Justification is by Faith Alone but

[allthingsthroughhim]

I also believe works will be evidence of salvation but every time I try do something good I feel as I'm approaching salvation by works instead of grace. How do I balance this out I believe the answer to this problem is life by the spirit (Romans 8) but I'm not sure how to approach this how do I kill sin by the spirit an not by legalism or looking at my works as a mean for my salvation?

 

[agedman]

I also believe works will be evidence of salvation but every time I try do something good I feel as I'm approaching salvation by works instead of grace. How do I balance this out I believe the answer to this problem is life by the spirit (Romans 8) but I'm not sure how to approach this how do I kill sin by the spirit an not by legalism or looking at my works as a mean for my salvation?

Growth.
Peter in the second letter opens with the same problem being addressed.

1 Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Savior Jesus Christ:
2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,
3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
5 ¶ And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
9 But he that lacks these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.​

 

[Tom Butler]

allthingsthroughhim, first, to your question. Your profile says "not trusting in self/works but trusting in the merit of jesus on the cross."

That's it. Any works you do grow out of that conversion, not as a means toward it.
I have two words to say to you about worrying about approaching salvation by works.

STOP IT!!!!! Quit worrying about it. That's why they call it trust.

Now, some housekeeping things.

Your profile says you are non-denom, which means you can't post in the clearly-marked "Baptist Only sections." There are plenty of others open to you. Please help yourself.

Two, please go up to the first section "Welcome to the Baptist Board" and tell us more about yourself. It will help us get acquainted and give you a proper welcome.

We hope you'll enjoy your visits here. I can tell you this. You won't get bored.

 

[allthingsthroughhim]

okay sorry about that. I just get confused because Romans 6 exhorts us to be dead to sin and alive to God but every time I try to fight sin it's like I'm doing it by legalism so maybe I shouldn't think so much about works maybe? I just get confused when I hear about Lordship Salvation. It calls to obey but how do you obey cause every time I obey I feel like it's a work?

 

[freeatlast]

I also believe works will be evidence of salvation but every time I try do something good I feel as I'm approaching salvation by works instead of grace. How do I balance this out I believe the answer to this problem is life by the spirit (Romans 8) but I'm not sure how to approach this how do I kill sin by the spirit an not by legalism or looking at my works as a mean for my salvation?

I am afraid that the church is guilty of putting a guilt trip on the saints if they try and live (keep the commandments) for the Lord by overly suggesting that those who are seeking to obey are doing so out of works or the wrong motive. I have even heard some call them bible thumpers or holier then thou. Just ignore them.
So you just need to live a holy life and forget about what others are saying. Forget the accusations, lay aside the guilt and live and remember that satan is an accuser of the brethren. Our salvation is secured by grace through faith and biblical faith produces good works so the more good works done in faith the better.

I would add this. Many times people miss-understand the way to salvation. We are not saved by accepting Jesus as Saviour or simply "trusting Jesus for our salvation."
Salvation comes the same way for all who are saved and there is only one way. That way is repentance towards God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. It is not repentance from sin. No place does the NT say such a thing as repent of your sin to be saved. Repentance from sin is the result of repentance towards God, not the act. It is repentance towards God. The lost do not want God to rule over them. They may not hate Him but they simply do not want to have Him as their Master. It is called rebellion. Man must decide if he is willing to repent, turn to God for who God is. Repentance is not 50%, 75%, or 99%. It is 100% and done in spirit/heart. At the point a person is repenting they are told to take that heart and place it on the Lord Jesus Christ and faith is born and grace is applied unto salvation. Jesus becomes their Lord!
This repentance/faith is never turned from as God seals the person into that state and thus they cannot lose their salvation. Now because of the new birth the person now will hunger to live a godly life and that comes from obedience. So don't get beat down about seeking to live godly. As long as you are seeking to honor the Lord out of love don't let anyone who makes a false accusation against you to trouble you. Don't let the fiery darts of the devil condemn you. Put on the whole armor of God. I would point you to this message'
http://www.gerald285.com/web_media/BirthmarksofaBeliever.32.mp3

