Faith is a Gift, not just an action.

[Reformed]

And how is faith not a gift according to Romans 10:17

I think I know where MB is going to go with this. He may say that faith comes from hearing. The Calvinist heartily agrees with that. However, the Calvinist believes that the sinner is unable to hear accompanied by faith because he is spiritually dead (Ephesians 2:1) and unable to respond (Romans 8:7; 1 Corinthians 2:14) unless the Holy Spirit makes him capable of responding. This is done through illumination/regeneration. This is a point in which Calvinism and Arminianism clash.

 

[MB]

And how is faith not a gift according to Romans 10:17

you have to do something to get it. You have to listen.
MB

 

[InTheLight]

I think I know where MB is going to go with this. He may say that faith comes from hearing. The Calvinist heartily agrees with that. However, the Calvinist believes that the sinner is unable to hear accompanied by faith because he is spiritually dead

“Therefore let it be known to you that the salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will hear it!”
Acts 28:28



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[InTheLight]

Well first, what is his faith in? Is it in Jesus to save him from his sins, or is it that Jesus could heal his son. Those aren't the same thing you know.

His faith was that Jesus was the son of God and that he could heal his servant's son.

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[Reformed]

“Therefore let it be known to you that the salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will hear it!”
Acts 28:28

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL

Amen! No Calvinist disagrees with that. The gospel did go forth to the Gentiles after the Jews rejected it. But then we are back to what I wrote in post #21. While the gospel went forth to the nations, that did not change individual sinfulness and the inability to appropriate spiritual truth without the Holy Spirit making the individual capable of hearing (with faith). I know we disagree about this but stating it plainly helps keep the conversation from going in circles.

 

[Reynolds]

Thought that was pretty obvious.

Just making sure because there are three types. You could possibly say 4.
1. God gifted.
2. Natural.
3. Developed. (From hearing/studying The Word)

 

[utilyan]

Just making sure because there are three types. You could possibly say 4.
1. God gifted.
2. Natural.
3. Developed. (From hearing/studying The Word)

Kinda like racism and the color of your own skin. You don't make the choice, God does it for you. So if you just happen to be the bad spiritual color....... oh well.

 

[Reynolds]

Kinda like racism and the color of your own skin. You don't make the choice, God does it for you. So if you just happen to be the bad spiritual color....... oh well.

You can go to the tanning bed or do like Michael Jackson.

 

[loDebar]

And here is your problem. Jesus is not the one that gifts faith.

what? too much,

 

[Reformed1689]

you have to do something to get it. You have to listen.
MB

So again, you believe in a works-based salvation.

 

[Reformed]

So again, you believe in a works-based salvation.

Brother, please do not get upset with me, but I tend to look at MB's comments the way I made them 20 years ago. Taken at face value, it does seem that Synergists are advocating a works-based salvation when they make statements like, "you have to do something to get it". But as Dr. James White is fond of saying, "They are guilty of a happy inconsistency." On the one hand, Synergists will say that salvation is all of God. On the other, they will say that they have the free will to believe or not. Obviously, common sense dictates that you cannot have it both ways, thus the "happy inconsistency".

 

[MB]

Brother, please do not get upset with me, but I tend to look at MB's comments the way I made them 20 years ago. Taken at face value, it does seem that Synergists are advocating a works-based salvation when they make statements like, "you have to do something to get it". But as Dr. James White is fond of saying, "They are guilty of a happy inconsistency." On the one hand, Synergists will say that salvation is all of God. On the other, they will say that they have the free will to believe or not. Obviously, common sense dictates that you cannot have it both ways, thus the "happy inconsistency".

Thank you for your nasty remarks. They show what your true character is.
.MB

 

[MB]

So again, you believe in a works-based salvation.

Thank you for your nasty remarks. Like reform's remarks they show what kind of Christian you are.
MB

 

[Reformed1689]

Thank you for your nasty remarks. Like reform's remarks they show what kind of Christian you are.
MB

How were my remarks nasty? They pointed out a flaw in your theology. If the truth is nasty then so be it.

 

[InTheLight]

So again, you believe in a works-based salvation.

.
#4.

 

[Reformed]

Thank you for your nasty remarks. They show what your true character is.
.MB

Nasty? My intent was to be gracious. Honesty prevents me from ignoring our differences. However, while I believe you are in error I am thankful that you claim to be in Christ. If that counts as nasty then I am (gladly) guilty as charged.

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[MartyF]

We cannot exercise faith in God without God. Paul makes clear that Faith is a gift by which we are saved.

Ephesians 2:8-10

Faith is given to the elect by God.

Why not use

2 Peter 1:1 NLT
This letter is from Simon Peter, a slave and apostle of Jesus Christ. I am writing to you who share the same precious faith we have. This faith was given to you because of the justice and fairness of Jesus Christ, our God and Savior.

?

Doesn't it better express your point?

Then we can argue about what the word given means . . .

 

[Reformed1689]

Why not use

2 Peter 1:1 NLT
This letter is from Simon Peter, a slave and apostle of Jesus Christ. I am writing to you who share the same precious faith we have. This faith was given to you because of the justice and fairness of Jesus Christ, our God and Savior.

?

Doesn't it better express your point?

Then we can argue about what the word given means . . .

Does it better express? Not necessarily, but it does show that multiple biblical authors were on the same page. We are given faith as a gift. It's nothing we come up with on our own.

 

[loDebar]

We cannot exercise faith in God without God. Paul makes clear that Faith is a gift by which we are saved.

Ephesians 2:8-10

Faith is given to the elect by God.

If faith is an action, it makes it works,

We do not believe with out minds, like a math problem we figure out, we believe with our hearts .It is not an action,

 

[37818]

Apart from the gift of faith (1 Corinthians 12:9), faith is nowhere referred to as a gift.