Just wondering if you agree. Thanks!

Hello, I think it's best to get at what the Bible says about this. No where in the Bible does it say we will have the divine nature for our own. Rather as for the Christian, everything is done in Christ not apart from Him. It is one thing to be God and another to participate in God. The Bible teaches that there is only one God and that there will never be another. God doesn't even know of any Other Gods. Through Christ we can partake in who God is and more fully when we get to heaven. We won't be gods but we will participate in who God is through Christ. Everything on Earth and in Heaven is in Christ and not apart or for our own. Colossians 1:15-16 says: 15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: 16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: All things were created by Him, for Him, and through Him.

Hello everyone. I\'m a Christian(not LDS) and I was wondering if you could watch the following videos and let me know what you think. There from different Christian Pastors and I was just wondering what you thought of them.Thanks. The videos are from a church called Reality LA and Tim Chaddick is a pastor there. The first is by a pastor named Tim Keller who teaches in New York City. Thanks! Let me know if you agree thanks! They\'re all really short. http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=gySaWKg-NQQ http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=j5EfgAS2-7A http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=RMMjfYkz48k http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=sPYUbBwKC00 http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=FE5zw6Q_JC8

Hello. You all might want to read through this: http://www.shields-research.org/Critics/A-O_02.html It\'s pretty interesting. It\'s a correspondence between a Christian apologist and Louis Midgley.

Ok thank you for that detailed response. I really like the Christian pastor John Piper. The question came from this video: http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=lQvtAd7WEOY If you could watch that and tell me what you think. That would be great. It sounds as if you agree with the video. Thanks!