"Not by works" - false!
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I don't know why God does what He does. I only know He is all wise, all powerful and therefore whatever He does is the best way.
But, I do know He gives varying amounts of faith. If I show this then, although I can't answer your question, I can show that your implication that God does not give us FAITH is disproved.
Romans 12:3 as God has apportioned to each a degree of faith (there you see that God apportions faith)
Romans 12:6 Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to use them accordingly: if [someone has the gift of] prophecy, [let him speak a new message from God to His people] in proportion to the faith possessed;
So, this shows God does give FAITH to people in different proportions. To most people He gives NONE.
Aside: I am using my definition and the dictionary's definition of FAITH (complete trust or confidence in someone or something. )
My turn.
Question1: .... Faith cometh by hearing the gospel. Not all hear the gospel. Those that don't hear the gospel are not saved. Why does God not give prevenient grace (what you call faith ... the ability of man to decide to believe or not) to everyone? I think you refer to this as being 'fair' and in order to be just.
Question2: God is all wise. Why would the all wise God allow individuals to determine whether they are saved or not saved. Specifically my question is: how can the MOST WISE GOD have the wisest outcome if His plan is dependent on evil people to determine events? Is it more important that Man's Will Be Done and God's Will Be Done in salvation?
Question3: Joseph Stalin killed an estimated 20 million people. Using your understanding of salvation ... there must have been some of that number that would have accepted Christ salvifically had they had lived ,,, and, of that number, using your understanding of salvation, some would have lost their faith. Therefore, using your understanding of salvation, Joseph Stalin decided to a limited extent who would and who would not be saved. (Not God and not the individual). How do you explain why God allows a 3rd party to determine who is saved or not? (Admittedly, to a limited extent)
Question4: I assume you believe God knows everything. How can God know who will believe Him salvifically when there was NOTHING. Philosophers have shown that from nothing, nothing comes (aside: thus the BIG BANG theory is bull-duty). Assuming you maintain the God looks into the future (which is not possible unless He plans the future and His knowledge comes from His plan) I ask you to explain why the following statement is in err:
The knowledge of God cannot arise from the things themselves, for then the knowledge of God would have a cause without him; and knowledge, which is an eminent perfection, would be conferred upon him by his creatures. Note: There is the Law of Cause and Effect that states every Effect has a Cause. This state is correct by definition. Basically, the statement says God is eternal and the CAUSE OF ALL THINGS. Your view would have man, who is not eternal, cause God to have knowledge. You would have God knowledge of whom is saved to be an EFFECT and the non-existent man (in other words NOTHING) to be the CAUSE. Explain this.
But, I do know He gives varying amounts of faith. If I show this then, although I can't answer your question, I can show that your implication that God does not give us FAITH is disproved.
Romans 12:3 as God has apportioned to each a degree of faith (there you see that God apportions faith)
Romans 12:6 Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to use them accordingly: if [someone has the gift of] prophecy, [let him speak a new message from God to His people] in proportion to the faith possessed;
So, this shows God does give FAITH to people in different proportions. To most people He gives NONE.
Aside: I am using my definition and the dictionary's definition of FAITH (complete trust or confidence in someone or something. )
My turn.
Question1: .... Faith cometh by hearing the gospel. Not all hear the gospel. Those that don't hear the gospel are not saved. Why does God not give prevenient grace (what you call faith ... the ability of man to decide to believe or not) to everyone? I think you refer to this as being 'fair' and in order to be just.
Question2: God is all wise. Why would the all wise God allow individuals to determine whether they are saved or not saved. Specifically my question is: how can the MOST WISE GOD have the wisest outcome if His plan is dependent on evil people to determine events? Is it more important that Man's Will Be Done and God's Will Be Done in salvation?
Question3: Joseph Stalin killed an estimated 20 million people. Using your understanding of salvation ... there must have been some of that number that would have accepted Christ salvifically had they had lived ,,, and, of that number, using your understanding of salvation, some would have lost their faith. Therefore, using your understanding of salvation, Joseph Stalin decided to a limited extent who would and who would not be saved. (Not God and not the individual). How do you explain why God allows a 3rd party to determine who is saved or not? (Admittedly, to a limited extent)
Question4: I assume you believe God knows everything. How can God know who will believe Him salvifically when there was NOTHING. Philosophers have shown that from nothing, nothing comes (aside: thus the BIG BANG theory is bull-duty). Assuming you maintain the God looks into the future (which is not possible unless He plans the future and His knowledge comes from His plan) I ask you to explain why the following statement is in err:
The knowledge of God cannot arise from the things themselves, for then the knowledge of God would have a cause without him; and knowledge, which is an eminent perfection, would be conferred upon him by his creatures. Note: There is the Law of Cause and Effect that states every Effect has a Cause. This state is correct by definition. Basically, the statement says God is eternal and the CAUSE OF ALL THINGS. Your view would have man, who is not eternal, cause God to have knowledge. You would have God knowledge of whom is saved to be an EFFECT and the non-existent man (in other words NOTHING) to be the CAUSE. Explain this.
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Yes, the work of his three day labor of love or work of faith (plan and execution) Between Jesus and the unseen father.
In that way we can relate with the Son of man .One is our Father in heaven
It is that power of the gospel which works in us. Just as in the Son of man Jesus . The treasure in a earthen body of death .with a promise of a new body that will house the new born again spirit.
