There it is right there. You cannot get around that so you dance all over the place implying this and implying that.
The righteousness of Jesus Christ comes through faith (Ro 3:22),
which is a gift of God (Php 1:29; 2Pe 1:1; Ac 18:27; Ro 12:3)
and not the doing of man.
Here you prooftexting again in an attempt to undermine the fact the men have to do anything. To you everything is automatic. In essence you believe that human beings are sin robots and God has elected some of the sin robots to salvation and then reprograms them apart from anything they could do because they were all originally programmed to sin. That is what you believe. So you isolate select verses in the Bible out of their context in an attempt to prove it.
Rom 3:22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
Php 1:29 For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;
2Pe 1:1 Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:
Act 18:27 And when he was disposed to pass into Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him: who, when he was come, helped them much which had believed through grace:
Rom 12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
I would challenge anyone to go and read all the above verses in their context and really see if they negate any responsibility of man to "do something" in response to the grace of God.
Jesus said...
Luk 13:23 Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them,
Luk 13:24 Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.
Why would Jesus say such a thing if Reformed Theology was correct and God "makes people doers" apart from any choice they have in the matter? Not withstanding that Reformed Theology teaches that inward depravity remains in those regenerated thus causing them to keep on working iniquity anyway. That is another contradiction, on the one hand they teach God will make you obey but then on the other they teach you will never truly obey. Which is it? It amazes me that learned people can believe this stuff.
Strive means...
G75 - agōnizomai
From G73; to struggle, literally (to compete for a prize), figuratively (to contend with an adversary), or generally (to endeavor to accomplish something): - fight, labor fervently, strive.
Instead of "repent, believe, strive, do, keep my commandments. remain steadfast" etc. it is "confess, trust and recieve" today. It is awful. Modern theology utterly rejects what the Bible actually teaches and sticks to proof texting various verses out of context to teach a message which has a "form of godliness" but actually denied the power thereof because they never have victory over sin. The old man is never crucified like Paul teaches and thus there is never any true raising up to newness of life where old things are passed away and all things are made new. It simply doesn't happen, instead people are left with a "notion" they are saved because they "believe in Jesus." They have no clue as to what "believe in Jesus" really means.
And the righteousness which comes through faith is also a gift of God
(Ro 1:17, 3:21), and not the doing of man.
A gift wrought through a faith that works by love resultant of abiding in the grace of God. Not an unconditional gift where we do nothing. That is the error here. Reformed Theology rejects men having to do anything for in their mind that would infringe on the sovereignty of God. Yet the Bible teaches...
2Co 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
2Co 6:1 We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. The gift of God being eternal life THROUGH Jesus Christ (Rom 6:23) only becomes an effectual reality to an individual who "works together with God." Thus the grace of God which brings salvation is not recieved to no working effect (in vain).
Tit 2:11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
Tit 2:12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
Tit 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
Tit 2:14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. It is disingenious to quote various verses out of context completely ignoring what else the Bible says on the matter. The Bible is not a book of proof texts, the Bible is a book that paints a harmonious picture of the truth of God here a little and there a little.
The gift of the righteousness (Ro 1:17, 3:21) of Jesus Christ (Ro 5:19)
is reckoned, accounted (credited) to many by the gift of faith (Ro 4:3, 5, 9, 22)
Yes by faithfully abiding in the grace of God which teaches us the way we ought to go (Tit 2:11-12). Thus we are to lay aside ALL filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness and receive the word within and through abiding in that word our souls are saved because we are made clean within, our hearts being made pure.
Jas 1:21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.
Jas 1:22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
1Pe 1:22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:
1Pe 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
Reformed theology denies the above verses because they teach that you CANNOT lay aside all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness because you are born depraved. Thus they have redefined repentance to be a mere "confession of sinfulness" and they have redefined "recieving" to be simply "trust." Under this delusion a sinner never comes clean with God in confessing and forsaking their rebellion and thus they never walk in the light as He is in the light (1Joh 1:7) and the blood therefore never cleanses them of all sin.
Recieving the implanted word means to be led of it. We are to abide in the vine and through doing that the grace of God which guides our hearts brings an inward transformation to us through the energy of God. Hence...
Col 2:11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:
Col 2:12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.
Col 2:13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
Under the false Gospel of the Reformers this quickening never happens because the converts never experience the circumcision of heart. They never lay aside their rebellion because they are taught that they cannot lay it aside for it is necessitated by an inward corruption due to a birth defect inherited from Adam (ie. Original Sin).
Christ's righteousness is credited to those who believe in him.
Yet you cannot quote a single verse in the entire Bible which says "the righteousness of Jesus is credited to the believer." Not a single verse anywhere. Instead you have to use rhetoric which you attempt to substatinate by isolating and proof texting Bible verses.
Likewise nowhere does the Bible teach that you are "born guilty and already condemned" because of Adam. You appeal to Rom 5:19 as a proof text for this but it does not say that.
Each will have to decide for himself regarding these matters.
Indeed.
2Co_13:5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?
Act 20:26 Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men.
Act 20:27 For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.
Act 20:28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
Act 20:29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.
Act 20:30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.
Act 20:31 Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.
Thanks for reading.
