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Is believing/faith a work ?

No one can believe with a true belief, UNLESS their name is in the book of life. Belief is a gift of God for those
whom He has chosen for it, others not.

[Jhn 10:25-29 KJV]
25 Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of me.
26 But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.
27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any [man] pluck them out of my hand.
29 My Father, which gave [them] me, is greater than all; and no [man] is able to pluck [them] out of my Father's hand.
I didn't read you don't "believe because your names weren't written in the book of life."
I didn't read man can't respond to Gods teaching because their names weren't written in the book of life.

Jesus stated those who do listen and learn from the Father come to Him. As they are all taught by God. I believe the cause of who don't listen is fault found in their own hearts not something God did or didn't do.
 
didn't read you don't "believe because your names weren't written in the book of life."
I didn't read man can't respond to Gods teaching because their names weren't written in the book of life.

Jesus stated those who do listen and learn from the Father come to Him. As they are all taught by God. I believe the cause of who don't listen is fault found in their own hearts not something God did or didn't do.

No, all are not taught of God. I'm just going to post these verses, Randy, hoping that you will be able to see
the linkage between them. Hint: do you see the "delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book", and "No man can come to me", and "Therefore they could not believe"?
The reason they could not believe is because their eyes were blinded, and hearts hardened. Why were their eyes blinded and hearts hardened? Because they hadn't been chosen of God. How do we know that? Because only those chosen by God were written book of life, and they alone will be the ones delivered.

[Dan 12:1 KJV]
1 And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation [even] to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.

[Jhn 6:44-45 KJV]
44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
45 It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.

[Jhn 12:37, 39-40 KJV]
37 But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him: ...
39 Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again,
40 He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with [their] eyes, nor understand with [their] heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.

[
Luk 10:20-21 KJV]
20 Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.
21 In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight.

[Rev 13:8 KJV]
8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

[Rev 17:8 KJV]
8 The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.
 
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I see the gospel of Jesus as those who did accuse him of injustice.
Where did they do that?
That's why they sinned further against him by not only accusing, but convicting and executing.
The charge was blasphemy, not injustice.
Our Savior held his wrath back against the worst humanity has to offer.
It doesn’t say he was wrathful at that point. Says he had mercy. But his wrath was poured out in 70AD.
 
:No, it was satan, Adam and Eve's fault. God gave fair warning to them.

[1Co 15:22 KJV] 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
Ok
No, it isn't. The true gospel is hidden except to those whom God had chosen to reveal it to.
Again, if it is completely our choice, then what about those who can't choose, is it their choice too?
Why does it have to be completely God OR completely man?
[2Co 4:3-4 KJV]
3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
As Jesus said in the parable of the different kinds of dirt. One kind experiences the Enemy taking away the understanding, not God predestining this.
Well, if that's true (which I don't think it is or could be), then the only way they
could have come to faith is through God, which is what my point is - that faith is only
through/by God, not of ourselves.
It is true and God had a large part although they had a small but necessary part. It isn’t all Gods and it isn’t all man. Jesus explained this in the parable of the 4 kinds of people (soil in the story.)
God chose not to reveal His reasoning or rational. It was His divine prerogative to choose whomever He wanted, for whatever reason (or not), that He wanted.
That’s not what the scripture you quote says. It says the Enemy has blinded them.
Since He is the one who paid for the salvation of those saved, it was His choice to make it as He saw fit. This too is knowing His ways in major. The critical point is to know what, not how.
And it is not yours to pass judgement on what someone can/should know or not about the Bible
Your description is one of a cruelty and so is not describing God. And you cannot answer why God supposedly does as your theology tells it. Your answer shows you do not understand His major ways. “It is not yours to pass judgement” is an answer really saying that you “don’t know.” And it’s your theology I am obligated to evaluate, not God. I don’t accept it because it describes a very cruel Being and Gods ways demonstrate that He isn’t.
That makes no sense. He wrote the Bible for our edification - why else do you think God gave it to us?
For teaching, correction and training in righteousness
I approve nothing - I just know what I read, and what I told you is what the Bible tells everyone.
No, you’ve gotten a theological view of matters that color what you read adding to or changing in places.
Oh, okay - good to know that you don't believe the Bible was written by God.
I never said that. Where does this false accusation come from? Because I don’t wear the certsin theological colored glasses you wear? I believe it more accurately than you as I don’t add to
it nor remove bits which your theology seems to demand of your thinking.
If you choose to discount parts
of the Bible because you don't like or agree with them, you are forming your own Bible and ignoring God's words.
That puts you in very great spiritual jeopardy. I suggest that you tread very carefully, indeed.


