The Word of God is for Believers ONLY

[jeremiah1five]

The Word of God is For Believers ONLY

The Law. Written by Moses (a believer) to and for Covenant Israel (other believers).

The Psalms. Written by Solomon, David, etc. (believers) to and for Covenant Israel (other believers)

The Prophets. Written by Ezra, Ruth, Samuel, Ezekiel, Daniel, Malachi, etc (believers) to and for Covenant Israel (other believers).

The Gospels. Written by Matthew, Mark, Luke, John (believers) to and for the Church (other believers).

The Acts of the Holy Spirit. Written by Luke the Physician (believer) to and for the Church (other believers).

The Epistles. Written by Paul, Peter, James, John, etc. (believers) to and for the Church (other believers).

The Revelation of Jesus Christ. Written by John (believer) to and for the Church (other believers).

Jesus Himself speaks to His disciples in response to the question of why He speaks to the people in parables:

Mark 4:11-12
11 And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables:
12 That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.


Jesus, in speaking parables presents some aspect or teaching of the Gospel of the kingdom of God to the people and also instructs, commands, and invites them to repent and be saved, and actively prevents the people from seeing, hearing, and understanding to prevent them from repenting and being converted. The reason for this is simple: the people are unworthy of the salvation, the mercy, and the grace of God.

Jesus, in another place says:

John 6:63
63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

The Word of God is spirit and life. The unconverted are flesh and death. Both, as Paul described and taught, are contrary one to another:

Galatians 5:17
17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

Paul says elsewhere:

1 Corinthians 2:14
14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

Man is flesh, the Word of God is spiritual. Man cannot "receive" the things of the Spirit of God "neither can he know [them]" because of this judgment upon them of God. It is only through God converting the individual and putting His Spirit in them does a man become a spirtual man and then the Word of God can be heard, can be seen, can be understood, and in this the Word of God applies to the believer in Covenant with God.

The Word of God is for believers ONLY.

 

[B-A-C]

Seems like a chicken and egg question

Rom 10:17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.

 

[james1523]

Unbelievers cannot receive the instant speaking of the Word by the Holy Spirit within. In this sense... Word of God is for believers. But Christ is also the Word of God.. to say Word of God is for believers only, is to say Christ is for believers only. But Christ is even more needed for unbelievers. The gospel is also the Word of God.. this is for believers.. without it they cannot be saved. God can and does speak to unbelievers.. consider Cain, and other men.. God spoke to them, they spoke back to God..Some things to consider. God spoke and it was created...consider that unless God speaks to unbelievers.. He cannot do a creative work in them.. He cannot change their heart and make them a new creation.

 

[jeremiah1five]

Seems like a chicken and egg question

Rom 10:17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.

For those who hold to the creation as described in Scripture, the chicken came first.

Faith is trust. In order to trust something one must not only hear or see a thing, they must also understand it. Understanding comes from God. He opens the mind, the ear, the eyes, to the understanding of His truth. Then, we trust it. If there's no opening of the mind by the Spirit, there is no receiving things of the Spirit (1 Co. 2:14).

 

[jeremiah1five]

Unbelievers cannot receive the instant speaking of the Word by the Holy Spirit within. In this sense... Word of God is for believers. But Christ is also the Word of God.. to say Word of God is for believers only, is to say Christ is for believers only. But Christ is even more needed for unbelievers. The gospel is also the Word of God.. this is for believers.. without it they cannot be saved. God can and does speak to unbelievers.. consider Cain, and other men.. God spoke to them, they spoke back to God..Some things to consider. God spoke and it was created...consider that unless God speaks to unbelievers.. He cannot do a creative work in them.. He cannot change their heart and make them a new creation.

Before we became believers were we not all unbelievers? So, why did we become born again from above and others have not, or will not? Answer: Election. We who are saved, and others who will be saved, have their names written in the book of life of the lamb slain before the foundation (creation) of the world (Rev. 13:8 ).
Peter said:

