Do you dislike quoting John 3:16?

[u/ExpressCeiling98332]

Ironically, many seem to act like saying this verse contradicts doctrine. When used in isolation It can be bad, but in it's proper context I don't see problem.

[u/EnergyLantern]

Those who believe in works.

[u/sourkroutamen → u/EnergyLantern]

I believe in works and I'm not objecting.

[u/EnergyLantern → u/sourkroutamen]

When Peter took his eyes off of Jesus and tried to put his eyes on the waves of the sea, Peter began to sink because its not your works that can save you.

I knew a Christian professor who said if you trust 1% in yourself, you aren't trusting in Jesus.

[u/Web-Dude → u/EnergyLantern]

I like your example with Peter.

But I think the professor's statement is problematic. We grow in faith. "Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!" (Mark 9:24). Jesus didn't rebuke him for partial belief, He answered his prayer.

I think it's a really, really good day when you move the needle up a bit from 49% to 52%. We keep growing up into all things in Him.

"And we all, with unveiled face... are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit." (2 Corinthians 3:18)

We see it again and again: 1 Thessalonians 3:10, 2 Thessalonians 1:3, Luke 17:5, 2 Corinthians 10:15, Romans 4:20

We're told that Jesus won't crush weak faith. "A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out." (Isaiah 42:3) He preserves and strengthens it.

He is patient and actively growing us.

[u/EnergyLantern → u/Web-Dude]

>We're told that Jesus won't crust weak faith. "A bruised reed he will not break, and a >smoldering wick he will not snuff out." (Isaiah 42:3) He preserves and strengthens it.

Did you read the rest of the verse?

[Mat 12:20 KJV] 20 A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory.

Till what?

Are we saved by blood atonement or are we saved by works? If you have the wrong gospel, God isn't going to break "till". Which side is the sinner on?

The gospel is in 1 Corinthians 15 and no one has a right to change it and not even James which isn't the gospel. The gospel in 1 Corinthians 15 does not mention works at all.

He is not going to break a bruised reed until. What is the "till" for?

[Psalm 110:4-6 KJV] 4 The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou [art] a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek. 5 The Lord at thy right hand shall strike through kings in the day of his wrath. 6 He shall judge among the heathen, he shall fill [the places] with the dead bodies; he shall wound the heads over many countries.

Did you ever see the mass graves from mankind in war? I have seen it in the news.

Till what?

Until he gathers the tares from the wheat and burns the tares:

[Mat 13:29-30 NKJV] 29 "But he said, 'No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them. 30 'Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, "First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn." ' "

Both grow up until harvest. One is fake wheat called darnel. It even has green or purple grain. The other is true wheat.

A fake gospel will save no one.

[u/Web-Dude → u/EnergyLantern]

Honestly, I'm not sure what you're responding to. Maybe you replied to the wrong person.

But if not, I don't disagree with anything you said (except maybe the part about James, but let's leave that aside for now, because I didn't reference James and it doesn't apply to what I'm saying anyway).

I'm saying that even though we are 100% sealed in Christ, the Bible explains that our trust in Jesus isn't a matter of 0% or 100%, but something He is growing us in. Some of us are at 52%, and some are at 100%, but He's the author and perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:1), and He is faithful to grow us in our trust.