Sola Fide

Xeno.of.athens said:

In "The Theology of Gerontocrac?y" you presented deism and here you've presented something akin to double predestination.

Click to expand...

Indeed, I believe in the God of the Bible.

Is the application contra-Biblical?
That is my only criteria.

Xeno.of.athens said:

Indeed, the application of deism is contrary to scripture, as is the concept of double predestination.

Click to expand...

Contra-Biblical in the voting booth?

Hmmm. . .

Xeno.of.athens said:

God is present everywhere.

Click to expand...

No doubt. . .

Irrelevant.

Dan Perez said:

But THE BOOK of James !:1 was written to the 12 Tribe that were scattered aboard , meaning Israel .

Click to expand...

scripture was written for Christians and Christians do not have two different gospels - one for Jews and one for gentiles.
The fact that the book of James is tailored for those that actually know scripture - does not make it less valuable.

In 1 Cor 8 Paul contrasts those who are raised knowing scripture (Jews) vs those who do not.
4 Therefore, concerning the eating of food sacrificed to idols, we know that an idol is nothing at all in the world, and that there is no God but one. 5 For even if there are so-called gods whether in heaven or on earth, as indeed there are many gods and many lords, 6 yet for us (Jews) there is only one God, the Father, from whom are all things, and we exist for Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we exist through Him.
7 However, not all people (gentiles) have this knowledge; but some, being accustomed to the idol until now, eat food as if it were sacrificed to an idol; and their conscience, being weak, is defiled.

The person raised as one knowing scripture is NOT a sign of TWO different Gospels

2 Tim 3:
14 You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them, 15 and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is inspired by God and beneficial for teaching, for rebuke, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17 so that the man or woman of God may be fully capable, equipped for every good work.

Rom 3: Then what advantage does the Jew have? Or what is the benefit of circumcision? 2 Great in every respect. First, that they were entrusted with the actual words of God. 3 What then? If some did not believe, their unbelief will not nullify the faithfulness of God, will it?

It is always ONE Gospel for BOTH groups.

Eph 2:
14 For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, 15 by abolishing in His flesh the hostility, which is the Law composed of commandments expressed in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two one new person, in this way establishing peace; 16 and that He might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the hostility. 17 And He came and preached peace to you who were far away, and peace to those who were near; 18 for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father.

Gal 3:. 27 For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise.

Dan Perez said:

And Eph 2: 8 reads , By Grace // CHARIS , is in the DATIVE CASE and means personal relations , in the Singular .

Click to expand...

Indeed for all - we are "Saved by grace through faith".

It is not one gospel for gentiles and a different one for Jews.

Gal 1:6-9 Paul says "cursed is the one who declares there are two gospels"
6 I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel, 7 which is not just another account; but there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed! 9 As we have said before, even now I say again: if anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed!

Xeno.of.athens said:

God is present everywhere.

Click to expand...

And yet God tells Moses to take off his shoes in His presence at the burning bush and only the High Priest was allowed in the Most Holy Place to stand in the presence of God - once a year. Even other priests could not do it.

Ezek 14:
, 3 “Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their hearts and have put in front of their faces the stumbling block of their wrongdoing. Should I let Myself be consulted by them at all? 4 Therefore speak to them and tell them, ‘This is what the Lord God says: “Anyone of the house of Israel who sets up his idols in his heart, puts in front of his face the stumbling block of his wrongdoing, and then comes to the prophet, I the Lord will let Myself answer him in the matter in view of the multitude of his idols,

7 For anyone of the house of Israel, or of the strangers who reside in Israel, who deserts Me, sets up his idols in his heart, puts in front of his face the stumbling block of his wrongdoing, and then comes to the prophet to request something of Me for himself, I the Lord will let Myself answer him Myself. 8 I will set My face against that person and make him a sign and a proverb, and I will eliminate him

Xeno.of.athens said:

Agreed.

Saint James teaches that faith without works is dead and that faith alone cannot justify anyone.

Click to expand...

True.

The phrase "by faith alone" appears only one place in all of scripture and that is in James 2. It is preceded by the word "NOT" --

Rom 2:13 makes the SAME point.
13 for it is not the hearers of the Law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the Law who will be justified.

Matt 7 says "Not everyone who SAYS - 'Lord lord' will be saved - but the one who DOES the will of God will be saved"

But Rom 3 also makes the balancing case -
20 ... by the works of the Law none of mankind will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes knowledge of sin.
21 But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22 but it is the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus

27 Where then is boasting? It has been excluded. By what kind of law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith. 28 For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from works of the Law. 29 Or is God the God of Jews only? Is He not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, 30 since indeed God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith is one.

31 Do we then nullify the Law through faith? Far from it! On the contrary, we establish the Law.


How is is that the New Covenant Christian "establishes the Law" ?? --- THE NEW Covenant writes the LAW of God on heart and mind - (new birth, new heart)
Heb 8:6-12
Just as we see in the Old Testament - Jer 31:31-34

One does not earn their way to heaven by not taking God's name in vain - yet it is also true that the true New Covenant Christian will not choose to take God's name in vain.

Xeno.of.athens said:

"God is present everywhere" means that God is present with a Christian in a polling booth while they choose who to vote for in an election. It is an off-topic side branch of this thread, which is about "faith alone".

Click to expand...

True -

Col 3:23 Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord and not for people, 24 knowing that it is from the Lord that you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve. 25 For the one who does wrong will receive the consequences of the wrong which he has done, and that without partiality.

Eccl 12:13 The conclusion, when everything has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person. 14 For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil.