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.
Oct 25, 2018
2,377
1,198
113
If election is not based whatsoever on man’s free will to choose Christ involving God’s foreknowledge, then all you’re left with is fatalistic determination based on mysterious reasons, since we are all sinners and none of us deserve God’s mercy and grace. (Romans 3:23; 6:23)
Salvation is not base upon what fallen man does or doesn’t do. It’s based upon what God has done through the a Christ. You’re still peddling this merit base salvation my friend.
 

mailmandan

Senior Member
Apr 7, 2014
25,475
13,419
113
58
Salvation is not base upon what fallen man does or doesn’t do. It’s based upon what God has done through the a Christ. You’re still peddling this merit base salvation my friend.
Saved by grace through faith, not works (Ephesians 2:8,9) is not merit based salvation.
 
E

EleventhHour

Guest
Saved by grace through faith, not works (Ephesians 2:8,9) is not merit based salvation.

AMEN and AMEN!!!

It is God that has created the plan of salvation.... when we trust His plan there is no merit, HE defines what is meritoriousness not us.
Faith is in Jesus not ourselves, therefore it is not a work.
 

Washed

Active member
Mar 27, 2020
190
79
28
Salvation is not base upon what fallen man does or doesn’t do. It’s based upon what God has done through the a Christ. You’re still peddling this merit base salvation my friend.
Fallen man must choose to believe the Gospel. God does not make anyone believe.
 
E

EleventhHour

Guest
Salvation is not base upon what fallen man does or doesn’t do. It’s based upon what God has done through the a Christ. You’re still peddling this merit base salvation my friend.

Why are ALL MEN without excuse? WHY are all men accountable?
 

Magenta

Senior Member
Jul 3, 2015
60,171
29,471
113
"We are all born as enemies, and hostile toward, God"


not true (i don't think so). :) dont forget about babies - - what we first were. :)
Once you were alienated from God and were hostile in your minds because of your evil deeds. Colossians 1:21

... because the mind of the flesh is hostile to God: It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Romans 8:7

For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son,
much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.
Romans 5:10
 

Magenta

Senior Member
Jul 3, 2015
60,171
29,471
113
When I conducted some one-on-one preaching this last week or so, I can tell you that I did NOT see people pleading and begging for Jesus to save them. Jesus saves those who call upon his Name and abide.


Romans 10:9 :)
 
E

EleventhHour

Guest
Romans 8:7, NIV: "The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so."

Romans 8:7, ESV: "For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot."
 

Magenta

Senior Member
Jul 3, 2015
60,171
29,471
113
Yet, you keep saying His election is based upon those He knows will be willing. Yes, Christ saves us through faith, but this faith is a gift of God that is given at the point of regeneration (so is repentance) and they exercise them and are saved. You’re saying they exercise faith and are saved. The bible says they are saved and exercise faith. These happen simultaneously.
Whichever way, if one follows the other, it is not exactly simultaneous. They do happen together. :)
 

Magenta

Senior Member
Jul 3, 2015
60,171
29,471
113
Well I must say; I see an improvement in everyone’s behavior in this thread since the fear of banning was put on everyone who would sin against the moderator’s precept.

Perhaps a little fear of God and the lake of fire could do the same in our lives within and outside this chat board regarding sin in general. :)

Something to think about.
Why should a born again Christian fear the lake of fire?

There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

Do you believe you can lose your salvation?
 

Magenta

Senior Member
Jul 3, 2015
60,171
29,471
113
Salvation is not base upon what fallen man does or doesn’t do. It’s based upon what God has done through the a Christ. You’re still peddling this merit base salvation my friend.
Do we not have to accept the gift, have faith, and believe?

If/since it is not forced on us, we make a choice.
 
Nov 16, 2019
3,441
860
113
No one falls from being elected in Christ.....
The Galatians fell.

"2 Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all.
4 You who are trying to be justified by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace." - Galatians 5:2,4


There is not one verse in context that teaches a self sustained position in Christ...
Agreed. No one has the power in and of themselves to save themselves or keep themselves saved.
We can only believe, and keep believing, by God's grace.

...and or a position that may be lost or forfeit!
I just cited one above.
And, Hebrews 10:14, 26-31 talks about sanctified people who have been made perfect forever by the one time sacrifice of Jesus who will then be subject to the raging fire judgment of God if they purposely trample on that blood that sanctified them.

Matthew 18:6-9, and Luke 9:42-47 talk about little ones who believe in Jesus stumbling so as to go to hell.


See, Jesus' sacrifice being 'forever' doesn't mean you always have the benefit of his sacrifice no matter what. It means it never runs out like the old covenant sacrifices did and had to be made over again.
And eternal life doesn't mean that, while in the body, you have that life for eternity no matter what. It means the life itself that you receive will never run out, like it did under the old covenant.
And because this is true we are exhorted to keep believing in Jesus in order to keep that which our God given faith secures for us apart from the merit of the works of the law.
 
Nov 16, 2019
3,441
860
113
Do we not have to accept the gift, have faith, and believe?

If/since it is not forced on us, we make a choice.
Yes, and this is considered by all of us to not be a work of the works gospel. But some insist if you have to continue in that believing it does become a work of the works gospel for it would be you doing something to save yourself. It wasn't doing something to save myself when I started it. How can it suddenly now be me doing something to save myself? Their reasoning doesn't make sense.
 
Nov 16, 2019
3,441
860
113
Why should a born again Christian fear the lake of fire?
Hebrews 10:14,26-31 explains why.

There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
Which is exactly why we should stay in Christ Jesus!

"14Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, f Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess." - Hebrews 4:14

"23Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful." - Hebrews 10:23
 

Magenta

Senior Member
Jul 3, 2015
60,171
29,471
113
Yes, and this is considered by all of us to not be a work of the works gospel. But some insist if you have to continue in that believing it does become a work of the works gospel for it would be you doing something to save yourself. It wasn't doing something to save myself when I started it. How can it suddenly now be me doing something to save myself? Their reasoning doesn't make sense.
The choice thing seems to be the stickler. Do we have free will? Of course not, at least, I disagree with that whole concept, since our will is constrained by many factors; I prefer instead the term self will. Man's will is clearly bent one way or the other, as plainly shown throughout the whole of Scripture. To say one makes a choice aligns with the fact that we are not forced, and does not deny that it is God Who makes it possible :)
 
May 23, 2020
1,558
313
83
I KNOW, I think it is way to SHORT, especially for us SENIORS.
I laughed out loud at that one. Yes, I think there ought to be a 10 minute cut-off for everyone over 60 or who feels like they are over 60.