What is works salvation and why will it send people to hell?

[tabcom]

We are not saved by works of self righteousness or ritual. We are saved by God working in us.

Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Philippians 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

 

[heisenburg]

I guess this is simply my issue for not seeing how I didn’t answer your questions. It has nothing to do with not liking your answer.

As a clarification, if you believe in OSAS then this explanation does not work for you.

Simply put, Not doing a work (the right thing) is a sin. You have to keep the same logic you apply to other sins as you do to a lack of doing what is right. Therefore, it is like all other sins, If you continue to persist in sin, any sin, you separate yourself from God, and your salvation.

If you look at it from the point of view of sin, the proper way as mentioned by James, then there is no issue.

So, Can sinning result in loosing your salvation? Yes…

In other words, is your salvation Dependant on sin (or lack of)… Yes.

However, we do have the forgiveness of Christ to over ride the power of sin. (a Grace). We just need to be repentant.

Does NOT sinning make god happy… Yes… Making god happy is a type of merit, so Not sinning is meritorious, (not salvivic)

Does sinning have a negative contribution to your salvation? Yes…

To you, it seems to me that you think works are pointless…

To me, and scripture, not doing those works is a sin…

For you to say i don’t have to do works is equivalent to saying it is OK to continue sinning…

If i still have not answered your question, then I do not know what you need…

Works are part of doing the right thing… Not doing the right thing is a sin, therefore, not doing works is a sin…

I’m using logic AND scripture…

I reiterate, if you agree with me that I cannot continue in my sin unrepentant and still be saved, then there is absolutely no issue.

Thats whats this whole argument boils down to.

In Christ

 

[tabcom]

Spoken in Aramaic, written much later in Greek and then privately interpreted . . . You need to go to tradition to . . .
James

Thank you for clarifying to me that your freeewill doctrine tradition trumps Scripture. It takes a certain amount of audacity to quote Scrpiture out of context (John 15:15) when it serve you but denounce it when it stands in the way of your personal belief system. No need to reply with a glib retort.

In the spirit of your weak ‘slave’ analogy, Romans 16:17,18 comes to mind . . .

Romans 16:17
17 Now I urge you, brethren, keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you learned, and turn away from them. 18 For such men are slaves, not of our Lord Christ but of their own appetites; and by their smooth and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting.

 

[mikeledes]

Gospel of Christ:

John 5:28-29

28"Do not marvel at this; for an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs will hear His voice,
29and will come forth; those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment.

Another Gospel

No cooperation!

Gospel of Christ

Matthew 16:27

27"For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and WILL THEN REPAY EVERY MAN ACCORDING TO HIS DEEDS

Another gospel

No cooperation!

Gospel of Christ

Romans 2:5-8

6who WILL RENDER TO EACH PERSON ACCORDING TO HIS DEEDS:
7to those who by perseverance in doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life;
8but to those who are selfishly ambitious and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, wrath and indignation.

Another Gospel

No cooperation!

Gospel of Christ

Galatians 6:7-10

7Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap.
8For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.
9Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.
10So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.

Another Gospel

So what if sowing to the Spirit - also known as performing good deeds - in order to reap eternal life logically means cooperation (we’re doing something). No cooperation!

Gospel of Christ

**12So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh–
13for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds **of the body, you will live.

Another Gospel

So what if “by putting to death the deeds of the body you will live” logically involves human cooperation or doing something. No cooperation!

Gospel of Christ

Luke 10:25-28

25And a lawyer stood up and put Him to the test, saying, "Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?"
26And He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How does it read to you?”
27And he answered, “YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND; AND YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.”
28And He said to him, “You have answered correctly; DO THIS AND YOU WILL LIVE.”

Another Gospel

So what if Christ says do this - which means cooperation -and you will live (inherit eternal life). No cooperation!

Gospel of Christ

24As for you, let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father.
Another Gospel

So what if “let” means “allow” and thus cooperation. No cooperation!

Gospel of Christ

Galatians 5:2-4

2Behold I, Paul, say to you that if you receive circumcision, Christ will be of no benefit to you.
3And I testify again to every man who receives circumcision, that he is under obligation to keep the whole Law.
4You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace.

Another Gospel

So what if something you do can cause Christ to be of no benefit to you, be severed from Him, and fall from grace. No cooperation!

God Bless,
Michael

I just find it very funny how some will say we have to do nothing in order to inherit eternal life, completely ignoring the above Scriptures and what Jesus said after the rich young man’s incident:

Matthew 19:29

**29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life. ** This is the Gospel of Christ.

These verses are a thorn in the side to the Gospel of No cooperation.

God Bless,
Michael

 

[sandusky]

heisenburg:

Simply put, Not doing a work (the right thing) is a sin…If you continue to persist in sin, any sin, you separate yourself from God, and your salvation.

Doing the right thing is nothing more than doing what one ought to do in the first place
(Lk 17:10).

Persistence in sin results in discipline, but not a loss of salvation (1 Cor 11:29ff; Heb 12:4ff), and I agree with you that sin is not good.

The Psalmist, seeing the yet future institution of the new covenant states:**Psalm 103:10-14

He has not dealt with us according to our sins, Nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, So great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear Him. As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us. Just as a father has compassion on his children, So the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him. For He Himself knows our frame; He is mindful that we are but dust.**That is "pure grace," and, it is a grace that is not only necessary, but is also sufficient to save those whom God will save.

Salvation is not about a perfection that one can achieve in this life; if it were, who needs Christ? Christ is the advocate for the ones whom God has given to Him to raise up on the last day, and He always lives to make intercession to the Father on their behalf, and He and the Father are one in purpose concerning the final glorification of those given to the Son.

heisenburg:

To you, it seems to me that you think works are pointless…

That’s not what I’ve said; my position is that works done in Christ neither contribute to, nor merit salvation.

heisenburg:

To me, and scripture, not doing those works is a sin…

That’s not the issue; the issue is whether or not works contribute to, or merit salvation.

heisenburg:

For you to say i don’t have to do works is equivalent to saying it is OK to continue sinning…

That’s not what I’ve said; what I’ve said is that works done in Christ neither contribute to, nor merit salvation.

heisenburg:

I reiterate, if you agree with me that I cannot continue in my sin unrepentant and still be saved, then there is absolutely no issue.

What about all of the sins that you’ve committed, that you are not now aware of, nor will you ever be aware of in this life that you’ve neither repented of, nor confessed? What about those?

 

[heisenburg]

To you in Christ…

I will sin. I will mess up… That is the power of forgiveness offered by Christ…

What about those I don’t know about? Thats why I ask God to forgive em those I cannot remember either. I can be repentant and not remember all my sins.

That only catch is you better mean your ‘general confession’. If you are saying it just because it’s procedural to you… then it’s wrong. Don’t let the general repentance become a lukewarm thing and you are OK.

Now, it does seem you believe in OSAS, this is something for a different discussion, and as mentioned, the lose of salvation is impossible for you, so, I can see why my saying repetitive sin results in lose of salvation since for you, this is impossible. With respect, I find very little believe for this in scripture, but I do not want to derail this to a OSAS thread.

If however, you do believe that you can loose your salvation due to sin, then yes, works (or more lack there of) does affect your salvation just like any sin will.

Doing what it is right does benefit you as pointed out by mikeledes…

To most Christians (not OSAS Christians)
Sin does result in a separation, not just discipline, so, since not doing what is right results in sin, Works play a part in keeping our connection, just like any sin avoided plays a part in keeping our connection.

Habitual, unrepentant sin on the other hand affects our salvation because it separates us. (Nothing Unclean shall enter heaven)

But it does not SAVE you, this is done by Grace alone (eph 2:8). You have to have faith, but you can’t earn it by works. something the church has always taught.

In Christ

 

[CentralFLJames]

Romans 16:17
17 Now I urge you, brethren, keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the** teaching **which you learned, and turn away from them. 18 For such men are slaves, not of our Lord Christ but of their own appetites; and by their smooth and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting.

Note how you carlessly missed the bolded word “teaching”. It’s Ironic that you seek to both teach and correct the Teacher. Talk about audacity and cheekiness. My understanding, unless I am in error (I don’t think so) comes from authentic teaching of the Catholic Church. The Catholic Church is the only authority on the planet to write scripture, interpret it and teach scripture. Where does your authority come from to rebel and rile against it and to correct her? I won’t bother to quote you what happens to hippocrites or to those that call the truth a lie.

