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Anyone have good arguments against Calvinism.

d taylor

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The Bible plainly states for a person to receive God's free gift of Eternal Life they must believe in Jesus. The Bible does not say the person must have God give a person a special type of belief to believe in Jesus.

The belief used is the type of belief people use in everyday life to believe in other stated promises.

Satan has been able to take the action of belief by people, with the help of warped theology. To turn around what belief actually is and to redefine belief to include a special type of belief that is based in works. That if a person has real belief they will without a doubt be a committed good work producing person.

That is why in The Bible there are warning to believers about falling away. Because God knows that even though a person has believed in Jesus and has become a born again child of God.

They are still in the world and the age of satan, living in a sinful body. That if they do not daily fight against the draw of the sinful world, they will fall away and become a useless child of God. Who will not be able to do the good works God has prepared for them to do .

The warning are to warn believers to avoid falling away. Not because they will lose their eternal life, but so they will not become useless in service to God their Father. An can actually be used by satan to inflict harm to God's family on earth and to corrupt God's good news message of Life.
 
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Just to clarify how grace works. A person who believes that man's will plays a role in salvation, does not believe that man earns their salvation by works. We are not good enough to use it as a payment for sin. In that regard, "we can not boast". We are not justified by perfect obedience either. For all of us will have some sin.

1Jn 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.​

The cross is still necessary for salvation. For there is not a just man on earth who does not sin.

Gal 2:21 I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain."​

However, the reason for Jesus giving us the Holy Spirit was to empower us to be free from the devil and sin.

1Jn 3:8 He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.​

The Holy Spirit daily motivates us to keep away from sin.

1Jn 3:6 Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him.​

But because of our free will, we may at times, "rebel", or "stumble" into sin. But this is not God's will. But God because He is "just" allows us time to repent. Meaning to return from our sin to right standing.

1Jn 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.​

1Jn 2:1 My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.​

Rev 2:22 Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds.​

Free will opens up the possibility that we can return to our old life, or sin, but this can lead to being cut off.

2Pe 1:9 For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.​

Rev 3:16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.​

So a better way to understand grace is to put it on it's head.

It is not good works that save, but evil ones that damn.
The will that God gives us is free. God will reward those that love Him. If we believe that the will plays no role, then it is not love rather compulsion, which is why I whole heartedly disagree with irresistible grace.
We are always free to choose, even though circumstances make it look like God’s way to too hard.
That is what Satan preys on. He gets us to think that God is a tyrant that just wants to ruin our fun for His own inflated ego, and Satan tries to tell us that God is a slaver unworthy of love and loyalty.

We are always able to use our will and say no, regardless of circumstances, I choose God, and we can say with Job, though He slay me, still will I serve Him.
Jesus even tells us to count the cost before we decide to follow Him. You will be hated by all men for my name sake. The book of Acts even tells us that it is through much suffering that we enter into life

It takes faith to endure suffering and ridicule, yet God gives the grace to endure to those that love Him

Anyone that says believe in Jesus and life becomes a cake walk is deluded. That is not what scripture says. We receive the crown of life after buying gold tried in the fire

That is faith not lip service
 
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Clare73

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It frees us from sinning now, as those made righteous are righteous.
Those are not made inherently righteous, righteousness is imputed to them through faith (Ro 1:17, 3:21, 4:5, Php 3:9).
Inherent righteous is through obedience in the Holy Spirit (Ro 6:16, 19).
Righteousness is inherent in rebirth from God's seed.
Inherent righteousness is a journey of sanctification, whose foundation is justification (declared righteousness through faith), it is a transforming process of being made holy in the pursuit of righteousness in reliance on the Holy Spirit (Ro 6:16, 19).
 
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Clare73

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I'm a Provisionist and an ex-Calvinist. I had some doubts about Calvinism for awhile, particularly with regards to the problem of evil and limited atonement.

While I am sure Calvinists don't actually teach that God is the author of evil, I personally couldn't reconcile it with my own understanding of Calvinism, and saying that God is the author of evil just seems the logical conclusion of Calvinsim. After all, if God preordains everything, then does that mean he preordained evil?
Yes, God ordained evil, but he is not the author of it, Satan is.
I was a four point Calvinist because I thought it was obvious from Scriptures that God died for the sins of the whole world and does not with to see anyone damned for eternity.

What really started to dissuade me from Calvinism was the idea of corporate election. I used to believe in unconditional election, because I thought the alternative meant that God chose people based on foreseen faith, and therefore makes God dependent on man's will.

