what makes a church/group become a Cult?

[Lodic]

Show from Scripture where it says that salvation is by faith alone

No one is able to keep the Law, so no one can be justified by the Law, or by works. John 6:29 shows us that belief in Christ is the only required "work". Here are a few passages to support the doctrine of Sola Fide:
Romans 3:19-31, Romans chapter 4; Romans 10:9-13
Galatians 2:11-21; Galatians 3:6-4:11
Ephesians 2:8-9
Titus 3:5-7
I am interested in your "take" on those passages.

 

[SavedByGrace]

No one is able to keep the Law, so no one can be justified by the Law, or by works. John 6:29 shows us that belief in Christ is the only required "work". Here are a few passages to support the doctrine of Sola Fide:
Romans 3:19-31, Romans chapter 4; Romans 10:9-13
Galatians 2:11-21; Galatians 3:6-4:11
Ephesians 2:8-9
Titus 3:5-7
I am interested in your "take" on those passages.

My response is simple. Jesus the Highest Authority and very clearly say that sinners must REPENT the BELIEVE Mark 1.15. And in Luke 24.47 Jesus again says repentance for the forgiveness of sins. Which Peter says in Acts 2.37,38. Now answer this

 

[SavedByGrace]

No one is able to keep the Law, so no one can be justified by the Law, or by works. John 6:29 shows us that belief in Christ is the only required "work". Here are a few passages to support the doctrine of Sola Fide:
Romans 3:19-31, Romans chapter 4; Romans 10:9-13
Galatians 2:11-21; Galatians 3:6-4:11
Ephesians 2:8-9
Titus 3:5-7
I am interested in your "take" on those passages.

Please check this out

Repentance in the Reformed Confessions of Faith

 

[SavedByGrace]

What did Paul tell the Jailer to do?
Or Jesus to the Thief?

Please check this out

Repentance in the Reformed Confessions of Faith

 

[MB]

None can decide apart from the working of the Holy Spirit!

Why do you always assume what people are saying. I know you think you know me but you do not. I've never claim a man can be save without being convicted by the holy Spirit. Yet the Spirit does not save. Jesus Saves
MB

 

[SavedByGrace]

Why do you always assume what people are saying. I know you think you know me but you do not. I've never claim a man can be save without being convicted by the holy Spirit. Yet the Spirit does not save. Jesus Saves
MB

The Triune God saves!

 

[Lodic]

My response is simple. Jesus the Highest Authority and very clearly say that sinners must REPENT the BELIEVE Mark 1.15. And in Luke 24.47 Jesus again says repentance for the forgiveness of sins. Which Peter says in Acts 2.37,38. Now answer this

In your simple response, you ignore those inspired words of Scripture? Each passage clearly supports Sola Fide. Again, what do those passages mean?

 

[SavedByGrace]

In your simple response, you ignore those inspired words of Scripture? Each passage clearly supports Sola Fide. Again, what do those passages mean?

because none of the passages that you quote, says anything that a sinner need not repent. You are disagreeing with the Words of Jesus Christ and the Apostles by your denial that repentance is not required for salvation. I cannot say anymore on this, as I have repeated the same Scriptures over and over again, and it is ignored by yourself and others.

 

[Lodic]

Again, you are not saying what you believe these passages mean. One of the most basic rules of interpreting Scripture is to take it at it's basic meaning - i.e., the plain meaning of the text. You cannot make an argument from what a passage does not say. You have to go with what it does say. Each of those Scriptures very plainly states that we are saved by our faith in Christ. Technically, it's not our faith that actually saves us, but Christ, in Whom we place our faith. You are trying to put the proverbial cart before the horse. That would be akin to saying that if you committed a sin and died before repenting of it, you have lost your salvation. You have argued earlier that @AustinC has misused the Scripture, but you never explained how. The Scriptures, inspired by Almighty God, cannot contradict itself. I strongly urge you to prayerfully study Romans chapters 3 & 4.

 

[rlvaughn]

Just curious as to what doctrines and teachings held would move a church/group into a Cult status?

I tend to define cults based more on their characteristics than their doctrines. For example, if we identity a group as a cult for denying salvation by grace and the Trinity, wouldn't all Jewish religions be cults? As I think of it, most cults have a charming, charismatic leader. Despite the charm, the followers will find the leader demands unflagging loyalty and eventually exerts controlling and manipulative behaviour. Like an animal of prey, such leaders cut off individuals from their "pack" (family and friends) to only relate to the group. Maybe all of this is not present in all cases, but usually it will come to light.

All that said, cults also deny orthodox Christians teachings.

 

[AustinC]

Lets hear your interpretation

I have already addressed these two with you. Do you not recall? If not, I will not repeat for you what I already shared.

 

[AustinC]

How many times do I have to show the same Scripture verses? Jesus says REPENT and BELIEVE can you still not see this. Are you disagreeing with the Reformed confessions

How many times do we need to point out the context of the passage so you can understand the sentence upon which you cling?

