You Are Chosen! Believe it or Not! Like it or Not!

[The Archangel]

Is, "by faith," in that verse from Acts 26:18 grammatically, an action?

No, "by faith" is not an action. The word for faith, here, is a dative noun modifying the perfect, passive participle "sanctified."

So, sanctification is the more major idea in view. Sanctification, being passive, is done to us by means of faith in Christ.

The Archangel

 

[Winman]

Acts 26:18 To open their eyes, [and] to turn [them] from darkness to light, and [from] the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.

I have a question for you and also for all. Remember I know no Greek and barely know any English.

Is, "by faith," in that verse from Acts 26:18 grammatically, an action?

Well, faith is not a work, but it means to trust Jesus, to rely or depend upon him. It is like the old hymn, "Leaning, leaning, leaning on the everlasting arms".

A good example is skydiving. When you jump out, you are trusting the parachute to get you down safely. You are completely relying or depending on the parachute to do all the work necessary. You do not flap your arms and try to fly.

It is the same with Jesus, you come to him in your heart and cast your very soul upon him, depending and relying on him only to save you. It is not a work, it is a ceasing from all work and trusting Jesus only to save you.

The problem with asking others about Greek is you have no idea if they are correct. Even Greek scholars often disagree with the interpretation of Greek text. Look how often those who know English disagree with the interpretation of a verse. It is the same in Greek, scholars often disagree.

 

[Winman]

Winman, Sampson is listed in the quote, unquote hall of faith in the book of Hebrews. Show me his action of faith from the story in the book of Judges. He had no quote, unquote faith, other than God choose him. His last and maybe his only prayer was for revenge.

I disagree, Samson had faith in God from the time he was a child, it is implied;

Jud 15:24 And the woman bare a son, and called his name Samson: and the child grew, and the LORD blessed him.

All men receive some common grace from God. He makes the rain to fall on the righteous and the wicked. But God does not pour out his grace on unbelievers.

Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Grace is favor. It is not merited, but God shows favor to those who believe his promises. We have access into grace by faith (Rom 5:2). Abraham believed God, so God imputed righteousness to him.

Calvinism teaches you receive faith through grace, this is error. The scriptures teach you receive grace through faith, the exact opposite.

Samson's mother had been promised that Samson would deliver the Jews from the Philistines. It is no doubt that Samson's mother taught him this.

Jud 13:5 For, lo, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; and no rasor shall come on his head: for the child shall be a Nazarite unto God from the womb: and he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines.

Samson believed this promise. How do we know? He never cut his hair! And God blessed Samson and had favor on him for his faith.

When Delilah tried to find Samson's strength, he was very careful at first not to reveal that his strength lay in his long hair. Unfortunately, he gave into her charms and revealed this secret.

Jud 16:17 That he told her all his heart, and said unto her, There hath not come a rasor upon mine head; for I have been a Nazarite unto God from my mother's womb: if I be shaven, then my strength will go from me, and I shall become weak, and be like any other man.

As you see, Samson believed what God had told his mother. And obviously she had told this promise to Samson.

We also see Samson's faith in God after he had slain 1000 men with the jawbone of an ass.

Jud 15:18 And he was sore athirst, and called on the LORD, and said, Thou hast given this great deliverance into the hand of thy servant: and now shall I die for thirst, and fall into the hand of the uncircumcised?

Samson gave credit for his victory to God. He called himself God's servant. Samson had faith in God.

And finally, we see Samson's faith again when he called on God for strength to collapse the temple.

Jud 16:28 And Samson called unto the LORD, and said, O Lord GOD, remember me, I pray thee, and strengthen me, I pray thee, only this once, O God, that I may be at once avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes.

So, there is much evidence that Samson believed and had faith in God.

 

[percho]

No, "by faith" is not an action. The word for faith, here, is a dative noun modifying the perfect, passive participle "sanctified."

So, sanctification is the more major idea in view. Sanctification, being passive, is done to us by means of faith in Christ.

The Archangel

I agree and would you agree it is done to us by the Holy Spirit?
From whence and why is the Holy Spirit given? Along this same thought let me ask.

1 Cor 6:11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

Does that verse say essentially the same thing as Acts 26:18 and would it be incorrect to replace, "by faith that is in me," with, "in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God?"

Also is the structure of the grammar of the Greek of those two verses the same or similar relative as to what is being modified and how?

Did the Comforter come because Jesus went away? Did Jesus receive the promise of the Holy Spirit from God the Father before it was given to us? Was it necessary for him to receive the Holy Spirit? Before you give to quick of an answer to that question; According to Gal 1:1 and Rom 8:11, 1 Peter 3:18 by what means did God the Father raise up Jesus the Son from the dead?

While I am asking questions; Looking at these phrases standing alone in this manner, do they say the same thing?

and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he hath shed forth = and renewing of the Holy Spirit; Which he shed on

 

[OldRegular]

Well, faith is not a work, but it means to trust Jesus, to rely or depend upon him. It is like the old hymn, "Leaning, leaning, leaning on the everlasting arms".

A good example is skydiving. When you jump out, you are trusting the parachute to get you down safely. You are completely relying or depending on the parachute to do all the work necessary. You do not flap your arms and try to fly.

It is the same with Jesus, you come to him in your heart and cast your very soul upon him, depending and relying on him only to save you. It is not a work, it is a ceasing from all work and trusting Jesus only to save you.

Faith that a parachute will open bears no relation to saving faith.

 

[Winman]

Faith that a parachute will open bears no relation to saving faith.

Tell that to someone when their parachute fails.

