I forgot why we are having this discussion !! Old age.
Here is what I am saying about works and salvation -- what gets us saved, keeps us saved.
If grace through faith apart from obedience to law "gets us save," that is all that keeps us saved.
Obedience, works, these things are reponses to the Law within (the Spirit). That "Law" is a dynamic and driving force in our lives. It is as irresistible as is the process of growth or maturity.
Who knows, maybe there are degrees of reward, in heaven. But I do know that works have nothing to do with securing a relationship with the Lord.
jd
----- Original Message -----Sent: 2/1/2006 1:05:46 PMSubject: Re: Fw: Fw: [TruthTalk] The spirit of anti-christcd: Works don't get one saved because we depends on the works of another even Jesus-but we are saved for a work-so you expect to receive a payday from God without working-this from a God who promotes non- laziness? What are you teaching john?Any "payday" given to us as a result of obedience is viewed as a payment of indebtedness, Dean. If benefit is based on obedience, then God owes us soemthing when we obey !!!"Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt" (Romans 4:4.)-------------------------cd: John I clearly stated that grace is not by works-it is the gift of God-but there is a work to do after salvation. Consider the parable of the Talents and tell me how this has nothing to do with works if you can-please read this carefully before you answer.Mat 25:14
For the kingdom of heaven is as a man traveling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.Mat 25:15
And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.Mat 25:16
Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents.Mat 25:17
And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two.Mat 25:18
But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money.Mat 25:19
After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.Mat 25:20
And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.Mat 25:21
His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.Mat 25:22
He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gain ed two other talents beside them.Mat 25:23
His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.Mat 25:24
Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art a hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strewed:Mat 25:25
And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.Mat 25:26
His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strewed:Mat 25:27
Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I & lt; /FONT>should have received mine own with usury.Mat 25:28
Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.Mat 25:29
For unto everyone that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.Mat 25:30
And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.Mat 25:31
When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:Mat 25:32
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:Mat 25:33
And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.Mat 25:34
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:Mat 25:35
For I was hungry, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:Mat 25:36
Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.Mat 25:37
Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?Mat 25:38
When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?Mat 25:39
Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?Mat 25:40
And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have & lt; FONT color=#ff0000 size=3>done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.Mat 25:41
Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting & lt; /FONT>fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:Mat 25:42
For I was hungry, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:Mat 25:43
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.Mat 25:44
Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?Mat 25:45
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.Mat 25:46
And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal
