Amen, Once a child of God, Always a child..

Hey Steven! Thanks for watching the videos!

Thank you so much for the encouragement. It is great to know we have fellowship together in the gospel. I see you put out clear gospel content as well! Keep up the great work. May God richly bless you as well. 1 Cor. 15:58 - Trent

Hope she's doing better ❤

Yes! Very well stated. - Trent

We feel the same. Many commentaries tailor that direction. One good commentary found in Esword (and perhaps elsewhere) is Dr. Thomas Constable. Warning though: we do not agree with all of his views. Nonetheless, he seems to have decent things to say whilst also quoting some other men here and there. It is definitely important to break down the scripture contextually, define words, see why something is being said, find who the author is talking to, and applying other hermeneutical techniques BEFORE going toward commentaries. Perhaps you know this already, but just sharing :) - Trent

The first thing you must understand is that Christ died and paid for ALL of your sins. He was buried and rose from the grave to prove that payment was made. If you place (perhaps placed) your faith in His finished work (i.e. you believe He died for you, and paid for your sin) then you HAVE eternal life, your sin is paid, and you are forgiven. This is step one in your battle against sin as you must recognize that the ultimate battle is already won. If you have believed in Him, then you have the Holy Spirit dwelling inside you to help you battle against your sinful flesh (Galatians 5:16-17). YES, you need to trust Jesus Christ for help each day in overcoming your sin, but the decision is up to you to which nature you will yield to. Will you choose to walk in the Spirit (do the things he says to do, and serve him) or walk according to your flesh (sinful desires)? A final point I would have you to note is that there IS ALWAYS a way out of sin. 1 Corinthians 10:13 tells us that he makes a way of escape for us (out of context, but the point is true), and there is never a time when the only two options are sinful. You CAN defeat the sinful habits in your life. Please reach out to us via email (questions@biblelineministries.org) if you desire to get more personal help. We would be willing to talk over the phone or even meet up if you are local. -Trent

@@BibleLine Thank you very much for reaching out to answer my question. It makes good sense.

Glad to help!! Feel free to ask anything! Thanks for the support! -Trent

@@BibleLine It would be very beneficial to do a video or series on this topic. I know many Christians who struggle and have stopped going to church and fell back into addictions etc because they have not understood what you have explained here. Yet a simple answer will not be enough. The fact that we grow up independent and in environments that do not build trust makes in near impossible to transfer trust in Christ even though they believe in Him. My whole life as a Christian was still built upon self-reliance even to this day which keeps me in self hate and sin, it is as if I have no capacity to transfer my trust in something I have never done. I grew up in a home where I saw nothing but violence etc. in that I realised I could not trust my own mother. I got saved at 12 and now a 56 year old male, in all those years I believed but never learned how to trust in anyone but myself and obviously I lost trust in myself and never was able to get well. I also like to say before being saved I did believe in God and hated him for making my life miserable. I was bullied in school and moved around up to 3 times a year never learning how to fit in. On top of that I was the poorest kid in the class without a father, mother was never there for me in my growing up years as she was into herself and many men who were violent. As a kid I seen it all, my mother raped, her committing suicide, starvation, homelessness, foster care with separation from siblings, sexual abuse, guns pointed at her head and mine and this is just the start. Anyways, enough said, how does one actually learn to do something that is not natural, like trusting in God and then knowing this truth and then using the spirit to overcome a terrible life of sin. Sin sucks and I hate it as Paul has explained in Roman 7. This truth about myself is out here now and was hard for me to tell it. The reason is I ought to be a teacher in Christ but I am a stillborn babe in Christ at the best. Please do not say seek a counselor, doctors, self improvement 12 steps etc. I have done all of it beyond anyone I know. I have done what ever you suggest and much more. I can not fix myself, I have tried for a solid 2 decades, I even burned about 5 large boxes of journals I kept over the process of what they call as so called recovery. It works for many but not all. I am asking you not just for myself, but for the many who are like myself. Thanks! No pressure! lol

Thanks for sharing what you have on your heart. We’ll see about creating videos regarding things of this nature. Addictions and lusts do plague many, even believers. You can still change and trust in Christ for your strength. Keep Galatians 5:16 at the forefront and be steadfast!! - Trent

The statement “no works - no salvation” is in direct contradiction with Romans 4:5 and Ephesians 2:8-9. “But to him that worketh not, but believeth…” and “Not of works lest any man should boast.” James was addressing believers about how they need works to actually profit others. The man who gives bread to his neighbor is profitable, but the opposite is unprofitable and useless. It never states that the faith is no longer there, nor does it state that works provide salvation. James wants these believers to actually get up and DO something, hence “be ye doers of the word and not hearers only.” Jesus in Matthew 25 is addressing saved people (sheep) and lost people (goats). The basis of salvation was their acceptance of rejection of Jesus, and not their work they did toward him. Jesus clearly taught salvation is by faith in himself. “Verily, verily I say unto you, He that believeth in me hath everlasting life.” - John 6:47 I hope this helps. - Trent

Hi SpotterVideo, right off hand, it appears we do not really have a disagreement. The purpose of this video is to show that there is not an evidence change in the life of a believer that must happen in order to be saved. It is true that the Holy Spirit baptizes and seals the believer into the body of Christ (Eph. 1:13 and others you stated are very good). This baptism is very much separate from water baptism which is a show of your acceptance of Christ and that you have been spiritually baptized into Christ. It is a picture of your salvation. You make a good distinction here. The issue lies in the idea that works, or tongues, or some show must be evident in the life of a believer to "prove" that they are saved. This is simply unscriptural, and that would be a works based salvation. Once you believe, you are saved that very moment into eternal life and the Spirit indwells you with all of the benefits mentioned above. The believer does not have to have some radical physical change in his life, and the flesh nature does not simply disappear. See Galatians 5:16-22 regarding the battle of man's flesh nature vs the spirit nature. The Apostle Paul had a choice to change. It wasn't automatic. The alcoholic also still has the choice to quit. And if the correct choice is refused, it does not mean the salvation never existed, nor does it mean he loses his salvation. Hope this helps, -Trent

@@BibleLine The fruit is found below. Joh 15:10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. 1Jn 3:22 And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. 1Jn 3:23 And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment. 1Jn 3:24 And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.

This has nothing to do with salvation. These verses are about discipleship, and that is something that continues to develop after a person is saved. We abide in Christ by keeping His commandments, yes, but we do not have to keep any commandments as proof of our salvation. This is a totally optional thing for a believer in Christ. If the believer is keeping Christ's commandments, then his fellowship with Christ will be a tight walk. This has to do with your closeness to God, not your salvation and your justified standing before Him. There is a change that happens, but that change has nothing to do with you. Except perhaps a change of mind. A person should not trust in their works, but rather change their mind and trust in Jesus Christ. Don't discount 1 John chapter 1 by skipping to chapter 3. 3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. 4 And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full. Changing your life, walking in the Spirit, and doing good works all has to do with the idea of discipleship and service. These cannot be mixed with salvation, otherwise your eternal security would be dependent upon yourself. Cf, Eph 1:12-14, Titus 3:5, 1 Peter 1:4-5, John 5:24 God does make some changes, but these do not have to be evidential in the life of a believer.

@@BibleLine 1Co 6:9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 1Co 6:10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 1Co 6:11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

@@SpotterVideo The context of the epistle of 1 Cor is that Paul here is speaking to carnal BELIEVERS in the church of Corinth notice in verse 11 "And such were some of you" but "ye are washed (their sins are paid by trusting Christ as their Savior), but ye are sanctified (positionally), but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.". You have to read the surrounding verses to get the whole context of a verse. This is the usual error of people who believe in Lordship salvation or the belief that "if you don't have works, you're not really saved to begin with" which is logically the same as losing your salvation.

What comes first? Belief or the New birth?

@@BibleLine New Birth - Regeneration

Please see Ephesians 1:13 for the belief and regeneration process. - Jesse

@@BibleLine Key Word in that verse is "Heard" - Man cannot Hear unless God opens his ears. The seeing eye and the hearing ear God has made them both. Faith comes by Hearing and Hearing by the word of God. Verse 9; Having made known unto us (Believers) the mystery of his will, according to His good pleasure which He hath purposed in Himself.