Saved by faith alone?

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.

Cameron143

Well-known member
Mar 1, 2022
15,307
5,490
113
62
Since you are one of the few chosen of God, do you know of anyone who believes in predestination but does not believe they are also part of the chosen few?

A serious and important question that deserves an answer.
It would be helpful if you would read all of my answers. I've already answered. Heaven is populated by a number no man can number and anyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
You want to pigeonhole someone into a corner and then discredit them. You aren't interested in a free exchange of biblical truth. That means you have an Agenda. I've shown you using scripture from both sides of the argument because all are true and you seem to want one or the other. That falls short of the full council of God.
 

Nehemiah6

Senior Member
Jul 18, 2017
24,637
13,038
113
Can the choices of men negate the sovereignty of God?
No they cannot. Within God's sovereignty, He has given mankind the ability to make choices and face the consequences. But God remains sovereign.
 

07-07-07

Active member
Jun 13, 2023
240
48
28
The problem with focusing on works isn't that they don't attend salvation, but that they put the focus on the individual and not the Savior.
It's true that someone can being to focus on their own efforts as a means to Salvation. This is wrong. We should keep our eyes on Jesus, always giving Him the glory for paying the price with His blood for the remission of our sins and enabling us to walk in His holy ways. Without Him, no one can be an overcomer.

Galatians 2
[20] I [Paul the Apostle] am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. (KJV)
 

Cameron143

Well-known member
Mar 1, 2022
15,307
5,490
113
62
It's true that someone can being to focus on their own efforts as a means to Salvation. This is wrong. We should keep our eyes on Jesus, always giving Him the glory for paying the price with His blood for the remission of our sins and enabling us to walk in His holy ways. Without Him, no one can be an overcomer.

Galatians 2
[20] I [Paul the Apostle] am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. (KJV)
Great verse. It couples well with Philippians 2:13.
 

07-07-07

Active member
Jun 13, 2023
240
48
28
Are you saying every time you sin Jesus has lost you?
If we willfully sin, Salvation is lost. The Holy Spirit will not dwell with someone who knowingly sins. Now, I'm not saying that someone like this can no longer come back to the Lord; they can, just like King David and the prodigal son. However, many fall back into sin and never find their back. It's dangerous to fall back into Satan's hands, because that person is 7 times worse than before. It would be better that they never knew the way of righteousness. Jesus said,

Matthew 12
[43] “When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none.
[44] Then he says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when he comes, he finds it empty, swept, and put in order.
[45] Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first. So shall it also be with this wicked generation.” (NKJV)
 

JohnDB

Well-known member
Jan 16, 2021
5,745
2,246
113
Faith, a belief, causes a change in opinions....which changes our attitudes and feelings.

Attitudes, feelings, and opinions cause reactions and actions in situations.

Of course there are those who only talk....
One look at the long laundry list of disgraced pastors is more than sufficient evidence that some only claim to believe...

There's an Old Testament test....

Water and fire.
Water is symbolic of LAW
Fire is symbolic of severe difficulties.

If someone goes through both with their faith stronger than ever or in complete failure.
 

07-07-07

Active member
Jun 13, 2023
240
48
28
Are you advocating a works based salvation? Paul is not talking about believers, but lost people who do these things.

1 Corinthians 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,
10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
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.

If I'm in Christ, I have taken on his identity. Was Christ a fornicator? Neither am I. Was Christ an idolater? Neither am I. Even though I may sin in the flesh, that is no longer my identity. If I steal something, I am not a thief because Christ was not a thief. Does that give us a right to sin? God forbid! These Corinthians believers were caught up in all kinds of sins, but Paul reminds them who they are in Christ. In Christ, we are no longer unrighteous as the passage indicates. In Christ, we have been given His righteousness!
Paul is addressing the Church of Galatia and the Church of Corinth in both of those passages. It's preposterous to think that a so-called saved person can do the same sins as an unsaved person and yet still inherit eternal life. Jesus came to make us new people, Saints fit for Heaven. The unrighteous will not get into Heaven, whether they profess Jesus or not.
 

John146

Senior Member
Jan 13, 2016
16,742
3,555
113
Paul is addressing the Church of Galatia and the Church of Corinth in both of those passages. It's preposterous to think that a so-called saved person can do the same sins as an unsaved person and yet still inherit eternal life. Jesus came to make us new people, Saints fit for Heaven. The unrighteous will not get into Heaven, whether they profess Jesus or not.
If you truly believe this, then salvation is not possible. You and I are unrighteous on our own. Everyday we sin. Don't fool yourself. If you say you are without sin, you deny it. We need the righteousness of Jesus Christ. That is our only hope. His righteousness is available to all who place their faith and trust in him.
 

