Not By Works

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Nov 16, 2019
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Paul does not want to give false assurance to those who have believed in vain -- without cause or without effect, to no purpose.
That's right. He's assuring them that Christ really did rise from the dead, just as he proclaimed to them when they first heard the gospel. Otherwise, the believing they have done has all been in vain if in fact Christ has not been raised from the dead (as false teachers have led them to believe). But you're trying to say Paul is telling them they are really saved and will hold fast to the gospel and have not believed in vain if they really believed, completely ignoring both the grammar of vs. 1 & 2, and what Paul is actually speaking to them about in the passage.
Genuine believers hold fast to the word/the gospel that Paul preached and are saved. Those who don't hold fast demonstrate that their belief was never firmly rooted and established.
That incorrect interpretation is great for a osas argument, but defies what the passage actually says.
 

Mdennis1

New member
Feb 4, 2020
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how can "you" know someone has good works? And is not just religious?

You can't so what good is it? God does not need it, You can't use it to determine someone elses salvation, so other than you examining you own faith, what good is

Our works show the way of salvation to the lost when we are lead by the spirit. They are a testimony to the saved and unsaved. We are to be salt and light. We are a reflection of Christ in us. Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live but Christ who live in me.. And the live I now live in the flesh, I live by the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me.
Amen.. Gods blessing
 
Jan 12, 2019
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Paul plainly explains for us what he means by "unless you believed in vain".
You can't be saved by a gospel about a risen Christ no matter how strong and sure your believing is if Christ really didn't rise from the dead.

"2by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain."

"14and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain."

"17and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins. "

1 Corinthians 15:2,14,17

No amount of believing in Paul's gospel of a risen Christ (vs.3-8) is going to save anybody if Christ has not really been raised from the dead. But osas ignores the context provided right in the chapter and says "unless you believed in vain" means you are saved by the gospel unless you didn't really believe, and because you don't really believe you won't hold fast to the gospel like true believers do. But as we can see in this post and my last post that's not the message Paul is communicating.
You have raised a very interesting point regarding interpretation of vs2.

I think those who are debating with you, don't see the way you see because they are trying to "harmonize" James 2 with Paul's gospel of grace.

To them, Paul and James are in total agreement so they need to somehow see James 2 in 1 Cor 15:1-4.
 
E

EleventhHour

Guest
You have raised a very interesting point regarding interpretation of vs2.

I think those who are debating with you, don't see the way you see because they are trying to "harmonize" James 2 with Paul's gospel of grace.

To them, Paul and James are in total agreement so they need to somehow see James 2 in 1 Cor 15:1-4.
It is true, our believing is in vain if Jesus did not Rise from the dead, there were false teachers stating the Resurrection did not happen.

Paul is stressing how essential and pivotal the Resurrection is to the faith.
 
Nov 16, 2019
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I see no passages where the uncertainty of the perseverance of genuine believers is expressed.
"4You who are trying to be justified by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace."
"11 I fear for you, that somehow I have wasted my efforts on you."
Galatians 5:4, 4:11


"3But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ. 4For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the Spirit you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough." - 2 Corinthians 11:3-4

"35So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded."
"36You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised." - Hebrews 10:35-36


It's make believers who do not persevere. Saving belief in Christ continues and does not turn into unbelief...
The saved Galatians did not persevere and fell away from faith in Christ and back to reliance on the law for justification.

...so God's promises for genuine believers is rock solid. His saints are preserved forever and sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise until the redemption of the purchased possession.
Yes, the promise is rock solid.
But you can't ignore that the promise is conditional on believing in Christ's work, and continuing in that very same believing to the very end. Which I know you agree with. You just disagree that the condition for salvation (believing) can ever cease in a believer, because if it did, that shows they were 'never of us' and never really believed to begin with. But as we can see, the Galatians, particularly, don't allow you to interpret 1 John 2:19 the way osas does.
 

VCO

Senior Member
Oct 14, 2013
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Actually, faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Christ was completely obedient to every word of His father.



John 17:12 (HCSB)
12 While I was with them, I was protecting them by Your name that You have given Me. I guarded them and not one of them is lost, except the son of destruction, so that the Scripture may be fulfilled.

1 Peter 1:3-5 (HCSB)
3 Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. According to His great mercy, He has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead
4 and into an inheritance that is imperishable, uncorrupted, and unfading, kept in heaven for you.
5 You are being protected by God’s power through faith for a salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.

Romans 11:6 (NASB)
6 But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace is no longer grace.

Philippians 1:6 (HCSB)
6 I am sure of this, that He who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.


1 Corinthians 2:16 (HCSB)
16 For who has known the Lord’s mind, that he may instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ.
 

posthuman

Senior Member
Jul 31, 2013
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Paul plainly explains for us what he means by "unless you believed in vain".
You can't be saved by a gospel about a risen Christ no matter how strong and sure your believing is if Christ really didn't rise from the dead.

