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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Does faith require maintenance? | NT general Archive 1 | zach† | 34886 | ||
Please excuse my ignorance in asking so many questions But I feel compelled to ask this one also to see what imput this forum can provide me with. So please bear with me once again. Fenelon I believe is attributed with the quote: "Let go, and let God" But in 2 Tim. 4:7 it didn't appear to be Paul's philosophy of the day when he stated: 2Tim. 4:7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: In this I see 3 "I haves" of Paul, he said: 1) I HAVE fought the good fight. I also cross reference this with the following verse: 1Tim 6:12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses. I think Paul was saying we have been enlisted as soliders in the army of Christ, theres a real battle thats being waged. Do we have to take up the armor and get dressed for battle, or does God dress us? Do we follow Him into battle? 2) I HAVE finished my course -- here is the second I have of Paul from this verse 3) I HAVE kept the faith. I know that believers are kept by the power of God through faith. (1 Pet. 1:5) So do these kept verses contradict each other? Does faith require maintenance on the part of those who have it? In Christ zach† |
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2 | Does faith require maintenance? | NT general Archive 1 | Emmaus | 34894 | ||
Zach, The practical spiritual advice of Ignatius of Loyola was to "pray as if everything depends on God and work as if everything depends on you." Some people might call prayer and "the obedience of faith" maintenance. I am not sure I would use that terminology, but some might. I would prefer communion with God to maintenance of faith. But the practical end may be the same however you describe it. Emmaus |
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3 | Does faith require maintenance? | NT general Archive 1 | zach† | 34906 | ||
Emmaus; Thank you for that well thought out answer. You mentioned the obedience of our faith which is found in: Luke 6:46 And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? and also in: Rom. 16:25 ¶ Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, 26 But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations FOR THE OBEDIENCE OF FAITH: - and found elsewhere in scripture also. What is your opinion of the following quotes? "Only he who believes is obedient. Only he who is obedient, believes." (Bonhoeffer) "Brethren, I would point out that obedience is taught throughout the entire Bible and that true obedience is one of the toughest requirements of the Christian life. Apart from obedience, there can be no salvation, for salvation without obedience is a self-contradictory impossibility." -- A.W. Tozer In Christ zach† |
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4 | Does faith require maintenance? | NT general Archive 1 | Emmaus | 34921 | ||
Zach, In this case I would prerfer Tozer's phrasing to Bonhoeffer's, since James 2:19 tells us "Even the demons believe and tremble" but they do not obey. Of course Bonhoeffer is not saying all who believe are obedient, he is only saying that one must first believe in order to obey. But belief does not guarantee obedience. Then of course you get into the whole Faith Alone question. I know that many, though not all, who adhere to the Faith Alone doctrine admit that saving faith must be evidenced by works, which those on the other side see as proof that faith alone is not alone. Grace of course is the common element that unites inseparably faith and good works. Even Paul starts Romans in 1:5 with "the obedience of faith" and talks of the necesity of doing rather than just being hearers of the law eight times in Romans 2:6, 7, 10, 13, 14, 25, 26, 27. I don't subscribe to the plan A, plan B explanation of Romans. Nor do I believe Paul in Romans is at odds with James since they are both using Abraham as the example of faith. One thing we can be sure of is that mere belief is not the same thing as saving faith. Emmaus |
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5 | Does faith require maintenance? | NT general Archive 1 | zach† | 34931 | ||
Emmaus Thank you and I will say I agree. And at this time have no further questions. However if you have anything you would like to discuss about what we dicussed drop me a line here in the forum In Christ zach† |
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