>>>Please go back couple of verses. the writer not talking about the scripture in our hands now, because it didn't exist at that time.
And, yet:
2Pe 3:15 And count the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to
the wisdom given him,
2Pe 3:16 as he does in
all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do
the other Scriptures. (ESV)
First Peter says that Paul wrote "according to the wisdom given him," which means what he wrote was based on wisdom from God (inspired). Then Peter equates Paul's letters with "the other Scriptures," being the OT. Peter is very strongly implying that he thinks Paul's writings are Scripture in the same way the OT books are Scripture.
1Ti 5:18 For
the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain,”
and, “
The laborer deserves his wages.” (ESV)
In the first quote, Paul is quoting Deut 25:4. In the second, he is quoting Luke 10:7 (cf. Matt 10:10), saying that it is Scripture. Paul is explicitly saying that Luke's gospel is Scripture, on par with the OT Scriptures.
Putting that all together then, Paul's writings were seen as Scripture, so it stands to reason that all the Apostle's writings are Scripture. It also stands to reason that since Luke's gospel was seen as Scripture, that all the writings of close associates of the Apostles were seen as Scripture. That is the entire NT.
2Ti 3:15 and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are
able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
2Ti 3:16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,
2Ti 3:17 that the man of God may be complete,
equipped for every good work. (ESV)
>>>ames 2:19 You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror.
The above verse show believing and having faith in GOD is not complete if you don't prove it with your deeds.
But that doesn't address what I asked, which was:
Are you saying that Satan
does "believe in God (or Jesus) in the sense of making him Lord of his life and trusting in him for salvation?" If so, then give Scripture to support this.
The question is a yes or no question, but I am also asking for supporting Scripture.
>>>Please read Matt. 21:28-32, the parable of the 2 sons.
Who are the two sons? Jesus tells us in verse 32. What is he saying that passage?
>>> I agree, but why you stop there?
GOD, the prophets and Jesus spoke too about the fruits of your good and bad deeds.
John 15:16 James 3:18 Proverb 18:21 Jeremiah 17:9-10 and there are tons of these verses.
John 15:16 supports what I have been saying. Works are evidence of one's faith, one's salvation, but they don't save. Notice that Jesus chose the disciples and appointed them that they "should go and bear fruit." How do Prov 18:21, James 3:18, and Jer 17:9-10 support your position?
There are not "tons of these verses," by which I assume you mean verses that show works are necessary for salvation; there isn't even one.
Notice that in Matt 7:15-20, it is only "healthy" trees that can bear good fruit and "diseased" trees that bear bad fruit. If works were necessary for salvation, as you maintain, then it would mean that diseased trees must be able to bear good fruit. But Jesus says that is impossible.
>>>Please read Gal. 5:19-21 and 5:22-23
Why not just say Gal 5:19-23? Interestingly, I have just read the entire chapter for other reasons. The
entire point of the book is that works of the law do not save, so much so, that even in 1:6-9 Paul says that anyone who adds to the gospel of Christ, by adding works of the law or just works, is preaching another gospel and is accursed.
Gal 2:16 yet we know that a person is
not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ,
so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified. (ESV)
Gal 3:8 And the Scripture,
foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you shall all the nations be blessed.”
Gal 3:9 So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.
Gal 3:10 For
all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.”
Gal 3:11 Now
it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for “The righteous shall live by faith.”
...
Gal 3:14 so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit
through faith. (ESV)
Gal 5:4 You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace.
Gal 5:5 For
through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness.
Gal 5:6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but
only faith working through love. (ESV)
Paul's clear and consistent message throughout all his letters, is that works do not justify but are evidence of someone who is justified. Works don't save anyone, ever:
Eph 2:8 For
by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,
Eph 2:9
not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
Eph 2:10 For we are his workmanship,
created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand,
that we should walk in them. (ESV)
>>>You just did, when you ignore 1 corn. 9:19-23. But that's ok, I understand.
Then show exactly where I did. Otherwise, you are again being dishonest. What does 1 Cor 9:19-23 have to do with this discussion?