[2Ti 3:16-17 KJV] 16 All scripture [is] given by inspiration of God, and [is] profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
I actually read the words for what they say. It says David’s MOTHER sinned at his conception, not the baby. You’ve decided David sinned which biologically as well as scripturely makes no sense.
No, not David's mother, all born are conceived in inequity and sin, not just David. With this verse, God
is demonstrating a spiritual principle.
You can believe that but the Bible says the “marriage bed is holy.” Only those conceived outside of marriage are conceived in sin (sin of the parents, not the baby.)

So no the Bible says no such thing. I know the origin of this theology, Augustine. It was unheard of before him.
 
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Why does it have to be completely God OR completely man?
Because God is the Saviour, man is not.

As Jesus said in the parable of the different kinds of dirt. One kind experience the Enemy taking away, not God predestining, the understanding.
In only one ground- the good ground - does the seed grow to bring forth
fruit. The other ground, cannot.

[Mar 4:11-12 KJV]
11 And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all [these] things are done in parables:
12 That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and [their] sins should be forgiven them.

For teaching, correction and training in righteousness
And that includes the verse you said (I think) was just an old Jewish wife's tale (may not have
quoted you perfectly). That verse is relevant to the Bible too, as are all biblical verses.

That’s not what the scripture you quote says. It says the Enemy has blinded them.

Everyone born is born blind. However, God only gives spiritual sight to some, not all. See Mar 4:11 & 12 above.

our description is one of a cruelty and so is not describing God. And you cannot answer why God supposedly does as your theology tells it. Your answer shows you do not understand His major ways. “It is not yours to pass judgement” is an answer if “don’t knife.” Amd it’s your theology I am obligated to evaluate, not God. I don’t accept because it describes a very cruel Being and Gods ways demonstrate that He isn’t.

God would be as just and not cruel even had He not chosen to save anyone. No one deserves salvation. It only because of His mercy and grace that anyone becomes saved. That testifies to the fact that He is a gracious and merciful God. You shouldn't use your personal criteria or belief of how you think it should be, to judge God or the Bible. Are you able to demand an answer from God as to why He does one thing instead of another?
You don't get to define spiritual criteria just because you don't like what's being said. God shares what He chooses
to share and no one can hold Him to account for it.

I actually read the words for what they say. It says David’s MOTHER sinned at his conception, not the baby. You’ve decided David sinned which biologically as well as scripturely makes no sense.
David was conceived in sin - he had sin from the womb; he was "shapen in inequity" from the womb.

[Psa 51:5 KJV] 5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.
[Psa 58:3 KJV] 3 The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies.


You can believe that but the Bible says the “marriage bed is holy.” Only those conceived outside of marriage are conceived in sin (sin of the patents, not the baby.)

Why do you think God hated Esau from the womb ? Because Esau was not covered by the offering of Christ and therefore, remained in sin even while in the womb.

[Rom 9:11, 13-16 KJV]
11 (For [the children] being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;) ...
13 As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.
14 What shall we say then? [Is there] unrighteousness with God? God forbid.
15 For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.
16 So then [it is] not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.

Why do you think God said this?
[Psa 58:3 KJV]
3 The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies.

You can believe that but the Bible says the “marriage bed is holy.” Only those conceived outside of marriage are conceived in sin (sin of the patents, not the baby.)

So no the Bible data no such thing.

Because of satan, Adam and Eve, everyone is born in sin

[Rom 5:17 KJV]
17 For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)
 
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No, all are not taught of God. I'm just going to post these verses, Randy, hoping that you will be able to see
the linkage between them. Hint: do you see the "delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book", and "No man can come to me", and "Therefore they could not believe"?
The reason they could not believe is because their eyes were blinded, and hearts hardened. Why were their eyes blinded and hearts hardened? Because they hadn't been chosen of God. How do we know that? Because only those chosen by God were written book of life, and they alone will be the ones delivered.

[Dan 12:1 KJV]
1 And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation [even] to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.

[Jhn 6:44-45 KJV]
44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
45 It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.

[Jhn 12:37, 39-40 KJV]
37 But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him: ...
39 Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again,
40 He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with [their] eyes, nor understand with [their] heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.

[
Luk 10:20-21 KJV]
20 Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.
21 In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight.

[Rev 13:8 KJV]
8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

[Rev 17:8 KJV]
8 The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.
Rather not all listen. The gospel has been preached to all nations.

Jesus didn't state God doesn't bear witness to all. Clearly, and I state through a fault in their own hearts, not all listen.

Seeking, asking is on us. The forgiveness of sins was on a work of God -purchased by His blood.

When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to get well?”

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.


With light comes accountability to all.
“Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will bring justice to the nations.

No excuses are accepted - Because the fault is found in the person not in the book of life.


The Parable of the Great Banquet
15 When one of those at the table with him heard this, he said to Jesus, “Blessed is the one who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God.”

16 Jesus replied: “A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. 17 At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’

18 “But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, ‘I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.’

19 “Another said, ‘I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I’m on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.’

20 “Still another said, ‘I just got married, so I can’t come.’

21 “The servant came back and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and ordered his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.’

22 “‘Sir,’ the servant said, ‘what you ordered has been done, but there is still room.’

23 “Then the master told his servant, ‘Go out to the roads and country lanes and compel them to come in, so that my house will be full. 24 I tell you, not one of those who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.’”


This is for sure. Gods house will be full before the end of the age comes.
 
Because God is the Saviour, man is not.
Being a Savior doesn’t mean man has no part. I was a trained life guard and the person you rescue always has a part to play. If men have no responsibility then preaching makes no sense and judgement after life is cruel.
In only one ground- the good ground - does the seed grow to bring forth
fruit. The other ground, cannot.
That’s not what it says. The other ground had no root in themselves or the cares of this life affected them. Three produced a plant btw.
[Mar 4:11-12 KJV]
11 And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all [these] things are done in parables:
12 That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and [their] sins should be forgiven them.
What you don’t do is how this comes about but you assume God “sovereignly” (and meanly) just shuts eyes and ears. This is NOT what it says. You know, the disciples asked to understand. The others didn’t.
And that includes the verse you said (I think) was just an old Jewish wife's tale (may not have
quoted you perfectly). That verse is relevant to the Bible too, as are all biblical verses.
They are. But the account of David’s conception fits scripture in other places whereas your rendering doesn’t.
Everyone born is born blind. However, God only gives spiritual sight to some, not all. See Mar 4:11 & 12 above.
No where does the Bible say this. And experience is that children naturally believe in God.
God would be as just and not cruel even had He not chosen to save anyone. No one deserves salvation. It only because of His mercy and grace that anyone becomes saved. That testifies to the fact that He is a gracious and merciful God. You shouldn't use your personal criteria or belief of how you think it should be, to judge God or the Bible. Are you able to demand an answer from God as to why He does one thing instead of another?
Injustice is no different when God is the subject. If God choose Stan and not Dan to go to heaven before the foundation of the world for no reason, he is more cruel than Satan who hates all men equally. And I’m using the biblical standard of justice. Judges were not allowed to prefer those they liked in rendering judgements as that was unjust. No different with God. But I understand his justice. You cannot with your theology.
You don't get to define spiritual criteria just because you don't like what's being said. God shares what He chooses
to share and no one can hold Him to account for it.
He is never unjust. Never ever. I define spiritual criteria by the Bible same as the Bereans.
David was conceived in sin - he had sin from the womb; he was "shapen in inequity" from the womb.

