Results 1 - 2 of 2
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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Are Positional and Practical truths true | Ex 1:1 | Aliehs | 22383 | ||
You said that I said that our only duty was to know God/Christ better. What I really said was: "Our ONLY "duty" / "responsibility" under the new covenant is to know more about Jesus, respond to His work on the cross, and PRAISE Him for EVERY good and perfect gift - that includes the gift of our righteousness which cannot be attained totally or in part, but which can only be RECEIVED totally. PERFECT gift." And regarding all those things you listed which we should "do" - I agree with you on your point that "it is not done under our own power, but they are marks of a true believer." Marks because of a response. "1. We are saved by grace, through faith, apart from works. This is the basis of our salvation, and it is completely a work of God (Ephesians 2:8,9)." I agree. Salvation is a gift. "2. We are saved for the purpose of glorifying God through our good works (Ephesians 2:10)." That verse says "....to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." Ministry work, perhaps? Run the church as a body? Let run it after His heart ("good works")? Fulfil our calling? "3. Law has never been a means to make one righteous, since all it does it shut man up under sin (Galatians 3:22) and reveal God's perfect standard for us (Psalm 19:7). The Law, while being perfect in itself, has never made anyone perfect (Hebrews 7:11, 18, 21)." Agreed. However, all things aside, if anyone is ABLE to fulfil the law perfectly, that would be one way to righteousness (law of righteousness). But you and I know, it doesn't work and we can't go that road to righteouseness. The OTHER way to righteousness then, is by faith and in recepit of it as a GIFT, not something to attain for since we have already attainted it by faith (righteousness of faith). Romans 9:30-32 "4. The good works which God empowers us to do for His sake are marks of our new life in Christ. A "faith" that does not demonstrate itself in works over time is a dead faith, which does not save (James 2:14-26)." One thing to note about James when reading his letter is that it was written BEFORE Paul's. A lot of practicalities in it, but it is milk since he did not have a full understanding of grace as Paul did. This is not to mean that we don't read James, but that we should be aware about his understanding of grace compared to Paul's. "Please show me ONE God-honoring work that we can do which is not in keeping with God's moral law." Well...I think the Pharisees are very good at doing ALL God-honouring work that is keeping with God's moral law.....so no, I can't show you ONE which is not keeping with God's moral. But well...we know what Jesus thought about them... "Paul, Peter, and James did not consider the law useless for the Christian. Not considering the Law obsolete, they preached the Law to believers:" They DID??!!!! They preached the LAW to believers???!!! Tim 1:7 Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm. 8 But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully; 9 Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, 10 For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine; So if the law is not made for a righteous man, how can it be made for us who are already made righteous in Christ? Romans 10:4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. 6But the righteousness of faith speaks in this way,.... 8....."The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart" (that is, the word of faith which we preach):.....10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. "Lastly, we have the example of Christ Himself. How did He describe His perfect life? As "fulfilling" the law rather than "abolishing" it (Matthew 5:17-18) We should absolutely see Jesus as our example, but that example he set for us is complete and perfect obedience to the moral law of the Father." Yes, He has fulfiled the law so that I don't have to fulfil it myself when I'm in Him. The law is not abolished because it's already written in my heart. That example he set for us is made complete and perfect because of total reliance on the Spirit. THAT'S the example we should follow - reliance on the Spirit. "causing the believer to contantly rely on God's grace and forgiveness." Rely on God's forgiveness? But He has already forgiven my past, present and FUTURE sins....so I should instead THANK Him for it. After all, when He died for my sins, He was dying for ALL sins of mine which are "future" since I wasn't even on this earth yet. |
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2 | Are Positional and Practical truths true | Ex 1:1 | Reformer Joe | 22386 | ||
I am flabbergated that you had the temerity to write: "One thing to note about James when reading his letter is that it was written BEFORE Paul's. A lot of practicalities in it, but it is milk since he did not have a full understanding of grace as Paul did. This is not to mean that we don't read James, but that we should be aware about his understanding of grace compared to Paul's." Great...now you are saying that the words of James are not inspired by the Holy Spirit...way to deny the inerrancy of Scripture. James' words are as God-breathed as Paul's, no matter even if you are correct about the dating of the two epistles. That is the problem with the bad theology you are proposing. You inevitably have to say (even in the New Testament) that "this really isn't meant for us" or "so-and-so just didn't get it." Paul is right AND James is right. Both are New Testament writers, post-resurrection. They both had the complete revelation of Christ. James was Jesus' brother, for crying out loud! The words of the entire New Testament are God-breathed, superintended by the Holy Spirit to be true in what they say and a reliable guide for faith and practice. You cannot pick and choose what Scriptures you are going to follow and consider yourself a follower of the true gospel. You also wrote: "They DID??!!!! They preached the LAW to believers???!!! " They certainly did. You cut the very passages which support it. Paul cites the fifth commandment as applicable to believing children in Ephesians 6. Go back and read all those verses again from Paul, James, and Peter. Pure law, plain and simple. Both Law and Gospel are preached in a biblically-sound church. Law is not preached as a means to salvation. Law points out God' moral desire for our lives and our character, and as a guide for our sanctification. It is also Law (not Gospel) we use to rebuke the behavior of our brethren, since the Gospel does not comment on our behavior. Gospel merely shows what God has done for us in His grace. So, yes, Paul and James and Peter and John all wrote using Law and Gospel correctly. "So if the law is not made for a righteous man, how can it be made for us who are already made righteous in Christ?" Because we have only been declared righteous, not MADE righteous. Go read the works of Luther and Calvin and just about every other Reformer. Justification is a declaration of righteousness. Sanctification is the process by which we are made progressively more righteous. "Simil iustus et peccator" is Luther's way of putting it..."at the same time just and a sinner." It is only the Pope and you who disagree. "Yes, He has fulfiled the law so that I don't have to fulfil it myself when I'm in Him." Agreed completely. I will go a step further and say that you CAN'T fulfill it. The Law still condemns anyone who thinks that they are righteous in practice. That doesn't change the fact that God's standard for holy living is found in his moral law. --Joe! |
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