So in your view, faith is simply a belief in the existence of "a" God, even if it is the wrong one? (Clearly, the Pharisees did not believe in the correct God, as Jesus called them hypocrites.) I don't see that as faith at all. True and God-given faith must be in Christ. The Pharisees did not have this.
I believe that Protestantism only concentrates on the "either God does everything or man does everything". "by the grace of God I am what I am; and his grace towards me was not in vain, for I laboured more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me." 1 Cor 15:10
I have acknowledged many times your saying that you believe that we do nothing good on our own, however, I still see that you give man individual credit. Free will demands this.
[continuing] See the interaction? See that we are a result of God's Grace? But see also how Paul notes that God's gifts were not wasted! It was not in vain! Doesn't this presuppose that man CAN ALLOW God's grace to fall in vain? Even a "saved" person?
I don't see the interaction at all, here, in terms of salvation because I don't think Paul was even remotely talking about salvation here. He was talking about his own preaching, and the grace God gave him to enable him to do so. God graces us in many different ways. Sure God may have graced me with the potential to be a great musician, but through my poor choices I might have blown that. I don't think it is the same at all with salvation. Those God chooses will be saved.
[On Matt. 23:37:] Isn't it clear that God is PINING for us? That God greatly desires us? He gives us so many gifts to come to Him, to choose Him. And yet, many still refuse. "And ye would not!" I hear exasperation in that voice. Frustration.
I don't agree that God pines for us. Why would He if He already knows the outcome? I do agree that it sounds like frustration, but I would put it in the same category as God asking Adam where he was because He didn't know. Jesus is teaching us what the non-elect look like, just as He teaches us what the elect do look like.
You are presuming that the person is falsely claiming faith, when in actuality, the person is mis-informed of his idea of what faith IS. An incorrect idea of faith will lead a person to "falsely" claim faith - which James sets about to correct. Faith comes with ethical teachings that we are bound to hold.
I have no idea what this means. :) So, a person can falsely claim faith, but still really have true faith? I still don't understand what you say faith does and does not include (i.e. love, etc.), where it comes from, and how much credit man deserves for his cooperation in his faith.
Well, can a person be saved without love? If a man's faith does not include love, what good is it? It is dead. Catholics do not separate the two. I am using these Scriptures to illustrate what happens when you say "faith alone - without works of love".
No, a person cannot be saved without love. I don't say "faith alone - without works of love", I say it is included in true faith, given by God. But you are separating the two because you hold that it is possible to have faith without love. That is separation. I think you'll say that God has something to do with faith, but as to love, you seem to put that all on man's choices. You say that love has to be a free will choice, which means uncoerced by God. You also say that God gives everyone all that he needs to be saved. That leaves the final power as to a man's salvation in his own hands. And yet, you still refuse to admit this.
The Pharisees didn't believe in the "correct" God??? Was there another God that gave Moses the ten commandments? I thought the God of the Old Testament was the same as the God of the New Testament - but more revealed through the ministry of Jesus Christ. The Pharisees believed in God, but their understanding of Him and His Law was not complete. It was corrupted on account of man-made traditions (such as Corban). They conducted religious deeds for the sake of pride, rather than humble worship of God. But they certainly believed in the "same" God. I think Jesus expected more from the Pharisees because of the knowledge that God had already given them. And their faith certainly was lacking. They trusted in themselves, rather than in God. It was a loveless faith.
True and God-given faith must be in Christ.
So Elijah's faith was worthless because it was not in Jesus Christ? Moses? David?
I have acknowledged many times your saying that you believe that we do nothing good on our own, however, I still see that you give man individual credit. Free will demands this.
That's the message of Scripture. We will be judged based on what WE do - in Christ. We won't be judged on making a one-time proclamation.
Those God chooses will be saved.
There's the "either/or" again. God made man in His image. We, like God, have free will. I don't see how this interferes with an all-powerful God's sovereignty. God's WILL is that we freely come to Him. When we say God "chooses" those He saves, He certain foresees our responses and grants us more graces to guide us along the way. But giving us graces does not destroy our free will. God's choice does not destroy man's free will. We don't KNOW what God's choices are! Thus, when we appear before our Lord and Savior, we will know whether God chose us all along - and we will see we freely chose Him.
I don't agree that God pines for us
WOW! That explains your concept of God... Clearly, you are missing the greatest theme of Scripture - God's love for mankind. Have you read the Song of Songs?
Why would He if He already knows the outcome?
So when you made the "offer she couldn't refuse" to your wife, you didn't pine for her - even though you "knew" she couldn't refuse? Hmm. I have no further questions, your honor...
I would put it in the same category as God asking Adam where he was because He didn't know. Jesus is teaching us what the non-elect look like, just as He teaches us what the elect do look like.
I suppose this derives from your view of God towards us. Rather than a loving God who cares for us and "waits for us by the road - seeing us from a distance" (Prodigal Son), you would have God a God who happily condemns to eternal hell-fire randomly chosen people or a God who is insecure about giving anyone any sort of credit (though He credits people with righteousness throughout Scriptures). God asked Adam where he was to draw out from Adam his mistake - to confess it and ask forgiveness. That's what people desire to hear - when they are in love...
So, a person can falsely claim faith, but still really have true faith? I still don't understand what you say faith does and does not include (i.e. love, etc.), where it comes from, and how much credit man deserves for his cooperation in his faith.
Well, then here is something simpler. Does faith include obedience to God's Will?
No, a person cannot be saved without love. I don't say "faith alone - without works of love"
OK. So far so good. Now. At what point does this "faith" become "faith with love", in other words, saving faith? You yourself admit that your initial faith was not 'saving faith', and thus, must not have had a sufficient amount of love. At what point does this faith become "sufficient" to save? Is it at the point of declaration? But if so, how can it have love? It appears to me that love is something acquired through experience, through action, through using the gifts God has given us - not something that is declared.
But you are separating the two because you hold that it is possible to have faith without love.
James and Paul do...So does Jesus. I believe John does, as well. It seems there are ample Scripture verses that discuss the difference between faith alone and faith with love.
I think you'll say that God has something to do with faith, but as to love, you seem to put that all on man's choices
Without God, we can do neither. That would be like saying to your kid - "Build me a Lego building" and then not give him any Legos. What good is that request? Does God do the same with us? Does He ask us to obey His commandments, and then not give us the ability to do it? From what I hear, that is exactly your idea of God - to the "un-elect"...
"If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall [your] heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?" Luke 11:13
From what I understand on your concept of God, He will refuse this to anyone not on His "list". God, from what I can tell, will NOT give gifts to certain people, unlike the evil man who does?????
This is why your view of God is very strange and foreign to me. It doesn't match with Scriptures.
Regards