James

 

[CentralFLJames]

Thank you for clarifying to me that your freeewill doctrine tradition trumps Scripture. It takes a certain amount of audacity to quote Scrpiture out of context (John 15:15) when it serve you but denounce it when it stands in the way of your personal belief system. No need to reply with a glib retort.

When are you going to stop dodging my question?

Did you get baptised after you believed?
Was baptism necessary for your salvation?

Very simple questions here and deserving of honest answers.

James

 

[CentralFLJames]

Persistence in sin results in discipline, but not a loss of salvation (1 Cor 11:29ff; Heb 12:4ff), and I agree with you that sin is not good.

Does God discipline who He does not love or just call it by a different name like “punishment” when they are not The Elect?

Does God love all both sinner and non-sinner?

James

 

[mikeledes]

Galatians 6:7-10

**7Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap.
8For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.
9Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.
10So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith. **

You can’t get any clearer than that. You also have:

Revelation 22:19

19and if anyone takes away from the (words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are written in this book.

Which clearly mentions one sin that can cost a person their eternal inheritance. If you are not born again, you never had a share in the tree of life and the holy city. In order for a share to be taken away, you must have it to begin with. Consequently, this is a warning to the born again. OSAS makes nonsense of this passage, as it does many other passages in the Bible.

God Bless,
Michael

 

[mikeledes]

To you in Christ…

I will sin. I will mess up… That is the power of forgiveness offered by Christ…

What about those I don’t know about? Thats why I ask God to forgive em those I cannot remember either. I can be repentant and not remember all my sins.

That only catch is you better mean your ‘general confession’. If you are saying it just because it’s procedural to you… then it’s wrong. Don’t let the general repentance become a lukewarm thing and you are OK.

Now, it does seem you believe in OSAS, this is something for a different discussion, and as mentioned, the lose of salvation is impossible for you, so, I can see why my saying repetitive sin results in lose of salvation since for you, this is impossible. With respect, I find very little believe for this in scripture, but I do not want to derail this to a OSAS thread.

If however, you do believe that you can loose your salvation due to sin, then yes, works (or more lack there of) does affect your salvation just like any sin will.

Doing what it is right does benefit you as pointed out by mikeledes…

Every good work deserving any kind of reward depends upon two things:

1. That you are in a state of grace. That means you must be in a forgiven state. God’s mercy must precede any good work.
2. And that God mercifully maintains you in those good works by empowering you to do them through the Holy Spirit and freely given you the unmerited gift of final perseverance (perseverance to the end). You can do as many works as you like. If you are not in a state of grace or God does not grant you the gift of final perseverance - which He gives to whomever He wants to give it to - then your works are of no value.

Yes, God involves the free cooperation in the execution of His plan of salvation. Otherwise, we are mere mindless robots only programmed to do what God has programmed us to do. And yet Calvinists love to emphasize that repentance is a voluntary act. Under the influence of God’s irresistible grace, but voluntary nonetheless. If no “cooperation” is necessary, then why emphasize the voluntary aspect?

In His plan of salvation, God involves our works, but His plan does not depend on our works. That’s why the Catholic Church teaches that predestination to glory is independent of every merit. That’s one fact Protestants intent on proving Catholicism wrong consistently ignore, as demonstrated in this thread. Our works do not take away or add to the Cross of Christ. Our works make manifest the Cross in our lives. It was through the Cross of Christ that we were delivered from the power of sin so that we could serve God!

Romans 5:12-14, 17-19

**12Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts,
13and do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.
14For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace.
17But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed,
18and having been feed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.
19I am speaking in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh For just as you presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness, resulting in further lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness, resulting in sanctification. **

No longer slaves to sin, we are now under obigation to live according to the Spirit, to present our members as intsruments of rigteousness:

Romans 8:12-13

12So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh–
13for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live.

A related verse:

Galatians 6:7-9

7Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap.
8For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.
9Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.

Almost every time I use this verse, it is ignored. Protestants dance the rhumba, Argentine tango, and the foxtrot in order to avoid it. The one attempt to explain it away was that this is about giving money to support your ministers. Okay, so you have to give money to your church in order to reap everlasting life? Giving money is a good work! This passage is about good works in general.

And yet, it is the Spirit of God that empowers us to do these works and it is God who graciously maintains us in these works through the gift of final persverance. There is nothing that we have received that has not been through the Cross of Christ. Even our own merits are the gifts of God! So we cannot boast in our own salvation.