"2by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain."

"14and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain."

"17and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins. "

1 Corinthians 15:2,14,17

No amount of believing in Paul's gospel of a risen Christ (vs.3-8) is going to save anybody if Christ has not really been raised from the dead. But osas ignores the context provided right in the chapter and says "unless you believed in vain" means you are saved by the gospel unless you didn't really believe, and because you don't really believe you won't hold fast to the gospel like true believers do. But as we can see in this post and my last post that's not the message Paul is communicating.
in 1 Corinthians 15 the context is that the apostle is tearing down the arguments of those who do not believe in the literal, physical resurrection of the dead. he explains that denying the resurrection is denying the ((singular)) gospel he declares ((v.1)), the same ((singular)) gospel he received ((v.3)) -- that Christ died for us, was buried and rose the third day ((v.4)). he explains that the implications of denying the resurrection of the dead is denying the gospel ((vv. 12-14)) -- doing so would make anyone's faith vain ((vv.2,14,17,19))

really don't think there's any 'loss of salvation' going on in this chapter. there's Paul telling people their thinking is self-contradictory and that they need to get their heads straight.
 

Tellion

Junior Member
Jan 8, 2003
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What is he Ministry about? And what scientific stuff?
It is geared towards evangelism. With a special emphasis on being prepared for the resistance that "science" wants to offer. Specifically, it collaborates with Christian science specialists (not to be confused with Christian Science) to challenge evolution with observable evidence that presents itself in real time, such as the fallibility of radiometric dating, a reasonable time frame of fossilization. He's distributing this information in an area where syncretism is promoted by the "Reformed" college in the area, and boy are they reacting with hostility towards it.
 
Dec 12, 2013
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Amen! Hebrews 10:10 - By this will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. (y)

Hebrews 10:14 - For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified. (y)
I absolutely cannot engage that dude anymore......I will get banned for saying what needs to said concerning the way he devalues Jesus, the truth and his anti-God stance against the word of God.
 
Dec 12, 2013
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"Flat out deny Truth".... this is exactly it.

It is for sure sickening to use God's own words against God.
There have been about 50 people on this site since I have been on here that have absolutely twisted the truth so far out of whack that it literally sickens and infuriates me at the same time...He is one of the 50 top embellishers and twisters of the word of God I have ever seen
 
Dec 12, 2013
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I have always said that genuine believers trust in Jesus Christ for salvation, but don't always trust in Him just to get them through their day or through a bad situation or with their finances etc.. which doesn't mean they stopped trusting in Jesus for salvation and are now lost. As we go through the process of ongoing sanctification, we learn to trust the Lord more and more in all areas of our life as we progress in spiritual growth and maturity.
Faith has been dealt in measure.....and the last time I checked....I see no one saying to this mountain or tree............and the point is obvious.....most do not even have faith the size of a mustard seed.................
 
Nov 24, 2019
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Virginia
www.youtube.com
There have been about 50 people on this site since I have been on here that have absolutely twisted the truth so far out of whack that it literally sickens and infuriates me at the same time...He is one of the 50 top embellishers and twisters of the word of God I have ever seen
The Kingdom of God sure is lucky to have you doing your part to guard the Truth, man of holiness. Wow, so lucky.
 
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EleventhHour

Guest
There have been about 50 people on this site since I have been on here that have absolutely twisted the truth so far out of whack that it literally sickens and infuriates me at the same time...He is one of the 50 top embellishers and twisters of the word of God I have ever seen
He is exactly those things for sure.
And so brazen at the same time!
 
Dec 12, 2013
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Amen

we have babes in christ

teens in christ

young men andnwomen in christ

and the mature older in christ.

yet allof them are in CHRIST

The problem is some who are seemingly grown fall back due to a situational problem or something as their faith wavers and they fall back

They may not be the person of faith they were. But they are still IN CHRIST
I have posted this a 100 times probably and it was written to believers and the apostle included himself with the use of we....

IF we become faithless, he abides faithful because he cannot deny himself!

I have seen fires before that have been rained on and by ALL accounts appear to be out......and yet within the soaked coals and ashes there remained a small, smouldering coal that was easily fanned into a flame......FAITH in a believer may appear to be absent, gone or extinguished but it remains because GOD gifted it, and he will FINISH and COMPLETE IT!
 
Dec 12, 2013
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You really have no idea what the book of Hebrews is about that much is evident.

In every post you essentially make God a liar.

And the fact that you never replied to my post demonstrates that you have no understanding of your cherry picked verses.
100% agree with your assessment...........
 
Dec 12, 2013
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This person is wrong ...no one believe it.

Sanctification is positional and justified is positional based on the full complete work of the victorious Jesus Christ.

If these positions could be lost it would mean Jesus was a failure...which is exactly what this person preaches.
He should change his name to NONlightbearer.............because what he peddles does not in any way, shape or form set forth LIGHT.......