FreeGrace2
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- Nov 15, 2012
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The only cooperation is to accept salvation by faith. No works.We all agree that we are a saved by grace, but grace enables cooperation with God's will.
No, we do not all agree on this. We ARE saved by faith alone. Because Paul taught it.Thei bible does not teach that we are saved by faith alone. Paul tells us that we are not saved by works of the Jewish Law. We all agree with this.
"8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;
9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast." Eph 2
There is no context to support the notion that Paul was only speaking about the works of the Jewish Law. In fact, the epistle to the Ephesians was to Gentiles, who never followed the Law. The Law wasn't even relevant to them.
You seem to think that salvation requires works. The Bible does not teach that.You seem to think we can be saved even if we live a life disobeying the teachings of Jesus. That is not what the bible teaches.
I would ask you the very same question.By what right do you ignore these crystal clear words of scripture?
Rom 11:29 says that the gifts of God are irrevocable.
Rom 6:23 says that eternal life is a gift of God.
John 5:24 says that those who believe HAVE eternal life and will NOT come into condemnation, but have passed from death to life.
John 10:28 says that those Jesus gives eternal life WILL NEVER PERISH.
Your view denies these very crystal clear words of Scripture.
The whole point of James 2 is to demonstrate your faith to others, so that they can see it. God doesn't need deeds to see one's faith. Man does.James 2:24
14What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them?...24You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone.
Please keep reading, where Paul then notes this:
3:9 - What then? Are we better than they? Not at all; for we have already charged that both Jews and Greeks are all under sin
3:10 - as it is written, “There is none righteous, not even one;
3:23 - for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (so much for "persistence in doing good" and receiving eternal life.
And the verse that directly proves that 2:6-8 is NOT possible for anyone:
3:20 - because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin.
The word "reap" clearly indicates effort or work. iow, hard work reaps benefits. This verse is about eternal rewards, which are earned, unlike salvation.
And we know exactly what Jesus meant by "the Father's will" from what He said in John 6:40 - “For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.”Matt 7:21
"Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord!' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of My Father in heaven.
How does one become righteous? Surely NOT by their own works. But by receiving Christ's righteousness through faith in Him.Matt 25
4“They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’
45“He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’
46“Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”
This is about fellowship, obviously, and not about relationship.John 15:10
If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commands and remain in his love.
No one goes to heaven because they have forgiven others. What is apparently unknown in your views is the concept of fellowship forgiveness. I trust that 1 John 1 will help you out in that.Matt 6:15
But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
Now that I've addressed each and every verse/passage and explained what they really teach, would you return the favor.
Here are 5 passages that I am convinced teach eternal security. Since you don't believe in eternal security, please address each passage and explain exactly what they do teach.
Thanks.
All references are from the NASB:
First, Paul described both justification (Rom 3:24, 5:15,16,17) and eternal life (Rom 6:23) as gifts of God. Then he wrote Rom 11:29 - the gifts and calling of God are irrevocable. Since he had already described what he meant by "gifts of God", there was no reason for him to specifically list what he meant by "gifts of God".
3:24 - being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus
6:23 - For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
11:29 - for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.
Second, every believer is sealed with the Holy Spirit when they believe (Eph 1:13). This sealing is a pledge with a view to the redemption of God's own possession (believers - Eph 1:14).
And, this sealing is for the day of redemption (Eph 4:30).
1:13 - In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise
1:14 - who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.
4:30 - Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
Third, Jesus tells us WHEN one HAS eternal life; when they believe (Jn 5:24). Then, He tells us that those to whom He gives eternal life WILL NEVER PERISH (Jn 10:28).
5:24 - “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.
10:28 - and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand.
Fourth, Paul stated that regardless of the believer's lifestyle, or "whether we are asleep or awake, we will be together with Him" in 1 Thess 5:10. The context begins in v.4 and contrasts believers with unbelievers, or day with night, or being alert with being asleep or sober with drunkeness.
4 But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you like a thief;
5 for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness;
6 so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober.
7 For those who sleep do their sleeping at night, and those who get drunk get drunk at night.
8 But since we are of the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation.
9 For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,
10 who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him.
Analysis of this passage:
v.4 tells us that believers are "not in darkness"
v.5 differentiates believers (sons of light and day) with unbelievers (not of night or darkness).
v.6 encourages believers to not live like unbelievers (not sleep as others do, but be alert and sober).
v.7 describes unbelievers and what they do.
v.8 explains that "since we are of the day" (believers), we need to be sober.
v.9 explains the destiny of the believer - not destined for wrath but for salvation
v.10 says that regardless of the believer's lifestyle, we will live together with Him.
Fifth, Jesus noted how people are saved in John 10:9 - “I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.
The Greek word for “enters” is in the aorist tense, meaning “in a point in time”, as opposed to the present tense, which those who believe in loss of salvation only emphasize. Iow, one must continue to believe in order to continue to have eternal life. Further, Paul used the aorist tense in his answer to the jailer in Acts 16:31, and Jesus used the aorist tense in Luke 8:12 “believed and be saved”.
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