[Psa 51:5 KJV] 5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.
[Psa 58:3 KJV] 3 The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies.
Again, newborns cannot speak at all let alone tell lies. Your view is off. Second, Jeremiah says he was fearfully and wonderfully made in the womb. So Jeremiah didn’t have a sin nature from birth as he was wonderful in the womb. You’ll also find no scripture that says babies are sinful. Jesus said heaven is full of people like them.
Why do you think God hated Esau from the womb ?
He didn’t. God loved Esau and gave the man land which he forbad Jacob from taking or even bothering those who dwelt there. Why would God promise land to a man he hated? God hates no babies. The Devil hates babies.
Because Esau was not covered by the offering of Christ and therefore, remained in sin even while in the womb.
There’s no scripture supporting that.
[Rom 9:11, 13-16 KJV]
11 (For [the children] being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;) ...
The purpose of God meaning the nation bringing forth the Christ.
13 As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.
The nations, not the men. The nations brought forth fruit, but the men who were long dead when that was written.
14 What shall we say then? [Is there] unrighteousness with God? God forbid.
15 For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.
16 So then [it is] not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.
Who does God show mercy to? Do you believe he’s arbitrarily showing mercy on the lucky ones?
Why do you think God said this?
[Psa 58:3 KJV]
3 The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies.
No babies are born speaking anything at all. It’s a fact. You’re understanding is off. It’s a typical Jewish hyperbole. God isn’t a sandstone rock and Jesus isn’t a screen door. Cutting off hands won’t prevent sin. Paul didn’t whip his body. Jews use hyperbole.
Because of satan, Adam and Eve, everyone is born in sin
No, they aren’t.
[Rom 5:17 KJV]
17 For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)
Where does it say all are born in sin?

What does the Bible say regarding why we sin? You want and don’t have. We don’t have cause we don’t ask. We ask but don’t receive because we ask with wrong motive. No Bible author said we sin because of a sin nature we were born with. Not one.
 
rogerg

[2Co 4:3-4 KJV]
3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
Notice Paul writes the Gospel is hid to them that are lost, in other words, you have to be saved in order for it not to be hid from you. When I say saved i mean sanctified by the Holy Spirit, regenerated.


In only one ground- the good ground - does the seed grow to bring forth
fruit. The other ground, cannot.

Amen also it was only to the good ground hearer[who i believe is the regenerated] its stated they hear and understand the word. Notice Matt 13:23

23 But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

What notable about this is the word understandeth here is the same word in the greek as the word understand here Rom 3:11

There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.

Paul is saying that none naturally understandeth God, or the things of God,

So that being the case, the ones who hear the word of God and understandeth it in Matt 13:23 must be the regenerated man or woman, thats why its call good ground, because mans heart by nature is bad ground. So thats why the good ground hearer brings forth fruit, spiritual fruit like faith, repentance etc
 
Being a Savior doesn’t mean man has no part. I was a trained life guard and the person you rescue always has a part to play. If men have no responsibility then preaching makes no sense and judgement after life is cruel.
Yes, that is exactly what it means and cruel is your judgment, deserved is mine - all are guilty before God and worthy of death, period. You used the wrong analogy in the above. the person in jeopardy isn't drowning, they're dead, and a dead person cannot contribute to being brought back to life. They're at the mercy of someone else, so much at their mercy, that they aren't even aware they're dead.
Preaching does definitively make sense because is by that method that God chose to give to those born-again
knowledge of Christ.

[Col 2:13 KJV]
13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;

[1Co 1:20-21 KJV]
20 Where [is] the wise? where [is] the scribe? where [is] the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

[Eph 4:11-13 KJV]
11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

That’s not what it says. The other ground had no root in themselves or the cares of this life affected them. Three produced a plant btw.
[Mat 13:8 KJV] 8 But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.

What you don’t do is how this comes about but you assume God “sovereignly” (and meanly) just shuts eyes and ears. This is NOT what it says. You know, the disciples asked to understand. The others didn’t.
Observe the word "given" in the below verses. Given to some - those elected to salvation, not given to others - everyone else.

[Mat 13:11 KJV]
11 He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.
[Mar 4:11-12 KJV]
11 And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all [these] things are done in parables:
12 That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and [their] sins should be forgiven them.
[Luk 8:10 KJV]
10 And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.

They are. But the account of David’s conception fits scripture in other places whereas your rendering doesn’t.
I don't know what you're referring to, but validity in the Bible is not a numbers game. If it's there
and other like verses harmonize with it and don't contradict it, then that is sufficient.