 

[Winman]

I agree and would you agree it is done to us by the Holy Spirit?
From whence and why is the Holy Spirit given? Along this same thought let me ask.

1 Cor 6:11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

Does that verse say essentially the same thing as Acts 26:18 and would it be incorrect to replace, "by faith that is in me," with, "in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God?"

Also is the structure of the grammar of the Greek of those two verses the same or similar relative as to what is being modified and how?

Did the Comforter come because Jesus went away? Did Jesus receive the promise of the Holy Spirit from God the Father before it was given to us? Was it necessary for him to receive the Holy Spirit? Before you give to quick of an answer to that question; According to Gal 1:1 and Rom 8:11, 1 Peter 3:18 by what means did God the Father raise up Jesus the Son from the dead?

While I am asking questions; Looking at these phrases standing alone in this manner, do they say the same thing?

and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he hath shed forth = and renewing of the Holy Spirit; Which he shed on

Percho, no one receives the Holy Spirit until after they believe, so how could it be Jesus's faith in you before you receive the Spirit?

Gal 3:2 This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

Paul's question demands the answer that these Galatians first heard and believed the gospel before they received the Spirit.

Eph 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

This verse is very plain, Paul said these Ephesians #1 heard the gospel, #2 believed the gospel, #3 received and were sealed by the Spirit.

There are MANY more.

Acts 19:2 He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost

Paul's question clearly shows he believed a person receives the Spirit after they believe.

Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Peter told these Jews they must repent, that is, turn from unbelief and trust in Jesus for the forgiveness of their sins, and then afterward they would receive the Holy Spirit.

You have to believe with your own faith, and then afterward you receive the Spirit.

 

[The Archangel]

Percho, no one receives the Holy Spirit until after they believe, so how could it be Jesus's faith in you before you receive the Spirit?

You have to believe with your own faith, and then afterward you receive the Spirit.

Hmmm...

In another post you said:

I said in my first post that a few people such as prophets had the indwelling Spirit.

This scripture does not say king Saul had the indwelling Holy Spirit, only that the Spirit came upon him. But king Saul was a prophet, if only for a time.

So then, what about Balaam. By all accounts Balaam was not a believer and yet Numbers 24:2 tells us that the "Spirit of God came upon him."

So, was Balaam a believer?! By your argumentation, he would have had to be since the Spirit of God came upon him. Yet...Balaam was not a believer.

Can you explain the contradiction?

The Archangel

 

[OldRegular]

Still waiting WM!

Originally Posted by Winman
Yes, I can. I also showed this verse in another thread.

Acts 26:18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.

Jesus told Paul that he would be sent to preach to the Gentiles that they "may receive" forgiveness of sins "by faith that is in me".

The phrase "may receive" is the word lambanō in the Greek, which means to take hold of something with the hands.

The request was related to the passage from Ephesians which you posted, with emphasis, to support your doctrine [#87]! I show your emphasized Scripture again and ask the same question:

Originally Posted by Winman
Eph 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:
2 Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
8 Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;
9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:

Originally Posted by OldRegular
Ephesisns 1:1-10 tells us what God does for us. Can you show anywhere in that Scripture where any action by man is required to receive what God does for us. NO!

If you can't answer WM because it would destroy your doctrine then just say so!

 

[C/O]

[post snipped and new poster warned that this sort of post will get you on the outside looking in]

 

[quantumfaith]

Calvinism seems to me to be a lie from the pit of hell. Its only purpose is to discourage Christians.

C/O, you might want to try be just a "wee bit" more diplomatic.

 

[Iconoclast]

what makes you say this....co?
What do you think it teaches?

 

[percho]

Percho, no one receives the Holy Spirit until after they believe, so how could it be Jesus's faith in you before you receive the Spirit?

Gal 3:2 This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

Paul's question demands the answer that these Galatians first heard and believed the gospel before they received the Spirit.

Eph 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

This verse is very plain, Paul said these Ephesians #1 heard the gospel, #2 believed the gospel, #3 received and were sealed by the Spirit.

There are MANY more.

Acts 19:2 He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost

Paul's question clearly shows he believed a person receives the Spirit after they believe.

Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Peter told these Jews they must repent, that is, turn from unbelief and trust in Jesus for the forgiveness of their sins, and then afterward they would receive the Holy Spirit.

You have to believe with your own faith, and then afterward you receive the Spirit.

Even though I think the KJV to be the preferred version from the preferred text, those good old boys did not do very well with this text Eph. 1:13, IMO which ain't much being I know no Greek. So you Greek fellers tell me; How well did they do with this text?

YLT in whom ye also, having heard the word of the truth -- the good news of your salvation -- in whom also having believed, ye were sealed with the Holy Spirit of the promise,

That verse doesn't miss saying the following by much sans the Holy Spirit setting one apart, as these verses state.

John 10:26,27 But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: (Are Believing Ones)

That is who are set apart by the Hole Spirit which they receive because of what the One speaking did. Which seals them for: 28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any [man] pluck them out of my hand.

Eph,1:13,14 ye were sealed with the Holy Spirit of the promise, which is an earnest of our inheritance, to the redemption of the acquired possession, to the praise of His glory.

 

[OldRegular]

It is true. The Doctrines of Grace magnify the Grace of God, they give all Glory to God. Apparent some people cannot accept that truth or else they are totally ignorant of what really constitutes the the Doctrines of Grace. I hope it is the latter and that they do not wish to subject the Grace and Glory of God to their own sinful will.

 

[percho]

C/O, you might want to try be just a "wee bit" more diplomatic.

I wonder what his first post said??

 

[Dr. Bob]

Downhill, speeding out of control, and closed.