Not By Works

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.

Genez

Junior Member
Oct 12, 2017
3,460
541
113
I think all of us should be OK with answering "I don't know". Or at least qualify our remarks with saying we are speculating.

Speculation is necessary here with your question because Scripture is silent on his spiritual status. He knew the Lord BEFORE he sinned, in his perfectly made body and being.

He is going to be cast into the LOF. ALL of him. So I don't know if he became spiritually dead after his rebellion. Seems likely to me though.

WE, are descended from Adam. Adam also knew the Lord in ways we can only imagine. Physically walking with Him, in an untainted body and Spirit. Adam had a choice. He had the power to say no to ALL sin. Every Time. We do not in the sense that we are his descendants AFTER he fell.

Genesis 5:3
New King James Version

3 And Adam lived one hundred and thirty years, and begot a son in his own likeness, after his image, and named him Seth.


Seth, like every human being born after Adam's fall, was spiritually dead. That is why Jesus had to be sent. To offer us all New Spiritual Life.
Why should God give Adam and Eve such a choice?
But, with us?
Force us into regeneration without us having some say in the results?

Calvinism's TULIP is a concept looking for a street fight with believers.
 

Genez

Junior Member
Oct 12, 2017
3,460
541
113
Not really, since it has been ordained by God from the foundation of the world.
Catholics also think in the same kind of manner.....
Faithfully repeating what their inculcation demands of them.
 

crossnote

Senior Member
Nov 24, 2012
30,770
3,679
113
I am speaking of their present state.

Its now called the "Dark Ages" because of what became of the Catholic church.
ok, that was confusing because they may 'now' think in 'Calvinistic' terms, but back in the times of the Council of Trent and the Reformation, it was anything but
 

know1

Senior Member
Aug 27, 2012
3,100
180
63
Spiritual death is finding oneself born without a human spirit.
Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit,
he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that
which is born of the Spirit is spirit. John 3:5-6​

The be born the first time?
Your mother had to break water. (born of water = physical birth)

To be born the second time?
The Holy Spirit begets your human spirit.

That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that
which is born of the Spirit is spirit.


The spiritually dead is someone yet lacking a human spirit. No regeneration yet.

We need a human spirit to be made alive to God by means of his Holy Spirit.

The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God." Romans 8:16​
Until we are born again we are spiritually dead.
Even as one is not given a human body to be born of the flesh, neither are we given a human spirit to be born of the spirit.
Before anyone is born of the flesh, they already have a physical body. And in like manner, every person or human who is born of the Spirit, already has a human spirit.
The very reason you were born with a human body and not that of a chimpanzee, is because you were not only born with a human soul, but a human spirit, and a human heart.
Even as God is, three in one, so are we made in the image of God and after his likeness, three in one.
The soul of God is the Father, the heart of God is Jesus, and the Spirit of God is the Holy Ghost / Spirit.
AS GOD IS, SO ARE WE!!!
God does not give us a human spirit when we are born again, just like he did not give us a human body to be born of the flesh.
We already had a flesh body before we were born just like animals, birds, reptiles, fish, and everything else born into this world.
And the only reason why we had to be born again spiritually is because we were already born righteous spiritually once. Hence, the words, born "AGAIN"!!!
YOU CANNOT BE BORN AGAIN WITHOUT FIRST HAVING BEEN BORN ONCE BEFORE.
Romans 7:9 says, "for I was ALIVE without the law ONCE,(that would be, spiritually alive, when Paul was a child) but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I DIED. (SPIRITUALLY)"
So the child of God is born again not because he has received a human spirit from God, but because God gave of himself by putting His Spirit in US through his word. We are born again BY the word of God itself. If we do not retain or keep the word of God in our heart, we do not keep God in us, thereby causing us to lose our salvation. 1st John 2:14 and 1 Peter 1:23.
 

Genez

Junior Member
Oct 12, 2017
3,460
541
113
Even as one is not given a human body to be born of the flesh, neither are we given a human spirit to be born of the spirit.
Before anyone is born of the flesh, they already have a physical body. .
You said?
Before anyone is born of the flesh, they already have a physical body???
It says.... begotten. Not born. Begotten is the process of conception.

