Where does it say that? "Reborn"? The text of Titus 3:5 doesn't say anything about being "reborn", but being regenerated and being renewed. And your definition of faith? We don't see that in Romans 2 at all.
Scripture interprets Scripture. "Whatsoever is not of faith is sin" is a clear statement of fact with plenty to teach us. As blue-duncan wrote so clearly yesterday...
Naturally, because you said so! I interpret the Scriptures differently because the context does not imply that eating meat is sinful - as an offense against God - but as an error in teaching. You are reading into Scripture your own theology, rather than what is there.
"Jesus says unless our righteousness exceeds that of the pharisees we cannot enter the kingdom of God. Paul says in 1 Cor. 13:3, "And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing."
Yes, and where is "faith alone" in that statement? This verse violates YOUR interpretation, because you said that anything done without faith is sin, while Paul says that faith to move mountains without love is NOTHING. Faith and love are two different things in 1 Cor 13.
Thus, according to you, all acts of love, unless done by the specially designated elect, are sinful...
Are you sure you think Paul means that?
And the greater the fall, the greater the gift of rehabilitation. We've all fallen and we can't get up unless and until God regenerates our hearts to believe in Jesus Christ's sacrifice because "whatsoever is not of faith is sin."
As usual, half truths. You connect a truth to something that is false and declare it as "the Word of God". Yes, the fall was great, and our salvation that much greater. And then, you insert the "whatsoever is not of faith is sin" misinterpretation. The Church does not believe that EVERY action of a non-believer is sinful, nor does Scripture make such a short-sighted claim. That comes from your theological construct of the Elect vs. the Damned dichotomy, rather than Scriptures. We find numerous "heathens" who do the will of the Lord in Scriptures! "To sin" is to do something against God's will - to disobey God. Did Cyrus the Persian king, a heathen, disobey God's will?
Paul could not be clearer. "Reconciled" not after we've done good works, but "reconciled while we were still enemies." Through unmerited grace alone we have been saved from the wrath of God who despises sin, saved by grace through faith in the blood of Christ whose atoning work on the cross "we have now received" as a "gift" and not as payment for services rendered.
Yes, ALL MEN ARE RECONCILED TO GOD! He couldn't have been more clear. And yet, you think that Jesus died only for a select few set of persons...
Where does the Sciptures say that Jesus died ONLY for the elect?
Regards
I know the RCC has trouble with the concept of "being reborn," but that is exactly what the words "regeneration" and "renewing" are referring to.
If you think there's a difference, what is it?
We find numerous "heathens" who do the will of the Lord in Scriptures!
Many men think they're obeying the law and thus they think they are being righteous. But God says if we break even one part of the law we have broken all of it and we remain condemned.
Your humanistic attitude shows so clearly in your misinterpretation of the verses.
Look at Romans 5. To whom is Paul speaking? To those who have been "justified by faith." Not every man, only believers.
"But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many." -- Romans 5:15
The grace of God abounds to "many." Not "all."
"For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)" -- Romans 5:17
Again, those who "receive" grace and the "gift of righteousness" will reign with Christ. Not the entire world because the entire world does not "receive Christ."
"Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life." -- Romans 5:18
The "free gift came upon all men," which means, in this context, that all men are without excuse for not recognizing the truth that Christ is God. The gift stares them in the face, but they rebuke it because they have not been given eyes to see what is truly in front of them.
"For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous." -- Romans 5:19
Again, "many" will be made righteous.
Yes, ALL MEN ARE RECONCILED TO GOD!
If all men today are reconciled to God, then all men are acquitted of their sins and all men will end up in heaven and hell is empty.
Nowhere does the Bible say all men are reconciled to God, and thus forgiven of their sins.
If God wanted all men to be saved, all men would be saved.
Where does the Sciptures say that Jesus died ONLY for the elect?
On just about every page. But John 17 is pretty clear...
And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them." -- John 17:9-10"I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.
And don't try to say these verses are only to the Apostles, because Christ corrects that error 10 verses later...
"Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word" -- John 17:20
Cheer up, jo kus! You are not just another number to God. You are among a very specific group of sinners for whom Christ died. He has paid for your sins, every one of them. Rejoice.