"He who practices righteousness is righteous" (1 John 3:7)

Hammster

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My answer is as old as the Book of Genesis. By faith the sinner are saved. The theme runs throughout the entire Bible.
I guess that means you have no actual response to my post.

And to be specific, the Bible says that we are justified by faith. Justification and regeneration aren’t the same thing, and neither is sanctification. I know that scripture uses “saved” in a generic sense like we do. That’s why we need to examine context. So just saying “saved” doesn’t help unless we know exactly what’s meant.
 
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Hammster

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Nicodemus was chastised because he should have known the day of Christ Jesus, by which the New Covenant was promised, since the prophesies about the coming Messiah and the New Covenant run through Old Testament prophesies.

Show me where the New Covenant of the Spirit that was promised in Ezekiel and Joel was already active in the Old Testament.
Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” Nicodemus said to Him, “How can these things be?” Jesus answered and said to him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and do not understand these things?
— John 3:7-10

No, he was chastised because he didn’t know about regeneration.
 
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Hazelelponi

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Not at all, the ones I have been discussing doctrine with on this board are of Reformed Theology, and they have made their positions and arguments well known in their messages.

You actually have to follow their messages on this board to know what is going on.

I am following them, and it's easy to do so... what your not doing is answering them.

There's something I feel I should say here.

It wasn't that long ago that I was a practicing Muslim. It was, in fact, the man who is now my husband who led me to Christ - and it wasn't an easy road to convince me of the Christian faith, not even a little bit.

Here's the issue, if you cannot speak of your faith in a conversant manner, then you'll never lead anyone to Christ.

If, every time I raised an objection to this faith, my husband had spouted memorized doctrine at me, instead of speaking with me on the issues that were roadblocks for me, I would have walked away.

As a matter of fact, I had walked away from many Christians who tried to share their faith, because they couldn't share it at all because they didn't really know it, or certainly were unable to express it in a manner others could understand.

Your on this thread spouting your own memorized doctrine at people, instead or speaking with them in a conversant manner.

You really need to be able to have a conversation with others, it's actually a must in this faith.

It might be something you should try and practice. Speaking over others and spouting doctrines at them is more than just off-putting, it reeks of indoctrination and no one listens to it.

You and I likely disagree on some doctrinal issues, but hopefully we can agree on this point.
 
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setst777

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I guess that means you have no actual response to my post.

And to be specific, the Bible says that we are justified by faith. Justification and regeneration aren’t the same thing, and neither is sanctification. I know that scripture uses “saved” in a generic sense like we do. That’s why we need to examine context. So just saying “saved” doesn’t help unless we know exactly what’s meant.

The response was given, but you cannot accept it.

I am not sure why you brought up all the rest. In response. Being saved in the New Testament includes justification, sanctification, and regeneration.

Romans 6
Colossians 3:1-17
Galatians 5:13-25

Blessings
 
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Hammster

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The response was given, but you cannot accept it.

I am not sure why you brought up all the rest. In response. Being saved in the New Testament includes justification, sanctification, and regeneration.

Romans 6
Colossians 3:1-17
Galatians 5:13-25

Blessings
You quoted and posted, but didn’t respond to what I said, which was a direct response to what you posted. Let me recap.


Simple question. When one believes for the first time, is it in the flesh or in the Spirit?

You said neither. So to give you the benefit of the doubt, I said

Neither. That’s interesting. I can find no scripture that says or implies we are neutral. I’m not aware of any theology that teaches that we are neutral. Here you are, though, with a completely new theology. So where in scripture does it teach that we are neutral? I know there’s scripture that teaches that we are sheep or goats, for instance. There’s scripture that teaches that we are blind or seeing. Dead or alive. Lost, found. Etc. But I can’t think of any place that says we are somewhere in between. So help me out here.

And you’ve yet to help me out.
 
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setst777

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Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” Nicodemus said to Him, “How can these things be?” Jesus answered and said to him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and do not understand these things?
— John 3:7-10

No, he was chastised because he didn’t know about regeneration.

You are cutting Lord Jesus off before He completed His response:

John 6:10-16
10 Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel, and don’t understand these things? 11 Most certainly I tell you, we speak that which we know, and testify of that which we have seen, and you don’t receive our witness. 12 If I told you earthly things and you don’t believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? 13 No one has ascended into heaven but he who descended out of heaven, the Son of Man, who is in heaven. 14 As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

When did the Son of Man descend out of heaven to bring salvation to those who would believe in him?

