Posted on 01/04/2013 7:15:20 AM PST by xzins
I was just wondering at what point am I able to take back what I turned over to God. In other words, am I even able to take it back?
I imagine one would not want to if one had a honest conversion.. The question came up in conversation over a decade ago and I always wondered about it.
By the way, I was not trying to refute your initial post.
Amen, amen and amen! Thank you for your merciful grace Father!
My personal belief, wino, and I believe it is biblical, is that we cannot snatch ourselves from Christ’s hands.
My recourse, then, for explaining those whose lives simply deny they are Christians, is that they never really believed in the first place.
Paul calls it “confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the death.” It is talking about a sincere faith that both outwardly acknowledges Jesus as Lord and inwardly clings to Him in the deepest part of our being.
Is there another kind of “believe” that doesn’t meet that standard? I think there is. I tend to view it as “cognitive assent to a notion.”
Thanks, Mitch. I appreciate the kindness in your note.
Good answer. It came about because I was questioning the actions of another friend.
His point was the Lord has me right where he wants me or can use me. Its hard to be used by the Spirit to do good works if one is not humble
Fifth Edition of the Lexicon of FreeRepublic * * A helpful FR dictionary for newcomers * *
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/673536/posts
bflr = bump for later read
The link is many years old and I seem to recall running across a more recent one, but this is the one I have bookmarked. I need to update my bookmarks.
Thanks Mom, I added that link to my favorites.
Bookmark for later read.
Bookmark for later read.
Well stated.
Thank you.
Thanks for the ping!
We can define these three pillars as follows:
2. The Total Depravity of Humanity: Human beings are born sinners with a sinful nature we inherited from Adam. We are born condemned, and our personal actions and choices only worsen our condemnation. We are dead in our sins and trespasses against God and His law. We are slaves to sin. On our own, we can do nothing that pleases God or has any real spiritual value. This does not mean that we are all as bad as we can possibly be. God’s common grace restrains us from total chaos. Yet, we are thoroughly corrupted at every level of our being: mind, body, heart and soul.
3. The Complete Sufficiency of Christ: The only hope such sinful people have of salvation lies entirely in the work of Christ on our behalf. Jesus’ sinless life, perfect and sacrificial death and glorious resurrection accomplished our salvation in its entirety. The whole basis for our forgiveness and acceptance by God is the work of Christ. We add nothing to this work by our own actions or decisions. Christ and Christ alone is our entire salvation.
I'm not sure all the Corinthians in the church were saved nor do I belive Paul thought so as well given his many rebukes to them. Especially this:
2Co 13:3 since you seek proof that Christ is speaking in me. He is not weak in dealing with you, but is powerful among you.
2Co 13:4 For he was crucified in weakness, but lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but in dealing with you we will live with him by the power of God.
2Co 13:5 Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!
2Co 13:6 I hope you will find out that we have not failed the test.
Put another way, if Christ came to us and said, ""Do you want to go away as well?" would we answer, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God."
That is the test.
What is thy servant, that thou shouldest look upon such a dead dog as I am?...Depart from me; for I am a sinful man,O Lord.......I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
(2 Samuel 9:8,Luke 5:8,Hebrews 13:5)
Amen to that! However that desperatly wicked and deceitfull heart that still has way too much sway on the mind wants nothing other than to avoid God's Word because it slowly but surely is coming to the realization that that word is indeed going to put it to the sword.It is deceitfull and it will cloak itself in all sorts of seemingly Godly works to that end.
"...have come to know..."
Such a small statement but that right there is the whole box and dice of "the work of God".Something we must do in order to cease from our own works and be found in Him not having our own righteousness but instead be submitting ourselves to His righteousness.(and as an added benefit we are guaranteed that we will never fall if we do it)
That's not to sound cocky but rather is the result of doing that work.To become "persuaded that He IS able"
Given the many warnings in the New Testament against false believers trying to deceive the church, it seems it ought to be obvious that mouthing words claiming belief are not what saves us, but the life giving and life changing baptism of the Holy Spirit. Does anyone believe the constant indwelling presence of Holy God in our lives will not compel us to live differently, and to feel differently from before?
Thanks for the series to come. I’m on the Arminian side, but it is early & I’ve been sick the last few days and besides those arguments aren’t the point of the thread.
On a societal side, has it ever been more obvious that America is NOT a nation dominated by Christians?
Put another way, if Christ came to us and said, ""Do you want to go away as well?" would we answer, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God."
Exactly. The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. It's a good thing God looks on the heart.
And those verses represent the key thrust of this thread/series.
I see no problem with following through with Paul's instruction.
I agree with you...
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