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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | I have a related question for anyone... | Acts 8:13 | dgregg | 69560 | ||
I have a related question for anyone who happens to read this. The central issue in the "eternal security" debate seems to be whether or not the kind of belief mentioned in Hebrews 6 and 10, Acts 8:13, and other places is the kind that produces salvation or not. I think we can agree on the basic point that salvation is by grace through faith, not of works, and that this faith is not a mere mental assertion of the truth, but a genuine trust in Christ for salvation. So is this the kind of faith that is mentioned in these and other verses? I think the key to understanding this is found in one phrase that is used in Hebrews 10:26 and all over New Testament scripture: "the knowledge of the truth." This exact phrase is used several times, with little explaination to its meaning. Is it synonymous with "saving faith," or is it refering to a mere mental acceptance? It seems to me that it indicates that the person has repented and become a genuine believer (see 2 Tim. 2:25), but I could be wrong. What is the correct way to interpret this rather ambiguous phrase? | ||||||
2 | I have a related question for anyone... | Acts 8:13 | Emmaus | 69570 | ||
dgregg, Somethings to consider in the context of your question. “ Not everyone who says to me, ‘ Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father. On that day many will say to me ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and cast out demons in your name and do many mighty works in your name?’ And I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me you evil doers.’ (Matt. 7: 21) “Then the King will say to those at his right hand, ‘Come O blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you visited me...’” (Matt. 25:31-45). "and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing…So faith, hope, love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” (1 Cor. 13: 1-3, 13) But where in St. Paul’s letter to the Romans can we find any reference to this kind of works in Christ? St. Paul opens and closes his letter with a reference to “the obedience of faith.” (Romans 1:5 and Romans 16:26) In chapter two he tells us: “For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who are justified.” (Rom. 2: 13) Eight times in chapter two, between verse six and verse twenty-seven, he speaks of the necessity to “do the law.” Is this the same Paul who in the same letter has told us that we are not justified by “works of the law” but by faith? Or is he speaking of two different laws? Emmaus |
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3 | I have a related question for anyone... | Acts 8:13 | Morant61 | 69575 | ||
Greetings Emmaus! Concerning Rom. 2, I would say that we have to consider the context. Paul establishes in Rom. 1-3 that all men are sinners and deserving of the wrath of God. Chapter one establishes that pagan man has rejected what has been revealed about God and have been given over to depravity, while chapter two establishes that even the Jews (who have the Law) are under condemnation because they disobey the will of God revealed in the Law. Chapter three sums his arguement up with the following passage: Rom. 3:19 - "Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God. 20 Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin." What is Paul's point? Romans 3:21 - " But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22 This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus." So, I would say that all of the references in chapter two to 'doing the law' are written to demonstrate that one cannot be saved by works. Those who were trying to obey the Law were 'storing up wrath for themselves' (Rom. 2:5), and they were 'breaking the Law' (Rom. 2:25). All are sinners and all must be saved, not by obeying the Law, but through faith (Rom. 3:30). This leads to Paul's discussion of works in Rom. 4, where he demonstrates that faith alone saves, not works. So, in context, it is clear that sinful man is unable to keep the Law. There is a Law of sin at work in us which keeps us from obeying the Law (Rom. 8:7) apart from Christ (Rom. 7:21-25). So, I don't see any tension in Paul's teaching throughout Romans my friend! He consistently says that faith, and not works, save us. Your Brother in Christ, Tim Moran |
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4 | I have a related question for anyone... | Acts 8:13 | Emmaus | 69609 | ||
Tim, I don't see any tension in Paul either. He makes it very clear elsewhere that the saving faith which he preaches is a "faith working in love" and one that incorporates with "faith," "hope and love. And the greatest of these is love." So Paul agrees with James that "faith without works is dead" and dead faith is not saving faith at all because it does not incorporate "the obedience of faith." Emmaus |
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