Is faith a work?

  • 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 10, 2022
121
20
18
I said:
Your statement cannot be found in that verse.

That would be your opinion, yes. But Jesus didn't say anything about being born of God in order to hear God's words.

Throughout the NT, the issue in salvation is hearing the gospel. Not being born again in order to hear the message. You cannot prove your claim with any verse, much less with Jn 8:47.

And I have proved from Eph 2:5 and 8 that faith precedes both salvation and regeneration, so you have no point.
No its Jesus opinion. He tells us who it is that hears the words of God, you best take heed Jn 8:47

47 He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.
 

Everlasting-Grace

Well-known member
Dec 18, 2021
5,952
1,873
113
Because living can be extremely difficult. People can and do take their own life well into their adulthood, very sadly.
trusting God with daily living and trusting God for eternal life are two different things

It may take years to trust God with everyday things.. It does not make us lack faith in eternity and cause us to lose salvation
 

Everlasting-Grace

Well-known member
Dec 18, 2021
5,952
1,873
113
It doesnt matter if you dont agree, its the truth anyway. Either God gives us to believe in Christ Phil 1:29
29 For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;

Thats word given is the greek word charizomai :

to do something pleasant or agreeable (to one), to do a favour to, gratify

  1. to show one's self gracious, kind, benevolent
  2. to grant forgiveness, to pardon
  3. to give graciously, give freely, bestow
Its also the middle voice the word charis :

The word for grace grace (130x),

So again, believing in Christ is either a work of grace, God in action, or its your own action from the flesh which makes it your work. Take your pick
It is a work of grace.

because we can not earn it

My faith does not earn salvation. Because I did not save myself.. so i can not boast. I am trusting in someone else to save me..

You all have a fear of trusting for some reason that I can not comprehend
 

Everlasting-Grace

Well-known member
Dec 18, 2021
5,952
1,873
113
So wonder if you tell a person like easu whom God hates, or a worker of iniquity who God hates Ps 5:5 that God loves them, you have spoken a lie friend.

BTW those who God hates are vessels of wrath whom God Himself fits them for final wrath and destruction
God never said he hated esau

Mal 1:
Yet Jacob I have loved;
3 But Esau I have hated,
And laid waste his mountains and his heritage
For the jackals of the wilderness.”

4 Even though Edom has said,
“We have been impoverished,
But we will return and build the desolate places,”
Thus says the Lord of hosts:


They may build, but I will throw down;
They shall be called the Territory of Wickedness,
And the people against whom the Lord will have indignation forever.
5 Your eyes shall see,
And you shall say,
‘The Lord is magnified beyond the border of Israel.’

Esau is they, Esau is edom. Esau is not a baby born next to Jacob.

Again, You have failed to interpret romans 9 correctly
 

Everlasting-Grace

Well-known member
Dec 18, 2021
5,952
1,873
113
I know I am right because the scripture is right, man is dead to God, the only hope to be saved is for God to make them alive. Man doesnt cooperate in creation work. Thats solely Gods work. Man cant and doesnt have a say so if God will make them alive. Go to Genesis 1-2 did the things created have a choice to be created or not ?
scripture is right

You have misunderstood scripture.

If a dead man can not call out to Jesus. then NO ONE can be saved..
 
Mar 4, 2020
8,614
3,691
113
It doesnt matter if you dont agree, its the truth anyway. Either God gives us to believe in
Christ

Phil 1:29
29 For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;
Not really. Something or someone being given to believe isn’t the same as giving belief to someone. The verse you provided proves my point.
 
Jan 31, 2021
8,658
1,064
113
Not following your line of reasoning here. How did you decide what applies to the 11 apostles, what doesn't, and what applies to people today?
I told you: Eph 4:11-13 shows who the GC was given to initially: apostles. Now that we don't have that gift, we do have the spiritual gifts of evangelist, pastor, and teacher. These are the ones to whom the GC applies. They have the communication gifts.

[Depending how you want to look at it, Paul was either the 13th or 14th apostle. Matthias was the 12th or 13th since he took Judas' place. If you had read Acts over 240 times you would know this.
I do know it. Matthias was chosen by MEN. Paul was chosen by God. Do you understand the difference?

What do you think of Rev 21:14 - The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

Please don't tell me that one of the foundations will have Matthias' name on it.

Acts 1:21-26
21Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus was living among us, 22beginning from John’s baptism to the time when Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection.”
23So they nominated two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. 24Then they prayed, “Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen 25to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs.” 26Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles.
Sure, they prayed. But one was GUARANTEED to replace Judas, so what kind of "God choice" was that?

Kinda like, "Here God, you get to choose between these two that we picked out for you". Sure.

Okay you're free to believe it your way if you want. Do you believe you're personally required to fulfill the GC?
As a SS teacher, YES, do.

Why do you think every believer is commissioned when many do not even have the spiritual communication gift?

The MOST effective apostle EVER was PAUL. There is no doubt about it. Matthias was NEVER mentioned again, and you want me to believe that he will have his name on one of the foundations of the NJ?

Sorry, but that just isn't believable.

And, if the GC was given to every believer, why is there NO MENTION of it anywhere in the NT? That doesn't make sense either.
 
Jan 31, 2021
8,658
1,064
113
Greek grammar is ABSOLUTELY irrelevant in Ephesians 2:8-9
Sorry to have to break this to you, but that is an ignorant comment.

You have the description of what is being discussed IN THOSE VERSES.
Since you have have already made your mind up, and don't want any FACTS, I won't repeat the actual reason the Greek grammar is very important.

Salvation, Grace, Faith, NOT OF YOURSELVES. NOT OF WORKS.
Amen.

If Faith WASN'T a gift then NO ONE WOULD HAVE ANY.
Nice sentiment, but where in the Bible do you find this?

John 15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
This is obviously about bearing fruit, which is works. The works that believers do while IN fellowship with the Lord are what count. Not the miserable good deeds believers do when OUT OF fellowship with the Lord and either grieving (Eph 4:30) or quenching (1 Thess 5:19) the Spirit.

Someone who is SAVED can't produce Fruit of the Spirit on his own.
Correct. They MUST be "walking by means of the Spirit" (Gal 5:16) or "be filled with the Spirit (Eph 5:18).

Test question: since Eph 5:18 is a command to obey, can you explain specifically how to obey the command to be filled with the Spirit?

[QUOT] Obviously someone who is NOT SAVED can't either.[/QUOTE]
Obviously irrelevant to the discussion.


Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

Very simple, case closed. Sorry, you lose. Good luck next time.
Your explanation of how to obey the command to be filled with the Spirit will demonstrate who the LOSER is.

Otherwise, you will have to prove, with scripture, that the Lord MIS-SPOKE in John 15:5 and people CAN IN FACT produce whatever fruit they desire with no help from the Lord at all.
The text is obviously about bearing fruit, and fruit that counts with God is fruit produced by the filling of the Holy Spirit.

So I'm very interested in your explanation of how to obey the command.

Nope. I'm gonna have to go with the Lord and scripture on this one and not the IMAGINATIONS and WISHES of some undiscerning person on the internet that has shown themselves incapable of understanding scripture. Greek grammar...:ROFL::ROFL::ROFL::ROFL::ROFL:
Sure. Go ahead and laugh your head off about Greek grammar. Scholars would have quite a laugh at YOU, too.
 
Jan 31, 2021
8,658
1,064
113
FreeGrace2 said:
I said:
Your statement cannot be found in that verse.

That would be your opinion, yes. But Jesus didn't say anything about being born of God in order to hear God's words.

Throughout the NT, the issue in salvation is hearing the gospel. Not being born again in order to hear the message. You cannot prove your claim with any verse, much less with Jn 8:47.

