steaver said:
...wait a minute. Are you saying God will fault us for that which we have no control over?
My analogy was just to put a finer point on the word hope. Our actions are what we will be judged for, not what we run over. God is just, you belive that right?
No. I keep conscience of what is expected of me as a Christian and as one who wants to serve, love and please Christ. I also know for a fact that each day will have some sin in my life because i will not be perfect until Christ rids myself of this flesh.
The reason I see your pov as hopelessness is because it tells the believer to do x,y and z and you will be rewarded, NEVERTHELESS, you still might not be rewarded even if you do x,y and z! The latter negates the former and you end up with zero.
My POV is the POV that the bible gives me.
Romans 11:20-22
20 Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith.
Be not highminded, but fear:
21 For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.
22 Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness,
if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.
Should I not fear when the bible tells me to fear?
John 15:1-2
1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
2
Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
Jesus tells me that if I abide in Him, I will bring forth fruit. But if I don't, I will be cut off. This is basic.
John 15:5-6
5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
The hoplessness comes when you say 'I can't abide in Christ, I can't do what he tells me to do'. If you believe that you are keeping His commandments and are doing His will, what reason would you have for thinking He would not keep His promises?