Corporate election, on the other hand, means that God has elected a people to be his. While the Church is made up of individuals, election is not understood as being primarily of individuals, but as part of being a member of the Church. Christ is the elect individual, and all who are in him become a part of the elect. It's supposedly closer to the 1st Century Jewish view than Calvinism is in that the Jewish people weren't as individualistic as modern western Christians.
Election is not based on anything "Jewish" but on the revelation of Jesus Christ to Paul in the heavenlies (2 Co 12:1-7).
 
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Hoping2

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Those are not made inherently righteous, righteousness is imputed to them through faith (Ro 1:17, 3:21, 4:5, Php 3:9).
Inherent righteous is through obedience in the Holy Spirit (Ro 6:16, 19).
So righteousness is earned ?
I disagree, seeing righteousness as a gift from God, inherent in repentance from sin and the washing away of sins by Christ's blood at baptism in Jesus' name for the remission of past sins.
Turned from sin and washed, equals clean !
With the gift of the Holy Ghost, we can remain clean.
Inherent righteousness is a journey of sanctification, whose foundation is justification (declared righteousness through faith), it is a transforming process of being made holy in the pursuit of righteousness in reliance on the Holy Spirit (Ro 6:16, 19).
It is a journey nobody has ever finished.
Do you know anyone who has reached that goal, using those means?
Let Christ do it in three minutes.
 
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Hentenza

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Salvation is BY grace alone which includes good works by the power of God, faith being one of them.
We do not perform the work of faith to receive the grace of God. Faith comes by hearing
There is no such thing as faith which is devoid of works. We show our faith by our works

Speaking ill of good works and calling virtue boastful is not the Gospel

Faith empowers us to do good works, else it is not faith. Jesus warned us of a form of godliness that denies the power thereof, and that some would no longer endure sound doctrine

These three remain Faith, Hope and Charity. Faith is never alone, else scripture says it is nothing and/or dead. 1Cor13 and James 2

Babes in Christ require training in righteousness, which is the practice of good works. Those that refuse good works cause the word of God to be blasphemed among the gentiles
Once again, you are yet to reply to my post 220. All you are doing is parroting Catholic theology without addressing my post.
 
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Those are not made inherently righteous, righteousness is imputed to them through faith (Ro 1:17, 3:21, 4:5, Php 3:9).
Inherent righteous is through obedience in the Holy Spirit (Ro 6:16, 19).

Inherent righteousness is a journey of sanctification, whose foundation is justification (declared righteousness through faith), it is a transforming process of being made holy in the pursuit of righteousness in reliance on the Holy Spirit (Ro 6:16, 19).
What you are saying is a direct contradiction of scripture. There is no where taught a one time justification with license to sin.

We are given gifts of faith hope and charity at our spiritual birth. We then enter the spiritual batte to mortify the deeds of the flesh and choose to allow Christ to conform us into his image
Scripture then says, he who endures to the end will be saved, not he who makes a one time commitment and then lives with indifference
The teaching of one time justification and optional sanctification is deceptive
 
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Clare73

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So righteousness is earned ?
Inherent righteousness, as distinct from imputed righteousness, is acquired through obedience, just as strength is acquired through exercise. . .neither strength nor righteousess are "earned."
I disagree, seeing righteousness as a gift from God, inherent in repentance from sin and the washing away of sins by Christ's blood at baptism in Jesus' name for the remission of past sins.
Imputed righteousness of Christ is a gift from God (Ro 1:17) following the gift of faith (Php 1:29, 2 Pe 1:1, Ac 13:48, 18:27, Ro 12:3): it's

faith--->salvation (remission of sin)-->justification (declared righteous)-->imputed righteousness of Christ (Ro 3:21, 4:5, Php3:9)--> sanctification (inherent righteousness through obedience in the Holy Spirit, Ro 6:16, 19).
 
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Hentenza

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What you are saying is a direct contradiction of scripture. There is no where taught a one time justification with license to sin.
Clare73 posted scripture to back up her argument but you just ignored it. Hard to just have a one sided conversation.
 
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Hoping2

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Inherent righteousness, as distinct from imputed righteousness, is acquired through obedience, just as strength is acquired through exercise. . .neither strength nor righteousess are "earned."
"Strength is acquired through exercise".
That is the definition of earned !
We are made righteous when we turn from sin and are baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of past sins.
Maintaining that righteous is our only course to eternal life.
Imputed righteousness of Christ is a gift from God (Ro 1:17) following the gift of faith (Php 1:29, 2 Pe 1:1, Ac 13:48, 18:27, Ro 12:3): it's
faith--->salvation (remission of sin)-->justification (declared righteous)-->imputed righteousness of Christ (Ro 3:21, 4:5, Php3:9)--> sanctification (inherent righteousness through obedience in the Holy Spirit, Ro 6:16, 19).
Sinners are not righteous.
 
