Man's hope lies in FAITH!

[Skandelon]

Man's only hope of finding salvation lies in faith. The nature of faith is the benefits it brings, and the results it produces. It can all be summed up like this: Christ is given to us by the goodness of God; WE GRASP AND POSSESS him by faith; then we obtain a two-fold benefit.

1) When we are reconciled by the righteousness of Christ, God becomes a gracious Father instead of a judge.

2) When we are sanctified by his Spirit, we reach after intergrity and purity of life. This is new birth.

 

[annsni]

Then man saves himself.

Instead, I say man's hope lies in grace.

 

[freeatlast]

Man's only hope of finding salvation lies in faith. The nature of faith is the benefits it brings, and the results it produces. It can all be summed up like this: Christ is given to us by the goodness of God; WE GRASP AND POSSESS him by faith; then we obtain a two-fold benefit.

1) When we are reconciled by the righteousness of Christ, God becomes a gracious Father instead of a judge.

2) When we are sanctified by his Spirit, we reach after intergrity and purity of life. This is new birth.

What exactly are you trying to point out?

 

[Aaron]

Where does faith come from? Does man have it by nature, or is it given supernaturally?

 

[Martin Marprelate]

Man's only hope of finding salvation lies in faith. The nature of faith is the benefits it brings, and the results it produces. It can all be summed up like this: Christ is given to us by the goodness of God; WE GRASP AND POSSESS him by faith; then we obtain a two-fold benefit.

The nature of something is not usually defined by the benefit it brings. You will have to enlarge on that, please. The question concerning faith, of course, is, where does that faith come from? I point you, as usual, to John 6:44 & Eph 2:4-8.

1) When we are reconciled by the righteousness of Christ, God becomes a gracious Father instead of a judge.

We are reconciled by the death of Christ as well as by His righteousness (Rom 5:10).

2) When we are sanctified by his Spirit, we reach after intergrity and purity of life. This is new birth.

This is true, but it's not all the truth. You are conflating justification and sanctification. Without a new birth, we shall not so much as see the kingdom of God, much less enter it (John 3:3, 5). The Lord must open our hearts to receive the Gospel.

This might be helpful: http://marprelate.wordpress.com/2010/07/03/the-new-birth-2-the-necessity-of-being-born-again/

Steve

 

[Andy T.]

Skan, with all due respect, I believe the central theme of Scripture is that man's hope lies in Jesus Christ. Sure, grace through faith is the avenue, but to trumpet "faith as our hope" misdirects where our attention should lie - Jesus Christ. Do you see how some would see your theology as "man-centered" with a post like this?

 

[glfredrick]

Skan, with all due respect, I believe the central theme of Scripture is that man's hope lies in Jesus Christ. Sure, grace through faith is the avenue, but to trumpet "faith as our hope" misdirects where our attention should lie - Jesus Christ. Do you see how some would see your theology as "man-centered" with a post like this?

Amen, not to mention that the Bible gives God as the author and finisher of our faith:

Heb 12:2 says "...Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith". And Rom 12:3 says " ... God has allotted to each a measure of faith.” Rom 10:17 says " ... faith comes from hearing and hearing by the word of Christ."

Perhaps we should consider "faith" as "the enabling power of God" rather than mere "belief" based on very human observation and experience.

 

[Skandelon]

Where does faith come from? Does man have it by nature, or is it given supernaturally?

We are said to be clothed with him, to be one with him, so that we may live because he lives. The teaching is clear: "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him is said to have passed from death to life. He calls himself the bread of life; IF a man eats of it, he will never die. He is our witess that ALL who receive him BY FAITH, will be regarded as sons by our heavenly Father!

 

[glfredrick]

We are said to be clothed with him, to be one with him, so that we may live because he lives. The teaching is clear: "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him is said to have passed from death to life. He calls himself the bread of life; IF a man eats of it, he will never die. He is our witess that ALL who receive him BY FAITH, will be regarded as sons by our heavenly Father!

And, if that "faith" is a gift of the Father to the elect, then we're right back to God's sovereignty instead of an anthropologically-centered theology that is born of nothing more than rebellion against God's choice.

 

[Skandelon]

Amen, not to mention that the Bible gives God as the author and finisher of our faith:

Heb 12:2 says "...Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith".
And Rom 12:3 says " ... God has allotted to each a measure of faith.” Rom 10:17 says " ... faith comes from hearing and hearing by the word of Christ."

Faith is grounded on nothing else but the truth of God! Paul does not teach us that faith springs from any other kind of doctrine, but he expressly restricts it to the word of God!

 

[Skandelon]

Skan, with all due respect, I believe the central theme of Scripture is that man's hope lies in Jesus Christ. Sure, grace through faith is the avenue, but to trumpet "faith as our hope" misdirects where our attention should lie - Jesus Christ. Do you see how some would see your theology as "man-centered" with a post like this?

Faith in Christ brings life to all.

Christ brought life, because the Heavenly Father loves the human race, and wishes that they should not perish!!!

