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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Ridding myself of guilt and fear | James 5:16 | BradK | 235327 | ||
Hello Happy Soul, My question was based upon how I read your proof text of scriptures regarding salvation. In other words your use of certain texts portayed a Soteriological view. I don't know that you are, but it's merely an educated guess:-) Correct me if I'm wrong, but as I understand what you're saying (from your posts), I get the sense that you take more of a "works-based' approach to salvation, than I would. In other words, you seem to be implying that we cooperate with God in the salvation process. My position is that we are entirely saved by grace through faith in Christ- per Eph. 2:8-9! Salvation is one of the essential doctrines of our faith- and critically important at that. We need to clearly understand how we are saved (scripturally)- and be just as clear in communicating that to others, so as to prevent confusion. Do I "limit God in His capacity to enlighten individuals without beng affiliated wiht any one group or denomination"? Of course not! None of can limit God- He alone is Sovereign, "who works all things after the counsel of His will," (Eph. 1:11). My reason for inquiring of your affiliation -maybe better termed your "theological basis"- is to understand your presuppositions with regard to Orthodoxy. How do you view and understand the essential doctrines of our faith. By knowing this, I can better understand where you're coming from and respond accordingly. Feel free to checkout my User Profile to get to know me better:-) Speaking the Truth in Love, BradK |
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2 | Ridding myself of guilt and fear | James 5:16 | happy soul | 235391 | ||
Hello BradK: It is nice to have someone to "talk" to about God's word, so please don't think that I am on the "defense" of what you are saying, but I will try to 'defend' my thoughts on various biblical topics based on my many years of bible studies (45 plus)and yet still 'little' and ever-learning knowledge of His word. So, you replied that because of the scriptures that I chose in trying to explain my understanding of salvation that I take more of a "works-based" approach to salvation - I indeed do NOT. However, I do believe there are scriptures in God's word that are clearly opposite to those who believe that the only thing necessary for anyone to be "saved" is for them to acknowledge and accept Christ, and in so doing, their faith in this act (which is still "doing" something - i.e. a 'work'?) will indeed be considered by God through His grace unto their righteousness? What about all of the examples listed in Hebrews of the 'faith unto works' that God considered righteousness unto Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph? According to Hebrews 11:17-22 and other scriptures I have read daily and studied, they indeed teach something other than a 'saved by grace through faith only' approach to salvation. Otherwise, why would anyone bother to teach others the truth, for in so doing, you are "doing something" that is taught by Christ to do, am I correct? I am not saying that it will "earn" your salvation, because it will not - only God's grace can do that, but how else are we to live as Christ, if we do not "do" anything at all, or change our lives to be in accordance with His will? It is absurd! I also did not intend to mean that 'you' had the ability to limit God in my previous comments (as I too, duly know that God is Sovereign and no one can limit his sovereignty), but I was merely suggesting that your 'thinking' that I was a member of the Church of Christ sounded like you were not viewing God as capable of revealing His truth to whomever he deems wanting (except maybe outside of some man or university or denomination teaching it to me). Excuse me if I am not as educated a theologian as yourself, I am merely a bible student who is sincerely seeking God's truth and I am a Christian who was baptized into Christ back in 1972. I also have not gone to some bible university to be enlightened on all of the various viewpoints and slants that tend to be placed on God's word by certain 'men' and 'scholars', but try to ask God's guidance to reveal His truth to me in my daily walk and study of His Holy word. In Christ, happy soul |
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3 | Ridding myself of guilt and fear | James 5:16 | BradK | 235422 | ||
Hello Happy Soul, Thanks for your response and your honesty. I do understand what you’re saying. Based on what you said, I think we’re dealing with two issues; salvation (how we are saved) and sanctification (how we are to live as saved people). As Dr. Jerry Benjamin has said, “The purpose of the Christian life is not to see how close to the edge we can live, but how close to our Savior we can get”. I think there’s a great deal of wisdom in those words. So to be clear, I’m not advocating any type of “easy-believe-ism” or “cheap grace”. In defining belief, I want to make sure we’re on the same page. Belief is not mere intellectual assent. My working definition of true faith- which the Reformers held- consists of three essential components: “knowledge” (Heb. 11:6) “assent” (Heb. 11:1; Is. 40-48; Ex. 4:1-9), and “trust”. Allow me to answer through some select quotes from Dr. James Raiford in his book, “The Camouflaged Church”. I agree with what he says because I believe it mirrors the message of scripture- at least as I understand it. I chose to quote him since he also speaks with a lot of clarity on the important distinctions. He states in Chapter Two: The Soldier’s Main Battle Weapon, “ Practically, the common situation among Christians sounds like this, ‘Is so and so a Christian?’ ‘He can’t be, he doesn’t act like a saved person’. There is no fruit displayed in his life.” “Two responses to this error can be stated at this point. First, salvation is by grace through faith, not based on any activity or lifestyle. Second, such a position as having to prove the reality of personal salvation clearly denies the doctrine of carnality as stressed by Paul in 1 Cor. 3 and Romans 6-7. Requiring proof to certify the reality of genuine regeneration contradicts 1 Cor. 3, as well as Hebrews 5:11-14. These passages identify categories of believers within the body as being carnal weak (immaturity) and the carnal willful states, such as spiritual infants, and adults.”’ He goes on to state that, “It takes great effort to deny that salvation is by grace alone and faith alone.” The problem is, “many who profess to be saved live like the unsaved! This is a real problem among the people of God and those seeking to solve it are to be commended for observing the problem and attempting to solve it.” This creates another problem as he notes, “ But the proposed solution of distorting the gospel of grace by adding works, and evidence and other requirements is unnecessary and certainly unauthorized by the Word of God.” To that, I say a hearty, “Amen”. I’ve been in a church where it was regularly proclaimed from the pulpit that, “If He (Jesus) isn’t Lord of all, He’s not Lord at all”! That’s not scriptural, in fact IMO, directly contradicts Acts 2:36 that says, “…That God made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ”. Christ is Lord whether we acknowledge it or not. This segues into the matter of sanctification. Using manipulative language that attempt to shame people into obedience, doesn’t substitute for the Holy Spirit! He makes an important qualifying note in saying, “No one who is familiar with the Word of God would deny the fact that God designs and desires his people to live holy, righteously and godly after personal salvation”! [Eph. 2:10] Here’s the important distinction: “ What God requires for obtaining eternal life differs greatly from what he requires for living a godly life. When lifestyle becomes the measurement standard to determine possessing eternal life, then error has already corrupted a grace alone, faith alone doctrine of salvation. The presence of good works can give evidence of the reality of genuine regeneration but the lack of such good works does not necessarily prove that there is a false salvation.” Conversely, “ the evidence of good works in the lives of the unsaved does not demonstrate that they are saved.” “Works are no criteria to determine genuine salvation or the assurance of salvation.” They do matter- as James definitely speaks to the practical side of salvation- but they aren’t the sole determining factor! To sum up what he is saying is this: “ The camouflage of confusing salvation passages with sanctification truth is extremely common yet equally dangerous for the body of Christ”. I see this as the fallacy of attempting to prove that a godly lifestyle is required or one is not genuinely saved. I think this is the major concern that you are alledging? To close, “When a biblical writer states conditions for receiving eternal life he is clear when he states it is by grace through faith. The Bible always makes a clear distinction between obtaining eternal life and living a life for the glory of God.” I hope this dialog helps you to better understand and bring clarity to this sometimes confusing issue. Speaking the Truth in Love, BradK |
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