The word faith must be understood properly. Don't leave earth without it ( faith), as it is written
2 Corinthians 4:7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.
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Remember: Saving faith is RETAINED faith. Those who have retained the evidence of things not seen (believing it) are saved.[/QUOTE]
Hi Judges.
Those who have received the Holy Spirit into their Heart....
This is my belief...the Holy Spirit has taken up residence in my spirit......how do I have to retain my Lord.
It is the Lord who keeps me.....once you are born again you start walking in the Spirit he guides you.
Another thing the Lord does is take you out of your comfort zone....he’s done that to me many times....he humbles us...I have been full of pride and my ego often gets in the way....as soon as that happens I’m on my own...walking by my self.......I want to draw closer to God and be taught by Him....not teach myself..that leads to nothing.
Hi Judges.
Those who have received the Holy Spirit into their Heart....
This is my belief...the Holy Spirit has taken up residence in my spirit......how do I have to retain my Lord.
It is the Lord who keeps me.....once you are born again you start walking in the Spirit he guides you.
Another thing the Lord does is take you out of your comfort zone....he’s done that to me many times....he humbles us...I have been full of pride and my ego often gets in the way....as soon as that happens I’m on my own...walking by my self.......I want to draw closer to God and be taught by Him....not teach myself..that leads to nothing.
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I was thinking the same thing. Do we have a prophet on our hands? 
So the "great revealing" will not be a surprise for us and a few others.
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You retain the Lord through your continued believing.
You access the ministry of Christ through your ongoing believing.
"1 ...we a have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace..." - Romans 5:1-2
God's power comes to you through your faith. Stop believing and you lose access to the ongoing ministry of Christ on your behalf.
"4 This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, 5 who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time." - 1 Peter 1:4-5
The Galatians were abandoning justification through faith in Christ and going back to the law for justification and this is what Paul said to them:
"2 Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all.
4 You who are trying to be justified by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace." - Galatians 5:2,4
There was no 'you get to keep your justification in Christ even if you stop believing in justification through Christ'; you lose it.
Yes, he does keep you.
As long as you stay at home and don't move out.
You access the ministry of Christ through your ongoing believing.
"1 ...we a have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace..." - Romans 5:1-2
God's power comes to you through your faith. Stop believing and you lose access to the ongoing ministry of Christ on your behalf.
"4 This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, 5 who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time." - 1 Peter 1:4-5
The Galatians were abandoning justification through faith in Christ and going back to the law for justification and this is what Paul said to them:
"2 Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all.
4 You who are trying to be justified by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace." - Galatians 5:2,4
There was no 'you get to keep your justification in Christ even if you stop believing in justification through Christ'; you lose it.
Yes, he does keep you.
As long as you stay at home and don't move out.
No, I've been saying all along that God gives us faith.
The evidence of things unseen (faith) is given to us by God.
That does not come from us.
We respond to the evidence God has given to us with our believing/trusting.
Yes, God does give us faith. That is not the point in contention.
What he does not give us is the believing/trusting that we do in response to the confidence of faith God gives. That comes from you.
I think the Romans 12 passage above illustrates my point very well. In the case of gifts, you are to serve in your gift according to the level of confidence (faith) God has given you to operate in your gift. You're free to respond accordingly. The confidence to operate in a gift comes from God. Your response is to be commensurate with the level of faith God has given you to operate in your gift. You're in control of your response to God's gift of faith. That comes from you. Paul says to respond accordingly.
The evidence of things unseen (faith) is given to us by God.
That does not come from us.
We respond to the evidence God has given to us with our believing/trusting.
Yes, God does give us faith. That is not the point in contention.
What he does not give us is the believing/trusting that we do in response to the confidence of faith God gives. That comes from you.
I think the Romans 12 passage above illustrates my point very well. In the case of gifts, you are to serve in your gift according to the level of confidence (faith) God has given you to operate in your gift. You're free to respond accordingly. The confidence to operate in a gift comes from God. Your response is to be commensurate with the level of faith God has given you to operate in your gift. You're in control of your response to God's gift of faith. That comes from you. Paul says to respond accordingly.
Again I disagree....it is the Lord who leads us into good works after we are saved...it comes automatically in a believer,because of Jesus filling us with His Holy Spirit and dieing for us.
I can assure I have had weeks where I have done no good works......because of one thing or another...I am still saved....I will never lose my salvation.
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That just goes to show the Blackfoot theology
He uses “continue in faith” as a requirement. Which in itself is works. Then adds works of obedience as the end determining fact
If we are working we have faith and at that time are saved
If we are not working and in sin we are faithless and at that time are lost
He uses “continue in faith” as a requirement. Which in itself is works. Then adds works of obedience as the end determining fact
If we are working we have faith and at that time are saved
If we are not working and in sin we are faithless and at that time are lost
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I wish it were true that good works just automatically happen, but it's just not that way. At least not all of the time.
Sometimes every fiber of your being is telling you to do something wrong and you have to purposely not do it. There is nothing automatic about it.
The Bible talks about US putting the flesh to death. It's a choice. But a choice that we are now free to make as we avail ourselves of the power of God's love to overcome temptation. And that's often way easier to say than do.
Sometimes every fiber of your being is telling you to do something wrong and you have to purposely not do it. There is nothing automatic about it.
The Bible talks about US putting the flesh to death. It's a choice. But a choice that we are now free to make as we avail ourselves of the power of God's love to overcome temptation. And that's often way easier to say than do.