No where does the Bible say this. And experience is that children naturally believe in God.

Where:
[Eph 1:17-18 KJV]
17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:
18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,

(the "his brother" is Christ)
[1Jo 2:11 KJV]
11 But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.

[Mar 3:34-35 KJV]
34 And he looked round about on them which sat about him, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!
35 For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother.

He didn’t. God loved Esau
[Rom 9:13 KJV]
13 As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.

No babies are born speaking anything at all. It’s a fact. You’re understanding is off. It’s a typical Jewish hyperbole. God isn’t a sandstone rock and Jesus isn’t a screen door. Cutting off hands won’t prevent sin. Paul didn’t whip his body. Jews use hyperbole.
There you go again setting the Bible at naught and misrepresenting it. What the Bible contains, God Himself had specifically desired and caused to be written in it for a specific purpose, period - you're making up scripture as you go along and thereby are adding to scripture

[2Ti 3:16 KJV]
16 All scripture [is] given by inspiration of God, and [is] profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

Where does it say all are born in sin?

[Rom 3:9-10 KJV]
9 What then? are we better [than they]? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin;
10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
[Rom 7:14 KJV]
14 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.
[Gal 3:22 KJV]
22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.
 
D Mae said
Being a Savior doesn’t mean man has no part. I was a trained life guard and the person you rescue always has a part to play.

Wonder if the person drowned, Could you as a life guard save the person ? What part would the drowned person play ?
 
rogerg

Yes, that is exactly what it means and cruel is your judgment, deserved is mine - all are guilty before God and worthy of death, period. You used the wrong analogy in the above. the person in jeopardy isn't drowning, they're dead, and a dead person cannot contribute to being brought back to life. They're at the mercy of someone else, so much at their mercy, that they aren't even aware they're dead.
Amen exactly, people dont want to bow to the scripture teaching of total spiritual inability because frankly, naturally we are Spiritually dead. The very first thing God does in mercy to a spiritually dead sinner, is make them alive to Him Spiritually. Whatever man does in his conversion experience is only possible after they have been made alive.

[Col 2:13 KJV]
13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;

Yes and its counterpart in Eph 2:5 tells us this quickening from the dead is an aspect of How we are saved by grace:

5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved)

So clearly an aspect of Salvation by grace includes being first made alive. Thats a must for a true conversion experience.
 
dorthy M

He didn’t. God loved Esau and gave the man land which he forbad Jacob from taking or even bothering those who dwelt there. Why would God promise land to a man he hated? God hates no babies. The Devil hates babies.

God Loved esau ? This poster says that even in the face of scripture that plainly says this Rpm 9:13

13 As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.

Esau being once a baby doesnt change nothing, God views babies as man. What did Eve say when she first gave birth to cain ? Gen 4:1


And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the Lord.

Wait a minute Eve, hes not a man yet but a baby !
 
dorthymae

Dorothy Mae said:
No where does the Bible say this. And experience is that children naturally believe in God.

Where does the bible say that children naturally believe in God ?

I can show you where scripture says none seek after God, The True God of course, for their are plenty false gods of mens imagination, nor none understandeth the True God Rom 3:11

11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.

BTW I dont want experience, but the verse that says children naturally believe in God !
 
Rather not all listen. The gospel has been preached to all nations.

Jesus didn't state God doesn't bear witness to all. Clearly, and I state through a fault in their own hearts, not all listen.

Seeking, asking is on us. The forgiveness of sins was on a work of God -purchased by His blood.

When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to get well?”

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.


With light comes accountability to all.
“Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will bring justice to the nations.

No excuses are accepted - Because the fault is found in the person not in the book of life.

No one can hear unless given to them by God as a fruit of the Spirit.
The Bible does bear witness to the truth - that is its purpose - but that witness is part of the condemnation: that they were witnessed to yet still chose the darkness over the light.

Those being addressed to seek to find are those saved, not to everyone. A "son" is a son spiritually - the elect

[Mat 7:9, 11 KJV] 9 Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?
[Mat 7:11 KJV] 11 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?

