Bible Question: Thanks for your well grounded answer, Lion. (Are you related to Aslan?) Are you saying, then, that after we receive Christ through faith in Him (true faith, not a "said" faith) that there is nothing we can do to help in obtaining righteousness, that it's all up to God? |
Bible Answer: Yes, I am related to the One C. S. Lewis allegorized in his Chronicles! He's my Brother and King! Hi Dave, Yes, Dave, that is what I am saying. Is 64:6 For all of us have become like one who is unclean, And all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment; Our efforts to obtain righteousness only pollutes. Because we are totally corrupt in our fallen nature, righteousness is and must be a gift from God. Paul quotes God's view of human nature: Rom 3:10 as it is written, "THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE; Rom 3:11 THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS, THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS FOR GOD; Rom 3:12 ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE, TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME USELESS; THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD, THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE." Rom 3:13 "THEIR THROAT IS AN OPEN GRAVE, WITH THEIR TONGUES THEY KEEP DECEIVING," "THE POISON OF ASPS IS UNDER THEIR LIPS"; Rom 3:14 "WHOSE MOUTH IS FULL OF CURSING AND BITTERNESS"; Rom 3:15 "THEIR FEET ARE SWIFT TO SHED BLOOD, Rom 3:16 DESTRUCTION AND MISERY ARE IN THEIR PATHS, Rom 3:17 AND THE PATH OF PEACE THEY HAVE NOT KNOWN." Rom 3:18 "THERE IS NO FEAR OF GOD BEFORE THEIR EYES." You ask, "...after we receive Christ through faith in Him (true faith, not a "said" faith) that there is nothing we can do to help in obtaining righteousness, that it's all up to God?" Well... after one has obtained something, there is no need to thereafter help obtain it. He already has it! Yes, it (our righteousness, salvation, eternal life) is all up God. The Father draws you and gives you to the Son. John 6:37,44 "All that the Father gives Me will come to Me... No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day." On the cross the Son takes your pollution, becomes a curse in your place and dies with it. In exchange, He gives you, clothes you in, His perfect righteousness. 2 Cor 5:21 He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. The Father and Son hold you in an unbreakable grip and seal you in the unbreakable seal of the Holy Spirit Himself, who is the guarantee of our inheritance! John 10:28 and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. 3 John 10:29 "My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. Eph 1:13,14 In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation--having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God's own possession, to the praise of His glory. Righteousness, Dave, is only the beginning of our Salvation. God has a lot more for us and it all ends in glory! But until then we can rest assured ... "that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus." Phil 1:6 Peace, Lionstrong |