Pastor Ralph Posted October 24, 2023 Report Share Posted October 24, 2023 Q4. (Titus 3:4-5) Why is it important to stress that our salvation has nothing to do with our righteous actions? How can otherwise “good” works be corrupted by self-serving motives? How can pride and self-deceit keep us from salvation? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krissi Posted February 13 Report Share Posted February 13 Righteous acts are never righteous enough -- there is always a tint of self-interest in every act/thought we have -- and, even if righteousness were possible, a righteous act would be followed by unrighteous acts -- we can't keep up the "act." This means that our salvation has to be based on something other than our righteousness. Sin is just so pervasive. Nothing is outside it's reach. It is the expression of self-interest, which never disappears even when we do things that others may think of as self-denying or altruistic. But here's where it gets tricky -- our motives for being saved are also tinged with self-interest. It's not as if we are impure in everything except our desire for salvation at which time, suddenly, our motives were sanitized. God must see through our selfishness not only at the time of our salvation, but in the times before it. Why some are saved and not others is a mystery only He understands, for none either merit salvation or are able to ask to be saved out of pure motives. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diane D. Posted February 24 Report Share Posted February 24 Our salvation relies on at least two understandings: God is the one who put our souls in us, declared when we would be born and can only bring about salvation and it is a gift. Our actions if true, come from a love and thankfulness of God. The flip side is that because we cannot earn salvation, we cannot lose salvation. What a blessing! By doing "good" works from a self-serving focus, we remove the focus from representing the Father as a Christian and move into what will catch the world's attention to us. We can lose focus on accepting Chris if we believe that this is all there is and that we do not need Christ. Believe me, there are always bigger and badder folks out there. Not only that, our pride and self-deceit keep us from learning more about God and his character and His care for us. We miss a lot that way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clelie Posted February 29 Report Share Posted February 29 We are saved by grace through faith in Jesus . All our works of righteousness are counted as rubbish as Paul said in his letter to the Philippians , not by works so that no one can boast. Thinking that we can do works to show are religiosity and earn the blessings of God is self presumption that keeps away from the true religion that is only through Christ in humility and faith Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eldress Rowe Posted February 29 Report Share Posted February 29 It is important to stress that our salvation has nothing to do with our righteous actions because if we are allow to think that we are saved by our actions then we would have reason to boast see what I have done. If we could have saved ourselves there would have been no need for God to send His Son and for His Son to give His lie. Besides, all our righteousness is but as filthy rags in God's sight. Only the blood of Jesus Christ can liberate us from the captivity of sin. Our good works can be corrupted self-serving motives because they do not bring glory and honor to God. Works done through self-serving motives are not done with enthusiasm, guided by knowledge, spirited with love, nor directed to the glory of God. Pride and self-deceit can keeps us from salvation because they can blind us to our sins and the need of a savior, and hinder us from confessing our sins and asking for forgiveness,. If we are to be obtain salvation we must first confess with our mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in our heart that God has raised Him from the dead. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Niyonka16 Posted February 29 Report Share Posted February 29 Q4. (Titus 3:4-5) Why is it important to stress that our salvation has nothing to do with our righteous actions? ANSWER: Good works are the evidence, not the means of salvation. Salvation and eternal life (heaven) are not obtained through human effort (i. e. our good works, keeping the law, etc.), but is according to God's mercy and grace bestowed on those who “believe” (that is completely trust and depend) on Jesus Christ. Salvation is, “not by works of righteousness which we have done.” That is because, for a lost sinner, “we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away” (Isaiah 64:6). Unless one has been born again and renewed (indwelled) by the Holy Ghost, there is nothing holy about them and everything they touch is, in God’s sight, contaminated by indwelling sin. Having been saved by grace, through faith; we are saved unto good works. We are to be careful to “maintain good works.” How can otherwise "good" works be corrupted by self-serving motives? ANSWER: Our selfishness hinders the hand of God. Selfishness stops your prayers from being answered. God can’t bless wrong motives. Your heart has to be right. God is looking at your MOTIVES. Your motives are serious to Him. If you are doing the right things for the right reasons that’s SERVICE. If you’re doing the right things for the wrong reasons that’s SELFISHNESS. We shouldn’t do anything out of selfishness, strife or pride. We should be walking in humility and looking to other’s interests. Selfishness and leadership don’t go together. Leaders are called to be SERVANTS. We serve others, we don’t have others serve us. Our motives should be to please God. Be sincere and let what you do be HEARTFELT. When He searches us He will reveal the motives our heart. He exposes the condition of our heart so He can help you correct it. We must ask God to align us with His purpose and will for our lives. How can pride and self-deceit keep us from salvation? ANSWER: Throughout the Bible, we are warned against pride. PRIDE, in particular, gives an individual the false illusion that he/she does not need God. Pride not only separates us from others, but most importantly it separates us from God. Those with pride do not seek or have room for Him (God). The problem with pride is that it is sneaky and very hard to see in the mirror. It sneaks in, and we don’t even realize it until it has already caused us to sin. The unfortunate truth is that if we allow pride to dominate our lives, we will suffer immensely. NOTE: … “PRIDE IS A KILLER!” Do not allow pride to enter into your heart and create a false sense of arrogance. Instead, repent of your pride, and ask God to give you a heart of humility and service towards others. When you feel tempted to act pridefully, do just the opposite, WALK HUMBLY walk. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicolaas A.P. Mostert Posted March 3 Report Share Posted March 3 Q4. (Titus 3:4-5) Why is it important to stress that our salvation has nothing to do with our righteous actions? We are so prone to look to ourselves, to the "righteous things we had done" as the cause of God's acceptance, but even our goodness, our so-called "righteousness" is flawed by mixed motives and self-interest. Our salvation is "because of" or "according to" God's mercy. This is God's grace, refers to God's favor towards us without regard to being earned or deserved. How can otherwise "good" works be corrupted by self-serving motives? Look to ourselves, to the "righteous things, this kind of thinking is blind to all our sins and only sees our supposed goodness. How can pride and self-deceit keep us from salvation? When we think that we can make it on our own strength. When we think our good works or self-righteousness can over-ride GOD's grace and mercy for our lives. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
haar Posted March 8 Report Share Posted March 8 Q4. (Titus 3:4-5) Why is it important to stress that our salvation has nothing to do with our righteous actions? How can otherwise "good" works be corrupted by self-serving motives? How can pride and self-deceit keep us from salvation? A4. It is very important to stress that our salvation was not because of our righteousness because we were dead in our sin, destined for hell after death, but Jesus loved us so much and thus paid for our salvation in what I have learnt to call extravagant and outrageous grace alone. Good works alone doe not earn eternal life for us but our salvation by faith alone should lead us to bear the fruit of good works. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Jerry Posted March 13 Report Share Posted March 13 It is very important to stress that our salvation has nothing to do with our righteous acts. If it was our righteous acts that saved us, then what use was the cross. Our righteous acts just shows that we love God but has nothing to do with Him saving us because it was grace that we are saved for eternal life. “Good” works can corrupt us by self-serving motives because we will become all puffed up in thinking that we did it on our own. This is what will keep us from our salvation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonathan Edwards Posted March 14 Report Share Posted March 14 Truly the Bible plan of salvation was wrouht of God. Apostle Paul reiterated this time and time again. The early believers were converts from idolatry and were taught mystery religions; they knew about superstition all too well. Titus had to always lift up the Banner of the Cross. It would quite tempting for new converts to go back to trying to save their souls by human merits. Salvation originates in mercy-not by justice. Bible plan of salvation originates in the heart of God, and becomes ours by receiving the finished work of Christ. The Holy Spirit is the Author of the New Birth. Our entire righteousness are as filthy rags. Surely it is not by works of righteousness. If our good deeds could procure salvation or save himself, the Cross of the Lord Jesus would be in naughty. Our righteous deeds could never supplant the foreordained once and for all Sacrifice of Christ, both Priest and the Lamb of God. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hanks Posted March 17 Report Share Posted March 17 Q4. (TITUS 3:4-5) Why is it important to stress that our salvation has nothing to do with our righteous actions? How can otherwise "good" works be corrupted by self-serving motives? How can pride and self-deceit keep us from salvation? Every person born into the world is enslaved to sin – spiritually dead (Eph 2:1). Dead meaning that in no way can we come to God or save ourselves – dead is dead. Sin has affected our mind, heart, and will; we have no interest in seeking God (Rom 3:11). Our salvation is completely a work of God, our righteous actions play no part at all – it’s all God’s kindness, love, mercy, and grace. Not the result of works, so that no one may boast (Eph 2:9). Before our conversion our actions, deeds were under the influence of Satan and therefore in total disobedience to God. This includes our so called good deeds, which are tainted by self-serving interests and hidden agendas. Our pride and self-deceit gets in the way of our salvation thinking we can do it all. We don’t want to be dictated to by anyone even God. We put our trust in self-righteousness to our own downfall. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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