 

[Skandelon]

And, if that "faith" is a gift of the Father to the elect, then we're right back to God's sovereignty instead of an anthropologically-centered theology that is born of nothing more than rebellion against God's choice.

There is no worse screen to block out the Spirit than confidence in our own intelligence.

The nature of something is not usually defined by the benefit it brings. You will have to enlarge on that, please. The question concerning faith, of course, is, where does that faith come from? I point you, as usual, to John 6:44 & Eph 2:4-8.

With regard to Eph. 2:9: Many persons restrict the word gift to faith alone. But Paul is only repeating the former statement. His means, not that faith is the gift of God, but that salvation is given to us by God.

 

[Skandelon]

Then man saves himself.

Instead, I say man's hope lies in grace.

No man is excluded from calling upon God, the gate of salvation is open for all men! There is nothing which keeps us from entering in, except only our own unbelief!!!

 

[glfredrick]

There is no worse screen to block out the Spirit than confidence in our own intelligence.

Yet, that is exactly what you are proposing by naming faith as something anthropomorphically derived. If faith is a gift of God, the the Holy Spirit is the one doing the gifting. If faith is something that we generate within ourselves that allows us to come to God, then we are indeed hindering or counterfeiting the work of the Holy Spirit.

With regard to Eph. 2:9: Many persons restrict the word gift to faith alone. But Paul is only repeating the former statement. His means, not that faith is the gift of God, but that salvation is given to us by God.

I am not doing that. I realize that SALVATION is of God, and that faith is one part of what we call salvation.

Additionally, I cannot see how arguing as you have here is actually helping your cause. But you did just admit to a Calvinistic principle, that the components OF salvation, faith being one, ARE from God and not from man.

Of course, you will come back with your standard caveat, that if I (we) just understood Classical Arminianism, we would grasp the fact that God is yet supreme in salvation, His grace going forward before any actions of man, &c. The problem is, we DO know it, and we watch you argue it often when it is convenient to your platform. But you always end up defaulting to an anthropologically-centrific position eventually. You have to because of the final clause build into most of the 5 Articles that stipulates that God only acts as He knows man to act first -- the fatal flaw in the Arminian position.

Human will is not "free" in a libertarian sense, it is bounded by God's decrees. We also do not have the "choice" to "choose God" for we have no ability as slaves to sin, cursed to death, dead in our sin and trespasses, individuals to choose anything save for more sin, because even our "good works" as as "filthy rags" to an utterly holy and righteous God.

 

[glfredrick]

No man is excluded from calling upon God, the gate of salvation is open for all men! There is nothing which keeps us from entering in, except only our own unbelief!!!

2Th 2:13 ¶ But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:

2:13 Ἡμεῖς δὲ ὀφείλομεν εὐχαριστεῖν τῷ θεῷ πάντοτε περὶ ὑμῶν ἀδελφοὶ ἠγαπημένοι ὑπὸ κυρίου ὅτι εἵλετο ὑμᾶς ὁ θεὸς ἀπ᾽ αρχῆς εἰς σωτηρίαν ἐν ἁγιασμῷ πνεύματος καὶ πίστει ἀληθείας​

2Th 2:14 Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

2:14 εἰς ὃ ἐκάλεσεν ὑμᾶς διὰ τοῦ εὐαγγελίου ἡμῶν εἰς περιποίησιν δόξης τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ​

 

[Skandelon]

Additionally, I cannot see how arguing as you have here is actually helping your cause. But you did just admit to a Calvinistic principle, that the components OF salvation, faith being one, ARE from God and not from man.

Knowing Christ consists in receiving him as he is offered by the Father; that is, empowered with the Gospel. He is the object of our faith and we cannot find the way to him without the guidance of the Gospel.

We must remember that there is an inseparbel link between faith and the Word!!!

The Word is the base on which faith rests and is strengthened. If it moves from it, it falls. Take away the Word, and there will be no faith.

 

[Skandelon]

2Th 2:14 Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The preaching of the gospel gives life; thus he justly concludes that God invites all equally to partake salvation.

 

[Martin Marprelate]

No man is excluded from calling upon God, the gate of salvation is open for all men! There is nothing which keeps us from entering in, except only our own unbelief!!!

That is absolutely correct. The only problem is that men will not come because they prefer darkness to light (John 3:19) unless God Himself shines the light into their hearts (2Cor 4:6).

Steve

 

[Old Union Brother]

Skandon what are you trying to prove? If you are trying to say the following then just come out and say it. Jesus being the author and finisher of our faith is the truth of God
Heb 12:2 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.

and

Gal 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

 

[Skandelon]

Skandon what are you trying to prove?

Man's only hope of finding salvation lies in faith. WE GRASP AND POSSESS him by faith!!!

Christ suffered for the sins of the whole world, and is offered through God's graciousness indiscriminately to all, yet all do not receive him. There is nothing which keeps us from entering in, except only our own unbelief. God has at heart the salvation of all, because he invites all to know his truth.