Is grace resistable?!?!?!?!?

[AndOne]

Originally posted by Ben johnson
And the "CATCH-22" in all facets of "OSAS", is the premise of: "If they are UNSAVED NOW, then they were never saved in the FIRST place." Which completely disputes the last two verses of James: "Brethren, if any of YOU..." (is he talking to "BRETHREN", as in "SAVED BRETHREN?") "...wander from the truth... (Wander? As in BACKSLIDE but not FALL? as if there's a difference...) "....and another leads him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way has saved a soul from death, and covered a multitude of sins..." (Can, "save a soul from death", ever mean anything but "perdition"? "Soul" here is "psuche", same word John uses in Rev20:4; and "death" is "thantos", which is "physical-and-eternity-in-Hell". Contrast with James 2:26, "spirit/pneuma" and "death/nekros"...)

This presents a humongous problem - because Hebrews 6:4-6 plainly states that it is impossible to restore a fallen believer to repentence. If your interpretation of James 5:20 is correct - that "death" is referring to "eternal torment" - then we have a major contradiction in the Bible.

Also - you are missing the emphasis of James 5:19-20. It is placed upon a fellow believer bringing a fellow believer back to the "truth." The saving power is being put into the hands of a man - who does not have the power to save from "eternal hell."

 

[Ben johnson]

Hebrews 6:4-6 plainly states that it is impossible to restore a fallen believer to repentence.

"For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers ("Metochos", PARTNERS!the exact same word as in Heb 3:1 ("Parners in a heavenly calling"), and Heb3:14 ("partners in Christ")--- if THEY should then FALL AWAY ("parapipto"), it is IMPOSSIBLE ("adunatos"---impossible with things, unable with people; Strict definition: "Weak, impotent, powerless"...) to restore them to repentance...

&#149 SEEING AS (KJV)
&#149 BECAUSE (NIV)
&#149 SINCE (NASV)
&#149 WHILE! (NASV, footnote)

...they crucify to themselves the Son anew, and put Him to open shame."

Clear and straightforward---WHILE they ARE FALLING (the verb here is "aorist"---which does not indicate time---neither past, nor present, nor future, it just exists), THEY won't WANT to repent. It is "UNABLE, POWERLESS", impossible in that respect. It is all belief---and falling is by unbelief. This is identical to Heb10, where it says, "how much severer punishment will he deserve, who has trampled underfoot the Son of God and has regarded as unclean the blood of the Covenant by which he WAS sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of Truth?" None of these words exist in the framework of, "you cannot forfeit salvation"...

 

[Ben johnson]

you are missing the emphasis of James 5:19-20. It is placed upon a fellow believer bringing a fellow believer back to the "truth." The saving power is being put into the hands of a man - who does not have the power to save from "eternal hell."

Salvation is always two-fold---God's grace, man's faith. "For by grace through faith have you been saved". Those of "Predestination" misbelieve that FAITH (unto salvation) is bequeathed unilaterally to us by God (thus the verse REALLY reads, "for by grace through grace have you been saved"---for faith-installed-by-God is but a second dispensation of grace).

But FAITH-UNTO-SALVATION, comes from HEARING, from the believer's OWN HEART (Rm10:10,17). Salvation is RECEIVING CHRIST (1Jn1:12). Because of the twofold aspect of salvation, God's free gift, and OUR OWN VOLITION in receiving the gift (Rom5:17), there are many verses that speak of "us saving ourselves". These are not denials of His sovereign power, or His SOLE POSITION as Savior, but rather affirmations of our volition in RECEIVING the gift. It is FROM GOD, received BY US. (Is it our WORK? Jn6:29 says that "This is the WORK of GOD that we believe in Jesus"---thus, that which is the WORK of GOD, CANNOT be "OUR OWN work". We are saved by grace, through faith, apart from works.

FAITH-UNTO-SALVATION is the work of GOD, not OUR work. But faith comes from OURSELVES---salvation is by our own willfull choice (Rev22:17)...


Here are some verses that speak of our "saving ourselves":
"By your faith you will save yourselves" 1Pet1:9;
"By your endurance you will save your souls." Lk21:19
"Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will save yourself and those who hear you." 1Tim4:16
"But as many as RECEIVE CHRIST, to THEM He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name" Jn1:12
"For with the heart man believes, resulting in righteousness; and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvaiton". Rm10:10