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

Hammster

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There is no neutral state. Those are your words, not mine.

The Gospel answer, which I gave you over five times now, is that faith comes by hearing the Word of God (Romans 10:17)

Romans 10:17 (NIV) 17 17 Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.

Has nothing to do with being in the flesh or being in the Spirit.

We are only IN the Spirit by faith in Lord Jesus.

You must believe first before you are IN the Spirit:

John 7:37-39 (WEB)
37 Now on the last and greatest day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink! 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. For the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus wasn’t yet glorified.
If there is no neutral state, then one must either be in the flesh, or in the Spirit. I asked, when someone first believes the gospel, what state are they in, flesh or Spirit? You said neither. Are you wanting to amend that answer?
 
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Hammster

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No, that good news was directed to Abraham only.
Okay. Abraham believed God and was considered righteous, correct? But nothing was said that would be equivalent to our hearing the gospel today, and believing unto justification. So there’s no reason that Noah wasn’t justified in the same way.
 
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Guojing

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Okay. Abraham believed God and was considered righteous, correct? But nothing was said that would be equivalent to our hearing the gospel today, and believing unto justification. So there’s no reason that Noah wasn’t justified in the same way.

Our gospel is based on Christ's finished work on the cross, stated in 1 Cor 15:1-4.

So its a different good news than what Abraham received in Genesis 15:5.
 
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Hazelelponi

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Anyone who is hanging onto anything besides Christ for their salvation is lost just like the Pharisees.

Salvation isn't a cooperative effort, Salvation is of the Lord...
 
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Hammster

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Our gospel is based on Christ's finished work on the cross, stated in 1 Cor 15:1-4.

So its a different good news than what Abraham received in Genesis 15:5.
The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “All the nations will be blessed in you.”
— Galatians 3:8

Paul thinks differently. He only had one gospel. (See Galatians 1:6-10)
 
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Guojing

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The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “All the nations will be blessed in you.”
— Galatians 3:8

Paul thinks differently. He only had one gospel. (See Galatians 1:6-10)

As I stated in "He who practices righteousness is righteous" (1 John 3:7), you are anticipating revelation.

Abraham believed, by faith, that God will give him numerous descendants as the stars in the sky.

To a childless couple at that advanced age, during that time period, it WAS the gospel.
 
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Hammster

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As I stated in "He who practices righteousness is righteous" (1 John 3:7), you are anticipating revelation.

Abraham believed, by faith, that God will give him numerous descendants as the stars in the sky.

To a childless couple at that advanced age, during that time period, it WAS the gospel.
The point is, it was THE gospel, not A gospel. So to Noah, he believed what was revealed to him in the same way Abraham believed.
 
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setst777

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If there is no neutral state, then one must either be in the flesh, or in the Spirit. I asked, when someone first believes the gospel, what state are they in, flesh or Spirit? You said neither. Are you wanting to amend that answer?

This is a matter of terminology which the Scriptures explain:

Being in the flesh, refers to those who are thinking fleshly and slaving for the flesh (Romans 8:5-7).

Being in the Spirit, is one who lives by the Spirit who indwells them by faith. - The Spirit only indwells and gives life by faith in Jesus (Romans 8:9-13).

The Gospel is the Sword of the Spirit to enlighten and convict all those that hear it. Some will resist the Gospel and the Spiritual conviction, while others, the humble, will listen and become convicted and drawn to respond in faith.

Those who respond to the Gospel invitation in faith are saved. These are the ones the Spirit indwells to give them life (John 7:37-39).

We are only IN the Spirit by faith in Lord Jesus.

You must believe first before you are IN the Spirit:

John 7:37-39 (WEB)
37 Now on the last and greatest day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink! 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. For the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus wasn’t yet glorified.
 
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Hammster

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GOD Shines Forth!

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You could say Jesus was born again with his resurrection. Fits with His teachings. What does that say about us other than as wannabees?


And we bring you the good news that what God promised to the fathers, this he has fulfilled to us their children by raising Jesus, as also it is written in the second Psalm,

“‘You are my Son,
today I have begotten you.’

Acts 13:33
 
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setst777

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So at the moment we place our faith in Christ, are we in the flesh (as you describe above) or in the Spirit?

After we repent toward God and believe in Lord Jesus in the way the Gospel defines faith, then the Spirit indwells the believer to give him life. So that means we are in the Spirit.

(John 3:16; John 7:37-39; Romans 8:9-10)

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.

If the Christian remains faithful, as when he first believed, the Spirit will continue to give him life as we are careful to faithfully live, walk, and sow to the Spirit that indwells him. And we continue to be in the Spirit.

Romans 8:12-13 (NIV) Bolding mine
12 Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation — but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. 13 For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.

Galatians 5:24-25 (NIV)
24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

Galatians 6:7-9 (WEB) Italics and bolding mine
7 Do not be deceived. God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. 8 For he who sows to his own flesh (the carnal mind) will from the flesh reap corruption. But he who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. 9 Let us not be weary in doing good, for we will reap in due season, if we do not give up.
 
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Hammster

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After we repent toward God and believe in Lord Jesus in the way the Gospel defines faith, then the Spirit indwells the believer to give him life. So that means we are in the Spirit.
At the moment we repent, are we in the flesh or in the Spirit?
 
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BCsenior

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After we are saved by God's grace,
God’s works (done through us)
are also required as a part of
the Salvation Process:


This (a whole bunch of NT verses) proves that ...
a believer can have salvation and then later lose it.
Yes, I have listed many NT dire-warning verses
... over many years ... in many Christian forums ...
and I have grown so weary of doing so!

