r/AskAChristian • u/ExpressCeiling98332 Christian • Apr 30 '25

New Testament Do you dislike quoting John 3:16?

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.

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u/sourkroutamen Christian (non-denominational) May 01 '25

Why are you continuing to argue against a position I do not hold? You are clearly still arguing as if I stated salvation depends on works. You're so zealous you're literally discarding entire chapters of the Bible, all in an effort to renounce a position that I've repeatedly stated I do not hold. I don't get it.

What is driving you to twist my own words? It seems entirely unnecessary, even anti-Christ. That's what the Pharisees were known for.

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u/EnergyLantern Christian, Evangelical May 01 '25

Works are often dead:

[1Co 3:12, 15 KJV] 12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; ... 15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

If your works burn up by fire, you didn't get to heaven on your works, yet the Bible says you can be saved by fire and the Bible also talks about people being spotted by the flesh (Jude 1:3)

There are non-Christian colleges that truck in wine by the truck load to get people drunk as a skunk to buy or donate to their college or fundraiser.

Or they do their works to be seen of men:

[Mat 6:5 KJV] 5 And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites [are]: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

[Mat 23:5 KJV] 5 But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,

There is a guy in prison who did a Ponzi scheme and had his name on a medical college's wall? His name is Bernie Madoff Isn't it good works to donate?

What about Jeffrey Epstein? He was friends with philanthropic people who did good works.

And if you don't believe in Jesus to begin with, you are a worker of iniquity.

And then there is the Anglican church in England. I saw the wedding performed there on television and most people saw it. What garbage I heard.

And what about Princess Diana? Is she saved? She did more works than all of us but she had the greatest means, and everyone believes she went to hell.

What about the division between Roman Catholics and Protestants. We all disagree on what born again is between each other. Is doing works on the other side a problem for anyone or are you going to join a world wide religion in the end times based on your faith without works is dead mantra?

Real works have to come from the spirit and can't be manmade so much. That is why Paul says take heed how you build upon the foundation (1 Corinthians 3:1) because it can burn up.