Conditional Salvation

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Mar 28, 2014
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3 words I heard in a sermon...

Admit...that we cannot save ourselves

Submit...everything to God

Faith....only faith in Jesus can save us

Until we can do all three we are swimming in quicksand.
agreed
Romans 10:3

For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.
 
Apr 26, 2014
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agreed
Romans 10:3

For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.
But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
 

mailmandan

Senior Member
Apr 7, 2014
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Personal interpretation does not constitute the meaning of the Gospel from the beginning. One would of necessity posit that the Holy Spirit got it wrong in the beginning, that He was incapable of preserving it for 1500 years, then realized His error and proceeded to give hundreds of meanings to a text that apparently just dropped out of the sky in the 16th century.
Personal interpretation "adds works" to the Gospel. The Holy Spirit got it right from the beginning and has preserved the Gospel from the beginning, but apparently your church and other churches have not.

which is all based on your own false paradigm. I have heard no one state that they are saved by works. Part of your problem is that you also hold to the Anselmian concept of justification, meaning the "not guilty" idea that one is saved finitely thus you equate justification with salvation. Your point to put blinders aside pertains to you. Justification is NOT salvation. There is no sola fide in scripture, it does not exist until Luther, and it has become so pervasive within the sola scriptura milieu that most don't even realize it is not scriptural.
Those who don't believe the Gospel are wearing blinders (2 Corinthians 4:3,4). Justification is saved from the penalty of sin which equals salvation and not simply probation.

which is solely a protestant misunderstanding.
No, it's actually Scripture. I see that you continue to "parrot off" what your predecessors before you have taught.

This is another reason you are confused.
You are the one who is confused.

Rom 5:18 has nothing to do with faith and the attaining of eternal life. The context begins in Rom 5:6-10 where Christ dies for sinners, that is every single human being. No man is without sin. Rom 5:12 tells us that the condemnation of death, which is passed on to all men is what Christ will defeat. Vs 15,17 tells us it is a gift.
A gift must be received. The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Same gift in Romans 5:15-18. Salvation by grace through faith is not of ourselves, it is the gift of God (Ephesians 2:8) and that's why it is NOT OF WORKS (vs. 9).

Vs 18 emphatically states that life was given to all men. If all men die because of the condemnation of death through Adam, then all men will have life through the Incarnation and resurrection of Christ. I Cor 15:12-22 states the very same thing. Christ was reconciling the world to God, not saving you as an individual, or the attaining of eternal life.
Eternal life is not given to all men, including unbelievers. Unbelievers have not received the gift of eternal life. Unbelievers are not justified by faith. Period.

Your reference of Rom 6:23 is about eternal life which was the whole purpose of why Christ saved the world from death and sin. So, every man could freely join, which we do by faith, in order to share communion with God.
You finally said it. Which we do by FAITH. It's not automatic to all men including unbelievers.

But it does not constitute salvation. I only means you have taken possession of it.
Which is saved from the penalty of sin "have been saved through faith" = salvation, not probation.

Now it is all about living in that faith and that living is still all a choice by man. He can reject Christ at any time he so desires. God cannot force man to believe not force him to continue to believe. The faithful ones are the ONLY ones that will inherit eternal life.
The faithful ones are ONLY those who from beginning "have been saved through faith" (Ephesians 2:8) to end "receiving the end of your faith--the salvation of your souls" (1 Peter 1:9) trust in Christ as the all sufficient means of their salvation. Saving faith continues and is not some shallow temporary belief that has no root and does not continue.

Faith alone is hell. It is the one who have faith and do His will and do it faithfully that will be saved.
An empty profession of faith that remains alone (barren of works) = hell because this is not genuine faith but a dead faith. You say have faith AND DO HIS WILL as if our works "in addition to the cross" is what saves us. What is God's will for us to receive eternal life? John 6:40 - For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in Him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. Where do you see believes in Him "and do his will" in John 6:40 as if "believes in Him" is His insufficient will for us to receive eternal life and something further must be accomplished which constitutes "do His will" also and is then added as a supplement to believes in Him? People seem to write a blank check with "do His will" and fill in whatever amount of works they desire. Christ is an all sufficient Savior. No supplements needed.

so now you actually state the explicit denial of Christ's Incarnation and resurrection in that He saved the world from death and sin. John 4:42, You don't believe Christ defeated death, universal death, man and the world. Why do you think there will be a resurrection of the dead? Read again, I Cor 15:12-22.
I believe that Christ's finished work of redemption is sufficient to save the world from death and sin (I don't believe in limited atonement), but not everyone in the world will automatically be saved from sin and death and receive eternal life with God. There is no universal salvation.