If BACs prefer to believe what they grew up with,
what their church says, what their favorite books say,
what they hear on radio and TV, etc. etc.
INSTEAD OF believing the obvious NT warning verses
... then, that is their free-will choice,
and they will be held accountable for their choices.
 
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BCsenior

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So we have to hear or obey everything in our
New Testament because it is a part of the faith.

We cannot just pick and choose what faith is on our own. If we believe the New Testament, it includes commands or instruction on living righteously
(which is followed after we are saved by God's grace through faith).
The above spiritual Truth is backed up by the NT,
and those who reject such are in very serious danger!


LISTEN TO THE HOLY SPIRIT AND WHAT THE NT TEACHES.
THEY ARE ALWAYS IN TOTAL AGREEMENT.
(I shudder that I have to even say this.)

There are many BACs today who dutifully study all of the OT
INSTEAD OF FIRST understanding what the NT teaches!
 
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BCsenior

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it's important to read the bible in context instead of every page ripped out except for the passage you're looking at.
YES, and we can be misguided into thinking
we see 2 conflicting sets of NT verses!
(1) the so-called OSAS eternal security NT verses
versus
(2) the NT verses which oppose OSAS eternal security

ALL OF THESE VERSES NEED TO BE RECONCILED, don't they?

PLEASE DO THIS by seeing that the NT word "believe"
must actually include ENDURING faith, trust, obedience, etc.
And it might just be a good idea to be practicing righteousness! lol
 
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John Mullally

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So at the moment we place our faith in Christ, are we in the flesh (as you describe above) or in the Spirit?
When Peter preached on the day of Pentecost, he promised the remission of sins and gift of the Holy Spirit (this arguably requires regeneration) to those who repent and are baptized (in verse 38). Verse 39 says that that offer extends to today. Were those taking up the offer in the spirit or in the flesh at the time? I don't need to know - its just a gotcha question.

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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At the moment we repent, are we in the flesh or in the Spirit?

This is not a matter of being in the flesh or Spirit, this is a matter of God enlightening, convicting, and drawing all people to himself through the Word and the Spirit.

If a person chooses to resist the Spirits conviction and enlightenment, he has chosen to remain enslaved to the flesh.

If a person chooses to believe in Lord Jesus, then the Spirit will indwell that person to empower His faith commitment to His Lord.

After you repent, then the Spirit comes to dwell in you, for the will of the Spirit is to indwell those who believe.

Let me explain this briefly in response as follows:

After learning the Gospel Word, which is the Sword of the Spirit, one can either resist the Gospel Invitation or Repent toward God, and put their faith in Lord Jesus.

You are IN the Spirit when the Spirit indwells you to make you Spiritually alive.

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.

The Spirit only indwells you when you believe - first you must believe, then you receive the Spirit.

John 7:39 (WEB) 39 But he said this about the Spirit, which those believing in him were to receive.

The "believing" is a repentant and obedient faith by which we receive the Spirit.

Acts 5:32 (WEB) 32 We are His witnesses of these things; and so also is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.

John 14:15-17 (WEB). . . 15 If you love me, keep my commandments. 16 I will pray to the Father, and he will give you another Counselor, that he may be with you forever: 17 the Spirit of truth

John 14:23 (WEB) 23 Jesus answered him, “If a man loves me, he will keep my word. My Father will love him, and we will come to him, and make our home with him.

Acts 2:38 (WEB) 38 Peter said to them, “Repent, and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
 
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Gregory Thompson

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YES, and we can be misguided into thinking
we see 2 conflicting sets of NT verses!
(1) the so-called OSAS eternal security NT verses
versus
(2) the NT verses which oppose OSAS eternal security

ALL OF THESE VERSES NEED TO BE RECONCILED, don't they?

PLEASE DO THIS by seeing that the NT word "believe"
must actually include ENDURING faith, trust, obedience, etc.
And it might just be a good idea to be practicing righteousness! lol
I don't see a contradiction - nor do I engage in false dichotomies invented by denominations.

It is also important to note the order in which the NT texts were written, by the time you get to John's teachings, it is expected that the other lessons are already being applied.

So when a teaching about John or a John letter amounts to following a list of commands like the old testament, it is obvious the necessary foundation to read, let alone teach that verse is not there.

Due to your emphasis in teaching, I would recommend to avoid aspiring to the righteousness of the pharisees and the doors being closed on you.
 
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setst777

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You are the first I have seen who use the word necessary for salvation, and at the same time, also distinguish between necessary effect and necessary cause.

The various ingenious ways people invent such distinctions, in order to reconcile James with Paul in their minds, truly impressed me. =)

I can imagine an alternative exchange between James and Paul in Acts 21:18-25, filled with all these distinctions.

Poor James, who may wonder why he needed so many of us 21st century readers, to help him explain to others, what he truly meant.

Trying to reconcile Paul and James is not difficult.

Ephesians 4:17-32; 1 Thessalonians 5:5-22; Galatians 6:7-9; Colossians 3:1-17; Ephesians 4; Romans 6; Romans 8:12-13; Hebrews 3:12-13; Hebrews 10:26-33; Romans 11:19-22
 
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After I was saved I didn't need someone to tell me to go be baptised, God told me that. What I needed was someone to tell me it was okay to wait until spring when the river wasn't frozen...
I didn't need someone to tell me to quit smoking, God told me.
I didn't need someone to tell me my art needed to change in tone, I recognized that straight away. On and on and on.
Believe it, or not ...
I discovered years ago on Christian forums that
women tend to talk about NT doctrine in view of
their own particular life experiences!

I present NT verses for BACs in general ... for whomever
might benefit from it ... and women tend to make it personal.
Lord, whatever I present and to whomever it applies, let it help them!
 
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