Is faith a work?

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Oct 12, 2021
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Oct 12, 2021
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is there a reason you post the way you do? Why are you repeating what I said outside of the box? that makes it confusing in itself.

In your origional post. if you were coming from a calvinist point of view. that regeneration must take place first. then my origional comment to you stands, and I am sorry if you did not understand that comment.

if you were not coming from a calvinist perspective, (that one m,ust be regenerated BEFORE they believe) then I wish you would have let me know. and we could have resolved the discussion. and that is why there may be confusion on your part.
Everlasting grace: is there a reason you post the way you do? Why are you repeating what I said outside of the box? that makes it confusing in itself.


WB: Sorry for the confusion especially so as my intention is to avoid that very thing.

Often times in forums recipients of posts will, for various reasons, choose to selectively edit out comments which are of relevance to the overall theme of the discussion and so I copy/past the comments made by members and try to address each point where relevant.

I hope that clears up that issue?

Everlasting grace: In your origional post. if you were coming from a calvinist point of view. that regeneration must take place first. then my origional comment to you stands, and I am sorry if you did not understand that comment.

WB: My intention is to present a Scriptural view as I am convinced that only God is infallible and only the Bible accurately informs readers of His thoughts.

That being the case I am convinced – and I’m speaking as a former atheist to give you some more context – that God gives to ‘some’ and indeed ‘many’ the gift of faith and that in that instant when someone e.g. WB is gifted with faith he is regenerated i.e. born again and is saved…whereas prior to that occasion WB was an unregenerate i.e. spiritually dead and unsaved man.

Is my position now made clear?


Everlasting grace: if you were not coming from a calvinist perspective, (that one m,ust be regenerated BEFORE they believe) then I wish you would have let me know. and we could have resolved the discussion. and that is why there may be confusion on your part.

WB: Is it not just possible that by trying to put my comments into a category, in this instance, that of Calvinism that you have created confusion for yourself?

As an aside, let me say this. I’ve read some of what Calvin has written and some of what Luther has written and I’ve also read some of what the Romanists have to say and whilst I find some of what those aforementioned have written to be of interest I consider their views only in the light of Scripture to see if what they present stands up to scrutiny.

In other words, I don’t put my faith in what any man has to say and the reason is that I know only too well that the default of Man is to get things wrong – even though they may very well be sincere.

So, I don’t identify as a Calvinist or a Lutheran or a Romanist ….and I identify as one who belongs to Jesus Christ who is my Lord and Saviour.
 

Everlasting-Grace

Well-known member
Dec 18, 2021
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Everlasting grace: is there a reason you post the way you do? Why are you repeating what I said outside of the box? that makes it confusing in itself.


WB: Sorry for the confusion especially so as my intention is to avoid that very thing.

Often times in forums recipients of posts will, for various reasons, choose to selectively edit out comments which are of relevance to the overall theme of the discussion and so I copy/past the comments made by members and try to address each point where relevant.

I hope that clears up that issue?
There is a way to quote certain parts of a post so you can directly that part.

You can highlight the part you want to discuss, and up on the toolbar where you see the 3 dots. Click that then click quote.

Or you can do as I did here and type in [ / quote ] (no spaces) at the end of the first part. then every time after. add [ quote ] no spaces in front, and end the section with [ / quote ] that should help you from having to repeat. If you need help let me know

Everlasting grace: In your origional post. if you were coming from a calvinist point of view. that regeneration must take place first. then my origional comment to you stands, and I am sorry if you did not understand that comment.

WB: My intention is to present a Scriptural view as I am convinced that only God is infallible and only the Bible accurately informs readers of His thoughts.

That being the case I am convinced – and I’m speaking as a former atheist to give you some more context – that God gives to ‘some’ and indeed ‘many’ the gift of faith and that in that instant when someone e.g. WB is gifted with faith he is regenerated i.e. born again and is saved…whereas prior to that occasion WB was an unregenerate i.e. spiritually dead and unsaved man.

Is my position now made clear?
Do you believe justification comes before regeneration. or one is regenerated, then has faith, then is justified? from what you just posted. I still can not determine which way you believe


Everlasting grace: if you were not coming from a calvinist perspective, (that one m,ust be regenerated BEFORE they believe) then I wish you would have let me know. and we could have resolved the discussion. and that is why there may be confusion on your part.

