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V
We believe because God the Father, through the Holy Spirit, empowers us to believe.
There are as many ways to be led to Christ as there are people in the world, and that is what you're talking about in asking about cultural experience, blind faith, etc.
There is only one way to actually believe: By the power of God.
There are as many ways to be led to Christ as there are people in the world, and that is what you're talking about in asking about cultural experience, blind faith, etc.
There is only one way to actually believe: By the power of God.
V
I didn't say that. I said there are as many ways to be led to Christ as there are people in the world.
Still, faith comes only from God. If He didn't grant us ability to believe, we wouldn't. No one would be saved. Keep in mind, too, we have the ability to reject His truth even as He opens our minds to faith. 99% of salvation is God's doing. But we still have to actually believe.
Still, faith comes only from God. If He didn't grant us ability to believe, we wouldn't. No one would be saved. Keep in mind, too, we have the ability to reject His truth even as He opens our minds to faith. 99% of salvation is God's doing. But we still have to actually believe.
F
My cousin, who is a so-called Atheist, claims that she was at one time a christian. Probably not. Chances are it was only because her family (culturally) claimed to believe and went to church every Sunday. But going to church doesn't make a person a Christian anymore than driving into a garage makes them a car. My cousin hates the mention of Jesus Christ or anything aligned with him. That tells me the Spirit does NOT dwell in her. By their fruits we will know them. That is not a judgement. It's merely an observation or an evaluation. She's probably more of an agnostic but that's another topic altogether.
A Saving Faith is a gift from God so that we might believe and be saved through grace. The ability to trust God for salvation is sovereignly given, not generated by human effort
"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God"
Ephesians 2:8
"For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake"
Philippians 1:29
A Saving Faith is a gift from God so that we might believe and be saved through grace. The ability to trust God for salvation is sovereignly given, not generated by human effort
"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God"
Ephesians 2:8
"For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake"
Philippians 1:29
V
If believing as empowered by God to do so is 1%, I suppose so, but this sounds like a very argumentative question that probably didn't deserve the effort it took to answer it. My point is, we cannot believe unless empowered by God, but we could also refuse to believe despite being empowered by God, though before getting that far, the one drawn and called by the Holy Spirit would likely rebel against Him before he could be given truth.
S
As was said before, if "belief" refers to cultural affiliation (which is how it is used within pop-culture and politics) then "belief" is merely cultural, and based on upbringing and social influence.
If we look at the Biblical use and meaning of "belief", then we realize that true belief breaks down the walls of culture,
and begins to remove societal influence from the Believer.
A person can be raised in an upright manner, but a person cannot be raised as a Believer.
All Believers are converts,
even if the conversion was at a young age.
Calling oneself a Christian does not make them a Believer.
The Biblical definition of "belief" is far more specific than the worldly usage.
If we look at the Biblical use and meaning of "belief", then we realize that true belief breaks down the walls of culture,
and begins to remove societal influence from the Believer.
A person can be raised in an upright manner, but a person cannot be raised as a Believer.
All Believers are converts,
even if the conversion was at a young age.
Calling oneself a Christian does not make them a Believer.
The Biblical definition of "belief" is far more specific than the worldly usage.
Romans 10:11 .) For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
12 .) For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
13 .) For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
14 .) How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
15 .) And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
(that should clear it up for you)
12 .) For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
13 .) For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
14 .) How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
15 .) And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
(that should clear it up for you)
A
From worse to best scenario:
Stupidity, want it that bad, forgot to use common sense, used common sense, studied, God.
Doesn't it depend on what we believe?
Every August, I believe the Philadelphia Eagles will win the next Super Bowl. That's somewhere between stupidity and, maybe, (if I checked out the stats to see if they have a shot) using my common sense.
I believe in God because God gave me that, and then I study.
Lots of things we believe in. That doesn't necessarily make it right or true. Sometimes it is.
Stupidity, want it that bad, forgot to use common sense, used common sense, studied, God.
Doesn't it depend on what we believe?
