Is Faith a gift?

[ScottEmerson]

Originally posted by Ken Hamilton:
Scott wrote: "God has allowed them to repent."

Scott, the verse doesn't say "allowed". You are reading that into the text because of your theological blindspot.

Scott wrote: "Christ most certainly grants repentance for all those who choose"

Scott, the verse says nothing about them choosing. You are reading that into the verse because of your theological blindspot.

Scott wrote: "Grant repentance to those who wish it."

Scott, the verse says nothing about wishing. You are reading that into the text because of your theological blindspot.

Scott wrote: "You have not answered to the Scriptures posted showing where faith originates."

Scott, yes I have. You simply do not accept this truth because of your theological blindspot.

Ken
A Spurgeonite

What you say is a theological blindspot has been shown in my ten or so Scriptures that you quite simply have not answered. One might ask who has the theological blindspot, since you did not answer a one.

Again, the verse you posted present no problem to the Arminian theological paradigm, only in your interpretation of our framework. Meanwhile, we await your answer to the ideas about faith - especially when Christ calls the apostles as peopel with "little faith."

 

[KenH]

Thank you, Ray

, for admitting that you believe that man contributes to his salvation, that you do not believe salvation is totally by God's action or work alone but that man's action or work is required for salvation - according to the non-Calvinist's soteriology.

So now we see the issue clearly. Calvinists teach that salvation is by God's grace alone. Non-Calvinists teach that salvation is by God's grace through man's work added to God's grace.

Let the reader understand the stark contrast here - either man is saved by God or man is saved by his work. Calvinists say the former and non-Calvinists say the latter.

I believe that God is my Savior - therefore I am a Calvinist. The non-Calvinist is welcomed to try to be his own savior as his soteriology requires him to be.

Ken
A Spurgeonite

 

[KenH]

Scott,

To be saved one must believe. When the Holy Spirit regenerates a person, that person then repents and believes. Otherwise, you are saying a person must repent and believe while being spiritually dead, separated from God. If a man could accomplish that, then that man would be his own savior.

Ken
A Spurgeonite

 

[Ray Berrian]

Anyone who has not asked Jesus, by his or her own faith and trust in Him, has not received the benefits of His covenant provided at the Cross. [John 3:16] Christian labels and quasi-Christian theologies are not the criterion for entering life with Him above. Belief in Jesus is Who saves and gives everlasting life, not an alleged ‘zap' from out of the blue yonder.

 

[ScottEmerson]

Originally posted by Ken Hamilton:
Thank you, Ray

, for admitting that you believe that man contributes to his salvation, that you do not believe salvation is totally by God's action or work alone but that man's action or work is required for salvation - according to the non-Calvinist's soteriology.

There it is again! Faith is not a work, according to Arminian theology AND the Bible, unless you can present otherwise. In fact, the Bible clearly demarcates between the two: Faith without works is dead.

So now we see the issue clearly. Calvinists teach that salvation is by God's grace alone. Non-Calvinists teach that salvation is by God's grace through man's work added to God's grace.

You're still maintaining that belief is a work, which is a step you skipped right over.

Let the reader understand the stark contrast here - either man is saved by God or man is saved by his work. Calvinists say the former and non-Calvinists say the latter.

Let the reader understand that Ken has not shown how belief is a work.

I believe that God is my Savior - therefore I am a Calvinist. The non-Calvinist is welcomed to try to be his own savior as his soteriology requires him to be.

Straw man. Plain and simple.

 

[ScottEmerson]

Originally posted by Ken Hamilton:
Scott,

To be saved one must believe. When the Holy Spirit regenerates a person, that person then repents and believes. Otherwise, you are saying a person must repent and believe while being spiritually dead, separated from God. If a man could accomplish that, then that man would be his own savior.

Believe it or not, but it is not an either/or scenario. You cannot prove that there are only two ways of theology, nor have you shown how within both paradigms, your definition of terms applies. Thus, your conclusion does not follow.

Again, please read what Arminius says, since you keep muddling what it is that we believe.

 

[tnelson]

If people use their own faith then everyone has this faith, but God Word which is truth says:
2 Thessalonians 3:2 " and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men; for not all have faith. Only those that have been granted to believe have saving faith." Any other is the wide road.

by His Grace
mike

 

[ScottEmerson]

Originally posted by tnelson:
If people use their own faith then everyone has this faith, but God Word which is truth says:
2 Thessalonians 3:2 " and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men; for not all have faith. Only those that have been granted to believe have saving faith." Any other is the wide road.

by His Grace
mike

Read that again. it says that not all have faith. Nowhere does it say that those who have been granted to believe have saving faith. It's not in the Greek, nor any of the translations I could check.

 

[Pastor Larry]

Originally posted by ScottEmerson:
Read that again. it says that not all have faith. Nowhere does it say that those who have been granted to believe have saving faith. It's not in the Greek, nor any of the translations I could check.

Maybe you should read it again. In teh context, those with faith are contrasted with the perverse and evil men. Clearly, the contrast is saved vs. unsaved so "saving faith" is what Paul is talking about.

 

[ScottEmerson]

Originally posted by Pastor Larry:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by ScottEmerson:
Read that again. it says that not all have faith. Nowhere does it say that those who have been granted to believe have saving faith. It's not in the Greek, nor any of the translations I could check.

Maybe you should read it again. In teh context, those with faith are contrasted with the perverse and evil men. Clearly, the contrast is saved vs. unsaved so "saving faith" is what Paul is talking about.</font>[/QUOTE]He says that "Only those who have beeng granted saving faith" are in quotes as part of the verse. This simply is not true.