Originally Posted by prairieboss
My name nickname is prairieboss. My name is Brian W. Schrader. My introduction was deleted, for some reason that I do not understand. (Felicity, please clarify my infraction.) All the words I have spoken are mine, and in my own words. I am a fellow Iowan, but I find the treatment I have received as a member of the body of Christ shameful. That is right: I am a saved Christian, an Iowan, and an American; therefore, I am used to freedom of speech, which seems to be restricted here at the Landover Forum. Being a Baptist, I find it disconcerting that you question my word as a believer. I love Jesus, and have been saved for most of the 49 years that I have been on this Earth.
If this repy message gets me banned, then so be it. Jesus did not restrict free speech; therefore, Christ being our example, I do not see why the Landover Forum would find it necessary to restrict the free speech of me, a Baptist, and a brother in Christ. I could understand your behavior if you were Jehovah's Witnesses, or if I were unsaved, but neither are true. I do not feel the love of the Holy Spirit. If you are saved, and we are all part of the same body of Christ, then we ought to love each other. 1 John 5:1; 1 John 4:11-12. I am not unsaved. Christians hate sin, not sinners.
Regardless, I will have no hard feelings toward any of you if I am banned. If I said anything that appeared mean-spirited I apologize, for it was not my intention.
Now my reply:
Regarding your Scripture from the book of James, the context clearly speaks to being justified before men, not God. If someone says to you “I am hungry,” and you say “Be fed,” but then you give him no bread, that does not justify you before men. Only by doing good works is your religion justified in the eyes of men, because, unlike God, men cannot see your faith; men can only see your works. The context of the chapter clearly indicates that we are justified before men by our works, which is what the Pharisees were all about—being justified before men. And the Pharisees that did not trust Christ alone for salvation ended up in hell. Do not let Satan fool you, tricking you to hell by believing in a works-salvation.
Salvation is a gift, as the Holy Scriptures state in Ephesians 2:8-9. It is stated again in Romans 3:24. We are justified by faith, not works, as stated in Romans 3:26. Romans 3:28 states that we are justified before God by faith “without the deeds of the law.” We obtain righteousness with God by faith, not works, see Romans 4:13.
Read Romans 5:13-21. Clearly the Holy Scriptures state that righteousness is a gift; therefore, it cannot be earned through good works, otherwise it is no longer a gift. Through Christ’s obedience, we are seen as obedient, through Christ’s suffering we do not have to suffer hell: Jesus finished it all. Our salvation, our righteousness, our justification before God is a free gift: for by grace are ye saved through faith: it is the gift of God (Ephesians 2:8-9); we are freely justified by His grace through the redemption that is in Jesus (Romans 3:24).
John 6:29: Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.
The work of God is to believe on the Son of God—without the deeds of the law. Salvation is God’s free gift. Praise the Lord!
I suggest y’all that disagree that salvation is God’s free gift to read Romans chapters 3-5, and then ask the Father to save you, accepting His free gift of salvation by faith in Jesus Christ alone.
Proclaiming the truth world-wide and 24 hours per day, because the truth cannot be refuted—only denied,
Brian W. Schrader Heb.6:15 [possible porn link removed]
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