Ok, I guess the best thing to do is remind about the OP. An act of faith in Jesus Christ, if possible, could never be considered a work deserving of a wage.
-
Welcome to Baptist Board, a friendly forum to discuss the Baptist Faith in a friendly surrounding.
Your voice is missing! You will need to register to get access to all the features that our community has to offer.
We hope to see you as a part of our community soon and God Bless!
A Biblical Defense of Synergism #2
- Thread starter Steven Yeadon
- Start date
Dave G
Well-Known Member
Amen, Steven.
" For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath [whereof] to glory; but not before God.
3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.
5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
6 Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,
7 [saying], Blessed [are] they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.
8 Blessed [is] the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin." ( Romans 4:2-8 ).
But,
What about this?
" Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset [us], and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
2 looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of [our] faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God." ( Hebrews 12:1-2 ).
Ah, but I do agree that free will isn't free. While I argue for moral ability, I know free will is degraded, constrained by circumstances, and incapable of saving faith without God's mercy and grace to the individual. My thread #3 explains my position on moral ability. That said, no one can reverse what the Holy Spirit does in believers who believe.
Dave G
Well-Known Member
Steven,
I'm not arguing for or against man's will being involved.
My question is,
Where does Hebrews 12:2 say that our faith actually comes from?
Steven,
I'm not arguing for or against man's will being involved.
My question is,
Where does Hebrews 12:2 say that our faith actually comes from?
My NASB reads,
fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith,
Fixing our eyes literally means "look to"
"Author" can also mean "leader"
To be honest, I always thought this means Jesus is the author of the Faith, and that He perfects it in us through His Spirit. I know I could be wrong, though.
Dave G
Well-Known Member
I agree.
But here's how I understand it:
au·thor
/ˈôTHər/
noun
noun: author; plural noun: authors
a writer of a book, article, or report.
"he is the author of several books on the subject"
- someone who writes books as a profession.
- "my favorite authors are Kurt Vonnegut and Aldous Huxley"
- the writings of a professional author.
"I had to read authors I disliked"
- an originator or creator of something, especially a plan or idea.
"the authors of the peace plan"
verb: author; 3rd person present: authors; past tense: authored; past participle: authored; gerund or present participle: authoring
- be the author of (a book or piece of writing).
"she has authored several articles on wildlife"- be the originator of; create.
"the concept has been authored largely by insurance companies"
- be the originator of; create.
- be the author of (a book or piece of writing).
Middle English (in the sense ‘a person who invents or causes something’): from Old French autor, from Latin auctor, from augere ‘increase, originate, promote’. The spelling with th arose in the 15th century, and perhaps became established under the influence of authentic .
From the Greek = " ἀρχηγός", transliterated as, " archēgos", and meaning "prince", "predecessor", " captain", "leader", "author".
I don't disagree with this,
but I lean towards the above.
Last edited:
Dave G
Well-Known Member
An interesting point...
Which brings me over here in my mind:
" Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort [you] that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.
4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ." ( Jude 1:3-4 ).
So, according to your current understanding of God's word, what is "the faith"?
Yes.
Dave G
Well-Known Member
paul wrote that scripture. inspired by the Holy Spirit, not Copeland or hagin!
Not in the sense of saved by Jesus as their Lord though!
Not as Lord as Paul meant here!
The point is not that unsaved call Jesus many names, many of them cuss words. but that NONE of the saved can call Jesus Lord except enabled by the Holy Spirit!
Barry Johnson
Well-Known Member
I think that s making more than the verse says . its not a complicated verse .
Its referencing only save persons there!