Subject: "Both of these positions have problems" |
Bible Note: Thanks John for the welcome and I respect your opinion, I have been a part of this forum for a while but only as a reader (I am quick to listen and slow to speak:-)). I find this forum some times informative and some times humorous. Where do I stand with Arminians vs. Calvinists?? I lean more towards Calvinists but not fully. (I still have more studding to do.) If we are saved then we produce good fruit right? God has given us a wonderful and glorious gift, Jesus Christ. “by grace you have been saved” Romans 11:6 (ESV) But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace. Ephes. 2:4-10 (ESV) But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ— by grace you have been saved— [6] and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, [7] so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. [8] For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, [9] not a result of works, so that no one may boast. [10] For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. “For by grace you have been saved through faith.” Look at “For by grace you have been saved” It is because of grace that we are saved not of works. No amount of works can save someone only grace. Look at “through faith.” What is faith? Look at the book of James: James 2:15-18 (ESV) If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, [16] and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and filled," without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? [17] So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. [18] But someone will say, "You have faith and I have works." Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. It is by grace through faith. James 2:24 (ESV) You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. We believe, we have faith and because of our faith we produce fruits “works”, our “works” are depended on faith and faith is depended on works. So with out one or the other it is dead. “So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” So the question is, if you do not have “works” then how can you have “faith”? And if you do not have “faith” then how can you be saved? I still have a lot of studding to do on my journey with the Lord so I really do respect and appreciate your opinion. Your brother Hank_jr |