Love One Another and the Cross

[shazeep]

Originally Posted by mfblume

Not necessarily.

Just because faith starts it that does not mean it's not salvation by works. What is the nature of the faith and what is the faith directed toward in your mind?

That's a good way to put it--a good question to reflect upon. I will maintain that if your works are not an expression of your faith, you will quickly learn that they are an expression of your ego, and you will be a house divided, because "love your enemies" is anathema to self, and you will stop doing one or the other.

Originally Posted by mfblume

As far what saves, yes!

This seems anti-Christ to me now, as i read Christ's Words there as instructional; but i also see that the Bible is written in such a way as to offer a choice to anyone who reads it; salvation is not of works, yet faith without works is dead, etc. For any doctrine that can be "proven" with Scripture, there is a doctrine seemingly at odds with it. And then we are called to be sure in our own minds!

Our choices reveal our hearts; so i wouldn't want to prove my position here beyond a certain point, anyway--or insist that it is the "right" one; you must have faith in Christ, and i don't mean to deny this. Whether we have a viable understanding of Christ, to have faith in, might certainly be arguable, but i think that that evolves in someone over time; one hopefully gains a deeper understanding of Christ today then they had yesterday. My position on Love comes some 40 years after my Acts 2:38 experience; but i doubt that this will be my terminal understanding of Christ.

Originally Posted by mfblume

I never said the GS was lost. I am just saying what Jesus said about the good samaritan has nothing to do with what saves us. If the GS was saved, it was not because of the good he did. And anyone who does that same good may not be saved at all.

Put that way, i must agree, as it allows that they may be, also. It was reflection upon this parable, along with the parable of the Vineyard Owner with Two Sons, and the parable of the Separation of Sheep and Goats that illuminated for me how those who claim to have a valid understanding of God are shown to fall short.

You will argue that the GS was lost if he made no confession of human understanding of Christ; i would argue that in doing an unselfish good deed--which an ego-centered person does not do--he demonstrated the spirit of Christ, that made no sense even to the priest and the Levite, even though he likely had never heard of Christ's Name or ministry--or else why intentionally choose a Samaritan for the parable? It seems anathema to your pov; but that doesn't mean it is.

Originally Posted by mfblume

I am trying to resolve the impasse. What in your mind remits sins and makes us righteous? You're not answering that and I 've asked it more than twice.

well of course i began with your understanding, and do not deny that it is faith in God. But i have experienced that "faith in God, and Christ His Son" is just not adequately encompassed in "i went to church today and got saved."