Every August, I believe the Philadelphia Eagles will win the next Super Bowl. That's somewhere between stupidity and, maybe, (if I checked out the stats to see if they have a shot) using my common sense.
I believe in God because God gave me that, and then I study.
Lots of things we believe in. That doesn't necessarily make it right or true. Sometimes it is.
A
A couple of thoughts....I ask my ex wife for a date and she says "okay, pick me up at 7:30 on the 2nd of never"
The second thought is that you apparently have forgotten that the New England Patriots haven't been barred yet.
The second thought is that you apparently have forgotten that the New England Patriots haven't been barred yet.
What I believe isn't always so.
O
true belief is the Gift of God - for the carnal man can grasp
the concept of God but he cannot grasp the reality of His being -
for the carnal man's will, desires, and lusts, over-come him and he
cannot come to the knowledge of God.
coupled with that is the fact that in the spiritual realm,
by whom a man is over-come, his servant he is.
it is written that God leads us to repentance -
and again,
'No man can come to Me, except the Father draw him'.
in the end, our Father breaks our bondage or the bondage
of the demonic-spiritual realm, coupled with our own will.
a miracle and an inconceivable act of Love, awesome to say
the least -
our Father reveals Himself to whom He wills....
the concept of God but he cannot grasp the reality of His being -
for the carnal man's will, desires, and lusts, over-come him and he
cannot come to the knowledge of God.
coupled with that is the fact that in the spiritual realm,
by whom a man is over-come, his servant he is.
it is written that God leads us to repentance -
and again,
'No man can come to Me, except the Father draw him'.
in the end, our Father breaks our bondage or the bondage
of the demonic-spiritual realm, coupled with our own will.
a miracle and an inconceivable act of Love, awesome to say
the least -
our Father reveals Himself to whom He wills....
John 6:44 - No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day.
John 6:65 - And He was saying, "For this reason I have said to you, that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted him from the Father." The NIV says ..unless the Father has enabled him.
Faith does come by hearing and hearing by the word of God (Romans 10:17) yet there is more to coming to faith in Christ than simply paper, ink and human intelligence.
John 6:65 - And He was saying, "For this reason I have said to you, that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted him from the Father." The NIV says ..unless the Father has enabled him.
Faith does come by hearing and hearing by the word of God (Romans 10:17) yet there is more to coming to faith in Christ than simply paper, ink and human intelligence.
F
the Lord Jesus did not humble Himself taking on human flesh and frailty,
live a perfect life and die a sinner's death in my place to say to dead people:
Jump! you can do it!
the only thing i contributed to my salvation was the sin that made it necessary.
it was a totally One sided rescue.
live a perfect life and die a sinner's death in my place to say to dead people:
Jump! you can do it!
the only thing i contributed to my salvation was the sin that made it necessary.
it was a totally One sided rescue.
If someone was hanging off a cliff by the right hand and the rescuer came along, reached down to help them by grasping their left hand, is the person in trouble credited for a portion of their own rescue by taking hold of the rescuer's hands or allowing their hand to be grasped?
Agreed, a one sided rescue. God made a way for all to saved through His Son. Take it or leave it. There is NO other way to be saved.
[SUP]"[/SUP]be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved."
Acts 4: 10 -12
P
oh, i didn't mean to do that....hope it didn't sound that way?
right?
and the Bible makes it clear we were much worse off than hanging from a cliff.
dead.
we were dead in our sin.
not only could we not reach up a hand....we were clueless we needed rescue!
in fact, i'd say until the Holy Spirit regenerates us, we don't...can't even want God.
But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light. For this reason it says,
“Awake, sleeper,
And arise from the dead,
And Christ will shine on you.” (Eph 5:13-14)
right?
and the Bible makes it clear we were much worse off than hanging from a cliff.
dead.
we were dead in our sin.
not only could we not reach up a hand....we were clueless we needed rescue!
in fact, i'd say until the Holy Spirit regenerates us, we don't...can't even want God.
But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light. For this reason it says,
“Awake, sleeper,
And arise from the dead,
And Christ will shine on you.” (Eph 5:13-14)