And I have proved from Eph 2:5 and 8 that faith precedes both salvation and regeneration, so you have no point.
Nope. Jesus doesn't have "opinions". That what man has. Jesus has the TRUTH.

He tells us who it is that hears the words of God, you best take heed Jn 8:47
That isn't the disagreement.
 
Oct 10, 2022
121
20
18
It is a work of grace.

because we can not earn it

My faith does not earn salvation. Because I did not save myself.. so i can not boast. I am trusting in someone else to save me..

You all have a fear of trusting for some reason that I can not comprehend
Faith/believing on Christ is given by grace, again either ones believing is totally the work of God, or totally the work of man. Take your pick
 
Oct 10, 2022
121
20
18
God never said he hated esau

Mal 1:
Yet Jacob I have loved;
3 But Esau I have hated,
And laid waste his mountains and his heritage
For the jackals of the wilderness.”

4 Even though Edom has said,
“We have been impoverished,
But we will return and build the desolate places,”
Thus says the Lord of hosts:


They may build, but I will throw down;
They shall be called the Territory of Wickedness,
And the people against whom the Lord will have indignation forever.
5 Your eyes shall see,
And you shall say,
‘The Lord is magnified beyond the border of Israel.’

Esau is they, Esau is edom. Esau is not a baby born next to Jacob.

Again, You have failed to interpret romans 9 correctly
God never said I hated easu ? You got to be kidding Rom 9:13

13 As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.

Mal 1:1-3


The burden of the word of the Lord to Israel by Malachi.

2 I have loved you, saith the Lord. Yet ye say, Wherein hast thou loved us? Was not Esau Jacob's brother? saith the Lord: yet I loved Jacob,

3 And I hated Esau, and laid his mountains and his heritage waste for the dragons of the wilderness.

They were individuals first and foremost !
 
Oct 10, 2022
121
20
18
Not really. Something or someone being given to believe isn’t the same as giving belief to someone. The verse you provided proves my point.
Yes it is, when God gives it, it produces the desred resul which is believing, there is no other way to believe on Christ.
 

Everlasting-Grace

Well-known member
Dec 18, 2021
5,952
1,873
113
God never said I hated easu ? You got to be kidding Rom 9:13

13 As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.

Mal 1:1-3


The burden of the word of the Lord to Israel by Malachi.

2 I have loved you, saith the Lord. Yet ye say, Wherein hast thou loved us? Was not Esau Jacob's brother? saith the Lord: yet I loved Jacob,

3 And I hated Esau, and laid his mountains and his heritage waste for the dragons of the wilderness.

They were individuals first and foremost !
Lol

Context my friend

Esau is edom. Not the baby.. Yes, esau was jacobs brother Edom was jacob‘s (Israel’s) brother

God never said he hated the kid. You would have to show me that in genesis when they were born.

He did nto say he hated the baby in ROmans 9, He quoted malichi
 
Oct 10, 2022
121
20
18
FreeGrace2 said:
I said:
Your statement cannot be found in that verse.

That would be your opinion, yes. But Jesus didn't say anything about being born of God in order to hear God's words.

Throughout the NT, the issue in salvation is hearing the gospel. Not being born again in order to hear the message. You cannot prove your claim with any verse, much less with Jn 8:47.

And I have proved from Eph 2:5 and 8 that faith precedes both salvation and regeneration, so you have no point.

Nope. Jesus doesn't have "opinions". That what man has. Jesus has the TRUTH.


That isn't the disagreement.
I know what you said. Jesus tells us who it is that hears the words of God Jn 8:47

47 He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.

If a person isnt of God they dont hear His word with Spiritual understanding. Jesus said earler Jn 8:43

43 Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word.
 
Oct 10, 2022
121
20
18
Magenta said:
Esau and Jacob were called nations while in Rebekah's womb. Esau represents Edom... God's (and Israel's) enemy. Jacob = Israel.

They were NATIONS last and MOST important. ;)
Yet they were individuals, first and God said He hated easu the Indvidual ! He said nothing about a nation in Rom 9