The offer of Salvation is universal, but the application is only : "by Faith".

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joecoten said:
I was once nagged into going to church. I agreed, on condition that the guy stopped bugging me. Why would anyone want to go to church?
I sat through my first church service. Afterwards, a guy in a pin-striped suit and white shoes read John 3:16 to me. In front of my eyes, I saw a little video of a hand-held sword thrust through a set of curtains and plunge into my belly. I instantly knew it was true.
Before that instant, I'd never heard of the gospel and I was not looking for God. I'm glad this happened, otherwise I might think the way to heaven was through arguing!
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That's the impression some afford when they enter communities like this.

Some I'm sure you know aren't Christian at all. The game they play is pretending to be one. And then they espouse all sorts of lies, "false doctrine" , as absolutely true.

The really obvious ones I've found are those who resort to personal attacks after they tire of pretending to defend 'true' scripture.
Dead give away.
 
If only I loved like Jesus loves. Forgiving and being forgiven are such essential aspects of our walk.
Lord, help us to love like You do.
 
joecoten said:
I was once nagged into going to church. I agreed, on condition that the guy stopped bugging me.
Why would anyone want to go to church? I sat through my first church service. Afterwards, a guy in
a pin-striped suit and white shoes read John 3:16 to me. In front of my eyes, I saw a little video of a
hand-held sword thrust through a set of curtains and plunge into my belly. I instantly knew it was true.
Before that instant, I'd never heard of the gospel and I was not looking for God. I'm glad this happened,
otherwise I might think the way to heaven was through arguing!
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Luke2-14s.png

Luke2-14
:)
 
Dino246 said:
And? What does that add to your argument?
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It adds to the fact that I am not adding to the scriptures, nor am I taking away from the scriptures, just because I consult a concordance and you do not consult one. You will admit that the word "salvation" means "a deliverance" won't you?
 
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Magenta said:
Apparently you cannot read :oops:

Not only ours... but ALSO for the sins of THE WHOLE WORLD.
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The un-regenerant cannot believe in the things of the Spirit, and thinks them to be foolishness (1 Cor 2:14). The regenerated person was given the indwelling of the Holy Spirit when God quickened him to a new spiritual life.(Eph 2:1-5) Spiritual faith is a fruit of the Holy Spirit (Gal 5:22). The un-regenerant person only has faith in mankind and his accomplishments. The regenerated person has spiritual faith that allows them to believe in spiritual things.
 
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ForestGreenCook said:
The un-regenerant cannot believe in the things of the Spirit, and thinks them to be foolishness (1 Cor 2:14). The regenerated person was given the indwelling of the Holy Spirit when God quickened him to a new spiritual life.(Eph 2:1-5) Spiritual faith is a fruit of the Holy Spirit (Gal 5:22). The un-regenerant person only has faith in mankind and his accomplishments. The regenerated person has spiritual faith that allows them to believe in spiritual things.
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God sent Jesus to die for your sins whether you believe it or not.

PS~ The word is "unregenerate." Are you French speaking?
 
ForestGreenCook said:
It adds to the fact that I am not adding to the scriptures, nor am I taking away from the scriptures, just because I consult a concordance and you do not consult one. You will admit that the word "salvation" means "a deliverance" won't you?
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Yes, there is some semantic overlap.
 
I am so sick and tired of the arguing that goes on here. I'm trying to get them to close my file...again.
 
HeIsHere said:
I agree, perhaps a bit more nuanced

This "work" is not meritorious it is conditional, in that it is the condition that must be met in order to receive the free gift of salvation.

The analogy that was once explained to me is that this "work" is analogous to signing a contract that offers an inheritance. The inheritance/goods was not earned your "works" but there was an act that was a condition to receive the inheritance such as signing the documents with the lawyer.

I also agree, sometimes coming to a place where we believe may take work, did not the Bereans search the scriptures to see if those things were so, was that not a labor they undertook?

I might also add that some people are persuaded of the truth of Gospel in that moment when they first heard, others may struggle and labor over a long period of time.

It is really important to not make our experience "one size fits all" which becomes more of a "Calvinist" view of saving faith being a gift which it is not.
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Thank you for explaining it a bit better than I did. Some energy, work if you will, is expended in every effort. Refreshing to actually bump into someone here who understands that.
 
Runningman said:
Just quote verses proving it. It’s more effective to actually cite reasons. I can’t experience your personal convictions and I certainly won’t necessarily agree with them. However, I will agree with the Bible.
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No, you won't. Or you wouldn't strive against it as often as made possible by those who try to ''reach'' you.
 
