Originally posted by Blackhawk
"One of the big problems I see with this belief is that it puts too much emphasis on the decision that we will make. This is the crucial foundation of Eph 2:8,9. Even if you gave God the credit for bringing you to a place that allowed you to make "the decision" you are still attributing your salvation to you choosing to follow God."
BH
BH
I believe that when one misplaces the understanding of the object of the belief you refer to above, he goes down another road, deviating from scripture.
I think I see this clearly as the problem many have and thats why they wrestle with scripture and can never seem to grasp the assurance which comes with knowning God not only has saved but keeps them from the evil one, so long as they walk in the light..
couple of verses;
2 Th 2
13 But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath
from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and
belief of the truth:
Heb 10
14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.
"From the begining chosen you to Salvation through sanctification of the Spirit"
How sweet these words are, to Gods children.
another one;
1 Pet 1
22 Seeing ye have purified your souls
in obeying the truth through the Spirit
You give man to much credit, God is even gracious, he gives man credit, "for obeying the truth," and thus "he has purified his soul, in obeying it.
The truth is,
2 Th 2
10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish;
because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved .
11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
John 3
19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
The natural man is incapable of submitting himself to Gods will, before God can work in his heart, he must believe what God says about him, that he is a sinner, in need of repentance for his sin; and that it's not Gods will that he perish in his sin.
This is all man is able to do, believe he is a sinner, and unless he repents he will perish in his sin, that God has provided a blood sacrifice to pay the debt owed by his sin, and that Jesus is the one who has redeemed him from the death to come.
Must he know all these things, I think he has to consciously, acknowledge to God a belief in agreemnt with God that, What God says is true.
Especially, that he is a sinner who has sinned against God, that is going to perish in sin, unless he repents; it's only when this man confesses this to God that God can finally draw him to believe in the Son, the end result is saving faith a work of the Spirit, in Christs finished work on the cross;
This is no small matter, God seeks a broken spirit and a contrite heart.
1 Pet 1
9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.
Which is also the begining of a lifelong walk of faith for;
The Just shall live by faith.
Please read the verses in there context, I've only posted the verse which address the subject of belief.
RICHARD
Isa 1
18 "Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool."