Faith? Where does it come from?

[Internet Theologian]

And so?
Your quote is from Downing who is the pastor of the Sovereign Grace Baptist Church.
Their stated "Doctrinal Distinctive" is:

http://www.sgbcsv.org/aboutUs/

IOW, you quote from a Calvinistic pastor who uses both the First And Second London Confessions as their expressions of faith. And you think I would agree with that?? As far as I am concerned, you have a flawed source.

You too have a confession of faith, you most likely call it your statement of beliefs, doctrinal statement, or such like. It is most likely quite perfunctory in nature but is nonetheless the same exact thing and serves the same exact objective, just much weaker in content as is typical of SOF's. Thus, using your standard of measure, your source is also weak, only much weaker.

 

[Iconoclast]

You too have a confession of faith, you most likely call it your statement of beliefs, doctrinal statement, or such like. It is most likely quite perfunctory in nature but is nonetheless the same exact thing and serves the same exact objective, just much weaker in content as is typical of SOF's. Thus, using your standard of measure, your source is also weak, only much weaker.

There is never an attempt to get to the truth.....it is attack the messenger....even if he has the correct message....this is insanity.

 

[DHK]

You cannot begin to touch upon the content of anything in either confession, and furthermore in your wildest dreams you cannot begin to deal with the teaching offered in these links.
They are offered for you and others to learn as they are Christ centered as are Calvinists.
Your hatred for these truths makes you turn from these truths, and as Jesus pointed out as you turn from light you turn to darkness.

At least be truthful and not slanderous.
I don't hate people, and I never even hinted that I hated the man. Where did you get that idea?
It is the doctrine I don't agree with.

Anyone without an agenda like you carry around on your back like a burden, will enjoy the clarity of thought offered in any of these links...in fact, they already have.

Contrary to your never ending accusations, I don't have an agenda. That is an endless false accusation by you. When I see doctrine that I believe is wrong, then I am not ashamed to speak out against it. That is not an agenda.

This is one of the pastors who could correct your errors on the carnal Christian teaching but you refuse wisdom...as well as the three words used in the greek that explain our one English word...carnal.

There are many carnal Christians, even posting on this board. All who are not yielded to the Holy Spirit are acting out of their own flesh, and not of the Spirit. That makes them carnal. If he denies this basic simple truth then he too is wrong.

Your condescension has been noted.

 

[DHK]

You are critical of all these sources.....and yet we all have noticedthat you never have attempt to show any flaw in them. This speaks volumes....CautiousCautious

I went through a confession once on this board. That was enough. I will never do it again.
Thus your post is a lie. It is not necessary for me to read all your sources, just to know where they come from. If they are Reformed or Calvnistic, then I know what they believe already. "The same old; the same old."
I will use my Bible. I believe in sola scriptura. The confessions are not my authority.

 

[DHK]

You too have a confession of faith, you most likely call it your statement of beliefs, doctrinal statement, or such like. It is most likely quite perfunctory in nature but is nonetheless the same exact thing and serves the same exact objective, just much weaker in content as is typical of SOF's. Thus, using your standard of measure, your source is also weak, only much weaker.

Your reply is strange. I didn't say anything about weakness. A person can build a very strong argument defending a false position. That is not the point. The Calvinistic CoF are very detailed. So what? The Catechism of the RCC is very detailed as well, but I don't plan on doing a point by point exposition of that any time soon either.
It doesn't matter whether or not our statement of faith is longer or shorter. What matters is if it adheres to the scriptures. Our statement of faith adheres to the scriptures much more closely than the Westminster or London CoF. And that is all that I have to say on that matter.

 

[SovereignGrace]

I don't think your argument is very sound. When were you saved? Was it the very first time you heard the gospel? How often did you hear the Word of God before you were saved?
The Scriptures say:
Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. The more Jesus would preach the Word the more people would be saved, hence the more "ears would be opened." Faith comes by hearing the Word of God.
Some mission fields are harder than others. I read of a missionary who preached for seven years in India before he saw one soul come to Christ. But after that one, then many others came. Faithfulness to the Word is key.

William Carey? Yes, he toiled for seven years. But it appears to me you are saying people have to will themselves to be born again. Not saying you are, but that is how it comes across to me.

 

[TCassidy]

If they are Reformed or Calvnistic, then I know what they believe already.

And there it is. As a life long educator I have found that the greatest impediment to learning is the thought "I already know all about that."

I will use my Bible.

As will we all.

I believe in sola scriptura.

Yes, that great REFORMED doctrine!

The confessions are not my authority.

Nor are they ours except as they correctly expound the inspired scriptures. Remember the rest of the great REFORMATION solas: Sola Scriptura, Sola Fide, Sola Gratia, Solus Christus, and Soli Deo Gloria.

 

[DHK]

William Carey? Yes, he toiled for seven years. But it appears to me you are saying people have to will themselves to be born again. Not saying you are, but that is how it comes across to me.

No. When you give a child a gift what does that child do? He or she simply reaches out in simple faith and receives it. He doesn't "will himself" to receive the gift, as you say. He is not a "warlock." Faith is not magic. It is not a work. It is simple confidence, confidence in the giver that what he is giving is what he said: a good gift, and in this case a gift that is able to forgive his sins.

Matthew 7:9 Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?
Matthew 7:11 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?

 

[SovereignGrace]

FTR, being born again(regeneration) and salvation are not the same. Being born again brings salvation. Man is passive in the birth of the Spirit, active(after being sensitized by the Spirit) in salvation.

 

[TCassidy]

He or she simply reaches out in simple faith and receives it.

How does a dead child reach out to receive anything?

 

[SovereignGrace]

Who said 'faith is magic'? It's supernatural, a gift of God(saving faith here), not 'hocus pocus'.

 

[SovereignGrace]

How does a dead child reach out to receive anything?

***playing Jeopardy theme***

 

[DHK]

And there it is. As a life long educator I have found that the greatest impediment to learning is the thought "I already know all about that." As will we all.Yes, that great REFORMED doctrine!

When the message centers around TULIP I don't need to listen to any more of it.
But that is what certain posters want me to do. I am not a Calvinist. I don't intend on becoming one.

Nor are they ours except as they correctly expound the inspired scriptures. Remember the rest of the great REFORMATION solas: Sola Scriptura, Sola Fide, Sola Gratia, Solus Christus, and Soli Deo Gloria.

The solas I have no quarrel with, except that some here are reluctant to admit to sola fide.
Obviously, not being a Calvinist, I don't agree with everything a Calvinistic Confession would say. I don't believe it correctly expounds the truth, and on that point we would have to agree to disagree.

 

[Internet Theologian]

Your reply is strange. I didn't say anything about weakness.

It's not strange at all. You said 'flawed source' which implies weakness. There is nothing strange with that other than you can't connect the dots.

That being said, your statement of faith is much weaker than any COF.

 

[DHK]

How does a dead child reach out to receive anything?

"Dead" simply means "separated," not "a corpse."

Faith is trust. Do you ever reach out in faith to your wife? Do you trust her?

 

[Iconoclast]

At least be truthful and not slanderous.
I don't hate people, and I never even hinted that I hated the man. Where did you get that idea?
It is the doctrine I don't agree with.

Contrary to your never ending accusations, I don't have an agenda. That is an endless false accusation by you. When I see doctrine that I believe is wrong, then I am not ashamed to speak out against it. That is not an agenda.

There are many carnal Christians, even posting on this board. All who are not yielded to the Holy Spirit are acting out of their own flesh, and not of the Spirit. That makes them carnal. If he denies this basic simple truth then he too is wrong.

Your condescension has been noted.

I was truthful.
If you read my post correctly i mentioned your hatred of the doctrine. I did not say you hated this man...
So I never said anything like you reported....
Your response confirms my post as accurate.

 

[SovereignGrace]

"Dead" simply means "separated," not "a corpse."

Nekros, Monsieur, nekros.

Faith is trust. Do you ever reach out in faith to your wife? Do you trust her?

Different faith. Just like you love your wife differntly than your Saviour.

 

[DHK]

I was truthful.
If you read my post correctly i mentioned your hatred of the doctrine. I did not say you hated this man...
So I never said anything like you reported....
Your response confirms my post as accurate.

You refer to my hatred and my agenda. I don't look at it as an accurate post at all.

 

[Internet Theologian]

I was truthful.
If you read my post correctly i mentioned your hatred of the doctrine. I did not say you hated this man...
So I never said anything like you reported....
Your response confirms my post as accurate.

I wish there was a *BAM!!!!!!!!!!!!* feature on here!

 

[DHK]

Different faith. Just like you love your wife differntly than your Saviour.

No. Faith is faith. Faith is confidence, trust, in the word of another. It is the object of faith that is different.
One can have faith in a spouse.
One can have faith in Christ.
Only one can save you.