IKnowHim@leavingsoon.com (IKnowHimDoYou- A.)
Re: Eternal Life-Earned or Gift?

Eternal Life-Earned or Gift?

The RCC teaches that eternal life is a merited reward:

CCC
1821- "..to obtain the joy of heaven, as God's eternal reward for the GOOD
WORKS ACCOMPLISHED..."

Bible
"For the wages of sin is death, but the GIFT of God is eternal life
through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 6:23).

"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it
is the GIFT of God:

NOT of WORKS, lest any man should boast" (Ephesians 2:8,9).

Do you listen to men or do you listen to God? Is what a man says more
important than what God says (the Bible)? When men say that which is
contrary to what God says-who do you believe? In the end who will judge
you men or God?

Are you working to obtain eternal life (which you will never obtain) or
are you trusting God in His promise?

Hello,

Yes, God's gift to humans is the opportunity for eternal life by means
of the ransom of His Son, Jesus Christ. So is nothing required of us?
Notice Jesus' own words at 1 Jo 2:17,

"The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of
God lives forever." (NIV)

Now we see that something is required of us. God set the stage of
giving us this "gift", but we have to earn it by doing "the will of
God". He 10:36,

"... so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what
he has promised." (NIV)

But where do we find that "will of God"? The Holy Bible. (2 Ti 3:16)
Thus we must follow the Bible in what it commands us. For example, one
thing we must do is follow all of Jesus' commands, such as the one at
Mt 5:44,

"But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute
you," (NASB)

Thus if we are involved in a church that supports of wars from the
country it operates in, then we must be careful to obey Jesus and not
that church.

Yes, having faith is important, but having works by doing God's will
is also important. One must have both. Notice Jas 2:26,

"As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is
dead." (NIV)

When God's judgement day comes, how many people will be exclaiming,
"My DEAD faith saved me!"? No, according to the Bible, faith and works
are necessary to please God. And the "works" part comes from obeying
the words in the Holy Bible. Those words require action on our part.
(such as Jesus' command to his followers at Mt 28:19,20)

Sincerely, James


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