1 Peter 1:23
23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

This birth does not need to be accompanied by a hearing of the Scripture, or a reading of the Scripture. God saves merely on His promise to save. And the promise is to those whom He foreknew in Himself when He first contemplated this people in His Mind BEFORE He began creating heaven, earth, and man. Christians seem to forget, or fail to understand, that God has initiated His plan for man and He is directly involved in its implementation and its conclusion. God does not leave His people "comfortless." His Word to His people is for doctrine, reproof, correction, instruction in righteousness, so that the man (and woman) of God may be throughly furnished unto all good works (2 Tim. 3:16-17). The unsaved are deaf, dumb, and blind to God's Word unless and until He opens their mind at the appointed time. Salvation is not left in the hands of man to "choose" or "not choose" God. Because of the bondage of sin every man and woman is born into in this life there is no choice to consciously make. They are, as we were all, born in the bondage of sin. And if in bondage, then someone must come to rescue us and remove that bondage before we can be "free." But man is not free. Jesus said a man will have only ONE master. He will love the one and hate the other. And for every soul born into this world our master is sin. There is no freedom here. Free will in man is an illusion. Man is born into the world a slave of sin. Paul likens it to slavery. But once the Holy Spirit applies the salvation bought by the Son on Calvary, then it is here at this moment that a person becomes "free indeed" and go from one master (sin and death) to another Master (righteousness and life). There is no where else to go.

 

[amadeus2]

That is all very good, but what is it that draws unbelievers to God? "

No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me." John 6:44-45

And is not Jesus the Word of God?

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us"

And how does a person come to the Father other than by the Word of God, which is Jesus?

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." John 14:6

Before a person receives the gift of the Holy Ghost he is able to see enough to come or to be drawn. He already has a tiny bit of Light, enough Light to see Jesus enough to want more... The following verse isn't speaking of born again people but people born of woman:

That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world." John 1:9

 

[jeremiah1five]

That is all very good, but what is it that draws unbelievers to God? " And is not Jesus the Word of God? And how does a person come to the Father other than by the Word of God, which is Jesus? Before a person receives the gift of the Holy Ghost he is able to see enough to come or to be drawn. He already has a tiny bit of Light, enough Light to see Jesus enough to want more... The following verse isn't speaking of born again people but people born of woman:

Amadeus2, You can quote the Scripture all you want to a person, but UNLESS the Holy Spirit is moving upon that person there will be no conversion, birth, salvation, etc., at all.

The Ministry of the Son is past. It is finished. The Ministry of the Holy Spirit in the world today should be a "sign" to everyone that everything necessary for God to bring His people to Himself is finished. The Word of God does two things: it condemns the guilty and justifies the righteous. The Holy Spirit does two things (among other things), but His Ministry is simple: Apply the salvation bought by the Son on the cross. There is no longer anything left for God to do. Now it is a matter of applying the atonement to God's elect past, present, and future in TIME as was done in eternity in Himself.

That true light is not the Holy Spirit in salvation, nor is it salvation. It is the light of life (God breathed into his nostrils the breath of life...), there is no power in it except to give animating life to all men. Do you not know that basically all life has an aura around it? Plants, animals, mankind, all have this aura surrounding the body. It is a "light" but it is not a light that opens a mind or saves a person. It is the breath of life and the creative power of God that emanates from creation.

A person is either drawn or they are not. A person either has the Spirit or they don't (Rom. 8:9). There is no half-drawing, or half-baptism, A person is saved in eternity (book of life) and at the appointed TIME (not succession of times or moments), is when a person becomes saved. It is an appointed TIME, not times. And man is forever locked into his or her destiny.

The Holy Spirit does TWO things in the world.

John 16:8
8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:

There are TWO things here. Do you see them? The Holy Spirit in the world today does those two things: He reproves the world of sin (condemns), and reproves the world of righteousness (justifies). And both have been judged by God. One receives the judgment of "GUILTY!" the other of "NOT GUILTY!"

There is no "free will" to accept Christ or reject Him. Each and every man has already been dealt with by God and locked into a destiny BEFORE He created heaven, earth, and man.

 

[amadeus2]

Amadeus2, You can quote the Scripture all you want to a person, but UNLESS the Holy Spirit is moving upon that person there will be no conversion, birth, salvation, etc., at all.

Only by the Spirit is a person changed in God's direction, right?.

The Ministry of the Son is past. It is finished.

He completed His personal overcoming journey in order to make ours possible. The Hope in us should be Christ according to Paul's words. Is that not the Son?

The Ministry of the Holy Spirit in the world today should be a "sign" to everyone that everything necessary for God to bring His people to Himself is finished.

In a sense you may be correct, as the necessary price has been paid, but there is matter of acknowledgement and surrender, isn't there?

The Word of God does two things: it condemns the guilty and justifies the righteous.

Is it that simple? What happened to the need to overcome? Jesus did it. Are we not to bear our own cross? How does one qualify for the rewards for overcomers of Revelation 2 & 3?