No excuses are accepted - Because the fault is found in the person not in the book of life.
Did I say there is a fault in the book of life?
 
roger

No one can hear unless given to them by God as a fruit of the Spirit.

Amen Jesus informs us who it is that Hears the Words of God Jn 8:47
47 He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.
that they were witnessed to yet still chose the darkness over the light.

Yes because left to ourselves naturally, its written Jn 3:19

And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

None of us by nature are exempt from this indictment, and the evil deeds here are more than anything, mans religion
Those being addressed to seek to find are those saved, not to everyone. A "son" is a son spiritually - the elect
Correct, those already in a right relationship with God
 
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Yes, that is exactly what it means and cruel is your judgment, deserved is mine - all are guilty before God and worthy of death, period. You used the wrong analogy in the above. the person in jeopardy isn't drowning, they're dead, and a dead person cannot contribute to being brought back to life. They're at the mercy of someone else, so much at their mercy, that they aren't even aware they're dead.
The person a life guard saves isn't dead. It is rather heartless to call them dead and if your daughter were drowning and the life guard turned to you and said she is dead anyway and refused to save her, you would not be OK with that although that is your position. What is more, no one saving a drowning man can do so without the person cooperating. Every life guard is taught that is they refuse to cooperate, leave them or else you both will drown.
Preaching does definitively make sense because is by that method that God chose to give to those born-again
knowledge of Christ.
Nonsense. You might as well save your breath as God has predetermined them to go to heaven whether you preach or not. No Bible verse said God chose them to be born again before creature so preach. It says how will they hear unless we preach the truth to them.
It
[Col 2:13 KJV]
13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;

[1Co 1:20-21 KJV]
20 Where [is] the wise? where [is] the scribe? where [is] the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

[Eph 4:11-13 KJV]
11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
None of these say that these were all have an inborn sin nature. None. None of these say faith is given as a gift and man is totally passive. None.
[Mat 13:8 KJV] 8 But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.
You won't like this but the ground, the man, is good. GOOD. The seed fell onto a good man. That is what that says. You ought to avoid this scripture as the difference between the ground that produced a good harvest was in the goodness of the man, not God predetermining that good fruit would come. This is not a good verse for your theology. The other kind of men produced a crop, by the way, but something was lacking in them such that the cares or troubles of this life caused them to abandon the faith they had (given to them in your view.) The seed was the same in all.
Observe the word "given" in the below verses. Given to some - those elected to salvation, not given to others - everyone else.

[Mat 13:11 KJV]
11 He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.
Notice the disciples, the 12, not the 70 asked about the parables and so the answer was given. Actually all deeper understanding of the ways of God are given. No one figures it out using their imagination.
[Mar 4:11-12 KJV]
11 And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all [these] things are done in parables:
Same verse different gospel, rather sneaky of you. Like saying there are two different verses.
12 That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and [their] sins should be forgiven them.
[Luk 8:10 KJV]
You do not ask why this is the case or how this comes about. I bet you think God cruelly doesn't let them know. That is not the reason.
10 And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.


I don't know what you're referring to, but validity in the Bible is not a numbers game. If it's there
and other like verses harmonize with it and don't contradict it, then that is sufficient.
A testimony is established by two or three witnesses so yes, numbers are significant. All false doctrine relies on isolated verses, sometimes just one, ignoring the bulk of the scripture that speaks against this.
Where:
[Eph 1:17-18 KJV]
17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:
18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
This is talking to Christians and I can tell you that those who adhere to false theology that describes God as doing cruelty but, for example, arbitrarily choosing some for hell and some for heaven with no hope will never be given wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him. They already have embraced that God is cruel. (Saying God saved some is OK even if he damned some doesn't change anything. If a man decided before birth to education his 2nd and 4th offspring and turn the others out of the house at 18 with no skills, we don't think he was a good father because two were treated well and the others abandoned.)
(the "his brother" is Christ)
[1Jo 2:11 KJV]
11 But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.
Ah, you need to avoid this one too because the reason why the eyes are blinded is because the man DECIDED to hate his brother. See that? The man chose to hate and so blinded himself. God did not do this, the man did. Avoid this verse in the future.
[Mar 3:34-35 KJV]
34 And he looked round about on them which sat about him, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!
35 For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother.
Notice those who DO THE WILL OF GOD, not those chose before the creation of the world at his family.
[Rom 9:13 KJV]
13 As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.
God loved Esau the man but when that man's descendants became the Edomites, they did evil and God hated that. You cannot answer the fact that God made a covenant with Esau and gave him land, can you?
There you go again setting the Bible at naught and misrepresenting it. What the Bible contains, God Himself had specifically desired and caused to be written in it for a specific purpose, period - you're making up scripture as you go along and thereby are adding to scripture
No, actually I use all of the Bible and you make up stuff like the baby is sinful because the mother committed sin at his conception. That is really making up stuff.
[2Ti 3:16 KJV]
16 All scripture [is] given by inspiration of God, and [is] profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:



