Not By Works

  • 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.
May 22, 2020
403
127
43
Romans10:9"That if you confess with your mouth,Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved".

Confess with your mouth-physical activity
Believe in your heart(mind,will and intellect)-mental activity

You define work as a physical and mental activity, would you say that one is working based on the above
The verses say WHAT YOU MUST DO, NOT WHY. WHY DID YOU BELIEVE!

Which scripture supports the idea that God believes on our behalf?
There is no verse. God causes one to believe. If you believe God chose to cause it. Since God is spirit His work is often invisible so we assume we are the cause. We do believe but we are not the cause, we are the effect. I honk a horn, the horn makes a noise. Is the horn the caused of the noise, in a sense yes...but the horn would never have made a sound without the primary cause,me. I am the cause of the horn mechanism moving which is the effect, the horn mechanism moving is the cause of the sound, the effect. The horn has no choice, it will always respond to me, the initial cause.

Granted,this is subtle, but the horn does no independent work.. I am the only independent part in the analogy. I determine all things.
I am the one doing the believing, God is the cause, there is no other cause for me to believe. I cannot do it on my own as NO ONE SEEKS GOD because of my evil nature. Similarly, the horn cannot honk on its own as that is against its nature.

Thus, though faith is a work, the work is not attributed to me; rather to God. Thus I cannot boast.
 
Apr 5, 2020
2,273
464
83
It means you threw the Calvinistic followers under the Bus without giving a probable answer to the question.

Your choice of action was not to give an answer, but to demean someone.

WHO are you anyways?


That's right disagree!
Because tossing someone under the bus and not having the answer yourself looks INTELLIGENT!

Not!
 
May 22, 2020
403
127
43
But I don't see you answering it either. How can you throw some under the bus and have nothing to offer yourself?
If I had a nickel for every time I pose a question to @EleventhHour I would gave a lot of nickels. That being said, she is under no obligation to answer. She is nice to me though, I appreciate that.
 

preacher4truth

Senior Member
Dec 28, 2016
9,171
2,718
113
It means you threw the Calvinistic followers under the Bus without giving a probable answer to the question.

Your choice of action was not to give an answer, but to demean someone.

WHO are you anyways?
Yes, this happens unfortunately bro. :sneaky:

Wish people would bring bible and sound doctrine and leave the vitriol and baiting out of it.
 
E

EleventhHour

Guest
If I had a nickel for every time I pose a question to @EleventhHour I would gave a lot of nickels. That being said, she is under no obligation to answer. She is nice to me though, I appreciate that.
I know you asked something before thread was closed, I will need to go back and find it...because it seems like it was a while ago now.
 

preacher4truth

Senior Member
Dec 28, 2016
9,171
2,718
113
Is this not the same as predestination?

How would God know each and everyone of us, had the Book of Life and the Book of Judgement already filled out before ever Speaking the first thing into existence.

God's Sovereignty is only how. His ways are greater than ours.

Does it make sense?
NO!

But ultimately, it is what it is!
Yep. Steven Charnock addresses this in his great work "The Existence and Attributes of God." It is outstanding, and you're right, it doesn't have to make sense to us to be true.
 
Apr 5, 2020
2,273
464
83
If I had a nickel for every time I pose a question to @EleventhHour I would gave a lot of nickels. That being said, she is under no obligation to answer. She is nice to me though, I appreciate that.

It seems to me the site Mod shut this thread down yesterday for tossing peeps under the bus. And that post of hers was just what we were warned about not to do. She attempted to not give a viable answer to the question, but went directly to chopping up her enemy into pieces. I am not on a side here because us Pentecostals never aligned with what most Baptists have aligned themselves with. I see TRUTHS in both sides and live by those TRUTHS. But I can also see ignorance a mile away without even trying!
 

preacher4truth

Senior Member
Dec 28, 2016
9,171
2,718
113
Hello, dear brother.
I've been on a break from the forum for a while.
I've been having mostly non-theological fun in another forum.

Hope you and yours are safe during these difficult times.
Same to you and yours. We are all good here, tired of being home, seeing masks.
 

preacher4truth

Senior Member
Dec 28, 2016
9,171
2,718
113
It seems to me the site Mod shut this thread down yesterday for tossing peeps under the bus. And that post of hers was just what we warned about not to do. She attempted to not give a viable answer to the question, but went directly to chopping up her enemy into pieces. I am not on a side here because us Pentecostals never aligned with most Baptists have aligned themselves with. I see TRUTHS in both sides and live by those TRUTHS. But I can also see ignorance a mile away without even trying!
I respect your candor and honesty. Be careful, I don't want to see you get hit by the "reporting train." I don't agree with all you say, but we have one thing in common, trusting Christ to save us. Let's allow him to sanctify us in truth; John 17:17. Be open to correction via the word bro.
 