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Clare73 posted scripture to back up her argument but you just ignored it. Hard to just have a one sided conversation.
How so?

We have Colossians 1 saying

21 And you, whereas you were some time alienated and enemies in mind in evil works: 22 Yet now he hath reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unspotted, and blameless before him: 23 If so ye continue in the faith, grounded and settled, and immoveable from the hope of the gospel which you have heard, which is preached in all the creation that is under heaven, whereof I Paul am made a minister


This says that you have to continue in the faith. There is no one time justification and optional sanctification

In Galatians Chapter 6 we read instruction to continue in good works, not a one time justification and optional sanctification

6 And let him that is instructed in the word, communicate to him that instructeth him, in all good things. 7 Be not deceived, God is not mocked. 8 For what things a man shall sow, those also shall he reap. For he that soweth in his flesh, of the flesh also shall reap corruption. But he that soweth in the spirit, of the spirit shall reap life everlasting. 9 And in doing good, let us not fail. For in due time we shall reap, not failing. 10 Therefore, whilst we have time, let us work good to all men, but especially to those who are of the household of the faith.


We can go over the warnings from Revelation 2-3, if you like. These warn against the deception of one time justification and optional sanctification.


Justification and sanctification are two distinct events, but what is overlooked is that they are inseparable. Like fire and heat, one cannot claim fire without heat, nor obtain heat without fire
We cannot claim to be justified if we refuse or water down sanctification. Just like our LED fire places that look like real flame yet produce no heat, they look nice and sound nice, but they are pretty much useless. So is one that claims justification and makes sanctification optional

We need to repent and be transformed by the renewing of our minds
 
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Hentenza

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You quoted Clare73 in post 247. She posted scripture.
Those are not made inherently righteous, righteousness is imputed to them through faith (Ro 1:17, 3:21, 4:5, Php 3:9).
Inherent righteous is through obedience in the Holy Spirit (Ro 6:16, 19).

Inherent righteousness is a journey of sanctification, whose foundation is justification (declared righteousness through faith), it is a transforming process of being made holy in the pursuit of righteousness in reliance on the Holy Spirit (Ro 6:16, 19).
Your reply to her did not address her post. You merely parroted your opinion.
What you are saying is a direct contradiction of scripture. There is no where taught a one time justification with license to sin.

We are given gifts of faith hope and charity at our spiritual birth. We then enter the spiritual batte to mortify the deeds of the flesh and choose to allow Christ to conform us into his image
Scripture then says, he who endures to the end will be saved, not he who makes a one time commitment and then lives with indifference
The teaching of one time justification and optional sanctification is deceptive
You claim by your opinion that what she is arguing is a direct contradiction of scripture and yet you don’t address the scripture she posted. It is a one way conversation when all you do is talk over everyone else you disagree with without addressing their post . You did the same to my post 220 which you are yet to address. Is hard to take you seriously.
 
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Hentenza

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How so?

We have Colossians 1 saying

21 And you, whereas you were some time alienated and enemies in mind in evil works: 22 Yet now he hath reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unspotted, and blameless before him: 23 If so ye continue in the faith, grounded and settled, and immoveable from the hope of the gospel which you have heard, which is preached in all the creation that is under heaven, whereof I Paul am made a minister


This says that you have to continue in the faith. There is no one time justification and optional sanctification
I’m going to address one of your verses as a sign of good faith to encourage actual conversation.

Salvation maintained by good works is not grace. Grace is only from the Lord. In Colossians Paul is countering heresy and the attempt of the legalists to add requirements to the gospel as your church does.

Paul addresses the epistle to:

“To the saints and faithful brothers and sisters in Christ who are at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father.”
‭‭Colossians‬ ‭1‬:‭2‬ ‭NASB2020‬‬

These are the mature, faithful believers with saving faith. These are not all that are at Colossae since there are believers of different levels of faith in every church. See the parable of the sower.


“giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. For it was the Father’s good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross. And although you were previously alienated and hostile in attitude, engaged in evil deeds, yet He has now reconciled you in His body of flesh through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach—”
‭‭Colossians‬ ‭1‬:‭12‬-‭14‬, ‭19‬-‭22‬ ‭NASB2020‬‬

Do you see the past tense (aorist) in all the words that I highlighted? The believer with saving faith has already been qualified to share in the inheritance, has already been rescued from the domain of darkness, has already been transferred to the kingdom of His beloved Son, and has already been reconciled in His body to present us holy and blameless. This is not sanctification by works as you and your church teach.

