FreeGrace2 said:
Then support your claims here with actual Scripture. I don't believe your claims
. I DO believe what the Bible SAYS.
I do what the Bereans did with Paul's preaching. So if you want to convince me of your claims, provide verses that plainly say what you say.
If you can't do that, then there is no reason to believe what you say.
First you quote John 6:28 to support believing is a work required by God. Then you say "it's not a work for us". Quite the flip-flop.
Prove that faith is a gift from God. And prove that "ALL the other requirements for salvation" are gifts from God.
If what you claim is biblically true, then there WILL be verses that actually say what you say.
We'll see about that.
Oh, I see. You don't believe what scripture says.
Are you blind or are you eyes simply closed tightly? Go look at the top line in my quote above. And you come back with this nonsense?
You believe what you WISH scripture said.
You are a hoot. A blind one, though.
I asked:
Prove that faith is a gift from God. And prove that "ALL the other requirements for salvation" are gifts from God.
If what you claim is biblically true, then there WILL be verses that actually say what you say.
We'll see about that.
Ephesians 2:8-9
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
In the Greek, words that go together have the SAME gender. In v.8, both "saved" and "gift" are in the feminine, while the word "faith" is masculine. So you are wrong about faith being a gift. No Greek would agree with your belief.
John 15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
No mention of faith or gift at all. So you are wrong again. This verse and context is about the FACT that no believer can produce fruit apart from being IN fellowship with the Lord. That's what "abiding in Him" refers to.
Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
No mention of gift here either. In fact, a believer MUST be IN fellowship with the Lord and filled with the Spirit in order to produce this fruit.
Doesn't happen when the believer grieves (Eph 4:30) or quenches (1 Thess 5:19) the Spirit. Are you following any of this?
Ezekiel 36:24-27
24 For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land.
25 Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.
26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.
27 And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.
This passage describes being born again. Nothing about faith being a gift.
John 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
Classic avoidance of the very next verse. Which explains WHO will come to Jesus.
v.45 It is written in the Prophets: ‘They will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard the Father and learned from him comes to me.
So, from v.44, who will come to Jesus? Those who have listened and learned from the Father.
Nothing about a gift, nothing about election either.
It takes closed eyes and hands over ears to CONTINUE to say all requirements for Salvation AREN'T provided by God.
How many do you think there are, anyway?
1 Cor 1:21 - For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.
How many requirements for salvation can you count in this verse?
Acts 16:31 - They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.”
How many requirements for salvation can you count in this verse?
I could go on for over 2 dozen verses.
John 6:29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.
Do you understand "tongue-in-cheek" at all? Jesus was using their own words against them.
This is what they asked in the previous verse: Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?”
They wanted to know what God REQUIRED them to DO for eternal life.
You need to read this verse over a few times. NOT the way you WISH it was written but the way the Lord ACTUALLY said it. Then read John 15:5 directly afterward.
Sorry, but they are not related. John 6:28,29 is about how to be saved, and was given to unbelievers. John 15:5 is about how believers will produce fruit, and was given to believers.
Can you work the works of God without the Lord Jesus Christ?
I never said that. If you think that's what I said, you have proved that your reading skills are very poor. Go back to my post and read it carefully and you will see I NEVER said what you are claiming.
The whole chapter of Ephesians 1 would be a good one for you to meditate on as well as these others in this post. Ultimately, I can't PROVE the Truth to you. The Truth is revealed to you by the Lord Jesus Christ.
You don't have the truth yet. But I keep trying to help you.
Faith is NOT a gift. Salvation is the gift.