Prayer Journal

Monday, August 21, 2000
234/132
Read through the Bible in OneYear PlanA

"They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable and unfit for doing anything good." Titus 1:16

Paul warned Titus of rebellious leaders who were mere "talkers" and "deceivers". He said they would destroy entire households by misleading them for dishonest gain. He urged Titus to rebuke them sharply until they begin to preach "sound" doctrine. (vs 10-13)

"As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead." James 2:26

Some people, reading James 2:14-26, might conclude that James emphasized "works" too much. They may also feel James' strong words give credence to "salvation by works". They may feel that James' teaching does not align with that of Paul. While Paul and James preach from different perspectives, there is no evidence to conclude that they had opposing theology.

Paul says you can tell when someone is an impostor BY THEIR ACTION. James says you can tell when someone is a believer BY THEIR ACTION. Both are valid claims and in no way contradict each other.

The TOP TEN actions that IMPOSTERS say "prove" they're saved:

    1. I practice the Golden Rule
    2. I've attended church since ! was a child.
    3. I've been baptized
    4. My parent's are Christians
    5. Someone read a tract to me and told me I was saved
    6. I do good things for other people
    7. I give money to charity
    8. I obey the law and respect my neighbor.
    9. I am sincerely sorry for my failures.
    10. I know the Bible and how to be saved.

The TOP TEN actions that the Bible says "prove" a person is saved:

    1. They publicly profess their faith by water baptism
    2. They desire and practice fellowship with other believers
    3. They saturate themselves with the Word of God
    4. They demonstrate the fruit of the Spirit
    5. They pray and spend time alone with God
    6. They love what God loves and have no hatred except..
    7. They hate what God hates and have an intolerance for sin.
    8. They witness to the lost, vocally and demonstrably
    9. They serve God seven days a week
    10. Their faith is obvious to everyone around them

 

(1) Scripture comes from the Holy Bible, New International Version; (c)1978 by New York International Bible Society

(2) The images used herein were obtained from the Learning Company's ClickArt Christian Graphics Deluxe product, (c)1999 The Learning Company, Inc and its subsidiaries, 88 Roland Way, Novato, CA 94945 USA. All Rights Reserved.

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