Secondly, Paul teaches that:

“For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work among you will complete it by the day of Christ Jesus.”
‭‭Philippians‬ ‭1‬:‭6‬ ‭NASB2020‬‬

It is not us that completes a good work. It is God. Paul would not teach this and then teach that we have to do works to maintain our salvation. Paul is not bipolar. People are saved by grace through faith and maintained by God’s grace not by works. Those who are saved already do good works from salvation not for salvation.
 
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I’m going to address one of your verses as a sign of good faith to encourage actual conversation.

Salvation maintained by good works is not grace. Grace is only from the Lord. In Colossians Paul is countering heresy and the attempt of the legalists to add requirements to the gospel as your church does.

Paul addresses the epistle to:

“To the saints and faithful brothers and sisters in Christ who are at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father.”
‭‭Colossians‬ ‭1‬:‭2‬ ‭NASB2020‬‬

These are the mature, faithful believers with saving faith. These are not all that are at Colossae since there are believers of different levels of faith in every church. See the parable of the sower.


“giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. For it was the Father’s good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross. And although you were previously alienated and hostile in attitude, engaged in evil deeds, yet He has now reconciled you in His body of flesh through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach—”
‭‭Colossians‬ ‭1‬:‭12‬-‭14‬, ‭19‬-‭22‬ ‭NASB2020‬‬

Do you see the past tense (aorist) in all the words that I highlighted? The believer with saving faith has already been qualified to share in the inheritance, has already been rescued from the domain of darkness, has already been transferred to the kingdom of His beloved Son, and has already been reconciled in His body to present us holy and blameless. This is not sanctification by works as you and your church teach.

Secondly, Paul teaches that:

“For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work among you will complete it by the day of Christ Jesus.”
‭‭Philippians‬ ‭1‬:‭6‬ ‭NASB2020‬‬

It is not us that completes a good work. It is God. Paul would not teach this and then teach that we have to do works to maintain our salvation. Paul is not bipolar. People are saved by grace through faith and maintained by God’s grace not by works. Those who are saved already do good works from salvation not for salvation.
There is no contention with your last statement.
We do works from salvation, not for salvation.
My point is that justification and sanctification cannot be separated unless you want to make them meaningless.

From the teaching that they can be separated, we have those that think they may give mental ascent to Jesus and then do nothing as if sanctification is optional

Non of the verses you share with me show that sanctification is optional or that we need not take care once we come to the knowledge of Christ

Scripture says, that if we love Him, we keep His commandments and His commandments are not burdensome, yet we have those that preach His commandments are impossible, so don’t do them, just believe and you will be fine. That is not true and the warnings are all in scripture

It doesn’t matter if you won’t listen to me. I feel bad for you, but I cannot make you believe. You will face the judgement seat of Christ some day, and scripture says you will be judged by your works

I will loudly proclaim the truth of scripture and Apostolic teaching which was sealed by the tongues of fire from the Holy Spirit

Last time I checked, there were no tongues of fire poured out on those that preach sanctification is optional. You need to study history and scripture, and not rely on your distortion

Apocalypse 20 (Revelation) is clear

. 12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing in the presence of the throne, and the books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged by those things which were written in the books, according to their works.


If you are telling people that they are saved no matter what and works don’t matter, you are contradicting scripture

The Catholic Church does not teach salvation is earned by works, that is a false accusation. The elect will do good works, and it is not evil or antibiblical to teach to exercise good works and grow in grace instead of stagnating.


Good works are so easy, just pray, as God says if anyone lack anything let him ask God. If a soul is lacking in good works, he need begin with prayer

Works that we are commanded to do is ask and you shall receive, seek and you shall find, knock and it will be opened to you. This scripture is misused by the name it and claim it crowd. Ever think of asking God for humilty and virtue so you may do good works?

The strongest warning against justification without sanctification goes to the Church at Laodicea. I am rich, well fed and have need of nothing, but they don’t realize they are miserable blind poor and naked. God will vomit them out of His mouth. That does not sound good. Jesus said blessed are the poor in spirt, but the rich are sent away empty. How is it you can tell people they are saved and a king’s kid, so they need not do anything, and then mock the Church who encourages good works and training in righteousness?


I care not for myself, for all I know God has grater plans for you than for me, I am just telling you that you need to repent so you can glorify God and receive the love He wants for you. The first will be last and the last will be first in the kingdom of heaven. Please stop distorting the Gospel
 
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Hentenza

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There is no contention with your last statement.
We do works from salvation, not for salvation.
My point is that justification and sanctification cannot be separated unless you want to make them meaningless.
If you believe that we do works from salvation then how were we made righteous? How can the believer with saving faith be saved without being righteous?

