CSpindizzy
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It is important to go simply by what the Word of God says. Phrases like "I think" or "In my opinion" are dangerous when it comes to the commandments of God.
I first want to touch on the topic of baptism being a work, as was brought up earlier. In the same argument, can you deny that faith is a work?
1 Thessalonians 1:3 3 remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father,
Galatians 5:6 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love.
By using the "baptism is a work" logic we can conclude that faith is a work and is therefore not essential to salvation. Obviously that is not true.
What is true is that God requires works of obedience to Him.
James 2:14-26 14 What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, Depart in peace, be warmed and filled, but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? 17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
18 But someone will say, You have faith, and I have works. Show me your faith without your[a] works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believeand tremble! 20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?[c] 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? 22 Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? 23 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.[d]And he was called the friend of God. 24 You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.
25 Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?
26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
and Titus 2:11-12 11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, 12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age,
Hebrews 5:8-9 8 though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. 9 And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him,
Luke 17:10 10 So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.
Works are required to have a living faith (See above James 2:14-26 passage)
Luke 17:10 (see above) tells us what Paul means in Ephesians 2:8-9. Without God's grace our works of obedience mean nothing. However, as per Hebrews 5:8-9 and Titus 2:11-12 (again, see above) we see that God's grace doesn't mean anything to us unless we obey Him. Baptism is a work of obedience, just as faith, confessing, repentence and living a Christian life are.
Sorry about the length of this one. I just want to make sure I get the point across and it takes a lot of scripture to do so. What can I say? I told you I love talking about it. :yes:
I'll touch on another topic shortly.
Which brings up a point I was making on here a while back. Modern Christianity, while strictly adhering to certain parts of the law (homosexuality, the tithe, and most of the commandments for example), totally ignore other parts like the restrictions on eating certain foods, the ban on wearing mixed fabrics, or the observance of the Sabbath day, which is the seventh day of the week and not the first. If all of the law is still in force, then why are these things no longer considered sin.Matthew 5:17 - 19* 17. Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach [them], the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. ( Jesus says all Bible law in detail is to be obeyed until heaven passes away {forever})
Luke 16:17 * 17 And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail. (Jesus says Bible Law is forever)
That brings up the question of what exactly is considered "all Scripture". None of the books of the New Testament had even been written when Jesus spoke those words. Also, what about the other texts which were omitted from the official canon? The canon was decided in the mid fourth century, long after these words were written. How are we to know which texts Jesus was referring to when he said "all Scripture"? It is entirely possibly, and highly probable imo, that those who chose what we now consider the Bible simply kept the texts which supported their beliefs and threw out those which contradicted them, like the so called gnostic texts.John 10:35 35 If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken; (Jesus says that all scripture is without error)
2 Timothy 3:16 16 All scripture [is] given by inspiration of God, and [is] profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: (All scripture is God inspired)
Revelation 22:18 - 19* 18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:
19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and [from] the things which are written in this book. (Must believe Revelations as is)
For what it is worth, of course.....
If you are referencing a number, 7 years........
Matthew 24:36-42
36"No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 37As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 38For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; 39and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 40Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. 41Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.
42"Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.
I Peter 3:21 21 There is also an antitype which now saves usbaptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,
The tribulation is clearly stated, it does not mean at the end of the 7th year that Jesus will return.