In the same way you miss most of the NT and what Jesus and the Apostles had to say you miss what I had to say, that is love is the evidence of Christ in you. I know you do not understand what that means. Until a person understands their own righteousness is as filthy rags and that they are a sinner, they cannot understand Jesus' teaching on Faith Alone.
Ah you found another fragment from 1 John 4, wonderful! Love that verse btw. Of course I love them all though unlike some. Here is another one from that same chapter that you haven't read yet...
"And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world". (This is found in verse 3, I have them all if you would like me to send them to you)
God let his son die for us, so how do you price Jesus worth less then a filthy rag?
God sets the prices, You are worth more then Jesus.
Any righteousness that isn't God's probably isn't righteousness at all.
The filthy rag had to do with a particular time.
Psalm 14
1The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.”
They are corrupt, they have committed abominable deeds;
There is no one who does good.
2The LORD has looked down from heaven upon the sons of men
To see if there are any who understand,
Who seek after God.
3They have all turned aside, together they have become corrupt;
There is no one who does good, not even one.
4Do all the workers of wickedness not know,
Who eat up my people
as they eat bread,
And do not call upon the Lord?
5There they are in great dread,
For God is with
the righteous generation.
Isaiah 64
4For from days of old they have not heard or perceived by ear,
Nor has the eye seen a God besides You,
Who acts in behalf of the one who waits for Him.
5You meet him who rejoices in doing righteousness,
Who remembers You in Your ways.
Behold, You were angry, for we sinned,
We continued in them a long time;
And shall we be saved?
6For all of us have become like one who is unclean,
And all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment;
And all of us wither like a leaf,
And our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.
Isaiah 1
15“So when you spread out your hands
in prayer,
I will hide My eyes from you;
Yes, even though you multiply prayers,
I will not listen.
Your hands are covered with blood.
16“Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean;
Remove the evil of your deeds from My sight.
Cease to do evil,
17Learn to do good;
Seek justice,
Reprove the ruthless,
Defend the orphan,
Plead for the widow.
James 4
5Or do you think that the Scripture speaks to no purpose: “He jealously desires the Spirit which He has made to dwell in us”?
6But He gives a greater grace. Therefore
it says, “GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE.”
7Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
8Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
9Be miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy to gloom.
10Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.
One mans TRASH --> GOOD WORKS, Is another man's TREASURE-->Above Salvation.
You need to learn to do what is right on the weight that God commands it.
Rather then on the weight of whether it gives salvation or not.
The Good Samaritan Still managed to do Good, That's why he is the Good Samaritan. Not a Damned Samaritan.