Paul gives us the answer:

“But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, but it is the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus, whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in God’s merciful restraint He let the sins previously committed go unpunished; for the demonstration, that is, of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭3‬:‭21‬-‭26‬ ‭NASB2020‬‬


“Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we also have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we celebrate in hope of the glory of God.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭5‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭NASB2020‬‬

Being justified or having been justified is in the aorist passive which means that receiver received it already as a gift with no further effort required. You cant accept justification apart from sanctification because your church teaches erroneously that both are one. Apostolic teaching does not agree with your church. There is nothing meaningless about being justified (once) and then work from salvation for sanctification. That is the order of things. We can’t make ourselves righteous (justified) by doing works. We can, however, work alongside our Lord for our sanctification.

From the teaching that they can be separated, we have those that think they may give mental ascent to Jesus and then do nothing as if sanctification is optional
There are certainly those that do not have saving faith. People need to complete their faith by being born again. Again, the parable of the sower explains the different types of faith.
Non of the verses you share with me show that sanctification is optional or that we need not take care once we come to the knowledge of Christ

Because there are non. You assume that my argument stipulates that anyone that calls Jesus Lord actually has saving faith. Every verse regarding sanctification however, states the work we do naturally by having been justified.
Scripture says, that if we love Him, we keep His commandments and His commandments are not burdensome, yet we have those that preach His commandments are impossible, so don’t do them, just believe and you will be fine. That is not true and the warnings are all in scripture
Again, not my argument. Those with saving faith will keep His commandments (Jesus not the law). The warning are for those without saving faith.

Paul teaches:

“Therefore there is now no condemnation at all for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭NASB2020‬‬

The key here is “IN Christ Jesus”.

It doesn’t matter if you won’t listen to me. I feel bad for you, but I cannot make you believe. You will face the judgement seat of Christ some day, and scripture says you will be judged by your works
All of us will face the judgement seat of Christ. Actually, tell me where in scripture Christ says that? I can show you where Paul teaches it.

“According to the grace of God which was given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building on it. But each person must be careful how he builds on it. For no one can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, or straw, each one’s work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each one’s work. If anyone’s work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet only so as through fire.”
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭3‬:‭10‬-‭15‬ ‭NASB2020‬‬

Do you think Paul teaches contrary to Christ? Of course not. Works never saved anyone. I much rather have a reward here but even those that do not do good works are STILL saved.
I will loudly proclaim the truth of scripture and Apostolic teaching which was sealed by the tongues of fire from the Holy Spirit
The apostles never taught works salvation. None of them did. The Catholic Church, however, it’s a different story.

Last time I checked, there were no tongues of fire poured out on those that preach sanctification is optional. You need to study history and scripture, and not rely on your distortion
No one has argued that. If you were to actually read and address other people’s posts you would know this. You are assigning others the wrong premise. You still believe that if those with saving faith do not do works during sanctification that they can loose their saving faith. That premise results in your belief that works are required for salvation. You talk with both sides of your mouth when you say that we work from salvation and then require works for salvation. Let me tell you what else Paul teaches in the holy scriptures.

“But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, since otherwise grace is no longer grace.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭11‬:‭6‬ ‭NASB2020‬‬
 
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Carl Emerson

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A point that few raise in this debate relates to the nature of man.

What aspect of yourself is not a gift given by the lifegiver Himself ???

The ability to think, speak, love, breathe, walk, know, see, hear, repent...

Our very existence is a gift.


As Paul said in Romans...

The Lord told Moses that he has pity and mercy on anyone he wants to.

Everything then depends on God's mercy and not on what people want or do.

In the Scriptures the Lord says to the king of Egypt, “I let you become king, so that I could show you my power and be praised by all people on earth.”

Everything depends on what God decides to do, and he can either have pity on people or make them stubborn.

Someone may ask, “How can God blame us, if he makes us behave in the way he wants us to?”

But, my friend, I ask, “Who do you think you are to question God? Does the clay have the right to ask the potter why he shaped it the way he did?

Doesn't a potter have the right to make a fancy bowl and a plain bowl out of the same lump of clay?”

God wanted to show his anger and reveal his power against everyone who deserved to be destroyed.
But instead, he patiently put up with them.

He did this by showing how glorious he is when he has pity on the people he has chosen to share in his glory.
Whether Jews or Gentiles,

We are those chosen ones... .

(...end quote from Romans)


This is the fundamental issue human pride bucks against resulting in the longest threads on the forum.

Boasting of any self effort is sin.

He is the author and finisher of faith - NOT US.
 
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