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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Is God omnipotent? | John 3:16 | Morant61 | 89458 | ||
Greetings John! The problem is that the devil is in the details! :-) We can debate where faith comes from in another thread. The point I have been addressing was the statement made on the forum that the Bible teaches that regeneration precedes faith. You wrote: "Faith may also accompany the new birth, but our main concern is where faith comes from to begin with. Whether it preceeds or occurs simultaneously with re-generation, it make no difference to the larger question." Yet, Gal. 2:16 doesn't say that it is simultaneous or that it precedes the new birth. It says that justification is the result of faith, so it must occur after. Your Brother in Christ, Tim Moran |
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2 | Is God omnipotent? | John 3:16 | John Reformed | 89467 | ||
Hi Tim, "Yet, Gal. 2:16 doesn't say that it is simultaneous or that it precedes the new birth. It says that justification is the result of faith, so it must occur after." Assuming that you are correct, and the abiliy to believe is present in the un-regenerate, what makes the difference between those whom percieve the gospel as foolishness, and those who percieve it as the power of God? I also would appreciate your explanation of the unusal phraseology which Paul employs in 1 Cor 1:18 "For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. "but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." A somewhat unusual way of putting it was my first thought. " those who are perishing" and "to us who are being saved". It's as if Paul is describing a process; something that has a beginning, a middle and an end. Calvin paraphrased it saying "However the preaching of the cross, as having nothing of human wisdom to recommend it to esteem, is reckoned foolishness by them that perish; in our view, notwithstanding, the wisdom of God clearly shines forth in it." But I believe Matthew Henry fleshed it out for me. "We have the different effects of this preaching: To those who perish it is foolishness, but to those who are saved it is the power of God, v. 18. It is to the Jews a stumbling-block, and to the Greeks foolishness; but unto those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God, v. 23, 24. Would you agree that that which makes the difference between the two groups (the perising and those being saved)is God's call? John, PS despite what others may say, I find the exploration of the great doctrines of the faith exciting and edifying! |
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3 | Is God omnipotent? | John 3:16 | Morant61 | 89477 | ||
Greetings John! I too enjoy a good discussion! Allow me to touch upon your response and then your question. 1) It isn't really a question of whether I'm correct or not since Gal. 2:16 quite plainly says that justification is a result of faith. 2) I believe that salvation and 'perishing' are both a process to a degree. I preached once out of 1 Peter about the past, present, and future aspects of our salvation. Anyway, concerning 1 Cor. 1:18, the first thing that I notice is that there is no information at all about why people are perishing or if that status can be changed. However, Paul uses this same exact word in three other places and two of these places do address these points. First of all, 2 Thess. 2:10 says: " and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved." So, why do people perish? Is it because God has chosen not to save them? According to this verse, they are perishing because they rejected the truth. Secondly, 2 Cor. 4:3 says: "And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing." This would seem to support your position, except for the last few verses of chapter 3. 2 Cor. 3:14 - "But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away. 15 Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. 16 But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit." Faith comes to the perishing through the preaching of the Gospel (Rom. 10:17). If that person then accepts the truth, they will be saved. Well, I have to get to bed now. Your Brother in Christ, Tim Moran |
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4 | Is God omnipotent? | John 3:16 | Pastor Glenn | 89522 | ||
Tim, Excellent post! 2 cor 3:16 says it all: 16 But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. I suspect that Mr Calvin missed this verse too. |
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