Calvinism vs. Arminianism?

Salvation, saved, save, according to Greek is "a deliverance". Holding to the gospel can deliver you as you live here on earth, but believing the gospel is not the cause of your eternal salvation, if so, it would be eternal salvation because of man's actions and not by God's grace.

Let's go through the verse again, shall we?

Galatians 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ (why did we believe in Jesus Christ?), that we might be justified by the faith of Christ (we believed in Jesus Christ that we might be justified by Him and not by the works of the law. The works of the law has to do with our individual faith and our ability to live by them. Christ ended the law for righteousness), and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

Believing in Jesus Christ, clearly precedes our justification.

Brother,

Do the lost need salvation?



JLB

According to the words of Paul, believing must be present tense, for salvation to be present tense.


Otherwise if a person who no longer believes and returns to a life of sin, is still saved, even if they turn to Islam or Buddhism or any other religion.



JLB

According to the words of Paul, believing must be present tense, for salvation to be present tense.


Otherwise if a person who no longer believes and returns to a life of sin, is still saved, even if they turn to Islam or Buddhism or any other religion.



JLB

By the works of the law shall no man be justified. Anything that man is required to do to get eternal life is a work of the law. If it is required for man to believe in Jesus it would be a work.

Maybe in your mind, but not according to Scripture. Did you read Galatians 2:16? Even we have believed in Jesus Christ THAT we might be justified by the faith of Christ and not the works of the law.

Why believe in Jesus Christ? To be justified by His faith. Belief comes first. You twist Scripture to conform it to your theology.

You are privately interpreting God's word. Allow God's word to define itself. Belief in the gospel of Jesus Christ is not a work of the law, no matter how you spin it.

Jn. 6:29

Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.

Here is John 3:16 AMPC notice how strong the words believes in becomes.

John 3 AMPC Amplified Classic
16 For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life.

You are privately interpreting God's word. Allow God's word to define itself. Belief in the gospel of Jesus Christ is not a work of the law, no matter how you spin it.

If you hold to the fact that "your belief in the gospel" is the cause of your eternal salvation, then it is a work, a requirement for man to conform to in order to get eternal life. Eternal salvation is given by the grace of God, without the help of man.

Belief is not a work of the law. Why don't you understand this? No works of the law can save a man. Believing the gospel of Jesus Christ is not a work of the law.

Romans 10
1 Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.
2 For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.
3 For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness (through works of the law), have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God (through belief in the gospel of Jesus Christ).
4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.
5 For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them.

13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?
17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Belief is not a work of the law. Why don't you understand this? No works of the law can save a man. Believing the gospel of Jesus Christ is not a work of the law.

Romans 10
1 Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.
2 For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.
3 For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness (through works of the law), have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God (through belief in the gospel of Jesus Christ).
4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.
5 For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them.

13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?
17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

You are completely ignoring 1 Cor 2:14. The natural man, void of the Spirit, cannot discern spiritual things. He first has to have the Holy Spirit before he can understand spiritual things, The transformation of the natural man happens in this order: 1. regeneration 2. indwelling of the Holy Spirit 3. faith 4. hear and understand-believe 5. increase faith

Belief is not a work of the law. Why don't you understand this? No works of the law can save a man. Believing the gospel of Jesus Christ is not a work of the law.

Romans 10
1 Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.
2 For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.
3 For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness (through works of the law), have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God (through belief in the gospel of Jesus Christ).
4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.
5 For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them.

13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?
17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Cannot the Holy Spirit lead a natural man to understand his need of a Savior, and through hearing the gospel preached, lead that man to the saving knowledge of the Savior? Then it's up to the natural man to heed the calling or reject it?

What about Jesus' disciples? Did they understand spiritual things? They did not have the Holy Spirit within them? What about the OT saints?

They were newly regenerated children of God and were babes in Christ, in need of a greater faith in growing in the knowledge of God. The natural man cannot discern the spiritual gospel, even if he hears it, it is foolishness unto him. The natural does not think he needs to be saved from breaking a spiritual law that he cannot discern.

The disciples did not have the Holy Spirit. According to your theology, how could they understand any spiritual thing Jesus taught them?