HeIsHere said:
I agree, perhaps a bit more nuanced

This "work" is not meritorious it is conditional, in that it is the condition that must be met in order to receive the free gift of salvation.

The analogy that was once explained to me is that this "work" is analogous to signing a contract that offers an inheritance. The inheritance/goods was not earned your "works" but there was an act that was a condition to receive the inheritance such as signing the documents with the lawyer.

I also agree, sometimes coming to a place where we believe may take work, did not the Bereans search the scriptures to see if those things were so, was that not a labor they undertook?

I might also add that some people are persuaded of the truth of Gospel in that moment when they first heard, others may struggle and labor over a long period of time.

It is really important to not make our experience "one size fits all" which becomes more of a "Calvinist" view of saving faith being a gift which it is not.
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You pay people back for the gifts they give you?

You wholly misrepresent the truth of the 2nd Ephesians message.

https://biblehub.com/bsb/ephesians/2.htm

''8For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9not by works, so that no one can boast. ''
 
Runningman said:
Luke 13:24
24“Strive to enter through the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able.
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Yes, good verse, along with several other places where Jesus is very clear that our spiritual salvation is conditional upon personal belief, this is the singular non meritorious "work" that is required.

I think people read "work" and they cannot see that it is not the "works of the law" but Jesus is telling us this work is belief.
God saves us, as a gift, because we met His gracious condition, faith. It is not the faith that saves us, just like works do not save us, but faith is the condition that God requires to save us.

I cannot see preaching the gospel without presenting this very clear condition of believing in/upon Jesus and His works as a debt payment for our sin.
 
Bluesproverb said:
No, you won't. Or you wouldn't strive against it as often as made possible by those who try to ''reach'' you.
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You’re trying to reach me by telling me I am striving against the Bible, but you close your comment with a standing accusation, rather than a solution, as is often the case here.

That isn’t an effective way to reach people. If you want to help people then you need to give them love and grace. Be perfect as your Father in heaven in perfect.

I’ll wait for that verse saying faith is not a work.
 
HeIsHere said:
Yes, good verse, along with several other places where Jesus is very clear that our spiritual salvation is conditional upon personal belief, this is the singular non meritorious "work" that is required.

I think people read "work" and they cannot see that it is not the "works of the law" but Jesus is telling us this work is belief.
God saves us, as a gift, because we met His gracious condition, faith. It is not the faith that saves us, just like works do not save us, but faith is the condition that God requires to save us.

I cannot see preaching the gospel without presenting this very clear condition of believing in/upon Jesus and His works as a debt payment for our sin.
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Wow very insightful comment. I really agree with this. God does the saving, it isn’t that my work or my faith saved me, but rather we met God’s conditions for Him to save us.

God does all the work of saving people and gets all the glory for that, but it is us who must strive to enter through the narrow door.

That narrow door is faith in God’s Son Jesus.
 
HeIsHere said:
Yes, good verse, along with several other places where Jesus is very clear that our spiritual salvation is conditional upon personal belief, this is the singular non meritorious "work" that is required.

I think people read "work" and they cannot see that it is not the "works of the law" but Jesus is telling us this work is belief.
God saves us, as a gift, because we met His gracious condition, faith. It is not the faith that saves us, just like works do not save us, but faith is the condition that God requires to save us.

I cannot see preaching the gospel without presenting this very clear condition of believing in/upon Jesus and His works as a debt payment for our sin.
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“the law was our guardian until Christ came that we might be justified by faith.” Galatians 3:24


People sacrificed and worked for forgiveness of their sins prior to Christ paying that debt under the law on the cross.

We are saved by God's free gift of faith and salvation.
Runningman said:
You’re trying to reach me by telling me I am striving against the Bible, but you close your comment with a standing accusation, rather than a solution, as is often the case here.

That isn’t an effective way to reach people. If you want to help people then you need to give them love and grace. Be perfect as your Father in heaven in perfect.

I’ll wait for that verse saying faith is not a work.
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It is an act of God's grace to address you as I did.

No matter what Proofs people provide and in proper context, scriptural proof faith is not a work, you insist those are wrong.

Ephesians 2 has been posted repeatedly. You ignore it repeatedly.
''For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.''

Your doctrine of the boast, work for faith, faith is a work, is found to be entirely false due to Ephesians 2 alone.

And that's it.

Good works,deeds, relate to saving faith because they are proof we are saved. And now hear God's leading us to serve his kingdom on earth.

Faith isn't a work. That's a fact.
 
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