Saved by faith alone?

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Dec 18, 2021
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Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. Did Abraham hear how Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again the third day? Can having faith in another message bring salvation?
Did God talk to abraham?

As you said, faith comes by hearing and hearing buy the word.

do Abraham hear the words of God?
 

DeanM

Well-known member
May 4, 2021
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Jesus had at least two conversations with Abraham. Two off the top of my head. Im sure there are more. Once when Sara was told she would concieve and one before Sodom was destroyed.
 
Jan 13, 2016
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Did God talk to abraham?

As you said, faith comes by hearing and hearing buy the word.

do Abraham hear the words of God?
God talked to many of the OT saints. See Hebrews 11. But none of them believed on the cross of Jesus because it was not made known until after it occurred.
 
Jan 13, 2016
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you have two gospels then.

You also call Paul a liar when he said we are saved by this same faith in God Abraham had

but we knew this (those who know you)

so will let you go again.
Only one true gospel unto salvation. You are arguing for two gospels. I believe that the only gospel unto salvation is the message of the cross...how Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again the third day. Having faith in anything else cannot bring about eternal salvation.
 
Dec 18, 2021
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Only one true gospel unto salvation. You are arguing for two gospels. I believe that the only gospel unto salvation is the message of the cross...how Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again the third day. Having faith in anything else cannot bring about eternal salvation.
Then no one is saved from the OT.

come on man.

listen to yourself
 
Dec 18, 2021
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Paul was using Abraham as a type, a picture of what faith is about. As Abraham believed God at his word, we too need to believe God at his word.
23 Now it was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him, 24 but also for us. It shall be imputed to us who believe in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead,

16 Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be [d]sure to all the seed, not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all

The gospel was given to abraham,

Through you seed (we know as Christ) will every nation be blessed..

Abraham just did not know his name.

You have some weird doctrines my friend
 

lrs68

Well-known member
Dec 30, 2024
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Agree, but Abraham's works justified himself before God.

James 2:21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?

After the cross, the believer is not justified by works, but by the faith of Jesus Christ.

Galatians 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
If you carefully examine the Book of James you clearly will understand that he's not placing the emphasis of works before faith. He's stating that because if you have Faith you will do works. He's saying your Faith is why you will do works.

Now, to the extreme side of what he is saying. Works proves you have Faith. So if you say I have Faith but you never do anything that proves that you have Faith then there's no proof of your Faith. Because anyone who truly has Faith will be doing works.

Those are the two sides to what James is stating.
 
Jan 13, 2016
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If you carefully examine the Book of James you clearly will understand that he's not placing the emphasis of works before faith. He's stating that because if you have Faith you will do works. He's saying your Faith is why you will do works.

Now, to the extreme side of what he is saying. Works proves you have Faith. So if you say I have Faith but you never do anything that proves that you have Faith then there's no proof of your Faith. Because anyone who truly has Faith will be doing works.

Those are the two sides to what James is stating.
To whom is James written? Remember, James is answering the question: Can faith save him?

Saved people should be doing works, but not always. Some have zero discipleship, no bible, no church, nothing...
 

lrs68

Well-known member
Dec 30, 2024
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To whom is James written? Remember, James is answering the question: Can faith save him?

Saved people should be doing works, but not always. Some have zero discipleship, no bible, no church, nothing...
I know who James is writing to but the Inspiration from the Holy Spirit of God is for ALL SAVED PEOPLE, not just the Jews.
 
Apr 7, 2014
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eternal security is conditional. There is an eternal "if" in every consideration of eternal security. "If we walk in the light . . . the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin."
Your quotes are out of alignment.

1 John 1:7. "If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father."
1 John 1:7 - But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.

1 John 2:24. "If any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him."
1 John 2:24 - Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father.

Hebrews 10:38. "If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch."
Hebrews 10:38 - Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, my soul has no pleasure in him.

John 15:6. "If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death."
John 15:6 - If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.

John 8:51. "If thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off."
John 8:51 - Most assuredly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word, he shall never see death.