That word "saved by grace" in Eph 2:5 is addressing Christ's work as does the first two verses when all men were quickened with Christ at His resurrection. That part of our salvation is all Christ and man has no imput surely not any works of the law.
Not all men have been alive together with Christ and have been saved by grace through faith. Grace is Christ's part and faith is our part, not any works of the law, including the moral aspect of the law, which includes all good works. Salvation is not of ourselves, it is the gift of God.

Paul states clearly that if works could save man, then Christ is not needed.
Exactly!

They are also saved by grace but also through faith.
Saved by grace through faith, not works. And it's not saved by grace through faith "infused with works", just not specific works of the law as Catholicism teaches. It's not faith + the 7 sacraments or faith + something else. It's faith IN CHRIST ALONE.

It means one has been put into the correct relationship with Christ so that the attaining of eternal life can take place and those that are faithful will inherit eternal life.
In other words, saved through faith to you means place on probation and if you are "faithful enough" then you finally inherit eternal life. How is that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works? Those with faith from beginning to end are faithful and will inherit eternal life. Those with a shallow temporary belief that has no root and does not endure are faithless and will not inherit eternal life.

First that is your misunderstanding of the whole issue of grace, faith, and works.
You misunderstanding is placed on probation by grace through faith (not actually saved yet) then ultimately inherit eternal life by works (being faithful enough). How much is enough in your "is of yourselves" performance based plan of salvation?

You have just above actually denied the salvation by grace part. The work of Christ makes it possible for man and God to be united now and for eternity.
I never denied salvation by grace part. The finished work of Christ not only makes it possible for man and God to be united now and for eternity, it makes it actual through faith.

False, You will never find any Church Father that hold to that sequence. You are using same words but applying them to a different paradigm. Even a Calvinist theologian, Schaffer, acknowledges that one will never find sola fide in the Church Fathers.
I found it. How many different ways can you interpret "justified by faith alone in Christ" and other quotes that I cited from the Church Fathers?

don't need to fight it. I have found the ONE True Faith,
Says you. That's what I've heard Roman Catholics and Mormons claim as well.

Only in your complete ignorance of Christ's work could this even have been stated.
Complete ignorance? Your arrogance is showing.

It equates to law of faith, but not sola fide. Sola fide is condemned by scripture.
Salvation by grace, through faith IN CHRIST ALONE and not by works is not condemned in Scripture. What is condemned is claims to have faith but has no works. This is a dead faith that remains alone (barren of works). That's the "alone" that condemns because this is not genuine faith but an empty profession of faith. Not to be confused with FAITH IN CHRIST ALONE for salvation, which is not alone in the sense that it is barren of works, because it's a living faith, not a dead faith.

Which is why Luther wanted to jettison James. Its a thorn in the doctrine.
I really don't care what Luther wanted to do with the book of James. I'm a disciple of Christ, not Luther and I have no problem with the book of James. Paul and James compliment each other and do not contradict each other as some may believe. Man is saved through faith and not by works (Ephesians 2:8;9: Titus 3:5; 2 Timothy 1:9) yet genuine faith is substantiated and confirmed by good works (James 2:14-24). In other words, it is through faith IN CHRIST alone (and not by the merits of our works) that we are justified on account of Christ (Romans 3:24; 5:1); yet the faith that justifies is never alone (solitary, unfruitful, barren) if it is genuine (James 2:14-24). *Perfect Harmony*

No, he is western and has some herecies attached to him as does Augustine as well.
First you tell me to read the writings of the Church Fathers (as if they must be right about everything) and now you are saying that Augustine has some heresies attached to him.

Justify the ungodly (sinners) is Rom 5:6-10. That is every single human being, unless you can prove that some men have never sinned.
Christ died for the ungodly, yet not all who are ungodly will believe in Him who justifies the ungodly and have their faith accounted for righteousness.

You proof text the Church Fathers just like you proof text scripture. No man has ever changed the Gospel as it was given in the beginning. Everyone who tried was declared a heretic or the teaching was heretical. I don't think that will change from now until the end of time.
The Gospel is and has always been the "good news" of the death, burial and resurrection of Christ (1 Corinthians 15:1-4) and is the power of God unto salvation for everyone who BELIEVES.. (Romans 1:16). What did I change? Is this the Gospel that you accept or do you believe that this is not the Gospel from the beginning?
 
