Is having faith/belief obeying?

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Inquisitor

Well-known member
Mar 17, 2022
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Nice that you have invented some terminology for your erroneous understanding. I had exposure to the financial investment world, so we used to refer to some similar concepts as front-end loaded or back-end loaded.

Sure, my core beliefs are off, says the person who can't explain the foundational meaning of "Christ" using a short Psalm evangelistically directed by Christ's Apostle Paul, and now can't see things I've paraphrased by taking directly from 1Pet1.

Though I'll always be learning, I'm not confused re: entrance into God's Salvation Plan which some label justification and then abiding and growing in God's Salvation Plan which some label ongoing or experiential or progressive sanctification. Please do note that I'm purposely referring to both of these as parts of Salvation, because this is how Scripture speaks of Salvation.

What you're confused about is in part thinking in terms of theological constructs - manmade labels - while overriding Scripture.

Let's face it, you cannot read Psalm2 and explain who and what "Christ" is, and now you cannot read 1Pet1 and see how much Peter includes in regard to the things I stated. Re: both Ps2 and 1Pet1 you've imported external concepts into both of them. With such a practice, of course you'll find something off when someone remains tight with the Text. Your eisegesis vs. any exegesis don't mix.

One of the problems in our time is that so many are oriented to thinking in terms of various theological traditions - which is in part just the outgrowth of what Paul spoke about in 1Cor3 re: personal favoritism - and are not well-versed in Scripture. This problem of Scriptural illiteracy has been on the radar and under discussion for many, many decades if not centuries. You seem to have come out of Rome and ended up in anti-Rome that took you too far. Now you need to let Scripture bring you back to Truth.

I'm happy to go back to Ps2 or now to 1Pet1 verse by verse to point out some things but you'll have to find some objectivity I don't know you're capable of at this point. If we do so, I'm going to be asking more questions along the way.
Acts 2:21
And it shall be that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

Romans 10:9
That if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised
Him from the dead, you will be saved.

Romans 10:13
For “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Are these verses true of not?
 

studier

Well-known member
Apr 18, 2024
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Okay. The word you define as accomplish that is translated work out in the KJV, are there other definitions for the word than accomplish?
This too has been asked and answered along the way but I lose track of where. See here which was discussion with you and here which was elsewhere. Hopefully the links work. If not, then I'll try to fix them on this (with the short editing time) or another post. Note on one of these where I pull the definition of "work out" from an English dictionary and how it defines the phrase similarly with accomplish by work.

Here are the 4 different lexical definitions from BDAG Lexicon without all the research data:

Bauer-Danker, Greek-English Lexicon of the NT (BDAG)

[BDAG] κατεργάζομαι (katergazomai)

1. to bring about a result by doing someth., achieve, accomplish, do τὶ someth.
2. to cause a state or condition, bring about, produce, create
3. to cause to be well prepared, prepare someone
4. to be successful in the face of obstacles, overpower, subdue, conquer

Now, please remember when looking at these definitions that the Christian is commanded to do this with God providing capability. Do you like any of the 4 choices better than another? Why? And before you pick one of the suggested translations (non-bold words) please consider the bold definitions.
 

Cameron143

Well-known member
Mar 1, 2022
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This too has been asked and answered along the way but I lose track of where. See here which was discussion with you and here which was elsewhere. Hopefully the links work. If not, then I'll try to fix them on this (with the short editing time) or another post. Note on one of these where I pull the definition of "work out" from an English dictionary and how it defines the phrase similarly with accomplish by work.

Here are the 4 different lexical definitions from BDAG Lexicon without all the research data:

Bauer-Danker, Greek-English Lexicon of the NT (BDAG)

[BDAG] κατεργάζομαι (katergazomai)

1. to bring about a result by doing someth., achieve, accomplish, do τὶ someth.
2. to cause a state or condition, bring about, produce, create
3. to cause to be well prepared, prepare someone
4. to be successful in the face of obstacles, overpower, subdue, conquer

Now, please remember when looking at these definitions that the Christian is commanded to do this with God providing capability. Do you like any of the 4 choices better than another? Why? And before you pick one of the suggested translations (non-bold words) please consider the bold definitions.
I'll get back to you after verifying the word and researching definitions.
 

studier

Well-known member
Apr 18, 2024
2,207
487
83
Acts 2:21
And it shall be that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

Romans 10:9
That if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised
Him from the dead, you will be saved.

Romans 10:13
For “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Are these verses true of not?
I'm not sure I'll be up for starting this discussion all over again, so I'll begin here. Yes, those verses are true, but we may have to discuss some verb tenses and look at the light of more Scripture to make sure we understand them in the light of the full scope of the Gospel of God re: Jesus Christ.

How about these verses, are they true?

NTFE Phil2:12-13 So, my dear people: you always did what I said, so please now carry on in the same way, not just as though I was there with you, but much more because I’m not! Your task now is to work at bringing about your own salvation; and naturally you’ll be taking this with utter seriousness. 13 After all, God himself is the one who’s at work among you, who provides both the will and the energy to enable you to do what pleases him. Philippians 2 NTFE - Unity in everything - So if our shared - Bible Gateway

NTFE 1Cor15:1-2 Let me remind you, brothers and sisters, about the good news which I announced to you. You received this good news, and you’re standing firm on it, 2 and you are saved through it, if you hold fast the message I announced to you—unless it was for nothing that you believed! 1 Corinthians 15 NTFE - The gospel of the Messiah, crucified, - Bible Gateway
 

studier

Well-known member
Apr 18, 2024
2,207
487
83
I'll get back to you after verifying the word and researching definitions.
Please make certain you provide reference information for any resources you refer to. I can't link you to BDAG as to my knowledge it's not public domain.
 

