The two religions of the world

[npetreley]

Here's an interesting tidbit from John MacArthur on how to deal with false teachers.

http://www.biblebb.com/files/MAC/sg54-4.htm

The Two Religions of the World

Because of the many religious bodies existing in the world today, people are easily confused about how to differentiate them. But when you think about it, there are really only two religions in the world: the religion of divine accomplishment-- that God in Christ accomplished salvation apart from any effort of man--and the religion of human achievement--that men attain to salvation by something they do. The religion of divine accomplishment is the Christian gospel. Every other religion in the world in one way or another fits into the category of human achievement. Wherever false doctrine strikes a blow at the gospel, it will purport that man in and of himself can please God.

Hebrews 11:6 says that without faith it is impossible to please God. So if free-willism states that we can choose to have faith of our own free will, then free-willism states that we can, in and of ourselves, please God.

So if you agree with John MacArthur, free willism is false teaching and comes under the classification of being "the other religion of the world".

 

[donnA]

It's not a matter of agreeing with John MacArthur, but with scripture. As the verse you used point out, man can not please God before salvation, which means God not man chooses and is in control. The faith we have comes from the indwelling Holy Spirit after salvation.

 

[epistemaniac]

.... or... salvation itself is the gift of the Holy Spirit and though logically regeneration precedes faith, temporally belief and regeneration are simultaneous.... after all the new birth is just like the old birth, you can't "born" yourself the second time any more then you could the first time.....

blessings,
Ken

 

[npetreley]

Originally posted by donnA:
It's not a matter of agreeing with John MacArthur, but with scripture.

You are right, but I didn't want to quote the particular scriptures that say the unsaved cannot possibly please God, because that would derail the discussion into a "that's not really talking about the unsaved, it's talking about carnal Christians" discussion. That twist is the free willer's only defense against the truth.

 

[donnA]

I suspected you had a reason, you usually do. I just wanted people to recognize it is scriptural, and I am not in agreement with John MacArthur, but the bible.

 

[genesis12]

John do err, and he do err greatly. While it is true that God in Christ accomplished salvation apart from any effort of man, Christianity is not a religion. Therefore, it cannot be the "other side of the coin" in his proposition. It follows that there is only one religion: that of man promoting himself.

 

[JackRUS]

Originally posted by npetreley:
Here's an interesting tidbit from John MacArthur on how to deal with false teachers.

http://www.biblebb.com/files/MAC/sg54-4.htm

</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />The Two Religions of the World

Because of the many religious bodies existing in the world today, people are easily confused about how to differentiate them. But when you think about it, there are really only two religions in the world: the religion of divine accomplishment-- that God in Christ accomplished salvation apart from any effort of man--and the religion of human achievement--that men attain to salvation by something they do. The religion of divine accomplishment is the Christian gospel. Every other religion in the world in one way or another fits into the category of human achievement. Wherever false doctrine strikes a blow at the gospel, it will purport that man in and of himself can please God.

Hebrews 11:6 says that without faith it is impossible to please God. So if free-willism states that we can choose to have faith of our own free will, then free-willism states that we can, in and of ourselves, please God.

So if you agree with John MacArthur, free willism is false teaching and comes under the classification of being "the other religion of the world". </font>[/QUOTE]Real good. Now you want to damn everyone that doesn't agree with your god Calvin.

The two religions, do and done, cover true Christianity and every other religion in the world. And I don't believe that even Mac Arthur agrees with you on your interpretation of his teaching.

Election deals with the idea of why God chose His elect and how we got our saving faith in the finished work on the cross. It doesn't involve works either way.