Difficulty Reconciling

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GracePeace

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@Hey You! Our father, Abraham, also, was faced with seemingly irreconcilable propositions, and he, also, had to come up with a resolution, so that he could affirm both, so I don't have to feel like my situation is alien to the faith.
 
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GracePeace

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Ah!

Jesus said a lot of things about how to be made right under the Mosaic Covenant of Works, so when Jesus said things like this, he was showing people that they were unable to Keep the Law. Him saying things like this, isn't meant for Us/Church; it's meant for them/Israel...
To the contrary , in John's Gospel, He taught "as I was sent so I send you", and John 15 "If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love."

So just as He said "He never left Me bc I always do what pleases Him" and "Your command is eternal life, therefore [i obey]" and "eternal life is to know [God]", the same things apply to us.
Well, that's the answer to your OP...
As I said, "To the contrary..." : 1 Jn 3:23,24 continues iterating the doctrine Christ taught in John's Gospel when it says we will abide in Him if we keep the Command to believe in the Name of His Son and love one another (thus it's New Covenant doctrine, not Old Covenant, and not to Israel).

That said, because of my experiences, I am open to the idea that one could express the correct words, but not be defining them appropriately--ie, it may be that not enough emphasis is placed on "believe in the Name of God's Son" and too much is placed on "and love one another", such that the faith in the Name of God's Son is obscured/negated/denied.

You can SAY "we should believe in the Name of God's Son and love one another", and be correct, at least on paper, without ACTUALLY continuing in believing in the Name of God's Son, bc of (internally) overemphasizing "love one another". It's kind of troubling.
 
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GracePeace

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Also, James wasn't alive by the time John was written... and this has nothing to do with James.
In other words, strictly speaking, since the topic is how to resolve these things John teaches, I wouldn't say James is "responding" to these things, and, so, since I'm really just asking how you all resolved these things (IF you have), I wouldn't necessarily accept the idea that "James responds to these things and i will quote James" as a response (beside the fact that it doesn’t actually solve the issue).
 
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GracePeace

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That's one I had time to think about when everything started to break down.
I guess there're examples of it in John's Gospel : you have the words of eternal life; come see a man Who told me all things I have done; I believe, and he worshipped Him; what is truth?

It's good that you asked that.
 

GracePeace

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I must've missed class that day. Why do you say your love for God and others were rejected? How do you know?
I was praying. God said I was trying to save myself with my service and devotion to Him and others (fasting praying following God's leading), and I was trying to pay for my sins.
 

GracePeace

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Basic question: What does it mean to you to "believe in Jesus" per John 3:16?
Bc my love for others and God was rejected in past times, I am confused.

I'm asking you all how you reconciled these things lol
I must've missed class that day. Why do you say your love for God and others was rejected?
I was praying. God said I was trying to save myself with my service and devotion to Him and others (fasting praying following God's leading), and I was trying to pay for my sins.
So maybe it has to have to do with Jesus paying for my sins, so I don't have to pay for my sins (not that I even realized that that was my intention while I was working), but maybe that means the work is still done, but not to pay for sin (as if God were holding something against me) but because my sin was paid for/I was loved? This would agree with the other thing He said : He wants me to serve out of love not fear. The tenor of the work is different. The motivation and intention.

That's fine on paper, but to live it is another thing--let's not pretend they're the same.
 
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GracePeace

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So maybe it has to have to do with Jesus paying for my sins, so I don't have to pay for my sins (not that I even realized that that was my intention while I was working), but maybe that means the work is still done, but not to pay for sin (as if God were holding something against me) but because my sin was paid for/I was loved? This would agree with the other thing He said : He wants me to serve out of love not fear. The tenor of the work is different. The motivation and intention.

That's fine on paper, but to live it is another thing--let's not pretend they're the same.
But if the motive and intent is different than what had thought, why would Paul say "Lest I myself be a castaway"?
Maybe he means he battles his flesh bc it wants to disbelieve the Gospel, but walking after the flesh (ie, in unbelief) RESULTS in the sins (that exclude one from God's Kingdom) listed in 1 Co 10, bc "walk after the spirit and you will not fulfill the desires of the flesh"?

But he also said "if by some means I might attain to the resurrection"... so his intent was that... I don't get it... unless he knew faith saved him from the flesh, and walking after the spirit meant he'd attain?
 

BarneyFife

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So maybe it has to have to do with Jesus paying for my sins, so I don't have to pay for my sins (not that I even realized that that was my intention while I was working), but maybe that means the work is still done, but not to pay for sin (as if God were holding something against me) but because my sin was paid for/I was loved? This would agree with the other thing He said : He wants me to serve out of love not fear. The tenor of the work is different. The motivation and intention.

That's fine on paper, but to live it is another thing--let's not pretend they're the same.

Hi, GP! :waves:

It's a good thing you're not the Author and Finisher of your faith, isn't it?

strs
 
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Lambano

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but because ....I was loved? This would agree with the other thing He said : He wants me to serve out of love not fear. The tenor of the work is different. The motivation and intention.
Is this motivation better? And getting back to your original post, is this part about what believing/trusting in Jesus is all about?

il_1140xN.3075916209_rean.jpg
 

BarneyFife

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I really, really, really don't want to stray, but try and stick to John's Gospel, and the particulars I raised (from it), in this thread

Fair enough—I was just reflecting on what you quoted from Philippians 3 and 1 Corinthians 7.

Sorry

:)
 
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GracePeace

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Is this reason better? And getting back to your original post, is this part about what believing/trusting in Jesus is all about?

il_1140xN.3075916209_rean.jpg
"We have come to know and believe in the love He has for us"... encapsulated and expressed in His giving of His Son "that we may live through Him"... so, perhaps partaking of that love is a necessary step before we move to the next step of loving others "as He loved us".
 
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