Born Again 2004
Member
Just too much to deal with logically; we just have to agree to disagree on many matters!I'm sorry to have offended you. It was not my intention.
Jesus disagreed with you when He specifically stated:
" … the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth
—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life,
and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation." John 5:28-29 (NKJV)
That is begging the question, also known as; circular reasoning.
Logical Fallacy: Begging the Question Also Known as: Circular Reasoning, Reasoning in a Circle, Petitio Principii.
Begging the Question is a fallacy in which the premises include the claim that the conclusion is true or (directly or indirectly) assume that the conclusion is true. This sort of "reasoning" typically has the following form.
1. Premises in which the truth of the conclusion is claimed or the truth of the conclusion is assumed (either directly or indirectly).
2. Claim C (the conclusion) is true.
This sort of "reasoning" is fallacious because simply assuming that the conclusion is true (directly or indirectly) in the premises does not constitute evidence for that conclusion. Obviously, simply assuming a claim is true does not serve as evidence for that claim. This is especially clear in particularly blatant cases: "X is true. The evidence for this claim is that X is true."
Examples of Begging the Question
1. Bill: "God must exist."
Jill: "How do you know."
Bill: "Because the Bible says so."
Jill: "Why should I believe the Bible?"
Bill: "Because the Bible was written by God."
2. "The belief in God is universal. After all, everyone believes in God."
Yes, it is by grace anyone is saved. God doesn't have to save anyone; nothing forces Him to do so, but, because He loves mankind, He saves all who will believe.
Those who believe can be identified by their actions.
"Not every one who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven." Mat 7:21 (RSV)
And Jesus will pronounce His eternal judgment based on the evidence of what each person did or did not do. (Mat 25:31-46)
There is no mention in the Bible of "works of the spirit."
Gal 5:22-23 lists the fruit of the spirit and there are gifts of the spirit listed in Romans and Corinthians.
But there are no "Works of the Spirit" mentioned in the NT.
Please explain what you mean by "works of the Spirit."
What scriptures teach about the "works of the Spirit"?
Please cite the reference to the Holy Spirit in the passage in which James stated that faith without works is dead and it cannot save anyone. (James Ch. 2)
The only use of the word "spirit" in that passage is at Jas 2:26, "As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead." (RSV) There is no way that usage could support your claim that James made reference to the Holy Spirit in that passage.
Please clarify.
Every human being has the ability to choose to obey or not to obey Jesus commands. (Love God, Love one another, love our neighbors, love our enemies) It doesn't just happen automatically because someone believed, was baptized and then received the gift of the Holy Spirit. The Christian life involves constant warfare against the temptations which arise from the "lusts of the flesh" and the onslaught of the Devil. It is a life of repentance and striving for holiness.
We must daily, even minute by minute, make the choice to shun evil and serve the Lord.
That requires effort; it requires work on the part of the believer.
1Jo 1:8-10 (RSV) If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just, and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
Paul shared his experience at Phl 3:8-15a (RSV)
Indeed I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as refuse, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own, based on law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith; that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that if possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.
Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect; but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brethren, I do not consider that I have made it my own; but one thing I do, forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Let those of us who are mature be thus minded;
have a nice day