Cameron143

Well-known member
Mar 1, 2022
21,252
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Please make certain you provide reference information for any resources you refer to. I can't link you to BDAG as to my knowledge it's not public domain.
That won't be the source I'm using, but I will share where I get my definition.
 
Apr 7, 2014
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They do not understand how the paradigm of salvation works.

Because they have been taught faith plus their own input equals salvation.

They can read Ephesians 2:8 but they cannot understand what that verse states.

Two thousand years of faith plus holiness, works, legalism, fruit, church, equals salvation.
There are 3 tenses to salvation that often get confused by works-salvationists.

1. We have been saved from the PENALTY of sin (justification)
2. We are being saved from the POWER of sin (ongoing or progressive sanctification)
3. We will be saved from the PRESENCE of sin (glorification)
 
Apr 7, 2014
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Notice in Philippians 2:12 that Paul said to "work out" your salvation and NOT "work for" your salvation. When we "work out" at the gym, we exercise to develop our body that we already have and not to get a body. Farmers "work out" the land, not in order to get the land, but to develop the land they already have. The Greek verb rendered "work out" means "to continually work to bring something to completion or fruition." We do this by actively pursuing the process of ongoing sanctification, which is the result of being set apart for God's work and involves the process of being conformed to the image of Christ.

This conforming to Christ involves the work of the person, but it is still God working in the believer who has already been justified by faith. In verse 13, Paul goes on to say, "for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure." Ongoing or progressive sanctification has no bearing on justification. That is, even if we don't live a sinless, without fault or defect, flawless, absolute perfect life 100% of the time (which we won't) we are still justified by faith in Christ. (Romans 5:1) Where justification is a legal declaration that is instantaneous, ongoing sanctification is a process.

In regard to "fear and trembling," it pertains to a healthy fear of offending God through disobedience and a righteous awe and respect or reverence for Him. (Proverbs 1:7; Psalm 2:11; Psalm 34:9; Isaiah 66:2) Prior to my conversion, while still attending the Roman Catholic church several years ago, I basically saw God as a tyrant who couldn't wait to punish me every time I messed up and throw me into hell for not being "good enough." That is an unhealthy fear of bondage and insecurity which is not from above!

Paul uses the same phrase "fear and trembling" in 2 Corinthians 7:15 in which he refers to Titus as being encouraged by the reception of him by the Corinthians "with fear and trembling," that is, with humility and respect for his position as a minister of Jesus Christ. In 1 Corinthians 2:3, we see that Paul himself came to the Corinthian church in "weakness and fear, and with much trembling" in regard to the huge responsibility and critical importance of the work in which he was engaged.
 

Cameron143

Well-known member
Mar 1, 2022
21,252
7,261
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Notice in Philippians 2:12 that Paul said to "work out" your salvation and NOT "work for" your salvation. When we "work out" at the gym, we exercise to develop our body that we already have and not to get a body. Farmers "work out" the land, not in order to get the land, but to develop the land they already have. The Greek verb rendered "work out" means "to continually work to bring something to completion or fruition." We do this by actively pursuing the process of ongoing sanctification, which is the result of being set apart for God's work and involves the process of being conformed to the image of Christ.

This conforming to Christ involves the work of the person, but it is still God working in the believer who has already been justified by faith. In verse 13, Paul goes on to say, "for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure." Ongoing or progressive sanctification has no bearing on justification. That is, even if we don't live a sinless, without fault or defect, flawless, absolute perfect life 100% of the time (which we won't) we are still justified by faith in Christ. (Romans 5:1) Where justification is a legal declaration that is instantaneous, ongoing sanctification is a process.

In regard to "fear and trembling," it pertains to a healthy fear of offending God through disobedience and a righteous awe and respect or reverence for Him. (Proverbs 1:7; Psalm 2:11; Psalm 34:9; Isaiah 66:2) Prior to my conversion, while still attending the Roman Catholic church several years ago, I basically saw God as a tyrant who couldn't wait to punish me every time I messed up and throw me into hell for not being "good enough." That is an unhealthy fear of bondage and insecurity which is not from above!

Paul uses the same phrase "fear and trembling" in 2 Corinthians 7:15 in which he refers to Titus as being encouraged by the reception of him by the Corinthians "with fear and trembling," that is, with humility and respect for his position as a minister of Jesus Christ. In 1 Corinthians 2:3, we see that Paul himself came to the Corinthian church in "weakness and fear, and with much trembling" in regard to the huge responsibility and critical importance of the work in which he was engaged.
I was reading Lloyd Jones earlier. His take was to furnish or fill out. Like the farmer who works the land, the homeowner furnishes the house. The house itself already has been provided.
 

DJT_47

Well-known member
Oct 20, 2022
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201
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No, it's not obedience, but rather a conviction of the heart.

Rom 10:9

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved