Consider this passage:
Romans 5:1-2 KJV
1) Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
2) By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
We stand in grace, not in obedience, and we access that grace by faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, just as how we also are justified, having peace with God.
Ephesians 2 tells us very plainly that we are not saved by good works, instead we are saved unto good works.
I can't speak for devils, just the same, to turn someone from works to faith, or faith to works, either is deadly if the other is true.
Much of the NT is written towards the church in a manner that it takes in both true and false converts. We cannot know who is truly born again, we just know what we see, and what we think about what we see.
"If you are these people . . . you will not inherit . . . and some of you were . . . so don't do those things they do . . ." addresses both saved and unsaved, with definition, and warning. If salvation is by grace through faith, then turning someone to be saved by their own works shipwrecks their faith, as they are now running the wrong race, working to be forgiven at the end, working to be alive at the end.
If the truth is that we are alive in Him now, and are forgiven now, and do our works from a place of liberty in Christ, then works doctrines get us off that path.
I know you don't think of your view as a "works salvation", and I'm not saying these things to reflect badly on you, not at all! I perceive your heart is very much toward the Lord Jesus!
But I call it out this way to say plainly what it is. As though Jesus gives us a start, but we have to finish it off, by what we do, and don't do. Please correct me if I'm misrepresenting you! I value our conversation!
Honor, and reward.
Those who are wise will shine as the brightness of the sky, and those who turn many to righteousness as the stars of heaven forever.
But more than that . . . I think there is exactly 1 thing and 1 thing only that we take with us into the everlasting, and that being our relationships. If we are God's children, having relationship with Him, that is first. And we are all building, building ourselves, each other, the church. But with what?
What am I doing for you to build you up in Christ? Build with the wrong things and it's all burnt up, though that one is still saved, but through the flames.
Compare the man who enters the everlasting having only served himself in his life. Though he be saved, born again, yet there is no, "And here you are . . . the one I've loved, the one I've poured my heart into, and now look at you! Look at all the fruit you've received! Such Joy!!"
1 Thessalonians 2:19-20 KJV
19) For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?
20) For ye are our glory and joy.
This is what I'm working towards, to know this glory and joy. To be crowned with the rejoicing of seeing in glory those to whom I've given myself. To blend our joy together in worship of the Lamb who gave His life fully so that we could share in His glory.
I don't think we really have much conception of the reality of what it will look like, rewards lost, as Jesus judges His brothers. I do have a pretty good idea of what's lost in this world when we don't obey Him.
Knowing God is the most transcendant & transforming experience we can have. More than an experience, knowing God is a transcendant and transformed life itself. I've concluded the best way to know God is to obey Him. I can explain that more if you wish.
I think disobedience to God as His children, this costs us much more than we can really imagine. I have ideas about what my life would be like had I obeyed Christ at every decision, but the reality is I'll never know, and how can I accurately imagine what the work of God would have been?
Still I'm saved by His grace through faith and not behavior.
Much love!
But we are not saved by our works. If we were, then why do we need the Savior?
