QUOTE(unknown warrior @ Sep 5 2019, 11:56 AM)
In contrasts to what you're saying, I've seen good things that people do in other religion, the kindness can at times put some Christians to shame but yet without them accepting Christ, having the Holy Spirit, if you get my meaning.
What I'm trying to say is that we should not judge anyone if they're saved, good or bad because Salvation is given without our merit, we are all sinners, we are all equally unqualified.
We can presume to think we know base on outwardly character of a person but at the end of the day only God is the best qualifier.
Anyway. I will do a reply for this. But obviously, you do not seem to get what I mean. If you still do not get it, then no matter how much I explain, you will not get it.
A person can be doing a lot of good works like say Mother Teresa, and still be lost. It depends on the motivation of why he does the works in the first place. For example, if a person is doing works to cover the sins he made in his life. It obviously means nothing right. Doing works for security purpose will also not achieve anything spiritually. Some people think that just because they do a lot of good work, then they will be secure in the after life. Well, that really does not work as well.
The best example to demonstrate this is the following passage
Matthew 7
21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
They obviously did a lot of good works. But Jesus never consider those works good. In fact, those works are actually described as iniquity. In other words, their works are being describe as evil.
I will show the same passage in the esv.
21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’
Notice the phrase workers of lawlessness vs work iniquity.
You realize that to describe them as workers of lawlessness is already wrong. Because if you look at the entire passage, in what way have they broken the law.
But then iniquity means wicked. Jesus consider their works wicked.
Anyway side note.
There are many examples of people doing good works in the Bible but then they were just not favoured.
For example, compare say abel and cain.
Both Abel and Cain offered from their fields but why is one favoured and the other is not. And the reason why Cain was so angry was because he thought he did the right thing but yet God treated him unfairly.
Also, if you compare between Jacob and Esau, if you do not see it from spiritual eyes, you will think that Esau was the better person.
Even look at Lot. If you look from a non spiritual eyes, you will think that he is not righteous. But God consider him righteous. In fact the fact of the matter is, the fact that he was willing to sacrifice his daughters for the angels visiting them shows he understood spiritual things. You see, his action of wanting to sacrifice his daughters actually show that he understood the importance of the angels and was willing to sacrifice even his own daughters for the angels.
And that's the thing.
A saved person understand spiritual things. And his understanding is reflected in his actions. For example, Jacob understood the importance of Esau's Birthright. Of course the way he stole it was wrong. But then the fact of the matter was he understood the importance enough to take it away from Esau. And that is why God is so angry with Esau even though it seems that Jacob was the one who stole Esau's birthright. To a normal person, this would not have made sense. After all, Jacob stole Esau's birthright. He use the wrong way of obtaining Esau's birthright. But God was angry at Esau.
My point is, yes religious people do lots of Good work and are kind. But then God is not happy with what they do because what they do have no spiritual purpose at all. In fact it shows hypocrisy actually that they do a lot of good work but yet are not willing to acknowledge God. Their good works are a curse actually.
Actually the idea that we are all sinners is not a good excuse to remain in sin. In fact, if we know that we are sinners then we should be repentant of our sins.
10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.
It does not make sense for one to remain in sin if he is sorrow about his sins.
In fact there is one passage which talks about sin
1 John 3
6 Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.
7 Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.
8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
How do you explain that then to a "Christian" who remains in sin?
The other thing to take note of is that when a person is saved, naturally he would do things that pleases God. I am not talking about being kind etc. I am talking about things like loving the truth, and having a change spirit. Its like a healthy person. When you see a healthy person, well, you can tell by looking at his face, his lips, his blood sugar, his fingernails, etc. Similarly for someone who is saved, you can see similar things as well. Of course those things are described as the fruits of the spirit.
If one does a comparison, Jesus mention that Good tree bears good fruits. And then Paul talks about the fruits of the spirit. So if we do a comparison, we can see that if a Christian does not bear the fruits of the spirit which Paul talks about, then there is a very high chance that he is not a Christian.
Of course, there are other things in the Bible as well. For example,
12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
15 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.
So of course God will reveal things to someone who is saved.
That is why you always have the misunderstanding that I am preaching works. I never preached works but then works does show whether a person is save or not.
And someone who keeps on attacking the Truth and also the person who supports him is definitely not saved in my eyes.
To me the word of God is like the birthright and if you are attacking it, it means that you are the modern day Esau.
And I just want to conclude by saying that you are wrong to say that some Christians do not have the Holy Spirit maybe you should start examining yourself when you make this kind of statement.
I also want to say that anyone can call himself a Christian. But then if he is not saved, it means nothing.
Anyway this is the end. I am very hungry but if you do not get it. You do not get it. Nothing I can do to help.
Spiritual things are not meant for everyone.