 

[NDCompuGeek]

Doing the right thing is always a good thing, but for me it comes down to a few questions:

+ What do I believe saved me? (Accept / repent / believe)

+ If I do this thing, will it affect where I spend eternity? (No - once saved always saved)

+ If I do NOT do this thing, will it affect where I spend eternity? (again, no, same as before)

+ What is my motivation for doing this thing? (I want to do the right thing and please Christ)


It is a difficult concept. You get saved, and you feel the Holy Spirit within you, prompting you to do the right thing. Then you hear some whispering doubting your true intentions for doing those things - and at this point you should stop.

I needed to say for myself that my doing good things was a direct result of my getting saved and my going to heaven and my wanting to please my Savior; and that doing good things was NOT going to get me into heaven - because I already was headed there because I was saved.

Kind of circular logic, but if you really think about it, what we all said may help make it a little clearer than mud to you.

 

[Winman]

okay sorry about that. I just get confused because Romans 6 exhorts us to be dead to sin and alive to God but every time I try to fight sin it's like I'm doing it by legalism so maybe I shouldn't think so much about works maybe? I just get confused when I hear about Lordship Salvation. It calls to obey but how do you obey cause every time I obey I feel like it's a work?

You don't get saved by works, so what makes you think you can maintain your salvation by works? If you have trusted your soul to Jesus, then you are saved.

Do what is right because it pleases God. If God is pleased with you, then you will be pleased with yourself. The most miserable person in the world is a Christian who is doing what he knows is wrong and displeases God. Want to be happy? Obey God.

 

[12strings]

You say that when you obey it feels a work. GOOD! Works are good! They are just not the Basis of our salvation. The many passages about adoption are helpful with this. If a Father adopts a child, assuming he is not a mean, flippant person who will kick them out at the first sign of trouble (which God isn't)...He is saying "this one's mine...for the long haul...I know they won't always obey me, but I'm going to teach them and feed them and take care of them...their previous family may have given them up, but I'm not going to. They may grieve me by their actions, but they are still my child."

 

[freeatlast]

Doing the right thing is always a good thing, but for me it comes down to a few questions:

+ What do I believe saved me? (Accept / repent / believe)

+ If I do this thing, will it affect where I spend eternity? (No - once saved always saved)

+ If I do NOT do this thing, will it affect where I spend eternity? (again, no, same as before)

+ What is my motivation for doing this thing? (I want to do the right thing and please Christ)


It is a difficult concept. You get saved, and you feel the Holy Spirit within you, prompting you to do the right thing. Then you hear some whispering doubting your true intentions for doing those things - and at this point you should stop.

I needed to say for myself that my doing good things was a direct result of my getting saved and my going to heaven and my wanting to please my Savior; and that doing good things was NOT going to get me into heaven - because I already was headed there because I was saved.

Kind of circular logic, but if you really think about it, what we all said may help make it a little clearer than mud to you.

Why would you have questions if the good you do is of the Lord? I understand if you are saying you want to take credit or be recognized for the good you do, that would be pride and sin, and you need to confess and forsake that sin. However there should never be any question or guilt associated with doing what the Lord calls us to. Just do it and forget about it. When we do good all we have done is what we are suppose to do so there is no reason to feel elevated.

 

[Yeshua1]

okay sorry about that. I just get confused because Romans 6 exhorts us to be dead to sin and alive to God but every time I try to fight sin it's like I'm doing it by legalism so maybe I shouldn't think so much about works maybe? I just get confused when I hear about Lordship Salvation. It calls to obey but how do you obey cause every time I obey I feel like it's a work?

the initial salvation point in your life now with Chrsit was when you reeceived jesus by faith as your Saviour and Lord!

Once saved, indwelt by the Holy Spirit...

now you start the lifelong process of becoming made by God into the very image of jesus, that you would reflect Him in your life!

that is when prayer, bible study, fellowship, witnessing etc all come to play in your life...

Are you belonging to a solid bible believing church, grounded in word and prayer/fellowship etc?

feel free to join us over at the other christian board here!