The Holy Spirit does two things (among other things), but His Ministry is simple: Apply the salvation bought by the Son on the cross.

And what, if anything do you and I have to do?

There is no longer anything left for God to do.

In the sense that He has already spoken all that needs to be spoken, you may be correct.

Now it is a matter of applying the atonement to God's elect past, present, and future in TIME as was done in eternity in Himself.

Why is He going all of this trouble if everything has already been decided?

That true light is not the Holy Spirit in salvation, nor is it salvation. It is the light of life (God breathed into his nostrils the breath of life...), there is no power in it except to give animating life to all men. Do you not know that basically all life has an aura around it? Plants, animals, mankind, all have this aura surrounding the body. It is a "light" but it is not a light that opens a mind or saves a person. It is the breath of life and the creative power of God that emanates from creation.

I must bite my tongue on this.

A person is either drawn or they are not. A person either has the Spirit or they don't (Rom 8:9). There is no half-drawing, or half-baptism, A person is saved in eternity (book of life) and at the appointed TIME (not succession of times or moments), is when a person becomes saved. It is an appointed TIME, not times. And man is forever locked into his or her destiny.

I guess no one explained these things to James before he wrote his book: "Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be." James 3:10 Apparently those things were "so" or he wouldn't have needed to tell them about it.

The Holy Spirit does TWO things in the world.

John 16:8
8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:

There are TWO things here. Do you see them? The Holy Spirit in the world today does those two things: He reproves the world of sin (condemns), and reproves the world of righteousness (justifies). And both have been judged by God. One receives the judgment of "GUILTY!" the other of "NOT GUILTY!"

There is no "free will" to accept Christ or reject Him. Each and every man has already been dealt with by God and locked into a destiny BEFORE He created heaven, earth, and man.

What happened to bringing all things to our remembrance and teaching us? What is the purpose of everything in the eyes of God if no man has a choice? You make it sounds like God is pretty heartless when it comes to those who, according to you, were created to be GUILTY. Probably you do have answer, but at this point, I wonder if I really want to hear it. Would it matter whether or not I did? According to you my fate is already written.

 

[jeremiah1five]

Only by the Spirit is a person changed in God's direction, right?.

Only by the Spirit is a person regenerated and made alive before God. God saves in the New Testament the same way He saves in the Old Testament. His Spirit.

He completed His personal overcoming journey in order to make ours possible. The Hope in us should be Christ according to Paul's words. Is that not the Son? In a sense you may be correct, as the necessary price has been paid, but there is matter of acknowledgement and surrender, isn't there? Is it that simple? What happened to the need to overcome? Jesus did it. Are we not to bear our own cross? How does one qualify for the rewards for overcomers of Revelation 2 & 3? And what, if anything do you and I have to do? In the sense that He has already spoken all that needs to be spoken, you may be correct. Why is He going all of this trouble if everything has already been decided?

All who are called will come. All who come will acknowledge and surrender. Our overcoming is ordained of God. He is sanctifying us into the image of Christ. One does not "qualify." God will give to every servant His reward.
He goes through all this trouble because God cannot reduplicate Himself in Himself. In order to put a body to those whose names are in the book of life of the Lamb God must "go through this."

I guess no one explained these things to James before he wrote his book: "Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be." James 3:10 Apparently those things were "so" or he wouldn't have needed to tell them about it.

In this life that is correct.

What happened to bringing all things to our remembrance and teaching us?

Be Biblical. He was speaking to His eleven disciples:

John 14:26
26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you [eleven] all things, and bring all things to your [eleven] remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you [the eleven].

You weren't there, were you? You're not an apostle are you?

What is the purpose of everything in the eyes of God if no man has a choice?

God does not create heaven, earth, animals, man, planets, all these things in our realm and then sit back to see who will "accept Christ" when God knows that NO ONE will accept Christ. God created everything in the universe and is actively calling out a people to Himself. You can choose chocolate or vanilla, the blue shirt or the brown shirt, but even all these choices have been ordained of God. That's how Big God is. He contemplated a people in Himself, created those thoughts by way of created matter (universe), man was created falling short of the glory of God because there is only ONE God and He gives His glory to no one, and man is basically under condemnation of death for sin. ALL man. It's all a plan of God. His plan. Nothing is left in the hands of man because in the hands of man he will not come to God.

John 3:19-20
19And this is the condemnation, that light [Christ] is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light [Christ], because their deeds were evil.
20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light [Christ], neither cometh to the light [Christ], lest his deeds should be reproved.