Was that the Old Testament or the New Testament?
 
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Hammster

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You are cutting Lord Jesus off before He completed His response:

John 6:10-16
10 Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel, and don’t understand these things? 11 Most certainly I tell you, we speak that which we know, and testify of that which we have seen, and you don’t receive our witness. 12 If I told you earthly things and you don’t believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? 13 No one has ascended into heaven but he who descended out of heaven, the Son of Man, who is in heaven. 14 As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

When did the Son of Man descend out of heaven to bring salvation to those who would believe in him?

Was that the Old Testament or the New Testament?
I didn’t cut Him off. I posted what exactly He was chastising Nic for, since that was relevant.
 
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setst777

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You quoted and posted, but didn’t respond to what I said, which was a direct response to what you posted. Let me recap.

You said neither. So to give you the benefit of the doubt, I said

And you’ve yet to help me out.

Trust God's Word and you will understand.

Titus 3:4-6 clearly teaches that regeneration only occurs after Christ Jesus appeared to save us.

Titus 3:4-6 (WEB)
4 But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love toward mankind appeared, 5 not by works of righteousness which we did ourselves, but according to his mercy, he saved us through the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us richly, through Jesus Christ our Savior; 7 that being justified by his grace, we might be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

That is also what the Old Testament prophecies teach as well in Ezekiel an Joel - only in the New Covenant.
 
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setst777

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I didn’t cut Him off. I posted what exactly He was chastising Nic for, since that was relevant.

Yes, you cut him off. I quoted what you left out. If you don't think Lord Jesus and the salvation He brought us is relevant to what Nicodemus was asking, then you really missed the point of the New Covenant that all the Old Testament prophesies looked forward to.
 
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Hammster

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Trust God's Word and you will understand.

Titus 3:4-6 clearly teaches that regeneration only occurs after Christ Jesus appeared to save us.

Titus 3:4-6 (WEB)
4 But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love toward mankind appeared, 5 not by works of righteousness which we did ourselves, but according to his mercy, he saved us through the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us richly, through Jesus Christ our Savior; 7 that being justified by his grace, we might be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

That is also what the Old Testament prophecies teach as well in Ezekiel an Joel - only in the New Covenant.
Once again, you aren’t addressing something specific. You indicated that we were neutral when we put our faith in Christ, and I’m looking for anywhere in scripture that teaches this. Again, there’s scripture that teaches that we are blind or seeing. Dead or alive. Lost, found. Etc. But I can’t think of any place that says we are somewhere in between. So help me out here.

That is unless you are walking this back.
 
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Hammster

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Yes, you cut him off. I quoted what you left out. If you don't think Lord Jesus and the salvation He brought us is relevant to what Nicodemus was asking, then you really missed the point of the New Covenant that all the Old Testament prophesies looked forward to.
I think the point was that Nic didn’t understand being born again, and Jesus chastised him because he was a teacher of Israel. Nic should have known this since it’s an OT teaching.
 
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John Mullally

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"Unless" is a necessary conditional. God uses force all over the Bible. When did Saul of Tarsus choose to be saved?
Unless is a necessary, but not sufficient condition. Therefore "Unless" is not synonymous with must or forcing. The parable of the Wedding Feast in Matthew 20 demonstrates that one can reject the call. Acts 7:51 says that many resist the Holy Spirit.

All you want to do is force your eisegetical bias (do try to look it up sometime). I can't force you to repent of your works-righteousness. You obviously have something to boast of. So, I'm giving you the last word, for what it's worth.
In summary, Peter promised the remission of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit (which requires regeneration) in verse 38 to those who repent and are baptized. Verse 39 says that this promise in verse 38 continues in perpetuity. You are in no position to lecture me on works-righteousness, confirmation bias, and eisegesis, the meaning of this text is obvious and you reject it.

Acts 2:36 “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.” 37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” 38 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.” 40 And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation.” 41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them
 
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setst777

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Once again, you aren’t addressing something specific. You indicated that we were neutral when we put our faith in Christ, and I’m looking for anywhere in scripture that teaches this. Again, there’s scripture that teaches that we are blind or seeing. Dead or alive. Lost, found. Etc. But I can’t think of any place that says we are somewhere in between. So help me out here.

That is unless you are walking this back.

I quoted those Passages for you multiple times, but you refused to answer.

By faith, we pass from spiritual death to life

John 5:24 (WEB) 24 “Most certainly I tell you, he who hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life, and doesn’t come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.

