Saved by faith alone?
- Thread starter Lamar
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I'm not even touching on Faith/Obedience here as I normally do but obedience is one of those words that is inextricably tied to belief in the Text as God explains what He says belief/faith in Him means.
It's also one of the keys to why the demon's belief in God is not what God ultimately calls "belief" in Him. It's really not that tough.
ESV Luke 6:46 "Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord,' and not do what I tell you?
It's also one of the keys to why the demon's belief in God is not what God ultimately calls "belief" in Him. It's really not that tough.
ESV Luke 6:46 "Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord,' and not do what I tell you?
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I was simply explaining the distinction in belief. There are numerous people who are mixed up in false religions and cults that do not trust in Jesus Christ alone for salvation but instead trust in works for salvation. Such folks remain in rebellion to God. (2 Corinthians 4:3,4) Moral self-reformation is not a substitute for regeneration. One can be "religious" but not right with God.
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Jesus actually says salvation is impossible for man. Scripture says man's heart is wicked above all things, and beyond cure, but to a free willer this is not a problem, man can fix himself, that bad tree can produce good fruit (even though Jesus said it cannot) because according to them, even though Scripture says there are none good, that natural man guy in their theology is not such a bad guy after all. They deny that salvation is a work of God from beginning to end, we are God's workmanship. There are a multitude of texts laying out how God works in us to bring us to repentance and faith, drawing us with loving kindness, and still we have people who claim they are Christians saying they did not need any help from God; they pooh pooh spiritual experiences and claim God is unfair if He reveals Himself in any way different from one person to the next... meanwhile the Bible is full of such instances, and even knowing Who Jesus is, is revealed spiritually... same as how we know we are children of God: His Spirit testifies with ours.
The natural man to them is someone who hears even though Scripture says the
natural man can neither receive nor comprehend the spiritual things of God.
They will claim everyone hears even though Jesus said everyone does not hear.
We are also told those who hear will live. This means being spared the second death.
So in their theology it is impossible to escape their contradictions if they are not universalist.
The natural man to them is someone who can simply choose to believe that which is foolishness to him while they suppress the truth in unrighteousness as a lover of darkness, being defined as darkness itself, a slave to sin, captive to the will of the devil. This is the person they claim is free to choose to believe that which they hear as foolishness, are inherently hostile to in their minds, and adamantly opposed to, while Scripture attests that the free person is so because of what Jesus does for us, making us alive in Him while we were dead in our trespasses and sins, and circumcising our hearts so we may love Him.
"Free will" in the Bible? ~ Freedom is something believers are called to (Galatians 5 verse 13). We need Jesus to “set us free” (Galatians 5 verse 1). If Jesus has not freed us from the bondage of sin, then we are still slaves to sin (Romans 6 verses 6-7). Freedom is found in the presence of the Spirit (2 Corinthians 3 verse 17). Only Jesus can give us true freedom (John 8 verse 36). Only through His lovingkindness can we truly make choices unfettered by a nature that is inherently hostile toward God.
The natural man to them is someone who hears even though Scripture says the
natural man can neither receive nor comprehend the spiritual things of God.
They will claim everyone hears even though Jesus said everyone does not hear.
We are also told those who hear will live. This means being spared the second death.
So in their theology it is impossible to escape their contradictions if they are not universalist.
The natural man to them is someone who can simply choose to believe that which is foolishness to him while they suppress the truth in unrighteousness as a lover of darkness, being defined as darkness itself, a slave to sin, captive to the will of the devil. This is the person they claim is free to choose to believe that which they hear as foolishness, are inherently hostile to in their minds, and adamantly opposed to, while Scripture attests that the free person is so because of what Jesus does for us, making us alive in Him while we were dead in our trespasses and sins, and circumcising our hearts so we may love Him.
"Free will" in the Bible? ~ Freedom is something believers are called to (Galatians 5 verse 13). We need Jesus to “set us free” (Galatians 5 verse 1). If Jesus has not freed us from the bondage of sin, then we are still slaves to sin (Romans 6 verses 6-7). Freedom is found in the presence of the Spirit (2 Corinthians 3 verse 17). Only Jesus can give us true freedom (John 8 verse 36). Only through His lovingkindness can we truly make choices unfettered by a nature that is inherently hostile toward God.
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Before one believes. Same as being made alive in Christ. I know free willers think they effectuate that change while they are spiritually dead. But you know that makes zero sense given all Scripture has to say on the matter, including Jesus saying with man it is impossible. Similar to Him saying a bad tree cannot produce good fruit. The natural man does not decide to believe that which is foolishness to him, to which he is adamantly opposed and unable to comprehend or accept/receive, while hostile in his mind to God, a slave to sin, captive to the will of the devil, a lover of darkness, defined as darkness itself, and suppressing the truth in unrighteousness. Do these very salient Biblical facts ever get acknowledged by you, or do you just routinely ignore them and brush them aside as inconvenient and unworthy of consideration?
Philippians 3 verse 3; Colossians 2 verse 11; Romans 2 verse 29b ~ For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh. You were also circumcised, in the putting off of your sinful nature, with the circumcision performed by Christ and not by human hands. Circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code.
Philippians 3 verse 3; Colossians 2 verse 11; Romans 2 verse 29b ~ For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh. You were also circumcised, in the putting off of your sinful nature, with the circumcision performed by Christ and not by human hands. Circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code.
We are even allowed to face the results of choosing to be lukewarm.
God does not decide for us, as many seem to suggest.
On the issue of ignoring or brushing aside what you are labeling as Biblical facts, my answer is simple. Your examples are the consequences of the poor use of our free will and not the lack of free will.
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