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MidniteWelder

Guest
But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Do you feel that the..."for all HAVE sinned" part is more a statement of fact worded as if in past tense.
That even though all have sinned, after being washed clean that the righteousness manifested in us through Christ, our actions should now follow that righteousness. (Faith with works, since Faith without is a dead faith)
Faith without works to me looks like.
I'm saved because I believe in Christ, but it's ok for me to continue to sin.
Can't even the devil do that?
All HAVE fallen short appears to put us all on an equal playing field to start from...
....As opposed to excusing us from continuing to fall short, since if we continue what we know we ought not do...
Loving the world instead of God...the love of the Father is not in us.
As if Christ would be saying
I know you HAVE sinned...but now, go and sin no more.
 

mailmandan

Senior Member
Apr 7, 2014
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As long as you quote scripture you are correct. I don't understand why you are so shocked? You confirmed what I stated. it is a possession NOW. It is not finite, you have not inherited it as yet.
Just because those who are justified NOW but are NOT YET glorified does not mean they will bot be glorified. Romans 8:30 - Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified. ALL OF THEM.

Many believers fall by the wayside and will never inherit eternal life.
Many genuine born again believers will fall by the wayside and never inherit eternal life? Where does the Bible say that? You obviously don't know what a genuine believer is and what power keeps and preserves them.

There is much more to the meaning of the word, belief, faith, than you give it.
The word "believe" can describe mere mental assent belief that "there is one God," as in (James 2:19), or also include "trust and reliance" in Christ for salvation, as in (Acts 16:31). In James 2:19, nobody is questioning the fact that the demons also believe "mental assent" that there is "one God" but they do not believe/entrust their spiritual well being to Christ have faith/reliance upon Christ for salvation." Unbelievers have a hard time making a distinction between belief/faith and works. Many will erroneously say faith "is" multiple acts of obedience, faith "is" works. We must not confuse the root of salvation (faith in Christ) with the fruit (good works).

I notice you still confuse what Christ did with man's response as well.
You need a new set of bifocals then.

so every sola scripturist claims.. So what else is new that Calvinism, Lutheranism, Mormonism, Jehovah Witnessess are all scriptural and all had the Holy Spirit deliver their gospel to them. You fit them perfectly.
Sales pitch. Your church has done a great job of thoroughly indoctrinating you.

The reason we read those Church Fathers whose explanations where accepted by the Body, (the Holy Spirit) is because they were faithful to the original deposit.
Even the one's with heresies attached to them?

They were taught the Gospel.
So was everyone else. You can find the Gospel in the Bible.

You have never been taught the Gospel, and you take a bare text and impose your interpretations upon it. Nowhere is all of scripture does scripture give individual man authority to interpret scripture.
Right here demonstrates clearly to me that you don't know what you are talking about and I am just wasting my time beating a dead horse. I have not only heard the Gospel but I BELIEVE the Gospel, unlike you. Man is told to study to shown himself approved unto God. The Bereans searched the Scriptures and did not leave that up to a group of men in the Roman Catholic or Orthodox church to do it for them. We are not told in Scripture to have other people study it for us and then blindly follow their interpretations. I will answer some more of your statements and then I'll be just about done with your nonsense.

scripture has never been the ONLY Word of God.
What else is inspired writing?

I admit I have been indoctrinated by Christ, by the Holy Spirit.
Yeah right. In your delusional world of unbelief, it's possible for you to believe just about anything.

So you think that when Paul stated that his gospel is of Christ and that there is ONLY one Gospel of Christ it was pride? Is Christ being prideful in claiming that He is the ONLY way?
Christ is the ONLY way. Salvation through faith, not works, is the only way to Christ. Through pride you "add works" to the gospel of Christ.

Actually Christ makes the claim. You need to believe that Christ is no longer the Head of the Church.
Christ is the Head of the Church, the Body of Christ, which is made up of ALL born again BELIEVERS.

Seems you and other sola scripturist have elevated themselves as the infallible interpreter of a text, and put themselves like Rome as Pope over their sectarian churches. You also need to believe that the Holy Spirit is a myth and has no power to do what He claims in scripture.
STRAWMAN ARGUMENT.

but you have made it a legal, moral, one man religion. Obviously you have a different church since it was Christ that established His Church and it is Christ that makes the claim. You can follow Him or continue with you man made theories and self interpretation.
That statement is the epitome of irony.

That because you don't really believe and Trust Christ and the Holy Spirit.
I most certainly do. That's why I don't blindly allow the Roman Catholic or Orthodox church to interpret the Bible for me.

The concept of sola scripture is absurd.[/QUOTE] Says your church and the Roman Catholic church because they want power and control, just like the Pharisees did.

Paul did not write down everything he taught. He exhorts Timothy to hold to the tradition, as he also states in I Thess 2:15.
You mean 2 Thessalonians 2:15. What were those traditions? Whatever your church or the Roman Catholic church says they are? No. What do these traditions teach in addition to what the Bible teaches? Until the Bible was finished being written, whatever was said orally by apostolic authority does not add or take away from Scripture.

