From: "Brother Gregory" Date: Sat, 29 Jan 2005 Subject: Re: [Christian Libertarians] I Love To Tell The Story Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. (Acts 16:29,31) We are lead by interpretations of this quote that to believe is simply a choice in our minds. That by our own knowledge and admission we can imagine that we know Christ and have faith in him. What does it mean to truly believe? Will se not be changed by that belief if it is real. Few will argue that we may not buy salvation with our own works or their value but half the gospel is by definition a lie. What did Christ say about being saved? Did he say to just believe? Luke 13:23-24 Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them, Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. Strive! The Greek word is agonizomai is from agon a conflict, fight or contention defined: 1) an assembly, 2) the assembly of the Greeks at their national games 2a) hence the contest for a prize at their games 2d) an action at law, trial Agonizomai is translated strive, fight, labour fervently and means to: 1) to enter a contest: contend in the gymnastic games 2) to contend with adversaries, fight 3) metaph. to contend, struggle, with difficulties and dangers 4) to endeavour with strenuous zeal, strive: to obtain something This is not an inactive belief in our heads but the application of daily faith, with sacrifice strenuous zeal. Mark 13:13 And ye shall be hated of all [men] for my name’s sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. He that shall endure again sound like something more than mental resolve. An idea repeated in Matthew 24:13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. Can we believe and seek to save our life? Luke 17:33 Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it. Luke 9:24 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it. Mark 8:35 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it. Matthew 16:25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. Can we believe in Christ and not love him? John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments. John 14:23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. If you cannot keep his word do really love him? Can you judge and not be condemned? Can we refuse to forgive and still be able to say we believe? Luke 6:37 Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven: What does it mean to believe and what tells us or shows that we do not believing? If by policy we do contrary to Christ then we cannot be believers. Do we seek the kingdom of God? Do we covet our neighbors goods? Do we love our neighbors rights as much as our own? "Good men hate to sin through love of virtue; bad men through fear of punishment." What is faith? "Allegiance is, as it were, the essence of the law; it is the bond of faith." Where our allegiance is ... That is where our faith truly lies. Yet, "…faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." (Hebrews 11). But most hope for the benefits paid for by the sweat of their neighbors brow. Do men have faith or a strong delusion? Peace on your house Gregory@hisholychurch.net Discussion and News lists including the Kingdom News. http://www.hisholychurch.net/emaillst.asp