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NASB | Isaiah 33:22 For the LORD is our judge, The LORD is our lawgiver, The LORD is our king; He will save us-- |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Isaiah 33:22 For the LORD is our Judge, The LORD is our Ruler, The LORD is our King; He will save us. [Is 2:3, 4; 11:4; 32:1; James 4:12] |
Subject: Why two tablets ??? |
Bible Note: Dear Merv, If you would like to discuss these things, we probably should seperate them into different threads in subsequent posts. You defined grace as "God's willingness to forgive a repentant sinner and as well to give the opportunity to the sinner to gain forgiveness by repentance and change." This is what we call heterodoxy. Grace has always been defined as "unmerited good will or favor." Your words reflect the theologies of Pelagius, John Cassian, and James Arminius -- however, even they would have disagreed with your definition of grace. Note your use of the qualifying word "repentant." If the sinner must be repentant *before* God grant's His grace, then the grace is merited (cf. John 4:36, Romans 6:23). As Paul puts it, addressing this very question, "Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt" (Romans 4:4). Indeed, repentance itself is a gift, as is observed by the believers when they said, "Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life" (Acts 11:18b). You even use the word "gain" in your definition, that forgiveness is something that can be earned by specific behavior. Throughout your post you identify meritorious works or attitudes that placed the onus of responsibility on God to salvifically choose Abraham and others. That despite the explicit statement of Paul, "For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God" (Romans 4:2). You write, "I disagree that the 'Lord Jesus alone saves'." This statement would be considered by most to be heretical and anti-Christian. Certainly it does not agree with Scripture. "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." (Acts 4:12) You continue in this vein with "We cannot be saved unless we are willing to be saved." The Apostle John wrote, "Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God" (John 1:13), disavowing the human will as the trigger by which men are saved. Indeed, Christ said, "No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him" (John 6:44a). Paul encourages our perseverance with the words, "For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure" (Philippians 2:13). (This latter is called an antinomy.) Regarding your statements on justification, please see my post 151785 for a proper understanding of that theological term. I would challange you to support your definitions of grace, repentance, and faith in Scripture, rather than those taught by Ellen White. Misdefining words can be the root of great error. In Him, Doc "The nature of the Divine goodness is not only to open to those who knock. but also to cause them to knock and ask." --Augustine "Christian! the only thing that makes you differ from the vilest being that pollutes the earth, or from the darkest fiend that gnaws his chains in hell, is the free grace of God!" --Octavious Winslow "Nothing in my hands I bring, Simply to thy cross I cling; Naked, come to thee for dress. Helpless, look to thee for grace: Foul, I to the fountain fly; Wash me Savior, or I die. Rock of Ages, cleft for me, Let me hide myself in thee." --Augustus Toplady "Alas! it is an infinite righteousness that must satisfy for our sins, for it is an infinite God that is offended by us. If ever your sin be pardoned, it is infinite mercy that must pardon it; if ever you be reconciled to God, it is infinite merit must do it; if ever your heart be changed, and your soul renewed, it is infinite power must effect it; and if ever your soul escape hell, and be saved at last, it is infinite grace must save it." --Matthew Mead "...faith, wherever it exists, is in every case, without exception, the gift of God and the work of the Holy Spirit. Never yet did a man believe in Jesus with the faith here intended, except the Holy Spirit led him to do so. He has wrought all our works in us, and our faith too. Faith is too celestial a grace to spring up in human nature till it is renewed: faith is in every believer the gift of God." --Charles Hadon Spurgeon "Faith is a gift from God, so that no one may boast ... The last bastion of pride is the belief that we are the originators of our faith ... This teaching about faith being a gift of God raises many questions. God has answers for all of them, even if we don't. Let us seek to put the teaching into practical biblical use, namely the humbling of our pride and the stimulation of our prayers. In other words, let us pray daily: 'O Lord, thank you for my faith. Sustain it, Strengthen it. Deepen it. Don't let it fail.'" --John Piper |