Romans 11:22. "If ye do these things, ye shall never fall."
Romans 11:22 - Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off.

2 Peter 1:10. "For we are made partakers of Christ, If we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end."
2 Peter 1:10 - Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall.

Hebrews 3:14. "If we endure, we shall also reign with him: If we deny him, he also will deny us."
Hebrews 3:14 - For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end.

2 Timothy 2:12 (RSV). "If we sin willfully . . . there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins."
2 Timothy 2:12 - If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us.

Hebrews 10:26. "If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him."
Hebrews 10:26 - For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins.

1 John 2:15. "Ye are my friends, If ye do whatsoever I command you."
1 John 2:15 - Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

John 15:14. "If ye live after the flesh, ye shall die." Romans 8:13.
John 15:14 - Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.

IF, you follow these conditions you will have eternal life.
"If" is a conditional statement which draws a contrast between children of God and children of the devil. John here draws a contrast using descriptive language between children of God and children of the devil.

1 John 1:6 - If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. (descriptive of unbelievers/children of the devil). In 1 John 2:9, John goes on to say - He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now. In vs. 11 - But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes. (descriptive of unbelievers/children of the devil)

1 John 1:7 - But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. (descriptive of believers/children of God) Children of the devil walk in darkness, not in the light and ONLY believers/children of God are in the light. (Acts 26:18; 2 Corinthians 6:14; Ephesians 5:8; 1 Thessalonians 5:4)

Compare with 1 John 3:10 - In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, (compare with 1 John 1:6 - does not practice the truth) nor is he who does not love his brother. *Notice that walks in darkness and hates his brother is 'descriptive' of children of the devil. *Hermeneutics.

So, children of the devil walk in darkness and not in the light and children of God walk in the light and not in darkness. IF confirms these two separate positions in verses 6 and 7. It's one or the other. We must not confuse 'descriptive' passages of scripture with 'prescriptive' passages of scripture. The end result is works-righteousness.

John is not describing two separate camps of believers/children of God in which one camp of believers walks in the light and the other camp of believers does not walk in the light and one camp of believers practice righteousness and love their brother and the other camp does not practice righteousness and hates their brother, as you would suppose.
 

TMS

Senior Member
Mar 21, 2015
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1 John 1:6 - If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. (descriptive of unbelievers/children of the devil). In 1 John 2:9, John goes on to say - He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now. In vs. 11 - But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes. (descriptive of unbelievers/children of the devil)
That's a convenient way of not applying all the IFS to yourself.

Notice that John applied it to himself
If WE say....

If I say lies I'm a liar
If I sin I'm a sinner.
If anyone sins they are a sinner.

Simple but you only apply it to unsaved people because saved people can't have these conditions...

Rev 22:19 And if ANY MAN shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

Joh 8:51 Verily, verily, I say unto you, IF A MAN keep my saying, he shall never see death.
 
Apr 7, 2014
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That's a convenient way of not applying all the IFS to yourself.

Notice that John applied it to himself
If WE say....

If I say lies I'm a liar
If I sin I'm a sinner.
If anyone sins they are a sinner.

Simple but you only apply it to unsaved people because saved people can't have these conditions...
John is applying the IF to the entire group (genuine believers/born again Christians and make believers/pseudo-Christians) mixed together all claiming to be genuine believers. Again, IF confirms these two separate camps in verses 6 and 7.

1 John 1:6 - If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. (descriptive of make believers/children of the devil) who are in darkness and walk in darkness. (1 John 2:9-11; 1 John 3:10)

1 John 1:7 - But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. (descriptive of genuine believers/born again Christians) who are in the light. (Acts 26:18; 2 Corinthians 6:14; Ephesians 5:8; 1 Thessalonians 5:4)

Rev 22:19 And if ANY MAN shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
That is not what happened here. You seem quick to judge and eager to condemn.