Before God imputes a soul to a body that body has no life.
Before God imparts and imputes a human spirit, that soul had no spiritual life.




Pass the Dramamine, please.
 

know1

Senior Member
Aug 27, 2012
3,100
180
63
You said?
Before anyone is born of the flesh, they already have a physical body???
It says.... begotten. Not born. Begotten is the process of conception.


Before God imputes a soul to a body that body has no life.
Before God imparts and imputes a human spirit, that soul had no spiritual life.




Pass the Dramamine, please.
Where in scripture does it say, we have no human spirit until we are born again or begotten?
I gave scripture to back up part of what I said, but you have given none. Every word needs to be established by two or three witnesses. Where are your two witnesses in Scripture?
And in John 3:3 Jesus uses the words, born again.
 

Genez

Junior Member
Oct 12, 2017
3,460
541
113
Where in scripture does it say, we have no human spirit until we are born again or begotten?

Here are two translations of 1 Corinthians 2:14...
They were rendered in an interpretive way, rather than give a literal translation.

The person without the spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God
but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned
only through the Spirit.
But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him;
and he cannot know [them] because they are spiritually discerned.


And here is some notes taken from a Greek lesson as rendered by my pastor...

Note.... the Greek term, "psuchikos man" meaning "soul-ish man."​
Meaning having only soul and body. No human spirit.​



14a~~Howbeit [de]
the "psuchikos man"/"soul-ish man"
[psuchikos - the breath/"immaterial substance" that men
have in common with animals - an unbeliever with only a soul]
absolutely does not "receive to himself"/accept
[dechomai - Present middle indicative]
the things of the Spirit of God [ho pneuma Theos].
14b~~For [gar] they are foolishness to him. [moria autos]

14c~~And [kai] he absolutely is not [ouk] able/"has received the power himself"
[dunamai - middle passive indicative]
to obtain knowledge [ginosko - aorist active infinitive]
[of spiritual matters - "Divine Viewpoint type wisdom"] . . .
because [hoti] they are discerned/determined/examined/judged [anakrino]
from the source of the spirit [pneumatikos].
{Perceptive ability of the spirit filled person}
1 Corinthians 2:14​

You can get this lesson on audio if you wish. Probably about an hour long lesson.
 

PennEd

Senior Member
Apr 22, 2013
13,614
9,127
113
Why should God give Adam and Eve such a choice?
But, with us?
Force us into regeneration without us having some say in the results?

Calvinism's TULIP is a concept looking for a street fight with believers.
I’m not really sure what “Why should God give Adam and Eve such a choice?” Even means.

He created them without the sin nature. They had a choice.

Those born of them after they fell do not.

Let me ask you, are you more moral, intelligent, or just a better person than those that reject receiving Him? Or a “human spirit” if you prefer using that bizarre terminology?

Please answer that.
 

Genez

Junior Member
Oct 12, 2017
3,460
541
113
I’m not really sure what “Why should God give Adam and Eve such a choice?” Even means.

He created them without the sin nature. They had a choice.

Those born of them after they fell do not.

Let me ask you, are you more moral, intelligent, or just a better person than those that reject receiving Him? Or a “human spirit” if you prefer using that bizarre terminology?

Please answer that.
Quite frankly.... Why should I? If you think the human spirit is bizarre terminology?
Anyone who does understand would tell me not to waste more time on you.

But this much I will give you.... 1 Thessalonians 5:23




May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through.
May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming
of our Lord Jesus Christ.



And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit
and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.



May the God of shalom make you completely holy — may your entire spirit, soul and body
be kept blameless for the coming of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah.


Are you telling me that speaks of the Holy Spirit?
The Holy Spirit does not need to be kept blameless ever!
Your spirit is what you received at the point of regeneration.


The flesh begets flesh. And the Holy Spirit begets "spirit."

That which is born of the flesh is flesh,
and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.



That fact that you can not grasp that?
Is....
bizarre.
Have a nice Day.
 

know1

Senior Member
Aug 27, 2012
3,100
180
63
Here are two translations of 1 Corinthians 2:14...
They were rendered in an interpretive way, rather than give a literal translation.
The person without the spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God
but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned
only through the Spirit.
But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him;
and he cannot know [them] because they are spiritually discerned.