Jesus understood it. Men love darkness rather than Christ (this is still true today), Man hates Christ, NEITHER COMES TO CHRIST, so there is no free will in order to choose because you will choose darkness, that which you love more than Christ, neither do men on their own come to Christ. The reason: BONDAGE to and in sin. And a slave is not free. Free will in man is an illusion.

You make it sounds like God is pretty heartless when it comes to those who, according to you, were created to be GUILTY.

God is not heartless. Man is guilty. He is guilty because there is only ONE God. The only Person worthy of God and all He is is the Son and the Holy Spirit. Man is unworthy of what God is and what God has. That is why He actively prevents man from turning and converting (Matt. 13:10-11, 15). And sin also prevents man from doing that, too. Double-whammy.

Probably you do have answer, but at this point, I wonder if I really want to hear it. Would it matter whether or not I did? According to you my fate is already written.

Well, you should be concerned if it is in the Scripture. That's the foundation of all we are commanded to believe. But we must first understand it. And God will apply it according to the good pleasure of His will. We all have different levels of faith. We are not all ears or eyes in the Body of Christ. But God is making us into what He is making us into. Some of us are prophets, and others are not. Some are pastors, some of us are not. We do not all have the gift of tongues, or the gift of helps, or of faith, or of mercy, but Christ is the principle thing. In all thy getting get Christ.

Yes, God has predestined all that has happen, is happening, and will happen. It's His plan. He will do all His good pleasure.
Be part of it.
Watch it happen.
Give God the glory for it.
Don't be so high-minded.

Acts 3:12
12 And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk?

Without Christ we are nothing.
With Christ we are nothing.
It's all about Him.

 

[amadeus2]

Really Jeremiah1five, I am a believer and I read my Bible daily and pray daily, (although perhaps not yet without ceasing), as I have done for many years. What you have derived from some place is far from where I am. Probably for the moment we don't have enough common ground to continue a discussion. Thanks for being friendly. Give God the glory always!

 

[jeremiah1five]

Really Jeremiah1five, I am a believer and I read my Bible daily and pray daily, (although perhaps not yet without ceasing), as I have done for many years. What you have derived from some place is far from where I am. Probably for the moment we don't have enough common ground to continue a discussion. Thanks for being friendly. Give God the glory always!

The only "common ground," or foundation true born again Biblical Christians have is that of the apostles and prophets.

Jesus Christ is the cornerstone.

Ephesians 2:20
20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;

Thanks for the sharpening.

 

[Boanerges]

Jesus is the Word of God, He came to seek and save the lost. In my view, and of course only my view, the bible was written to the sinner and the saint, to the old man as well as the new. God uses it to draw and save the lost. He also uses it to bring the saints closer to His own heart.

 

[B-A-C]

Amadeus2, You can quote the Scripture all you want to a person, but UNLESS the Holy Spirit is moving upon that person there will be no conversion, birth, salvation, etc., at all.

I have to say I totally agree with this specific thought. Just saying "I believe in Jesus" alone isn't enough.
1 Jn 3:24 The one who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. We know by this that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.

Matt 7:22 "Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?'

There are a lot of people that "say" they believe in Jesus.

John 3:5 Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
John 3:6 "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

 

[jeremiah1five]

I have to say I totally agree with this specific thought. Just saying "I believe in Jesus" alone isn't enough.
1 Jn 3:24 The one who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. We know by this that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.

Matt 7:22 "Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?'

There are a lot of people that "say" they believe in Jesus.

John 3:5 Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
John 3:6 "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

Building upon that foundation....

Romans 8:9
9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

.......and the "evidence" is not necessarily "speaking in a tongue."

There is more to a mouth that meets the eye.

 

[jeremiah1five]

Jesus is the Word of God...

Christ is the Word of God.

John 1:14
14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

He came to seek and save the lost.

The "lost" being His elect who by virtue of their creation outside of God (no longer a thought in the Mind of God), became "misplaced" which is the general definition in Scripture (OT) of the word "lost" and/or "loss."
In Him before creation we were the "apple of His Mind's-eye" and a holy, peculiar people. We were holy because He is holy. And when we are done here on this planet we will return to Trinity from which we were contemplated. Hid in Christ, that is.

In my view, and of course only my view, the bible was written to the sinner and the saint, to the old man as well as the new.

The "sinner" being the elect of God. The saint being those whose names were written (by God) in the book of life of the lamb slain BEFORE the foundation (creation) of the world.

God uses it to draw and save the lost.