Apr 5, 2020
2,273
464
83
I respect your candor and honesty. Be careful, I don't want to see you get hit by the "reporting train." I don't agree with all you say, but we have one thing in common, trusting Christ to save us. Let's allow him to sanctify us in truth; John 17:17. Be open to correction via the word bro.

AMEN!
 
Nov 16, 2019
3,441
860
113
Same to you and yours. We are all good here, tired of being home, seeing masks.
You are in Ohio, right? (I gleaned that from your other posts.)
My son lives in Toledo.
I'm in Tennessee.
We're not locked down, but that may change as the Covid numbers go up.
Still under a thousand in my city.
Just had a case right in the office where I work.
So it's coming close to home.
 

1ofthem

Senior Member
Mar 30, 2016
3,729
1,912
113
When you have doubts, be like Joshua. God will allow us to fleece Him when we are unsure. Joshua was already established and Moses promoted him, but he still doubted God to God's face. And God told him to fleece Him!
We know God called Joshua...but if he only chooses some to be saved, for no other reason than that is what he wants to do then how could you or anyone be convinced that you are one of the elect?

What I am getting at is, I believe God called me and drawn me through his word. I heard it preached that whosoever believes on Jesus shall be saved. God began convicting me and dealing with my heart, so I took that step and accepted Jesus into my life. I don't feel like he forced me to do this, but gave me a choice. He has changed my heart and I am confident that I have salvation through the blood of the lamb that was shed for all men who would believe and accept him.

That is now my testimony to others who are lost.... that whosoever comes to and believes in Jesus shall be saved....

If God only chooses some to be saved how can you preach the word of God to them to repent, believe on Jesus, and be saved. Is there even any purpose for preaching to the lost, if God will save who he will and will not save some no matter what?

Like I said this is where Calvinism puzzles me....
 
Dec 12, 2013
46,515
20,395
113
I thank God for His unmerited grace.
Me too and thankful that he would have ALL men be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth.

Unlike those who say God failed in His mission....you know the ones....they peddle man A God determined to Save....MAN B GOD determine to burn in hell and his grace is irresistible.....their god with a small g failed....Calvin's god.

If grace is irresistible as the Calvinist's say, and God would have ALL MEN be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth, then ALL MEN SHOULD BE SAVED....

See...Calvin was false and so was the dogma he peddled....and by default....those that peddle the same are false as well!
 
Apr 5, 2020
2,273
464
83
We know God called Joshua...but if he only chooses some to be saved, for no other reason than that is what he wants to do then how could you or anyone be convinced that you are one of the elect?

What I am getting at is, I believe God called me and drawn me through his word. I heard it preached that whosoever believes on Jesus shall be saved. God began convicting me and dealing with my heart, so I took that step and accepted Jesus into my life. I don't feel like he forced me to do this, but gave me a choice. He has changed my heart and I am confident that I have salvation through the blood of the lamb that was shed for all men who would believe and accept him.

That is now my testimony to others who are lost.... that whosoever comes to and believes in Jesus shall be saved....

If God only chooses some to be saved how can you preach the word of God to them to repent, believe on Jesus, and be saved. Is there even any purpose for preaching to the lost, if God will save who he will and will not save some no matter what?

Like I said this is where Calvinism puzzles me....


I know I am saved because when I sin the Holy Spirit jumps all over me for sinning. I feel Chastised. The Bible specifically states, God only chastises His Own! So, I have no doubts because I feel the Holy Spirit in everything I do.
 

preacher4truth

Senior Member
Dec 28, 2016
9,171
2,718
113
You are in Ohio, right? (I gleaned that from your other posts.)
My son lives in Toledo.
I'm in Tennessee.
We're not locked down, but that may change as the Covid numbers go up.
Still under a thousand in my city.
Just had a case right in the office where I work.
So it's coming close to home.
I was born and raised in C-bus (Columbus, OH). Huge Buckeyes fan, TTUN. Also lived in Cleveland for a time. Great fishing on Lake Erie.
 
May 22, 2020
403
127
43
So god should let everyone be born perfect? If we were all born perfect what would we need God for
Well Adam was born perfect so that was a good start. When we are in heaven we will be perfect, thus you imply we don't need God in heaven IMO.

As far as god living Jacob and hating Esau that is a quote from
Micah. It speaks of two nations not two children. And in Hebrew the context is also Not literal hate but love less
Psalm 5:5 you hate all workers of iniquity.
How can a holy God love evil? Can He deny HIMSELF? Does God love demons and Satan because He is love ... Maybe I am wrong but I don't see God this way.

Aside: when one looks up the definition of HATE one doesn't find LOVE LESS. ...i've seen the Hebrew translation.. Hate means hate. Besides, in an earlier post today you said God loves everyone the same, which is IT? Something about God's not being God if He doesn't love everyone the same. Not exactly sure, I can find it if you like.