John 8:51 Verily, verily, I say unto you, IF A MAN keep my saying, he shall never see death.
Descriptive of genuine believers/born again Christians. I will cover a couple of more verses to help you see further.

1 John 2:24 - Therefore let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father. Demonstrative evidence that what we heard from the beginning involving Jesus Christ and the gospel message was firmly rooted and established. Hence, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father. In contrast with the antichrists or false teachers who did not abide, these genuine believers will abide. Context. 1 John 2:18 - Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour. 19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us. 20 But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things. 21 I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and that no lie is of the truth. 22 Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist who denies the Father and the Son. 23 Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father either; he who acknowledges the Son has the Father also. See the contrast? Confirmed by IF.

Hebrews 10:38 - Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him.” 39 But WE are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul. Those who draw back to perdition do not believe to the saving of the soul and those who believe to the saving of the soul do not draw back to perdition. Two separate camps confirmed by IF.

Let me know if you would like to discuss more verses from your list.
 

TMS

Senior Member
Mar 21, 2015
4,286
1,401
113
Australia
John is applying the IF to the entire group (genuine believers/born again Christians and make believers/pseudo-Christians) mixed together all claiming to be genuine believers. Again, IF confirms these two separate camps in verses 6 and 7.

1 John 1:6 - If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. (descriptive of make believers/children of the devil) who are in darkness and walk in darkness. (1 John 2:9-11; 1 John 3:10)

1 John 1:7 - But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. (descriptive of genuine believers/born again Christians) who are in the light. (Acts 26:18; 2 Corinthians 6:14; Ephesians 5:8; 1 Thessalonians 5:4)

That is not what happened here. You seem quick to judge and eager to condemn.

Descriptive of genuine believers/born again Christians. I will cover a couple of more verses to help you see further.

1 John 2:24 - Therefore let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father. Demonstrative evidence that what we heard from the beginning involving Jesus Christ and the gospel message was firmly rooted and established. Hence, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father. In contrast with the antichrists or false teachers who did not abide, these genuine believers will abide. Context. 1 John 2:18 - Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour. 19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us. 20 But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things. 21 I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and that no lie is of the truth. 22 Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist who denies the Father and the Son. 23 Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father either; he who acknowledges the Son has the Father also. See the contrast? Confirmed by IF.

Hebrews 10:38 - Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him.” 39 But WE are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul. Those who draw back to perdition do not believe to the saving of the soul and those who believe to the saving of the soul do not draw back to perdition. Two separate camps confirmed by IF.

Let me know if you would like to discuss more verses from your list.
I believe in a relationship with my saviour that is continual. I don't believe that my salvation is based on one choice I made in the past. A strong relationship will not draw back, it will result in salvation.

But I do not see it in Black and white like you. You have osas lenses on your eyes which makes everything appear in that extreme. Black and white.

A strong relationship can deteriorate slowly over time resulting in a weak relationship. A weak relationship that draws back to perdition.

"If"
If we endure to the end
If we maintain a strong relationship
If we walk in the Spirit.

We will be saved.

I know there were days when my relationship was weaker and days when it is stronger.. it is a continual fight.
Moment by moment..

It isn't black and white. Once saved always saved doesn't work.

I'm not talking about justification.
I'm talking about the relationship and faith that leads to justification.

I like to think there is more that I can do to have a stronger relationship with my saviour. Jesus has done, and is doing everything to have the strongest relationship with me. My choices are the determining factors each day.
It's an endurance race that isn't over till its over.
 
Dec 18, 2021
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If you carefully examine the Book of James you clearly will understand that he's not placing the emphasis of works before faith. He's stating that because if you have Faith you will do works. He's saying your Faith is why you will do works.

Now, to the extreme side of what he is saying. Works proves you have Faith. So if you say I have Faith but you never do anything that proves that you have Faith then there's no proof of your Faith. Because anyone who truly has Faith will be doing works.

Those are the two sides to what James is stating.
amen, His argument is against a claimed faith.. What does it profit one of they CLAIM they have faith....He never said they have faith