Posted on 02/27/2011 8:08:19 PM PST by Natural Law
Faith Without Works? Do Calvinists Actually Read the Christian Bible? Is anyone as mystified as I am at this contradictory and unbiblical Calvinist “Sola Fide” idea that faith without works is sufficient for salvation? How can Calvinists reject James Chapter 2 which states that; “What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him?” (James 2:14) and "Faith without works is dead" (James 2:26). To do so is antithetical to Scripture.
The Calvinist rejection of James is at best substitutional, permitting Calvinists to conclude that works naturally follow from and are only a result of true faith thus requiring no conscious commitment or consideration. The result is a negation of the call to Beatitude and a rejection of the obligations of the Second Greatest Commandment issued by Jesus Himself.
Borrowing from Hinduism many fringe Calvinists actually practice a form of the Brahiminst caste system in which they profess that their own Salvation was secure from the beginning of time and no obligation exists toward the less fortunate and needy because God rejected their election from the beginning of time.
The substitution of actual, contextual Scripture for the more flattering personal interpretations is a return to the Gnostic heresies that the Church successfully rejected more than a thousand years earlier. They attempt to seek truth through Scripture on their own despite the admonition of Peter who stated; “But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation” (2 Peter 1:20).
Faith alone is insufficient. Adam and Eve had faith yet fell. They spoke directly with God yet succumbed to sin. What about Paul, whom many Calvinists give greater credence than Jesus, when he says; "And if I should have prophesy and should know all mysteries, and all knowledge, and if I should have all faith, so that I could move mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing." (1 Corinthians 13: 2).
Perhaps the citations some will more closely identify with; the demons whom Jesus expelled.
"And behold they [the demons] cried out saying: What have we to do with thee, Jesus Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time?" (Matt 8: 29).
The demons had faith certainly equal to that of the Calvinists. Not only do they profess that Jesus is the Son of God, but they also have a profound knowledge of Scripture and profess belief in the final judgment. Peter didn’t profess that Christ is the Son of God in Matthew 16:16-- eight chapters later. Why didn’t Jesus didn't make the demons the rock on which He built His Church? He required Works to build His Church.
So, where did you learn your beliefs? Did you pick up the Bible on your ownsome and completely with no influence from anyone else or from any other commentary etc arrive at your beliefs?
The book of James was written to a converted Jewish church , not heathens seeking salvation . It tells them how their conversion is seen by the unsaved world . It is not about becoming saved or being saved. It is about the fruit of your salvation. It is about how the world sees their faith.
Jam 2:17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Jam 2:18 Yea, a man may SAY Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
This is an amplification of the teaching of Jesus that we know a tree by the fruit it bears. It is how we know the saved from the unsaved. It does not declare that the man has faith ...but that he SAYS he has faith.
This addresses a hollow profession of faith , not a saving one .Can a hollow profession save him? NO, any more than works can save.This scripture says to the church that this faith is non existent , it is dead.
The bible is clear that it is God that gives the faith and it is God that ordains the works of the saved
Eph 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. Hbr 13:21 Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom [be] glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Phl 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of [his] good pleasure.
What about books like Genesis -- don't you believe like us in the young-earth and literal 7 days?
Ephesians 2:7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Galatians 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
It’s not the Church that started the “saved by grace” idea.
I picked up the Bible and with prayer for guidance got rid of some of the heretical beliefs of the organized religions. The real church (small c) are those who trust in Jesus alone.
Ok, but you still came with ideas and concepts about everything. you did not pick up a bible and come up with your beliefs that Jesus is God, that there is the Trinity, etc.
So, if you don't care what the Church teaches -- do you believe we are saved by God's grace or not?
So, if you don't care what the Church teaches -- do you believe we are saved by God's grace or not?
If you DO believe that we are saved by God's grace, then you do "care" what the Church teaches because you believe the same
“Calvinists deny Genesis and that God created man good.”
So we are back to Pelagianian heresy, now?
Young earth? So do you believe the first act of God came out a mess?
Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. 2 And the earth was (Tohu Va Bohu) without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep.
God did nothing for all of eternity past, then created a mess to have to make it better?
What I said was Calvinists deny Genesis and that God created man good. On the contrary, they say that God created imperfect beings.
The Calvinists have made their deity a deity that creates evil. Since they do that, they hence believe their deity has evil in Him
No, I don’t because that “Church” may also teach that there is “another way” to the Father then Jesus alone. The deceptions of Satan always include some truths to deceive and lead astray.
Do you not believe that God created the world in 7 days?
Why don't you believe that we are saved by God's grace?
>>Do you not believe that God created the world in 7 days?<<
So you answer a question with a question? How about answering my question first?
1JOHN5" This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all[b] sin. 8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us."
How many people I have met who are delusional like a person from work. He would go to Christian coffee shops and church to get alone to massage womens feet first then work his way up to other things. He did it repeatly. He was proud of it. He says he is saved because once saved always saved. There are millions of them like this Guy and woman he meets. All because they have been taught once saved always saved.This is devil inspired foolishness. You have to live the life period. God will not be mocked!!!
Praise Jesus!
So, do you teach the Bible to others or just toss them the Bible to decipher on their own?
If you do teach them, why?
What about yourself? you said that you learnt the concepts of Christianity from others - so you were taught some concepts and then read the Bible to fit your beliefs?
But still a brother or sister in Christ, and part of our Lord's true church. :)
God bless for your many insightful posts.
To try to imply that because I don’t put my faith in the “Church” is cause to think that I don’t believe something is really getting desperate on your part imo.
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