God Bless,
Michael

 

[guanophore]

Jesus died for “all men”, but not every man, woman, child that ever lived.

God had limited his “calling” to Israel under the old covenant. Because of their idolatry, he extended the kingdom (calling) to all flesh (red flesh, yellow flesh, black flesh, white flesh) (Joel 12:28; Acts 2:17). Men of every nation, tongue, and kindred will be a part of the church (flock) according to their election from the foundation of the world (Eph. 1:4). Jesus died only for his sheep (the church - the called) which were given to him by his father (John 6:37-39; John 17:2,6,9,10,11,24). Jesus died for an exact people. Jesus did not die for the man in hell (Luke 11). He is dying the second death (Rev. 20:6,14; 21:8) paying for his own sins.

This makes it sound like Jesus paid the price for all, but some refuse to get into the grocery bag!

 

[guanophore]

We are not saved by works of self righteousness or ritual. We are saved by God working in us.

Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Philippians 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

What do you mean by “ritual”?

Does that include “he who believes and is baptized will be saved”.?

 

[guanophore]

Doing the right thing is nothing more than doing what one ought to do in the first place
(Lk 17:10).

Absolutely! So, if we “ought” to do it, is that not “necessary”?

my position is that works done in Christ neither contribute to, nor merit salvation.

I think that the disagreement on the role of works is not so much about works as it is the definition of salvation. Jesus and His Apostles did not teach that salvation is an event that happens once in time, for all time.

the issue is whether or not works contribute to, or merit salvation.

No, I think the issue is a misunderstanding of the nature of salvation.

What about all the sins that you’ve committed, that you are not now aware of, nor will you ever be aware of in this life that you’ve neither repented of, nor confessed? What about those?

Best case for purgatory one can find!

 

[guanophore]

When are you going to stop dodging my question?

Did you get baptised after you believed?
Was baptism necessary for your salvation?

Very simple questions here and deserving of honest answers.

James

You are barking up the wrong tree now James. tabcom does not believe that baptism has anything to do with water.

 

[Angainor]

If by salvation, you mean my eventual entry into heaven, yes.

If by salvation, you mean the the freedom from the debt due to sin that was secured by Jesus’ suffering, death and and resurrection, no.

:hypno:

My mind boggles.

 

[sandusky]

heisenburg:

To you in Christ…

I will sin. I will mess up… That is the power of forgiveness offered by Christ…

What about those I don’t know about? Thats why I ask God to forgive em those I cannot remember either. I can be repentant and not remember all my sins.

That only catch is you better mean your ‘general confession’. If you are saying it just because it’s procedural to you… then it’s wrong. Don’t let the general repentance become a lukewarm thing and you are OK.

Now, it does seem you believe in OSAS, this is something for a different discussion, and as mentioned, the lose of salvation is impossible for you, so, I can see why my saying repetitive sin results in lose of salvation since for you, this is impossible. With respect, I find very little believe for this in scripture, but I do not want to derail this to a OSAS thread.

If however, you do believe that you can loose your salvation due to sin, then yes, works (or more lack there of) does affect your salvation just like any sin will.

Doing what it is right does benefit you as pointed out by mikeledes…

To most Christians (not OSAS Christians)
Sin does result in a separation, not just discipline, so, since not doing what is right results in sin, Works play a part in keeping our connection, just like any sin avoided plays a part in keeping our connection.

Habitual, unrepentant sin on the other hand affects our salvation because it separates us. (Nothing Unclean shall enter heaven)

But it does not SAVE you, this is done by Grace alone (eph 2:8). You have to have faith, but you can’t earn it by works. something the church has always taught.

You and I are back at square one, and your complaint that I took your words out of context. It still seems to me that your belief is that works are necessary, contributory, and meritorious in salvation, and that squares with my definition of works salvation:

Works salvation is the idea that works are ***necessary for salvation; that is, that the sacrifice of Christ, ***in and of itself, without human works, saves no one. If one asserts that Christ’s work is dependent upon the actions of men, and that His sacrifice has merely made a way of salvation available that must include human works for the sacrifice to be effective, that is “works-salvation.” **God’s grace and mercy may be espoused in the teaching as well, however, it is still called “works-salvation.”********In Lk 18:10-14, who was justified? The man who gave credit to God for his person, and his works? Or, the one who relied on grace alone, faith alone, in God alone?

