tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22674140.post4158996855227272064..comments2023-10-31T07:59:02.323-07:00Comments on TRoutMac: Question #3: Ongoing Obedience and Perseverance?Pete Chadwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07144443315077769540noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22674140.post-35700457685618296472010-01-05T17:42:05.044-08:002010-01-05T17:42:05.044-08:00Thank you for your comment. Feel free to look at h...Thank you for your comment. Feel free to look at http://troutmac.blogspot.com/2009/05/faith-without-works-is-dead-what-does.html for another perspective on this passage in James, as the understanding you display matches very closely that which is taught by the Watchtower, which teaches that salvation (as they understand it) is by works.<br /><br />About a year ago I posted 25 or more Biblical arguments for eternal security beginning here http://troutmac.blogspot.com/2009/02/eternal-security-does-it-matter.html. Check them out if you haven't already.<br /><br />Eternal security is the only view that is compatible with a by-grace salvation that is truly apart from works. Any compromise on this results in a salvation that depends upon you and not on Christ. For our salvation, we are to rely on Christ. That's what "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ" means… you depend, you trust, you rely on Him to provide your salvation and keep it secure. <br /><br />Christ Himself promised "eternal life" to those who would trust in Him. "Eternal life" lasts forever. Eternal life that can be lost is not eternal and so I can lose it, then Christ is a liar.Pete Chadwellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07144443315077769540noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22674140.post-74023984800168942182010-01-02T10:19:20.682-08:002010-01-02T10:19:20.682-08:00Of course one cannot earn salvation by works (spec...Of course one cannot earn salvation by works (specifically works of the Mosaic Law), it is given to those displaying faith. But as James plainly stated, "faith without works is dead." (James 2:26) A person with a real, living faith will be acting in accordance with it, displaying good works.<br /><br />Further, your once-saved-always-saved perspective conflicts with what the Bible explicitly tells us. One must keep their faith alive and strong to retain God's approval. Jude wrote "although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt I had to write and urge you to contend for the faith . . . I want to remind you that the Lord delivered his people out of Egypt, but later destroyed those who did not believe." (Jude 3, 5)<br /><br />Those people initially showed faith, taking part in the passover and leaving Egypt with Moses, but they lost it later on and were destroyed by God. This is why Jude warns those Christians, "*Keep* yourselves in God's love." (v. 21)<br /><br />A faithful person can take comfort in knowing that they have God's approval, yet we all must "continue to work out [our] salvation with fear and trembling." (Philippians 2:12)<br /><br />TJTJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09026162065212920554noreply@blogger.com