I have no problem submitting to Christ, the Head of His Church. Better than holding to man made traditions, secular, humanistic and idealogical.
More irony.

You the believe is a duplicitous Spirit since He promised not to give to individual man revelation for private interpretation. He gave it once in the beginning, and promised to preserve it in His Body. I can assure you that what you believe is not of the Holy Spirit. At least not the one of the Bible since He gave ONLY one Gospel, it was in the beginning. If ones interpretation is not that of the beginning it is NOT of the Holy Spirit.
Your continuous strawman arguments are getting old and you can't assure me of anything. So what is this ONE GOSPEL that you claim I have never been taught? Did you pervert the Gospel as badly as the Roman Catholic church did?

History attest both to the authenticity of the power of the Holy Spirit within His Body, but also shows that all the myriad interpretations espoused by individual men are not of the Holy Spirit.
Fallible writings of men throughout history can be wrong or manipulated. We have a more sure word, THE BIBLE.

The HOLY SPIRIT leads one to the Truth. One can accept it, or reject it. He does not make man believe.
The Holy Spirit led me to the Truth and I have chosen to accept it. I chose to believe the Gospel.

You can continue to hold to your man made theories and interpretations, there are hundreds of them, or the unchanged Gospel of Christ, preserved in His Body by the Holy Spirit.
I know what the unchanged Gospel of Christ is and I BELIEVE the Gospel (1 Corinthians 15:1-4; Romans 1:16). The question is: What do you say this unchanged Gospel of Christ is? Or in other words, what does your church say this unchanged Gospel of Christ is and you took their word for it.
 
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eternally-gratefull

Guest
It is not impossible as some think
James 4:7
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Ok, You have caused the devil to give up on you because you resist his ways, You still have the flesh. You know, the flesh that Paul spoke of in romans 7. I hate it when people blame their screw ups on satan and refuse to take credit for their wrongdoings!
 
Apr 26, 2014
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Faith without works to me looks like.
I'm saved because I believe in Christ, but it's ok for me to continue to sin.
it's not okay. but we all still sin.
that's what prayer and Christ as Advocate is for.
 
M

MidniteWelder

Guest
I agree with you there, so let's ask
why is sin rampant today?
For accepting it within ourselves,
or for not?

What did Christ save us from, sin which leads to death?
or from having to address our own sin which is transgression against God.
The bible tells us if we judged ourselves, we would not have to be judged.
How well do we then judge ourselves.

Why are our leaders corrupt?
For accepting sin??
or for confronting it to keep the church clean?
Should it be confronted, or overlooked?

How shall we then reconcile this verse:
"No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him."


Should we keep looking to the verses we all sin. We're all born a sinner, we're not perfect etc.
Or at some point realize
1 John 3
5But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins.
 
Apr 26, 2014
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why is sin rampant today?
For accepting it within ourselves,
or for not?

What did Christ save us from, sin which leads to death?
or from having to address our own sin which is transgression against God.
The bible tells us if we judged ourselves, we would not have to be judged.
How well do we then judge ourselves.

Why are our leaders corrupt?
For accepting sin??
or for confronting it to keep the church clean?
Should it be confronted, or overlooked?

How shall we then reconcile this verse:
"No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him."


Should we keep looking to the verses we all sin. We're all born a sinner, we're not perfect etc.
Or at some point realize
1 John 3
5But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins.
He took our sins AWAY...to His grave.
if you claim you do not sin, i don;t know what to tell you.
it's not okay. only ever met one person who said it was.
 
Apr 26, 2014
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I agree with you there, so let's ask
why is sin rampant today?
For accepting it within ourselves,
or for not?

What did Christ save us from, sin which leads to death?
or from having to address our own sin which is transgression against God.
The bible tells us if we judged ourselves, we would not have to be judged.
How well do we then judge ourselves.

Why are our leaders corrupt?
For accepting sin??
or for confronting it to keep the church clean?
Should it be confronted, or overlooked?

How shall we then reconcile this verse:
"No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him."


Should we keep looking to the verses we all sin. We're all born a sinner, we're not perfect etc.
Or at some point realize
1 John 3
5But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins.
He said to them, “When you pray, say:
“ ‘Father,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come.
Give us each day our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins,
for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.
And lead us not into temptation. ’ ”
 
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MidniteWelder

Guest
And once our sins are forgiven...then what?
 
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MidniteWelder

Guest
rejoice....give thanks.
No doubt:)


Is asking forgiveness the same as repentance?
Why is the world messed up?
Because our sins are forgiven under a blanket statement, or because sin continues?

Doesn't repent mean we must address and confront the very things we are repenting about?