WB: Is it not just possible that by trying to put my comments into a category, in this instance, that of Calvinism that you have created confusion for yourself?

As an aside, let me say this. I’ve read some of what Calvin has written and some of what Luther has written and I’ve also read some of what the Romanists have to say and whilst I find some of what those aforementioned have written to be of interest I consider their views only in the light of Scripture to see if what they present stands up to scrutiny.

In other words, I don’t put my faith in what any man has to say and the reason is that I know only too well that the default of Man is to get things wrong – even though they may very well be sincere.

So, I don’t identify as a Calvinist or a Lutheran or a Romanist ….and I identify as one who belongs to Jesus Christ who is my Lord and Saviour.
all of them would identify as one who belongs to Christ. so hopefully you have answered my question above and we can resolve this issue of what you believe.

thank you
 
Oct 10, 2022
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sorry my friend. You can not just add words so the word of God suits your interpretation. The passage you used does nto say elect. It says GENTILES.

You do not add to the word of God. if your belief lines up with the word you would never have to add anything.
Im telling you the truth, but you believe not. God gives belief 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;
 
Oct 10, 2022
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it has everything to do with the will of God and free will

Phil 2 is written to the saints. Not unbelievers.. So he is talking to them

Matt is talking about Israel. and gods will for them.. and how they freely of their free will went against the will of God.
It has nothing to do with Phil 1:29 where its declared that God gives belief in Christ.
 

Everlasting-Grace

Well-known member
Dec 18, 2021
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Im telling you the truth, but you believe not. God gives belief 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;
Yep..That does not mean God does not offer others the Chang=ce to believe my friend..
 

Everlasting-Grace

Well-known member
Dec 18, 2021
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You disagree with scripture. God gives some to believe in Christ which causes them to believe.
I disagree with no scripture

I make scripture agree. And I make God out to be the God he says he is. I do not twist scripture to make my belief system come true..
 
Oct 10, 2022
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You are apparently having reading problems. I SAID I disagree with your opinion. You don't understand the verses you quote.


Your opinion isn't a fact.
You say you disagree with my opinion, whereas I see it as you are disagreeing with Gods Truth. Phil 1:29 is far from being merely my opinion.
 

Grandpa

Senior Member
Jun 24, 2011
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Sorry to have to break this to you, but that is an ignorant comment.


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.


Amen.


Nice sentiment, but where in the Bible do you find this?


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.


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.
Obviously irrelevant to the discussion.


Your explanation of how to obey the command to be filled with the Spirit will demonstrate who the LOSER is.


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.


Sure. Go ahead and laugh your head off about Greek grammar. Scholars would have quite a laugh at YOU, too.[/QUOTE]
Scholars...:ROFL::ROFL::ROFL::ROFL::ROFL::ROFL:
 

Grandpa

Senior Member
Jun 24, 2011
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Grandpa said:
Greek grammar is ABSOLUTELY irrelevant in Ephesians 2:8-9

Sorry to have to break this to you, but that is an ignorant comment.
Sorry to break it to YOU, but its true.

COMPLETELY IRRELEVANT.


The only one it would POSSIBLY be relevant to is someone who has an interest in TWISTING scripture to try and make it mean what THEIR IMAGINATION WISHES it said.
 
Jan 31, 2021
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I SAID:
Sure. Go ahead and laugh your head off about Greek grammar. Scholars would have quite a laugh at YOU, too.
What arrogance. So you think you know more than scholars huh.
 
Jan 31, 2021
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Grandpa said:
Greek grammar is ABSOLUTELY irrelevant in Ephesians 2:8-9

FreeGrace2 said:
Sorry to have to break this to you, but that is an ignorant comment.
Sorry to break it to YOU, but its true.
COMPLETELY IRRELEVANT.
I'm not interested in your opinion. That is what is irrelevant.

I am interested in how to understand Greek.

The only one it would POSSIBLY be relevant to is someone who has an interest in TWISTING scripture to try and make it mean what THEIR IMAGINATION WISHES it said.
Another irrelevant opinion. You have many of them.