I have heard Gospel presentations that include putting one's faith in Christ, or placing one's trust in Him; is this biblical and how does one do this? The Bible commands us to believe, but can we do this on our own? If we are born sinners, slaves to sin as our Lord tells us in John 8:34, then how can we who are in bondage to sin, which overpowers us, how can we place faith and trust in God? Is this not teaching salvation by works? Where does this faith and trust come from, is it buried deep within our depraved natures, do we have the ability to believe in Christ on our own? This debate will continue until Christ returns.
For a deeper look, let's go to Ephesians 2:8-9 for an explanation of this dilemma. You must go into the original language to understand and unpack these verses; for that, we turn to Jim McClarty...
6 comments:
Amen to that! God indeed has supplied everything to His people necessary for salvation...including faith.
The free will theology is damning to the soul; to tell a dead in sin sinner to place something they do not possess in Jesus is just as dangerous as telling them to repeat a prayer, make a decision, invite Jesus into their heart, or choose Him. Oh how God is being rob of glory due only Him by those who want to do 'something' to bring about their salvation, this is synergism, which means 'the theological doctrine that salvation results from the interaction of human will and divine grace'. If man must do something to bring about salvation, is he not robbing God of glory? God is not sovereign if He must have help bringing sinners into His kingdom; that is not the God that saved me, nor would I dare rob Him of one ounce of glory due only Him.
Amen, I love the end where he says "He did it all to the glory of his grace"... I love that it's all GOD getting all the glory and none of man. It's all Jesus...
Thanks that's excellent sister..
That's our greatest JOY is that God
Hallelujah!!
Hallelujah!!indeed Linda. Salvation is all of grace, solely for the glory of God; is He not worthy to be praised?!?! As I once heard a preacher named Art Azurdia say, 'it isn't that God saves some, it's that He saves any!'
God gives us the faith.
I don't know why I have faith and others don't, it is truly a gift.
I was talking with a loved one last weekend who told me he really wanted to believe, but just doesn't.
I pray God gives him this gift!
nice to hear from you Ma, your story is an example of this truth; you have faith because God has gifted you with the faith necessary to believe, your loved one wants to believe but simply cannot apart from Almighty God giving them this precious gift. True, lasting, saving faith comes from the One who gives us life, salvation and everything that goes with it...Jehovah God.
Bless you Ma,
lyn
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