 

[AustinC]

My response is simple. Jesus the Highest Authority and very clearly say that sinners must REPENT the BELIEVE Mark 1.15. And in Luke 24.47 Jesus again says repentance for the forgiveness of sins. Which Peter says in Acts 2.37,38. Now answer this

Those sheep whom God has chosen will believe and will repent. They do so because God has chosen to make them alive and gift them faith by God's grace.

 

[Salty]

six hour warning
This thread will be closed no sooner than 330 am (Thr) EST / 1230 am PST (Thr)

 

[MB]

In your simple response, you ignore those inspired words of Scripture? Each passage clearly supports Sola Fide. Again, what do those passages mean?

I looked those passages over and I'm not sure what you're pointing to. . It seems you are grasping to prove your doctrine..
Luke 2 is Peter preaching and men wanting to know what they should do to be saved. Peter tells them two more things they need which is repentance and Baptism.Repentance means to turn or change your direction. Natural men are on the road to hell. To be saved they have to change to the narrow path. The straight and narrow is the only way. Solo fide is a term I'm not familiar with. There are three things men need to be saved. Faith repentance, and baptism. There is nothing solo about it.
MB

 

[Lodic]

I looked those passages over and I'm not sure what you're pointing to. . It seems you are grasping to prove your doctrine..
Luke 2 is Peter preaching and men wanting to know what they should do to be saved. Peter tells them two more things they need which is repentance and Baptism.Repentance means to turn or change your direction. Natural men are on the road to hell. To be saved they have to change to the narrow path. The straight and narrow is the only way. Solo fide is a term I'm not familiar with. There are three things men need to be saved. Faith repentance, and baptism. There is nothing solo about it.
MB

@SavedByGrace wanted me to show where we are saved by faith alone. The passages are just that - they show that we are saved when we place our faith in Christ. Baptism doesn't save us. (That may need to be a new conversation.) Remember, the Penitent Thief was never baptized. Regarding repentance as a requirement, I'll agree that we repent of our sins when we give our lives to Christ.

Five Latin phrases came out of the Protestant Reformation that summarize the Reformers theological convictions. They are:
Sola Scriptura (Scripture Alone) - The Bible alone is our highest authority.
Sola Fide (Faith Alone) - We are saved through faith alone in Christ Jesus.
Sola Gratia (Grace Alone) - We are saved through the grace of God alone.
Solus Christus (Christ Alone) - Jesus Christ alone is our Lord, Savior, and King.
Soli Deo Gloria (To the Glory of God Alone) - We live for the glory of God alone.

 

[Yeshua1]

Again, you are not saying what you believe these passages mean. One of the most basic rules of interpreting Scripture is to take it at it's basic meaning - i.e., the plain meaning of the text. You cannot make an argument from what a passage does not say. You have to go with what it does say. Each of those Scriptures very plainly states that we are saved by our faith in Christ. Technically, it's not our faith that actually saves us, but Christ, in Whom we place our faith. You are trying to put the proverbial cart before the horse. That would be akin to saying that if you committed a sin and died before repenting of it, you have lost your salvation. You have argued earlier that @AustinC has misused the Scripture, but you never explained how. The Scriptures, inspired by Almighty God, cannot contradict itself. I strongly urge you to prayerfully study Romans chapters 3 & 4.

This is what caused Luther to accept Saved by faith alone, and trusting unto the Lord Jesus alone, as he would spend hours every day confessing his sins, and yet never got any peace doing that!

 

[Yeshua1]

I tend to define cults based more on their characteristics than their doctrines. For example, if we identity a group as a cult for denying salvation by grace and the Trinity, wouldn't all Jewish religions be cults? As I think of it, most cults have a charming, charismatic leader. Despite the charm, the followers will find the leader demands unflagging loyalty and eventually exerts controlling and manipulative behaviour. Like an animal of prey, such leaders cut off individuals from their "pack" (family and friends) to only relate to the group. Maybe all of this is not present in all cases, but usually it will come to light.

All that said, cults also deny orthodox Christians teachings.

I see religions such as Islam and Judaism separate from the cults, but do see Bible cults such as Mormons/Sda/JW distinct from easterm ones like TM!

 

[Yeshua1]

Those sheep whom God has chosen will believe and will repent. They do so because God has chosen to make them alive and gift them faith by God's grace.

Both their faith and repentance are gifts from God towards His own!

 

[Yeshua1]

@SavedByGrace wanted me to show where we are saved by faith alone. The passages are just that - they show that we are saved when we place our faith in Christ. Baptism doesn't save us. (That may need to be a new conversation.) Remember, the Penitent Thief was never baptized. Regarding repentance as a requirement, I'll agree that we repent of our sins when we give our lives to Christ.

Five Latin phrases came out of the Protestant Reformation that summarize the Reformers theological convictions. They are:
Sola Scriptura (Scripture Alone) - The Bible alone is our highest authority.
Sola Fide (Faith Alone) - We are saved through faith alone in Christ Jesus.
Sola Gratia (Grace Alone) - We are saved through the grace of God alone.
Solus Christus (Christ Alone) - Jesus Christ alone is our Lord, Savior, and King.
Soli Deo Gloria (To the Glory of God Alone) - We live for the glory of God alone.

Would to God that all of us here would believe on those same things!