He saves merely on His promise to save. Salvation is of the LORD (Jonah 2:9). I described the "lost" above. They are His elect.

He also uses it to bring the saints closer to His own heart.

Yes, He does. But first and foremost the Word of God to the believer and ONLY the believer is for....

2 Timothy 3:16-17
16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

"You" can't teach swine anything. They love the mud way too much. Nor can you change the spots on a leopard, or the skin of an Ethiopian.

 

[clark thompson]

Yes but we are to share the gospel to allow the Lord to win souls

 

[jiggyfly]

What about Saul's case? He was not a believer, rather he hunted believers down and persecuted them, yet the Lord spoke to him directly?

 

[DHC]

Just saying "I believe in Jesus" alone isn't enough.
Matt 7:22 "Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?'

Hello B-A-C.

Just believing in Jesus is everything B-A-C.

Noticed the quotation above from the Gospel of Jesus Christ by Matthew.

I have provided some additional verses from Matthew 7 for the sake of context.

Matthew 7
13 “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction,
and there are many who enter through it.
14 For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it. (gate = Jesus)

This is a veiled Gospel message, hope you agree.

Now onto your quotation;

21 Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter
the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father
who is in heaven will enter.
22 Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not
prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and
in Your name perform many miracles?’
23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart
from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’

This is the important part B-A-C, "who does the will of My Father...will enter"

What is the will of the Father?

John 6:40
For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds
the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself
will raise him up on the last day.”

Only believers in Jesus fulfill the will of the Father. Not people who just use
the "name" of Jesus but do not believe in Him, remember the sons of Sceva.

Acts 19
13 But also some of the Jewish exorcists, who went from place to place, attempted to name
over those who had the evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, “I adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preaches.”
14 Seven sons of one Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this.
15 And the evil spirit answered and said to them, “I recognize Jesus, and I know about Paul, but who are you?”
16 And the man, in whom was the evil spirit, leaped on them and subdued all of them and overpowered them,
so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.

Now we view the next verse in Matthew 7 in context;

24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them,
may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. (the rock = Jesus)

If the house is not on the rock, if you do not believe in Jesus, beware the storm.

As far as I can see these verses are simply presenting the
Gospel, which is simply believing in Jesus. In fact the quotation is
from a Gospel, the good news about Jesus Christ.

 

[B-A-C]

Hello B-A-C.

Just believing in Jesus is everything B-A-C.

Noticed the quotation above from the Gospel of Jesus Christ by Matthew.

I have provided some additional verses from Matthew 7 for the sake of context.

Matthew 7
13 “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction,
and there are many who enter through it.
14 For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it. (gate = Jesus)

We can do better at context here I think.

Mat 7:14 "For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.
Mat 7:15 "Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves.
Mat 7:16 "You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they?
Mat 7:17 "So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit.
Mat 7:18 "A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit.
Mat 7:19 "Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
Mat 7:20 "So then, you will know them by their fruits.
Mat 7:21 "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.
Mat 7:22 "Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?'
Mat 7:23 "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.'

1 Jn 3:4 Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness.

24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them,
may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. (the rock = Jesus)

Act upon the rock? No, it says hear these words and acts upon them.
What are his words?
bear good fruit - verse 18

Only believers in Jesus fulfill the will of the Father. Not people who just use
the "name" of Jesus but do not believe in Him, remember the sons of Sceva.

Rom 2:13 for it is not the hearers of the Law who are just before God, but the doers of the Law will be justified.
Jas 1:22 But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.

As far as I can see these verses are simply presenting the
Gospel, which is simply believing in Jesus. In fact the quotation is
from a Gospel, the good news about Jesus Christ.

It is two separate verses, taken out of the context. A half Gospel is a half truth.

Just believing in Jesus is everything B-A-C.

Not according to Jesus' brother.

Jas 2:20 But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless?
Jas 2:24 You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone.
Jas 2:26 For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.

I have tried to stay away from the threads that you and Barny frequent, I have offered to stop posting in them.
I have quit refuting all of your posts, I would appreciate the same courtesy.
I'm sure many people on here are tired of the same debate in every thread. Including myself.

 

[DHC]

We can do better at context here I think.
Mat 7:17 "So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit.

Hello B-A-C.

Just responding to any post that conflicts with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

A good tree is only good due to the imparted righteousness of Christ.

Fruit of the Spirit, this results from believing in the Gospel.

Love is from God, the source is not us B-A-C.

Feel free to ignore my posts B-A-C, that's ok.