Salvation by grace through faith and not of works is still, even now, confusing to you?
Can We Really Exercise Free Will?
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John Calvin did not have absolute sway over the Geneva council's decision to burn Michael Servetus, though he played a key role in Servetus's arrest and prosecution.
Philippians 1:1 Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons
Paul wrote to the saints in Christ Jesus ... these are born again believers.
The point is that the born again believer is to continue believing in Him Who has promised to lead even when we are faced with adversity.
I believe the verse states that God continues to work within the born again believer so that the believer is able to endure trials and temptations ... God continues to strengthen our faith so we are strong in faith and able to stand and withstand even as we wrestle against spiritual wickedness in high places ...
Philippians 1:29 For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake
The born again believer is to live from faith to faith (Rom 1:17). The new life the born again believer lives begins in faith ... continues in faith ... ends (in this life) in faith ... then ...
Revelation 21:1-7
1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.
6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.
7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.
... patiently waiting ...
.
What is given?Philippians 1:1 Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons
Paul wrote to the saints in Christ Jesus ... these are born again believers.
The point is that the born again believer is to continue believing in Him Who has promised to lead even when we are faced with adversity.
I believe the verse states that God continues to work within the born again believer so that the believer is able to endure trials and temptations ... God continues to strengthen our faith so we are strong in faith and able to stand and withstand even as we wrestle against spiritual wickedness in high places ...
Philippians 1:29 For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake
The born again believer is to live from faith to faith (Rom 1:17). The new life the born again believer lives begins in faith ... continues in faith ... ends (in this life) in faith ... then ...
Revelation 21:1-7
1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.
6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.
7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.
... patiently waiting ...
.
To whom?
You identified to whom.
What is given?
Where's your scriptural evidence?
Come to think of it, I don't recall seeing you quote scripture at any time. It's always your opinion you give.
Yeah and Obama wasn't President 2020 to 2024. (nudge, nudge, wink, wink, say no more)
So murdering those who disagree with you is ok as long as it's humane?
Just as well we are past those times then, hey!?
Honestly, one person says something about Calvin and you lump everyone into the same box?
You have a very serious problem with attitude Magenta. I recommend you take a long break from the forum and get it sorted before someone ends up reporting you. Your constant accusations are an affront to everyone here. You bring the name of Christ into shame.
Yeah and Obama wasn't President 2020 to 2024. (nudge, nudge, wink, wink, say no more)
Barack Obama's tenure as the 44th president of the United States began with
his first inauguration on January 20, 2009, and ended on January 20, 2017.
Peter indicates your testimony should explain the reasons for the hope you have that God saved you.
For example, for Paul the Damascus road miracle was key, but for Timothy it was being taught Scripture by his mother,
which is more like my testimony, which includes witnessing by Sunday School teachers and teaching by pastors.
Depending on how many squealers Kash and Pam can round up, perhaps we will see whether the conspiracy theories are true or not.
So far the tinfoil hat crowd is batting 1000, so keep your hopes up.....
again, Paul was speaking to born again believers ... so we're talking about folks who have already come to faith the Lord Jesus Christ.
In Phil 1:29, Paul speaks of those who suffer for Christ's sake and he tells the believers that God will supply all that is needed in order for the believer to stand and withstand in time of suffering. This is a great and precious promise to the believer.
I believe God strengthens faith within believers who suffer on behalf of the Lord Jesus Christ. God works within to make perfect, establish, strengthen, settle the believer who is going through times of trial or suffering (1 Peter 5:10).
Do you believe God has to "give" faith to those to who are already born again?
There's a record in Acts 5 when the apostles were imprisoned and beaten because they taught in the temple ... when they were released, they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name (Acts 5:41) and they were daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ (Acts 5:42).
You think the apostles relied on their own strength/capability? No, God sustained them ... God strengthened their faith ... God caused them to rejoice in the midst of adversity.
That truth is revealed in Philippians 1:29 For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake
.
Okay, the context begins with Titus 1:1-3, "Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ to further the faith of God's elect and their knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness--in the hope of eternal life, which God , who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time, and which now at his appointed season he has brought to light through the preaching entrusted to me by the command of God our Savior."
We might note that these words are akin to what Paul wrote in Ephesians 1:3-10, and the command occurred on the road to Damascus.
After giving instructions regarding elders, rebuking anti-Christians and teaching Christians including slaves, Paul said the following that is further context for the verses you cited, "The grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people" (Tit. 2:11). This statement is akin to John 3:16, 1Timothy 2:3-4 and 2 Peter 3:9.
Then after a brief instruction regarding subjection to rulers, Paul made the comment you cited (Tit. 3:4-7), "When the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by grace , we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life."
We might note that the phrase "God our Savior" is found also in 1 Tim. 3 and is echoed by the phrase "JC our Savior". God's grace is mentioned in Ephesians 2:8-10, but the most extensive context for the meaning of this term is Romans 3:21-5:11.
Would you like to lead our discussion at this point?
The atmosphere of being years under the tyrannical Catholic church, created a culture of thinking that still had them enmeshed.
Read through the Gospels and make note of how many asked Jesus what other work they needed to do to inherit eternal life.
The Pharisees had the people brainwashed into salvation by works.
It was terrible to see, and was the reason why Jesus showed such disdain for the Pharisees.
In John 6 a large crowd had been following Jesus because of all the miracles he had displayed to the people.
That crown was waiting for this fantastic Rabbi, named Jesus, to show them what new work they would need to perform
to gain eternal life. They were insanely 'works for salvation' crazy.
So, what did Jesus do?
He got rid of all the dead wood by giving them a work to do!
To "eat his flesh and to drink his blood."
They completely lost it because it was a spiritual work, and not a literal overt action.
And, what happened?
They all left and followed Him no more.
Wise Jesus got rid of all the dead wood.
And?
Jesus explained that if they wanted to inherit eternal life?
That they should turn to God, and the Holy Spirit would lead them, by drawing them, into what God would require of them.
And, that would be to enter into one work from God. Not works from religion.
That one work Jesus prescribed was to be what?
Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life,
which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed
his seal of approval.”
Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?”
Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.” John 6:27-29
To eat his flesh and to drink his blood meant?
To believe in Him! (one work - not works)
Eat His words to make Him one with yourself!
That is why the Holy Spirit must draw us to be saved.
Not to take the cheap substitute shortcut of doing silly works that was being prescribed by the religious!
grace and peace~