 

[sandusky]

CentralFLJames:

Does God discipline who He does not love or just call it by a different name like “punishment” when they are not The Elect?

All men are born in Adam, and are unregenerate, unbelieving, dead-in-their-sins-children-of-God’s-wrath sinners by birth; therefore, they under God’s condemnation (Rom 5:12; Eph 2:1ff; Jn 3:18).

Off the top of my head, scripture speaks of both temporal, and future punishment for the unbeliever.

With respect to discipline I cited in 1Cor 11; and Heb 12, the Catholic D-R Bible translates the same as discipline/chastisement and not punishment.

CentralFLJames:

Does God love all both sinner and non-sinner?

There’s only one non-sinner (Heb 4:15).**Psalm 5:5

The boastful shall not stand before Thine eyes; Thou dost hate all who do iniquity.**God hates all who do iniquity; however, once one is placed “in Christ” by God, he has peace with God, and all condemnation is lifted (Rom 5:1; 8:1).

That is because he was crucified with Christ (Rom 6), and all of his transgressions have been forgiven, and all of his debt to God has been canceled and taken away (Col 2:13-14).

 

[sandusky]

guanophore:

Absolutely! So, if we “ought” to do it, is that not “necessary”?

Unbelievable.

guanophore:

I think that the disagreement on the role of works is not so much about works as it is the definition of salvation. Jesus and His Apostles did not teach that salvation is an event that happens once in time, for all time.

Eph 2:8 ”have been saved,” a perfect, passive, participle—continuous, on-going result.

guanophore:

No, I think the issue is a misunderstanding of the nature of salvation.

IMO, yours.

guanophore:

Best case for purgatory one can find!

One certainly won’t find a case for it in scripture.

 

[Pax]

I am still at a total loss to understand why anyone would get confused about the interplay of grace and free will.

God’s grace saves us. God’s grace enables us to do the works that the Father prepared in advance of our justification per Eph 2:10.

Grace is a gift not a leash or yoke. God’s grace enables…it does not force us.

Hopefully, the following verses of scripture will help to demonstrate how grace is a gift and how it works with free will.

Psalm 40:10
I have not hidden your saving help within my heart, I have spoken of your faithfulness and your salvation;

Psalm 94:17-19
If the LORD had not been my help, my soul would soon have lived in the land of silence. When I thought, “My foot is slipping,” your steadfast love, O LORD, held me up.

Rom 5:17
If, because of the one man’s trespass, death exercised dominion through that one, much more surely will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness exercise dominion in life through the one man, Jesus Christ.

2 Cor 3:5-6
Not that we are competent of ourselves to claim anything as coming from us; our competence is from God, who has made us competent…

Phill 2:12
Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed me, not only in my presence, but much more now in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and enabling you both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

1 Cor 15:58
Therefore, my beloved, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the work of the Lord, because you know that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

1 Cor 10:13
God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength, but with the testing he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it.

Eph 3:16
I pray that, according to the riches of his glory, he may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through his Spirit,

Eph 3:20
Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine,

Eph 6:10-11
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power. Put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

Phil 4:13
I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

Col 1:11
May you be made strong with all the strength that comes from his glorious power, and may you be prepared to endure everything with joy

2 Thess 1:11
To this end we always pray for you, asking that our God will make you worthy of his call and will fulfill by his power every good resolve and work of faith, so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Thess 3:3
But the Lord is faithful; he will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one.

2 Tim 1:7
for God did not give us a spirit of cowardice, but rather a spirit of power and of love and of self-discipline.

2 Tim 3:2- 5
For people will be lovers of themselves, … lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to the outward form of godliness but denying its power.

Heb 13:9
Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings; for it is well for the heart to be strengthened by grace,

1 Peter 4:10-11
Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received. Whoever speaks must do so as one speaking the very words of God; whoever serves must do so with the strength that God supplies, so that God may be glorified in all things through Jesus Christ. To him belong the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.

2 Peter 1: 3-4
His divine power has given us everything needed for life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Thus he has given us, through these things, his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may escape from the corruption that is in the world because of lust, and may become participants of the divine nature.

John 15:5
I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing.