You just contradicted yourself.
However, you've taken both statements out of context, so your contradiction is irrelevant anyway.
Ephesians 2 is not preaching faith alone.
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However, you've taken both statements out of context, so your contradiction is irrelevant anyway.
You just contradicted yourself.
However, you've taken both statements out of context, so your contradiction is irrelevant anyway.
Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Grace = undeserved/unearned favor
All the faith in the world is worthless without God's grace. There is no salvation (belief in His Son) to access without God's grace
Rom 5:15 "the free gift" is not like the trespass… """"""the grace of God and the gift by grace"""""
Rom 3:24 being """justified freely by His grace""". Gifts are free
Acts 15:11 we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved
Titus 2:11 the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation
Summary: Grace is repeatedly, explicitly & directly called a gift.
If faith was the gift in Eph 2:8 (as the OP I replied to claimed) it would read: By faith are you saved thru faith
Here's one:
"Then the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. When they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so."
What I explained (that we are "saved" from different things via differing ways) is easily found in scripture BUT because you say "I already know the answer" you can't see it.
Let's just use one example you cited below: Hebrews 10:26
The passage is such:
"For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. 28 Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace?"
Certainly there are many warnings about partaking of sin once one is born again.
This section, however, is about how it is impossible to be born again after being born again.
It is impossible to renew such a person in the manner in which they were brought into salvation.
Now that they are a child of God they will face correction, punishment, or even excommunication with the intent to produce godly sorrow so that they might confess their sins and turn from their ways. The writer ends the passage with this:
“Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. And again, “The Lord will judge His people.” 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God."
So this is about correcting the wayward believer who is willfully sinning NOT about losing his place in Christ.
Furthermore, no man may crucify the Lord for themselves. It is impossible.
And no man may bring shame upon the Lord. That is also impossible.
The believer caught in sin cannot, AGAIN, be born of the Spirit. But because he is born of the Spirit and of the house of God, he will face the correction that God brings to him; first through the saints and lastly by His own hand. It is always best to heed the word of correction spoken by the elders than to have the Lord intervene directly.
Your version of the Body of Christ is a revolving door: in and out, in and out, depending upon the state of the believer. I was told by one who believed such things that he "always had a prayer in mind when riding my motorcycle in case I was going to wreck so that I could be forgiven of any sin before I died". How foolish!
And yet it is our works that God judges all men by, without respect of persons. God does not excuse nor justify evil works, by what people believe when doing evil. If our works are evil, or faith is evil. Evil deeds only come from an evil heart.
1Sa 24:13
As saith the proverb of the ancients, Wickedness proceedeth from the wicked:
If our faith toward God does evil, even as uncircumcision is made uncircumcision, so our faith is made unbelief:
Rom 2:25
For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision.
James{2:14}
What [doth it] profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?...Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
Even as circumcision has no profit by transgression, so faith also has no profit without works:
Absolutely. Paul is preaching burdensome heresy to the 'Faith Aloners'
Tit 3:14
And let ours also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful.
Exhorting good works to the 'Faith Alone' proselyte, is as offensive to their faith alone idolatry, as exhorting good works to devils.
Jas 2:18
Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
'Works' themselves become evil.
Sinners by grace are the ungodly hypocrites, not the righteous.
2 Peter 3:9
The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
God's willingness to save sinners that repent, is from sinning.
1Jo 3:8
He that is committing sin is of the devil; for the devil is sinning from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
Jhn 1:29
The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sinning of the world
Only the god of this world is willing to save sinners with their sinning.
Isa 45:20
They have no knowledge that set up the wood of their graven image, and pray unto a god that cannot save.
How is it, that the 'Faith Alone' proselytes condemn works with their saving faith, and yet are always ready to proclaim their faith with sinning?
How can faith be alone without works, when always with sinful works?
Are the faith aloners not committing sins, when saved by their faith alone without works? Have they ceased from sinning?
If, as all 'Faith Alone' proselytes openly claim, they are still sinning in life unto the grave, how then can their faith ever be alone to save them, with sinful works?
State it plaining: When you are saved by your faith alone without any works at all, are you not therefore saved without any sinful works at all?
Or, are only saved by your faith alone, without any good works? But sinful works continue unto...
Well put.
Jas 2:26
For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
The vehicle without gas, is the body with spirit, is faith without works: Dead in the way of life.
James{2:14}
What [doth it] profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?...Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
God is telling all those that believe in Him, that their faith in Him is dead without doing His works. If we are not doing good, our faith is no good:
Jas 4:17
Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.
James{2:14}
What [doth it] profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?...
Does faith have power to save the believer, if our faith has no power to do good? No.
Work is the power of faith, even as the spirit is the life of the body.
Jas 2:26
For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
Faith without works is a dead corpse, that is no profit to God or man, and is powerless to save any man. Or, raise any man from the dead.
God in James 2 is declaring to people who name His name, who hope for resurrection in His Son's likeness, that if our faith is without doing His works, then our faith in God cannot save us, and has no power nor hope for the resurrection unto life.
Some faith aloners declare their faith stands alone to save, apart from their works, as an idol standing all alone by herself to save.
Is God without works? Is Jesus Christ ever without works? Neither is His faith that saves.
Jhn 8:16
And yet if I judge, my judgment is true: for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me.
Jhn 8:29
And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.
God stands alone without any other god, but God never stands alone without doing His works.
Faith Alone standing Alone without doing works, is idolatry of of another god and christ, that would stand alone apart from his works:
Isa 45:20
They have no knowledge that set up the wood of their graven image, and pray unto a god that cannot save.
Putting aside all the idolization of 'Faith Alone' without works, with power to save. James 2 is a simple declaration to all believers, that having alone without doing good is dead to God, man, and oneself. James 2 reassures all people, that Christian faith in Jesus Christ is not the hypocrisy of inward religion alone...
'Faith Alone' inward religion apart from works, is New Age deism of oneself.
2Pe 1:3
According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue. Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
Faith Aloners, like New Agers, have not been delivered from the lust of the world in works, but do believe they are divine by grace, through their own faith alone.
Is God without works? Is Jesus Christ ever without works? Neither is His faith that saves.
Jhn 8:16
And yet if I judge, my judgment is true: for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me.
Jhn 8:29
And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.
God stands alone without any other god, but God never stands alone without doing His works.
Faith Alone standing Alone without doing works, is idolatry of of another god and christ, that would stand alone apart from his works:
Isa 45:20
They have no knowledge that set up the wood of their graven image, and pray unto a god that cannot save.
Putting aside all the idolization of 'Faith Alone' without works, with power to save. James 2 is a simple declaration to all believers, that having alone without doing good is dead to God, man, and oneself. James 2 reassures all people, that Christian faith in Jesus Christ is not the hypocrisy of inward religion alone...
'Faith Alone' inward religion apart from works, is New Age deism of oneself.
2Pe 1:3
According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue. Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
Faith Aloners, like New Agers, have not been delivered from the lust of the world in works, but do believe they are divine by grace, through their own faith alone.
If faith is only able to save without works, then 'Faith Alone' is powerless to save with works.
Especially not with works of unrighteousness. (Which is the devil in the details, that is covered over by many words of grace and faith alone.)
Faith without works is without power to save any man, especially not the unrighteous with works of sin.
1 Cor 6:9
Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God?
Gal 5:19
Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness...drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which are doing such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
Especially not with works of unrighteousness. (Which is the devil in the details, that is covered over by many words of grace and faith alone.)
Faith without works is without power to save any man, especially not the unrighteous with works of sin.
1 Cor 6:9
Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God?
Gal 5:19
Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness...drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which are doing such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
How can unnatural flesh and pure blood 'deal' with natural flesh and blood? Much less the temptations of sins with natural men and women on earth?
The Christian idea of Jesus coming in the flesh with 'sinless blood', and 'immortal flesh', is Christian mythological version of old pagan hero worship and deification.
Acts 17:24
God that made the world and all things therein, And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth…
Jesus came in the same one natural flesh and blood of all men and women on earth, beginning with Adam shaped from the natural dust of the earth:
2Ti 2:8
Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel:
Romans{1:3}
Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh;
Heb 2:17
Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.
Jesus Christ is come in the flesh of man and woman, not of an unnatural supernatural man and hero. Jesus Christ's body was made by the Holy Ghost from the natural seed of David and Abraham, being made in all things like His brethren on earth:
Heb 10:5
Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me:
Gal 3:16
Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.
Christ the Word is that promised seed, the Spirit of promise by faith, who was with God in the beginning. His body was of made of natural seed of man.
Heb 2:17
Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.
If any Christ comes with the incorruptible flesh and 'pure' blood of super heroes on earth, then that Christ certainly is not any example, nor succouring savior to men and women with natural flesh and blood.
No such superman christ of flesh and blood, can be tempted with the natural hardships and travails and tribulations of this life.
Mark 13:22
For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect.
Here we see a fabulous example of 'Faith Alone' ideology: A Christ super hero made of immortal flesh and blood, unlike the natural flesh of man and woman. Mythological Christianity made up by some Christians' own faith alone.
Amen. And thus "therefore" in Heb 10:19 is there for, in cases that anyone should lose their "confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus...," and the exhortation in Heb 10:35 reiterates, "So do not throw away your confidence; it holds a great reward."
Jesus Christ came in the same natural flesh, and one blood of all men and women on earth.
And, How can His blood shed on the cross possibly now be sprinkled on any person on earth today? For without the sprinkling of His blood today, there can be no sanctification by the Spirit.
1Pe 1:2
Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.
And so, we see it's not the natural blood of Jesus once shed on the cross, that sanctifies the soul, but only the blood of the eternal Spirit that raised Him from the dead:
Heb 9:12
For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
The natural blood of bulls and goats and men, can only be shed and sprinkled on the natural body, and therefore cannot be sprinkled upon the inner man of the heart.
It's only the Spirit's blood of the risen Lamb of God, that can now be sprinkled on the soul to wash away sins, and purge the conscience.
Rev 1:5
And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
We see it can only be the blood of His resurrection from the dead, not the blood of His crucifixion unto death, that washes us from sins.
Jesus' natural blood shed on a cross into the earth, was the same as righteous Abel's, that still cries out for all men to repent:
Gen 4:10
And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground.
Heb 12:24
And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.
Scripture does not say from the old natural blood of sprinkling, but only unto the new eternal blood of sprinkling, that justifies the ungodly, rather than condemns the guilty.
1Pe 1:2
Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.
Only by the sprinkling of the blood now through the Spirit, does the resurrection of Jesus Christ sanctify the inner man and purify the conscience.
1Pe 1:18
Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
No man was redeemed, nor sanctified, nor purged from dead works, by the shed natural blood of Jesus on the cross. Only by His resurrection from the dead with the incorruptible blood of the Spirit, is anyone forgiven, redeemed, and justified by faith in His precious blood:
Rom 3:25
Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
No one had any faith in Jesus Christ being the Son of God at the cross, nor any faith in His natural blood shed unto His death. Only faith in the blood of His resurrected body, can anyone be forgiven of sins.
All the Scriptures of the New Testament, that speak of the atoning blood of Jesus Christ being sprinkled on men that repent, is only after the cross with His resurrection, not from the cross with His death.
Heb 9:25
Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others; For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.
Since the precious blood of the Lamb must be sprinkled on them that believe, to wash away sins, then if it's His blood once shed on the cross, then Jesus must die often to sprinkle upon the unclean...But now has He died once shedding His natural blood, and has risen again once to sprinkle His incorruptible blood of the Spirit upon any and all men that repent.
Heb{9:27}
And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
All natural blood has an end with the death of the body. But the Spirit's blood has no end with the resurrection of Jesus' flesh and bones from the grave...
Here's how:
The Word became flesh (Jn 1:1,14 & Rev 19:13), born of a woman (Gal 4:4) by the Holy Spirit (Matt 1:18–25 & Lk 1:26–38) His humanity was real & His blood was sinless (2 Cor 5:21, Heb 4:15, 1 Jn 3:5 1 Pet 1:19, 1 Pet 2:22)
Scripture is clear: “Without shedding of blood there is no remission” (Heb 9:22).
Jesus said, "This is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins" (Matt 26:28).
Revelation affirms the same: He washed us from our sins in His own blood (Rev 1:5)
Hebrews identifies Him as our great High Priest (Heb 4:14), called by God after the order of Melchizedek (Heb 5:10).
Under the Old Covenant, the pattern was sin imputation by the high priest. In Leviticus 16:21, Aaron laid both hands on the substitute, confessed the sins of the nation & transferred (imputed) those sins onto the innocent victim. That was the foreshadow.
Jesus is the fulfillment.
He is the mediator of the New Testament (Heb 9:15, 12:24), our great High Priest (Heb 4:14) & the One who offered Himself as the sacrifice (Matt 26:53). The risen Christ is the New Covenant High Priest who performs the real sin‑transfer.
When we call on the name of the Lord (Acts 2:21, Rom 10:13) & place our faith in His sacrificial, sin‑atoning death & resurrection: He forgives all our sins (Heb 10:10–18), He imputes our sins onto Himself (Heb 10:10, 2 Cor 5:19, Rom 4:8, 11, 22–24) & He imputes His righteousness to us (2 Cor 5:21, Ja 2:23) This is the New Covenant reality the Old Covenant only pictured.
Jesus Himself said: "My blood is shed for the remission of sins." Revelation echoes it: He loved us & washed us from our sins in His own blood (Rev 1:5).
The only thing that removes sin from the soul is faith placed in the finished, sacrificial, sin‑atoning work of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen
Woweeee. Such a fierce curse upon me. Should I recant?
If you can't honestly answer these natural common sense questions, then your despicable false accusations only show hatred of correction. And proves once again that the "Faith Alone' Christians are the most intolerant of dissent
Act 7:54
When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth.
And proves once again that the "Faith Alone' Christians are the most blindly intolerant of dissent.
2Ti 3:2
For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, false accusers, fierce, despisers of those that are good, having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
While talking about a Christ come in the flesh with 'pure' blood, really sounds godly, it rejects the Bible's Jesus Christ come in the flesh of men, by the seed of David, and in all things like unto His brethren after the flesh:
2Jo 1:7
For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.
haven't you read?
there is no reason to be afraid. fear is not of faith: fear is of unbelief.
do your best, and respect Him Who did everything necessary to save you.
Romans 8:1
There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.