[Rom 3:9-10 KJV]
9 What then? are we better [than they]? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin;
Notice under sin, not sin is in them.
10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
Noah was a righteous man. Lot was a righteous man. Elisabetha and Zecharias were righteous men. David for extensively of the righteous. How come the Bible describes these all as righteous if none in human history were? Jesus talked extensively of the righteous as though they are real people. What is wrong is your understanding of the scripture as that verse is yanked out of context.
[Rom 7:14 KJV]
14 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.
Under sin, not sin in me.
[Gal 3:22 KJV]
22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.
Under sin, not sin in them.
 
No one can hear unless given to them by God as a fruit of the Spirit.
The Bible does bear witness to the truth - that is its purpose - but that witness is part of the condemnation: that they were witnessed to yet still chose the darkness over the light.

Those being addressed to seek to find are those saved, not to everyone. A "son" is a son spiritually - the elect

[Mat 7:9, 11 KJV] 9 Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?
[Mat 7:11 KJV] 11 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?


Did I say there is a fault in the book of life?
We have shown the wicked can be removed from book you seem to put your hope in.
 
The person a life guard saves isn't dead. It is rather heartless to call them dead and if your daughter were drowning and the life guard turned to you and said she is dead anyway and refused to save her, you would not be OK with that although that is your position. What is more, no one saving a drowning man can do so without the person cooperating. Every life guard is taught that is they refuse to cooperate, leave them or else you both will drown.

You completely missed my point. I did not say the one drowning was dead, I meant that your whole analogy was
an incorrect one to use. My point was that those to be saved by God are dead spiritually beforehand. A correct
analogy would be of someone who is already dead, not of someone who is drowning and might die- it was that a dead person cannot contribute to giving life to themselves. God tells us the unsaved are already spiritually dead, not kinda dead, or almost dead, or might die, they're DEAD DEAD. Please read the following verse closely.

[Col 2:13 KJV]
13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;

I'll reply to your other points one at a time as time permits, instead of all at once.
 
You completely missed my point. I did not say the one drowning was dead, I meant that your whole analogy was
an incorrect one to use.
No, my analogy is completely correct. The whole preaching of everyone in the NT is what we need to do to be saved. Time after time people are told what they must do, a necessary but insufficient part. No where is anyone simply given faith and salvation passively happens for them.
My point was that those to be saved by God are dead spiritually beforehand.
They aren’t dead. They think and feel and choose. They are not dead. They are unaware, but not literally dead. Dead people don’t choose.
A correct
analogy would be of someone who is already dead, not of someone who is drowning and might die- it was that a dead person cannot contribute to giving life to themselves.
And yet no one preached to people calling them dead. All called them to repent and believe, something the dead cannot do. You take one analogy spoken ONLY to believers describing their past lives and make it a description of all, something that wasn’t preached by Paul or Jesus.
God tells us the unsaved are already spiritually dead, not kinda dead, or almost dead, or might die, they're DEAD DEAD. Please read the following verse closely.

[Col 2:13 KJV]
13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
Dead in sins, not dead. I read it carefully. Did you? They were grown people who sinned a lot and so were as if something wasn’t alive inside. It’s only a METAPHOR. It’s not a description.
I'll reply to your other points one at a time as time permits, instead of all at once.
Thank you. I’m pressed for time as well.

The dead cannot listen and be blind nor deaf. They can do neither.
 
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