Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article

To: Rashputin
I have been careful in these threads to emphasize 'faithing' from the Greek word 'pistis', a verb best translated as faithe. It is the essence of what being raised up in the Way that we should go is about. BUT, you of all folks here should know that to even get into that alignment, you must first believe He is Savior and Lord and be Born from Above thereby. THEN He has His Spirit in you to deal with the babies so born from above. Paul didn't use metaphors like milk and meat for nothing.

When James spoke of being able to know someone has 'faith that saves' he focused attention on the works, because IF the Life of God is in a man, the character of God will show forth. James was not teaching that to have salvation you must do works to earn it. He was explaining that IF you have it you will see the works as evidence. Folks turn the perspective on its head. James was teaching folks how to know if someone had saving Faith, as he said 'I'll show you my faith (that saving faith which God sees in the inward parts and sends His Spirit into them because of it) by my works.' He never said I'll get salvation by my works.

116 posted on 06/23/2015 4:03:57 PM PDT by MHGinTN (Is it really all relative, Mister Einstein?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 114 | View Replies ]


To: MHGinTN
Well, ain't that grand, careful with one word and accepting that God Himself can't say exactly what He means.

From that set of assertions regarding a personal interpretation of what "works" means and knowing that Protestantism claims that each individual can read the mind of God and claim that when God Himself said something He didn't mean exactly what He said, it follows that Paul wasn't right when he said :

Romans 11:21 For if God hath not spared the natural branches, fear lest perhaps he also spare not thee.

So, now along with denying the power of the Holy Spirit, reading the mind of God, and claiming the individual has the right to ignore verses that don't fit into their personal preferences, we now have clear evidence that Protestantism by definition has to disagree with Paul. At least when they want to disagree with Paul.

118 posted on 06/23/2015 4:21:07 PM PDT by Rashputin (Jesus Christ doesn't evacuate His troops, He leads them to victory.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 116 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson