Demon Influence

[Lamb]

Not really confusing, our works do not earn our salvation but they are required for it.

Consider an invisible bridge over a chasm with a fiery river running through it, you must not only have faith that it is there but you must also be willing to walk over that invisible bridge as if it were visible in order to bring that faith into the living reality which is salvation.

Actually, with God, He carries you over that bridge.

 

[Frankj]

Actually, with God, He carries you over that bridge.

I know that is what the poem Footprints in the Sand suggests, but is that actually a scripturally based idea? What is the Biblical basis of it?

 

[fuddy]

Frank - If our works are required for salvation, as you just said, then works are required for salvation. How else would you explain your opening sentence in post #80?

 

[Lamb]

I know that is what the poem Footprints in the Sand suggests, but is that actually a scripturally based idea? What is the Biblical basis of it?

The bible repeatedly talks about Jesus freeing us. Removing our burdens of the Law. Being our Savior. Yes, the Bible shows that God is the one actively saving us. By insisting you have a part to play, you really slap God in the face saying He can't do it alone.

 

[Frankj]

The bible repeatedly talks about Jesus freeing us. Removing our burdens of the Law. Being our Savior. Yes, the Bible shows that God is the one actively saving us. By insisting you have a part to play, you really slap God in the face saying He can't do it alone.

But no scripture says God carries us, only that God offers us his help if we ask for it and follow through by acting with the knowledge that he will give us the help as we need it while carrying out our actions.

God has laid out a path for us with everything we will need to traverse it already placed along the way so we will have it when we need it, but nowhere in the Bible will you find a verse that says we don't have to walk it for ourselves, God is not going to carry us along it if we don't first put out the effort to walk it for ourselves.

Jesus himself actually taught us this in the Sermon on the Mount, and also taught it with his own action when he fed the 5000 (which counting women and children may have been more like 20.000).

He prayed to God (ask and it shall be given) then he looked around at what he had (seek and you will find) and began dividing it up (knock and the door will be opened) and fed the entire crowd with more left over than he started with (God given abundance, given to us through our actions).

Let me ask: Had Jesus not taken action when he needed and only prayed to God the Father expecting him to do everything for him without his own actions being needed how many of those people would have eaten and how many would have gone hungry?

 

[Frankj]

Frank - If our works are required for salvation, as you just said, then works are required for salvation. How else would you explain your opening sentence in post #80?

Works are a part of salvation, and out works are not done for us, we do them ourselves.

Consider the life of William and Catherine Booth and the Salvation Army origin (There are some very interesting YouTube videos about them if you are of a mind to seek video information rather than written information)