Agreed, and I understand and hear you, but why is perseverance, endurance, or overcoming ever to be referred to as "works" or "proof of salvation?" Whose works are considered to actually reach these conclusions? Mans' or God's? That is the ultimate determination, is it not?
As far as I can see it is. But it's a tricky point because we can't always discern between a "work of the flesh" and a "work of God". Paul told us to judge nothing before the time as part of the same passage that speaks of stewards being found faithful (I Cor 4:1-5). And when one claims one's own righteousness, it seems to me that you wind up with what I Cor 4:6 describes and I Cor 4:7 counters. What do you have that you didn't receive? And if we are prone to not even knowing our own hearts, then how much more critical is it for us to be careful how we walk before God?
As far as the first question about works being "proof" of salvation, these I believe are the fruits of a tree. And the Lord's instruction to the churches in Revelation was generally be faithful unto death or overcome and I will give you a crown. Walk in the spirit and you will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh tells me that this is only accomplished by the power of the Spirit of God (and note, also, I Cor 4:20). These are all generalities and speaking about things that can't be easily defined, so it's not as though one can always say "this is God's work" or "this is man's work". Some works of the flesh are clear (or "manifest" as Gal 5:19-21 says) but some take time to show their fruit. But wherever the fruit of the Spirit is (Gal 5:22-23) one can be sure the work of God is active.
A final thought (maybe a little indulgent, but...) - it occurs to me that the scripture that says that there is a way that seems right to a man but the end there of is the ways of death (Prov 14:12) is speaking about man sincerely going wrong. Man THINKS he knows what is right, but he doesn't. And the thing is, it isn't often clear that it is death he is following until he gets to the end of that work. So judging a work to be of God or of man is, I think, something that often takes time to be able to do.[/quote]
Rest in Christ, is so Christ can work . . . not us busy resting in Him as we work. Right?
Yes, and amen. This is how I see it, but my husband I see and grieve a lot about the subtle deviations (stated and fussed about above) in Reformed camps these days ...
I honestly think the same thing happens in many different denominations and "streams" of broader Christianity. Even the Charismatic wing of Christianity (far removed) speaks about the Spirit of God and its moving but often judges it by a very humanistic standard. So I think it is a challenge to so discern regardless of one's camp.
Thank you, and I hope you will patiently accept my responses in same manner.
I certainly do.
