Featured Why Jesus Said "I Never Knew You"?

Read James 2nd chapter in context to see what the church was actually doing to the poor.

Salvation is without works. It is believing in Him that justifies us.

Romans 3:26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. 27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. 28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

Colossians 1:20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. 21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled 22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: 23 If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;

It is trusting Him as our Good Shepherd in helping us to abide in Him and to follow Him is what discipleship is all about. Discipleship is running that race as a saved believer in maintaining good works that is only profitable unto men.

Titus 3:4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, 5 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; 6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; 7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. 8 This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.

Ephesians 2:8 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.

Both Titus 3:8 & Ephesians 2:10 puts works apart from salvation, but shows its importance "after" salvation since we are reconciled to God.

 

Again, Paul is pointing out the consequence for that saved believer in being overcome with sin in this life; not the next.

2 Peter 3:20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. 21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. 22 But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.

A dog can't return to his vomit in hell. Paul is addressing a carnal believer in how he was before he had gotten saved to the latter end when overcome in this life.

He is still saved as that would be akin to just putting wood, stubble, and hay on that foundation as 1 Corinthians 3:10-17 testifies in verse 15.

He would be the prodigal son that gave up the first inheritance of being that vessel unto honor in His House for wild living into becoming a vessel unto dishonor in His House for not looking to Him for help to depart from iniquity, but he is still son.

Note how “THE LORD WILL JUDGE HIS PEOPLE.” is testifying to that they are still His people.

Also FYI in context, Hebrews 10th chapter's sinning willfully part is about after having the knowledge that there is no more sacrifice for sins. The sin is believing and practicing that believers need another continual sacrifice for sins, thus treating the Son's blood of the New Covenant on par with the blood of goats and bulls that bears repeating.

So basically, those who partake of the Mass and communion thinking they are actually receiving that same one time sacrifice for sins "again" is going to get it, unless they repent, but they are still His people.

The thing is; Paul was warning Galatians that they will not inherit the kingdom of God as vessels unto honor in His House, and be left behind as castaway and thus becoming vessel unto dishonors, BUT they are still in His House. Paul explains this better below.

2 Timothy 2: 18 Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some. 19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. 20 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. 21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.

So what is a vessel unto dishonor that is in His House? A saved believer having His seal that did not depart from iniquity, and that includes former believers that have erred from the truth and had their faith overthrown.

The call to depart from iniquity still goes to former believers to go before that throne of grace for help in discernment and wisdom to believe again.

The problem with Judas Isacriot was that he had never believed in the first place.

John 6:64 But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him. 65 And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father. 66 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. 67 Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? 68 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. 69 And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God. 70 Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil? 71 He spake of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon: for he it was that should betray him, being one of the twelve.

It was because of what Simon Peter had said in speaking for the remaining disciples that Jesus pointed out that one of them did not believe in Him and would betray him.

Also; The rest of the disciples were not officially saved until Pentecost when Jesus was no longer present with them but at the right hand of God the Father as a condition for receiving the promise from the Father of the permanent indwelling Holy Ghost as discussed in John 14th chapter.

 

Sorry. I did not check the later replies to me. I will need to go back over the thread. Thanks for pointing that out.

But incidentally, did you see the scripture I had posted that works is apart from saving faith in Jesus Christ?

Then we need to address this reference of your below for right now on how and why it does not apply.

Those whose name was not written in the book of life are judged by their works.

You have to consider the verses that I have shared for the times we are in now as being before the Marriage Supper is how we are written in the book of life.

 

He did not use the terms works either. So what is the will of God?

John 6:38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. 39 And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. 40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.

So what works that God wants us to do?

John 6:28 Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? 29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.

Believe in Him that He is our Saviour and that by believing in Him we are saved AND believe in Him that He is our Good Shepherd and that by trusting Him, He will help us to follow Him as His disciple.

A lot of religious people are doing works as a way of having their light shine, but that is not the light Jesus was talking about.

It was about loving others as He enables us so that others may see the light of Christ in you, otherwise, your light will not outshine religious people at all for anyone to even want to hear the gospel on how we are saved.

He said so by addressing that church as a part of the body of Christ. Read the whole thing regarding that church, and may you see that was God telling them to get ready before the Bridegroom comes.

 

Why the need for prayer unless someone can lose their faith?

 

Actually, Jesus was noting what little faith they had since they were not applying that faith in areas of their concern.

A lot of religious people do good works and they are the ones that usually get praises from men and not God the Father.

So it is about seeing the light of Christ in us by our works, and they can't see that unless we declare our faith in Him as our Good Shepherd as to why and how we are doing good works which is by His power & love.

One tried to use that reference as meaning that these believers thought they were justified by doing all of these works in His name as a way of saying that they were not saved, but that was not what Jesus was talking about either. You have to read Matthew 7:13-27 & Luke 13:24-30 in context with each other to see the message and warning given to saved believers about false prophets coming in to lead others astray.

He has led me to discern that He was talking about all of these "movement of the Spirit" where wayward believers seek to receive the Holy Ghost again after a sensational sign in the flesh, even tongues that comes with no interpretation which is not of Him at all. In these movements, many houses have fallen.

Matthew 7:24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: 25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. 26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: 27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

Proverbs 25:26 A righteous man falling down before the wicked is as a troubled fountain, and a corrupt spring. 27 It is not good to eat much honey: so for men to search their own glory is not glory. 28 He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.

1 Corinthians 14:32 And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. 33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.

1 Corinthians 14:20 Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men. 21 In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord. 22 Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: ........

Note the term "reward" in the scriptural reference of your quote above.

You bold the word "works, but fail to heed what Jesus is asking for us to do: and that is to believe in Him because of those works.

Again, James was not talking about the saving faith in Jesus Christ. By one of the examples by referring to Abraham, we can see this by the event of his offering up his son as a sacrifice. Let every one know now what faith James was referring to as this was about God's Providence.

Genesis 22:7 And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering? 8 And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.......
13 And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son. 14 And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovahjireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the Lord it shall be seen.

James being once of the Jews, knew what he was referring to the O.T. that was widely known by all Jews was to Abraham's faith in His Providence.

Thus James was rebuking the church verbalizing their faith in God's providence in getting out of helping the poor from the bounty collected after church service. James was not talking about any other kind of faith in regard to his rebuke to the church's actions towards the poor starting at the beginning of chapter 2.

 

Being Revelation as it is, the only One that can keep His works is Him.

How to strengthen the things that remain? Where does our strength comes from?

Hebrews 2:18 For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.

How can any work we do be perfect before God?

Psalm 138:8 The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O Lord, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands.

Philippians 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ: 7 Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace. 8 For God is my record, how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ. 9 And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; 10 That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ. 11 Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.

Again, those not written in the book of life are cast into the lake of fire. You have to testify as to how your name can be written in the book of life. It is not by works.

Romans 4:1 What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? 2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. 3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. 4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. 5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. 6 Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,

You tell me what Paul is saying above.