By faith, demonstrated by following Him, we are turned from darkness to light.

John 8:12 (WEB) 12 Again, therefore, Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. [Isaiah 60:1]. He who follows me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life.

John 12:46 (WEB)
46 I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in me may not remain in the darkness

By faith, we are Spiritually made alive when the Spirit indwells us by faith:

John 7:38-39 (WEB) 38 He who believes in me, as the Scripture has said, from within him will flow rivers of living water.” 39 But he said this about the Spirit, which those believing in him were to receive.

Romans 8:9-10 (WEB)
9 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if it is so that the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if any man doesn’t have the Spirit of Christ, he is not his. 10 If Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the spirit is alive because of righteousness.

By faith, confessing our sins, we are washed, cleansed, from all unrighteousness.

1 John 1:9 (WEB) 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us the sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Acts 22:16 (WEB) 16 Now why do you wait? Arise, be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.’

Blessings
 
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Hammster

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I quoted those Passages for you multiple times, but you refused to answer.

By faith, we pass from spiritual death to life

John 5:24 (WEB) 24 “Most certainly I tell you, he who hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life, and doesn’t come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.

By faith, demonstrated by following Him, we are turned from darkness to light.

John 8:12 (WEB) 12 Again, therefore, Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. [Isaiah 60:1]. He who follows me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life.

John 12:46 (WEB)
46 I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in me may not remain in the darkness

By faith, we are Spiritually made alive when the Spirit indwells us by faith:

John 7:38-39 (WEB) 38 He who believes in me, as the Scripture has said, from within him will flow rivers of living water.” 39 But he said this about the Spirit, which those believing in him were to receive.

Romans 8:9-10 (WEB)
9 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if it is so that the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if any man doesn’t have the Spirit of Christ, he is not his. 10 If Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the spirit is alive because of righteousness.

By faith, confessing our sins, we are washed, cleansed, from all unrighteousness.

1 John 1:9 (WEB) 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us the sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Acts 22:16 (WEB) 16 Now why do you wait? Arise, be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.’

Blessings
Those verses (or at least some of them) have two states. From darkness to light, for example. You indicated that there a neutral position. I’m looking for support of that.
 
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setst777

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Those verses (or at least some of them) have two states. From darkness to light, for example. You indicated that there a neutral position. I’m looking for support of that.

Faith comes by hearing.

By faith we pass from death to life.
By faith we pass from darkness to light.
By faith we are made Spiritually alive.

You want to reverse the whole process of salvation from that which God clearly stated in His Word.
 
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setst777

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I think the point was that Nic didn’t understand being born again, and Jesus chastised him because he was a teacher of Israel. Nic should have known this since it’s an OT teaching.

Just read the context, and then you need not think of alternate avenues to what is plainly stated.
 
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BCsenior

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No, not every human is a child of God. Some are children of the devil. He gives us the right to become children of God.
Correct ... "children of God" in the NT refers to BACs.
And the next step is being His friends (see John 15:14),
and His friends are those who obey His commandments.
 
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Hazelelponi

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Noah lived thousands of years before the New Covenant in Christ Jesus, when regeneration of the Spirit was promised. How was Noah saved?

By Grace through faith in what he did not see...

Jesus is our ark, and there are no preconditions to our salvation. Jesus doesn't say I'll be your savior if you do x, y and z... No. He says I AM your Messiah, I will do for you what you cannot do for yourself...

We respond to that in love, and obedience, because He took for us what we could not bear, and thusly reconciled us to God.

Not because there's a precondition attached.

The only reason works need spoken of at all is because of those who haven't experienced that salvation which leads to repentance, they need to know what salvation looks like, and how to recognize those who belong to God, versus those who don't.
 
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BCsenior

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So it's not just practicing sin only that will condemn
a believer. It only takes one sin to bring about condemnation or death.
I almost always talk about habitual sinners as
those who are NOT repenting of their sin(s).
A sin which is repented of does NOT condemn a believer.
 
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BCsenior

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We are saved when we believe. But to believe involves repentance - a turning away from serving the old life, and a turning to Lord Jesus to listen to and follow Him.

The point being made here is that Baptism is a command of Lord Jesus. If we claim to have faith in Jesus, yet, fail to confess Him before others in public baptism, as Lord Jesus commanded (Matthew 28:19-20) then we show, right off the bat, that our faith is not the kind of faith that God accepts to be saved.
Yes, a guy gets born-again in prison,
cannot get water baptized, then dies,
and so goes to hell. Right? Right.
 
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