Is loving God a work?

[Hoping2]

I've been chatting with you for some time now Hope and it sounds like you are counting on works to be saved. Scripture clearly says if that is the case, we've fallen from grace and have been cut off from Christ.

Jesus' commandments for salvation are not the works Paul wrote against.

You either agree with scripture or you don't. If you feel there is an interpretation issue, you should raise that issue and back it up with scripture.

I agree with scripture,
And I know the only things that won't provide salvation are the works of the Law...circumcision, feast keeping, dietary rules, sabbath keeping, etc.

Ephesians 2:
8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
I'll ask the question again. What do you believe these scriptures mean?

Eph. 2 means the works of the Law are not of faith.
The faithful will obey Jesus and His Father concerning salvation, and Jesus commanded repentance and baptism. (Luke 24:47)

Actually, if your reply was your answer, then you have misinterpreted scripture.
A gift is not something you earn. It is freely given, and it clearly states that it is not of ourselves, so that none will boast.

A gift has to be received, and unwrapped.
Salvation is a gift, but you seem to want to ignore how that gift is facilitated.
Salvation will be granted at the return of Christ, on the day of judgement.
We must endure faithfully until then, or our destiny will be a lake of fire.

Romans 3:
24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.
You seem to want to distinguished between works, and all works that one does to try and gain salvation, all are condemned tor our righteousness is as filthy rags to God.

There is a difference between the works Paul wrote against and the things Jesus commanded us to do.

And we are making a mockery, whether intentional or not, of the incredible sacrifice Jesus went through to free us from our sinful nature because we are basically saying he went through such a sacrifice for nothing; that we can do it on our own.

That freedom will not come without a true turn from sin, (repentance), and rebirth from Gods seed at our water baptism into Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection.
You want new car, but neglect the keys, and insurance, and gas, and the ability to drive it.

So it's not about this work or that, it is about whether you are doing it to earn salvation because we can't.
Hope that helps some.

The disobedient will not be saved, but you are positing that obedience to God is a work...to be saved.
I am happy to obey my Savior in anything He commands me to do for my salvation.
That includes repentance from sin, baptism for the remission of past sins, and remaining faithful until He returns.
And rebirth, and loving my neighbors, and enemies, praying, studying, reaching out, and some more things too; that I not be found wanting on the day of judgement.


nds.

 

[Hoping2]

Cornelius was explicitly filled with the Holy Spirit before being baptized.

His group was the only group that did so, and they too were baptized for the remission of past sins mere minutes afterward. (Acts 10:47-48)
The reason they received the gift of the Holy Ghost first, was to impress upon Peter, and his six cohorts, that God also accepted the Gentiles.

 

[IoanC]

Love is The New Law given by Christ.
Love is sometimes considered one of the 'thelogical virtues' alongside faith and hope.
Love is also seen as the fountain of all good deeds.

 

[RandyPNW]

Love is a work of obedience, but a work that does not provide justification for redemption. It is an indication that a person is cooperating with the word of God. It can indicate a temporary participation in God's word or an eternal decision to obey God's word. The Lord knows the difference.

 

[Clare73]

Love is a work of obedience, but a work that does not provide justification for redemption. It is an indication that a person is cooperating with the word of God. It can indicate a temporary participation in God's word or an eternal decision to obey God's word. The Lord knows the difference.

Love is a work of obedience in faith, but it is not the work of obedience which saves one, it is its faith only (Eph 2:8-9).

 

[ARBITER01]

For we through the Spirit, by faith, are eagerly waiting for the hope of righteousness. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but faith working through love.
(Galatians 5:5-6 LSB)

Is love a work?

I will say this, if it is a work then it is not a relationship with GOD.

We are connected to the GODHEAD by the new birth, the regeneration of our human spirit. We automatically have a connection with our divine king seated to the right of The Father. Everything we do as Christians is associated with that connection. When we get into prayer, we are connecting with Him on a deeper level. When we bow ourselves before Him in worship, we are connecting to Him on an even deeper level.