John146

Senior Member
Jan 13, 2016
16,742
3,555
113
If we willfully sin, Salvation is lost. The Holy Spirit will not dwell with someone who knowingly sins. Now, I'm not saying that someone like this can no longer come back to the Lord; they can, just like King David and the prodigal son. However, many fall back into sin and never find their back. It's dangerous to fall back into Satan's hands, because that person is 7 times worse than before. It would be better that they never knew the way of righteousness. Jesus said,

Matthew 12
[43] “When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none.
[44] Then he says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when he comes, he finds it empty, swept, and put in order.
[45] Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first. So shall it also be with this wicked generation.” (NKJV)
We grieve the Holy Spirit when we choose to walk after the flesh and not after the Spirit.

Ephesians 4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
 

timemeddler

Active member
Jul 13, 2023
362
152
43
If we willfully sin, Salvation is lost. The Holy Spirit will not dwell with someone who knowingly sins. Now, I'm not saying that someone like this can no longer come back to the Lord; they can, just like King David and the prodigal son. However, many fall back into sin and never find their back. It's dangerous to fall back into Satan's hands, because that person is 7 times worse than before. It would be better that they never knew the way of righteousness. Jesus said,

Matthew 12
[43] “When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none.
[44] Then he says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when he comes, he finds it empty, swept, and put in order.
[45] Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first. So shall it also be with this wicked generation.” (NKJV)
All sin is willful no one makes you do it.
 

07-07-07

Active member
Jun 13, 2023
240
48
28
If you truly believe this, then salvation is not possible. You and I are unrighteous on our own. Everyday we sin. Don't fool yourself. If you say you are without sin, you deny it. We need the righteousness of Jesus Christ. That is our only hope. His righteousness is available to all who place their faith and trust in him.
Revelation 21
[6] And he said unto me, It is done. I [Jesus] am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.
[7] He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.
[8] But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
 

07-07-07

Active member
Jun 13, 2023
240
48
28
We grieve the Holy Spirit when we choose to walk after the flesh and not after the Spirit.

Ephesians 4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
If we "willfully sin", the Holy Spirit leaves us. I am not talking about making a mistake, but knowingly sinning.
 

Cameron143

Well-known member
Mar 1, 2022
15,307
5,490
113
62
Revelation 21
[6] And he said unto me, It is done. I [Jesus] am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.
[7] He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.
[8] But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
1 John 5:5...Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?
 

Cameron143

Well-known member
Mar 1, 2022
15,307
5,490
113
62
If we "willfully sin", the Holy Spirit leaves us. I am not talking about making a mistake, but knowingly sinning.
His presence may become imperceptible but His person is always with you.
 

07-07-07

Active member
Jun 13, 2023
240
48
28
All sin is willful no one makes you do it.
No, all sin is not willful. There's a difference as the Lord has said. Willful sin is unacceptable to the Lord, but unintentional sin can be forgiven.

Numbers 15
[27] And if any soul sin through ignorance, then he shall bring a she goat of the first year for a sin offering.
[28] And the priest shall make an atonement for the soul that sinneth ignorantly, when he sinneth by ignorance before the Lord, to make an atonement for him; and it shall be forgiven him.
[29] Ye shall have one law for him that sinneth through ignorance, both for him that is born among the children of Israel, and for the stranger that sojourneth among them.
[30] But the soul that doeth ought presumptuously, whether he be born in the land, or a stranger, the same reproacheth the Lord; and that soul shall be cut off from among his people.
[31] Because he hath despised the word of the Lord, and hath broken his commandment, that soul shall utterly be cut off; his iniquity shall be upon him.
 

GRACE_ambassador

Well-known member
Feb 22, 2021
3,001
1,425
113
Midwest
if we willfully sin, Salvation is lost. The Holy Spirit will not dwell with someone who knowingly sins.
Perchance you missed The Scriptural Answer in post #42?

Also, the "willful sin" is addressed to the Hebrews, causing Confusion and Controversy
about salvation for the Body Of Christ, who are taught about The Holy Spirit:

1) Yes, The Spirit can be 'grieved' by sin, But Cannot 'depart,' because:

Eph_4:30 "And grieve not The Holy Spirit of God, Whereby ye​
Are Sealed Unto The Day of Redemption."

Confirmed:

"In Whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard The Word Of Truth, The​
Gospel of your salvation: in Whom also after that ye believed, ye Were
Sealed With That Holy Spirit of Promise, Which is The Earnest of our​
inheritance Until The Redemption of The Purchased possession, unto​
the Praise Of His Glory." (Ephesians 1:13-14)​

Does God "break His Word" and Cancel This Earnest because of believers' sin?

2) The Spirit can even be 'quenched' (1Thessalonians 5:19), but Cannot 'depart,'
as even carnal believers are still saved, as taught in:

a) "To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that​
the spirit may be saved In The Day Of The LORD Jesus." (1 Corinthians 5:5)​

Confirmed By The Judgment Day:
b) "...Every man's work shall be made manifest: for The Day Shall Declare it,​
because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work​
of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon,​
he shall receive a reward.​
If any man's work shall be burned, he Shall Suffer loss: But
he himself Shall Be Saved; yet so as by fire." (1 Corinthians 3:8-15)​

As mentioned, Much More is in post #42 - be Encouraged and Edified!

Amen.