And here is some notes taken from a Greek lesson as rendered by my pastor...

Note.... the Greek term, "psuchikos man" meaning "soul-ish man."​
Meaning having only soul and body. No human spirit.​



14a~~Howbeit [de]
the "psuchikos man"/"soul-ish man"
[psuchikos - the breath/"immaterial substance" that men
have in common with animals - an unbeliever with only a soul]
absolutely does not "receive to himself"/accept
[dechomai - Present middle indicative]
the things of the Spirit of God [ho pneuma Theos].
14b~~For [gar] they are foolishness to him. [moria autos]
14c~~And [kai] he absolutely is not [ouk] able/"has received the power himself"
[dunamai - middle passive indicative]
to obtain knowledge [ginosko - aorist active infinitive]
[of spiritual matters - "Divine Viewpoint type wisdom"] . . .
because [hoti] they are discerned/determined/examined/judged [anakrino]
from the source of the spirit [pneumatikos].
{Perceptive ability of the spirit filled person}
1 Corinthians 2:14​

You can get this lesson on audio if you wish. Probably about an hour long lesson.
Your pastor taught you a falsehood or a lie, by either not having done a thorough study or just outright perverted first Corinthians 2:14, because he is not born of the truth. I don't know, but he does have it wrong.
1Cor.2.14 But the natural, nonspiritual man does not accept or welcome or admit into his heart the gifts and teachings and revelations of the Spirit of God, for they are folly (meaningless nonsense) to him; and he is incapable of knowing them [of progressively recognizing, understanding, and becoming better acquainted with them] because they are spiritually discerned and estimated and appreciated. (AMP)

The natural man not the spiritless man but the natural man, cannot receive the things of God is basically what the above versus saying just like what Paul said in Romans 8:1-8. Those who walk after the flesh or are carnally minded cannot receive the spiritual things of God.
For example, try praying for a carnally minded person's healing, then telling them that they are healed, when they don't see any immediate change. They will believe what they see feel and experience, and reject what God says, which is spiritual.
And below our five more verses in the Bible concerning the spirit of man even before they have received Christ as their lord and savior.

KJV+ King James Version
Prov 20:27: "The spirit of man is the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly."

KJV+ King James Version
Eccl 3:21: "Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?"

KJV+ King James Version
Zech 12:1: "The burden of the word of the LORD for Israel, saith the LORD, which stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation of the earth, and formeth the spirit of man within him."

KJV+ King James Version
Jam 2:26: "For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also."

Now I just gave you a few of the many scriptures concerning the spirit of man, contradicting and proving contrary to your pastor's theory.
It would help if you sought God for the truth instead of just accepting what you hear from your pastor or those whom you consider to be knowledgeable in Scripture. And as you have pointed out in your post, scripture is spiritually discerned, so go seek the one who can give you the correct interpretation. It is the anointing himself that leads us into all truth. And don't reject the multitude of scripture proven contrary to your only and lonely misinterpreted verse. It's sometimes helps to look at the whole picture and not just the spot on it.
If they had spirits in the Old testament including the animals, and if a body can't live without the spirit including animals, then what you were told and taught is blatantly false.
 

Genez

Junior Member
Oct 12, 2017
3,460
541
113
KJV+ King James Version
Jam 2:26: "For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also."
And that is exactly why Jesus said the following about unbelievers in Luke 9:60...

Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead,
but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”


Now, if it said a body without a soul? That body is physically dead!

Some context....

James 2:25-26​
In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did
when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction?
As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

That is saying? You can have faith, but that faith will be dead until you are living it.
Works that God accepts is faith that has been made alive with your life.

...... grace and peace
 

PennEd

Senior Member
Apr 22, 2013
13,614
9,127
113
Quite frankly.... Why should I? If you think the human spirit is bizarre terminology?
Anyone who does understand would tell me not to waste more time on you.

But this much I will give you.... 1 Thessalonians 5:23




May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through.
May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming
of our Lord Jesus Christ.



And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit
and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.



May the God of shalom make you completely holy — may your entire spirit, soul and body
be kept blameless for the coming of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah.


Are you telling me that speaks of the Holy Spirit?
The Holy Spirit does not need to be kept blameless ever!
Your spirit is what you received at the point of regeneration.


The flesh begets flesh. And the Holy Spirit begets "spirit."

That which is born of the flesh is flesh,
and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.



That fact that you can not grasp that?
Is....
bizarre.
Have a nice Day.
Once again it appears I’ve struck paydirt, in hitting a nerve that makes you uncomfortable.

You think you are a better, more moral, smarter, more humble person than the guy who doesn’t accept Christ, and get a “ human spirit”, and be saved, like you did.

Otherwise, please tell us why they didn’t and you did?
 

Genez

Junior Member
Oct 12, 2017
3,460
541
113
Once again it appears I’ve struck paydirt, in hitting a nerve that makes you uncomfortable.

You think you are a better, more moral, smarter, more humble person than the guy who doesn’t accept Christ, and get a “ human spirit”, and be saved, like you did.

Otherwise, please tell us why they didn’t and you did?
Why did Satan reject the Lord and Gabriel did not?
 

PennEd

Senior Member
Apr 22, 2013
13,614
9,127
113
Why did Satan reject the Lord and Gabriel did not?
You are distracting, and talking about “angel spirits”.
Not to mention, they had an “angel spirit” from the get go. You didn’t have a “human spirit” from the get go.

Now. Are you a better, smarter, more moral person than those that rejected Jesus?
 

know1

Senior Member
Aug 27, 2012
3,100
180
63
And that is exactly why Jesus said the following about unbelievers in Luke 9:60...

Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead,
but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”


Now, if it said a body without a soul? That body is physically dead!

Some context....

James 2:25-26​
In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did
when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction?
As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

That is saying? You can have faith, but that faith will be dead until you are living it.
Works that God accepts is faith that has been made alive with your life.

...... grace and peace

You have it wrong on both accounts.
James is speaking of the physical flesh body and Jesus, on the other hand, is speaking of the spiritually dead person. They are not the same in the least.
And you completely ignored and never tried to explain away, all the scripture verses I gave, proving your theory of, receiving a human Spirit after we're born again, wrong.
When I see someone ignoring the big bright white elephant in the small dark colored room, blocking the door you're trying to get to, I know then, that they are not interested in the obvious there before them.
I proved scripturally beyond all reasonable doubt, that man had and currently has a human spirit, even before they are regenerated. And you completely ignored that fact.
What you see as receiving a human spirit from God, is actually a seed or offspring of God deposited in our spirit man through or via the Holy Spirit.
The spirit forms the heart and the heart forms the physical body it is in.
When the Holy Spirit enters the newly Born again person, he just cleans out a part of their Spirit man, or as you like to call it, human spirit, and abodes there. The spirit of man is already there! Just like the holy place where the ark of the covenant abode. The temple was already there, they just sectioned off a place for God to reside.
The other thing you are very wrong about is, works or deeds of faith.
And like you, most people, including Christians, not only misinterpret the works James is talking about, but fail to know and understand what faith is and how it works.
James is not talking about Good deeds, but a corresponding act or Acts, in conjunction with what the person believes.
Even speaking words, such as, I receive you Jesus as my Lord and Savior, is one form of a corresponding work.
 

Genez

Junior Member
Oct 12, 2017
3,460
541
113
You are distracting, and talking about “angel spirits”.
Not to mention, they had an “angel spirit” from the get go. You didn’t have a “human spirit” from the get go.

Now. Are you a better, smarter, more moral person than those that rejected Jesus?
I thought that would hit a nerve......

I was right. :coffee::coffee::coffee:

So you believe angels had volition and had free will when they were created......
But that conflicts with running a parallel with a human soul... So?????? You can not deal with it.

Go buy some Novocain!
 

PennEd

Senior Member
Apr 22, 2013
13,614
9,127
113
I thought that would hit a nerve......

I was right. :coffee::coffee::coffee:

So you believe angels had volition and had free will when they were created......
But that conflicts with running a parallel with a human soul... So?????? You can not deal with it.

Go buy some Novocain!
Cmon dude. How bout a tad bit of originality. Why you stealing my solid point!?

And you still skirted the question.