Holiness is about that connection. GOD is able to share His holiness with us, and that requires us to spend time with Him in prayer often, as well as in His word. The more time you spend with GOD the more Christ-likeness you attain to,..... which is really the goal for us down here.

 

[Xeno.of.athens]

I will say this, if it is a work then it is not a relationship with GOD.

but faith working through love.

faith works through love. is faith the work here or is it the love that works?

 

[Always in His Presence]

I will say this, if it is a work then it is not a relationship with GOD.

Spot on -

Is loving you mother of father a work or the result of a relationship.

What makes our faith effective (work) -

1 Cor 13: Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.​

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2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.​

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3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body [a]to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.​

 

[RandyPNW]

I will say this, if it is a work then it is not a relationship with GOD.

We are connected to the GODHEAD by the new birth, the regeneration of our human spirit. We automatically have a connection with our divine king seated to the right of The Father. Everything we do as Christians is associated with that connection. When we get into prayer, we are connecting with Him on a deeper level. When we bow ourselves before Him in worship, we are connecting to Him on an even deeper level.

Holiness is about that connection. GOD is able to share His holiness with us, and that requires us to spend time with Him in prayer often, as well as in His word. The more time you spend with GOD the more Christ-likeness you attain to,..... which is really the goal for us down here.

It's a semantics issue with respect to the word "work." Jesus said:
“The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.” (John 6.29)

And "believing" involves obedience. If we really love God we will obey Him.

James 2.18 But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.”
Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds.

Paul protested loudly against a different kind of "work." He protested against the kind of work that seeks justification apart from Christ, simply by trusting in our own performance without relying on the mercy of God.

 

[ARBITER01]

but faith working through love.

faith works through love. is faith the work here or is it the love that works?

If it is a loving ambition, then it is not a work,.... it's a joy.

 

[RandyPNW]

If it is a loving ambition, then it is not a work,.... it's a joy.

Working for the Lord and believing in the Lord is a joy!

 

[Hoping2]

It's a semantics issue with respect to the word "work." Jesus said:
“The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.” (John 6.29)

And "believing" involves obedience. If we really love God we will obey Him.

James 2.18 But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.”
Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds.

Paul protested loudly against a different kind of "work." He protested against the kind of work that seeks justification apart from Christ, simply by trusting in our own performance without relying on the mercy of God.

I agree with all your points.
And, the only works Paul ever wrote against were the works of the Law...circumcision, dietary rules, sabbath keeping, feast keeping, tithing, etc.

 

[Xeno.of.athens]

If it is a loving ambition, then it is not a work,.... it's a joy.

Is it your view that work is somehow odious?

 

[ARBITER01]

Is it your view that work is somehow odious?

A labor of love is not really work.

Secular work can be tiresome, yes.

 

[fhansen]

Your faith is from the Lord, not of yourself, so it's the Lord who is working.

It's not either or, but both/and. Faith is a gift-to you. You can take it and use it, now united with God, or not. Same with love: 1 Cor 13:1-4 is not telling us what some nebulous entity called "love" does, or even what the Holy Spirt does completely independent of us. It tells us what the one who loves does, love also being a gift that can be embraced and acted upon, or not. The real point is that we do not possess it, this true righteousness, on our own: "Apart from Me you can do nothing"- John 15:5.

 

[Jan001]

For we through the Spirit, by faith, are eagerly waiting for the hope of righteousness. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but faith working through love.
(Galatians 5:5-6 LSB)

Is love a work?

Yes. Love does no harm to others. Love only does good to others.

Romans 13:10 Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law.

Romans 13:9 The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery; You shall not murder; You shall not steal; You shall not covet”; and any other commandment, are summed up in this word, “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

Ephesians 2:10 For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life.

Titus 3:8 The saying is sure. I desire that you insist on these things, so that those who have come to believe in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works; these things are excellent and profitable to everyone.

Titus 3:14 And let people learn to devote themselves to good works in order to meet urgent needs, so that they may not be unproductive.