praise_yeshua
Well-known member
Samson had faith. He used the power of the Holy Spirit to defeat the enemies of God.
Eternal Security
- Thread starter Ahar
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Samson had faith. He used the power of the Holy Spirit to defeat the enemies of God.
Dizerner
Well-known member
It was his hair not his faith.
It was a gift.
And she said, "The Philistines are upon you, Samson!" So he awoke from his sleep, and said, "I will go out as before, at other times, and shake myself free!" But he did not know that the LORD had departed from him. (Jdg. 16:20 NKJ)
Look at all that "faith" Samson had.
Didn't do squat.
praise_yeshua
Well-known member
It was?
Jdg 15:14 And when he came unto Lehi, the Philistines shouted against him: and the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him, and the cords that were upon his arms became as flax that was burnt with fire, and his bands loosed from off his hands.
Jdg 15:15 And he found a new jawbone of an ***, and put forth his hand, and took it, and slew a thousand men therewith.
Brother.... I preached about this 35 years ago.
Dizerner
Well-known member
And she said, "The Philistines are upon you, Samson!" So he awoke from his sleep, and said, "I will go out as before, at other times, and shake myself free!" But he did not know that the LORD had departed from him. (Jdg. 16:20 NKJ)
Look at all that "faith" Samson had.
Didn't do squat.
Preach better.
jeremiah1five
Well-known member
None of the apostles had "saving faith." And salvation does not depend on men to effect it. When God is ready to save someone the Holy Spirit who is faith Personified gives the person saving faith and it is a gift. That's why all the parts of salvation are a gift from God. Before conversion dead men have no faith.
Doug Brents
Well-known member
Salvation does indeed depend on men to affect it. If God's will were the only will in play, then everyone would be saved because God does not desire that anyone should be condemned (2 Pet 3:9). That means that there is another will in play. God put the gift of salvation out there "on the table", but it is up to man to pick it up and receive it. If we choose to leave it on the table, then we don't receive it and do not get the benefit that is possible. Faith is NOT the gift mentioned in Eph 2:8-9. It is salvation that is the gift. And salvation is received through faith (which man provides/produces).
Pancho Frijoles
Well-known member
It is the whole process that is a gift in Ephesians 2:8-9.
So we are right when they say that faith and repentance is a gift from God.
And we are also right when they say that people seek God, trust God, choose God.
In God we exist and move, and any thing we enjoy, even our free will, is a gift from Him.
From a prayer of Bahá’u’lláh:
O Lord! We are weak; strengthen us.
O God! We are ignorant; make us knowing.
O Lord! We are poor; make us wealthy.
O God! We are dead; quicken us.
Pancho Frijoles
Well-known member
And that’s precisely what happens.
If God wants it, God gets it. He can’t be frustrated or defeated… and He doesn’t need to force anyone.
He persuades, convinces, charms, punishes, attracts, moves, shakes, and do what is needed.
He is God and He will be all in everyone.
praise_yeshua
Well-known member
Have you had the same experience?
You know it wasn't "squat". I don't preach Samson. Just making the point that God answered His prayer. That means more than "squat"
jeremiah1five
Well-known member
The parameters of the New Covenant initiated by Jesus at the last Passover - my body, my blood given FOR YOU - is the mechanics of salvation and Jeremiah describes its scope to only Israel with whom God has covenant:
34 And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying,
Know the LORD:
For they shall all know me,
From the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD:
For I will forgive their iniquity,
And I will remember their sin no more.
Jeremiah 31:34.
This was accomplished at the covenant cross of Jesus who in the place of the animal sacrifice died to atone for those in covenant with God (Israel) and Jeremiah describes the New Covenant prophesied by Jeremiah shows the act of God who forgives Israel and remembers their sin no more. There is no "accept Jesus into your heart" for Jeremiah says nothing about that. Israel is already in covenant with God as Abraham's seed made within the Mosaic Covenant and only the children of Israel is in possession of this covenant by which "All Israel shall be saved" as written by Saul.
The text written by Peter describes the "usward" who are the recipients of this letter:
"to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ" 2 Peter 1:1.
They are the "usward" who Peter writes and says:
9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward
2 Pe 3:9.
The "us-ward" are the covenant people of God by the apostle to the Jews.
God put that gift "out there" as promised by Him and the people who are the promised seed are the seed of Abraham.
There is no "receiving" and it is not meant for "Gentiles." It is meant for the people who have covenant with God (Abraham, Mosaic, and New) covenants with God.
Jesus was sent to the "lost sheep of the House of Israel" and died for the "lost sheep of the House of Israel" There is nothing for Hebrews to do for they are already in covenant with God.
But I find no covenant in Scripture between God of Abraham and non-Hebrew Gentiles. None.
You are following false, Gentile-biased Constantinian Gentile theology.
Doug Brents
Well-known member
Certainly everything we have and are is a gift from Him. But that is beyond the scope of this discussion. Repentance and faith are our response to what He has done. Faith is our response to hearing the Gospel (Rom 10:17). And repentance is our turning toward Him and away from our sin in response to His love.
But not everyone will be saved. Jesus said that the majority (the many) will be lost, but only the few will be saved. At Judgement, the many goats will be sent to eternal death (separation from God), while only the few sheep will be gathered into eternal life.
Doug Brents
Well-known member
LOL, we have been through this before. The Gentiles who believe in Jesus are grafted into Israel, and the Jews who disbelieve in Jesus are cut off from Israel (Rom 11:11-31).
Dizerner
Well-known member
civic
Well-known member
Job 42:2
“I know that You can do all things and that no plan of Yours can be thwarted.
Proverbs 19:21
Many plans are in a man’s heart, but the purpose of the LORD will prevail.
Daniel 4:35
All the peoples of the earth are counted as nothing, and He does as He pleases with the army of heaven and the peoples of the earth. There is no one who can restrain His hand or say to Him, ‘What have You done?’”
Isaiah 46:10
I declare the end from the beginning, and from ancient times what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and all My good pleasure I will accomplish.’
Isaiah 43:13
Even from eternity I am He, and none can deliver out of My hand. When I act, who can reverse it?”
Lamentations 3:37
Who has spoken and it came to pass, unless the Lord has ordained it?
Psalm 33:10-11
The LORD frustrates the plans of the nations; He thwarts the devices of the peoples. / The counsel of the LORD stands forever, the purposes of His heart to all generations.
Dizerner
Well-known member
You really gotta get your old Calvinism stronghold completely flushed out of you.
Complete
Well-known member
'For by grace are ye saved through faith;
and that not of yourselves:
it is the gift of God:
Not of works, lest any man should boast.
For we are His workmanship,
created in Christ Jesus unto good works,
which God hath before ordained
that we should walk in them.'
(Eph 2:8-10)
Hello @Doug Brents,
Our salvation is a grace by faith salvation, and it is the gift of God to us in Christ Jesus: but as you say it is there for anyone to receive, but not all will.
Thank you
In Christ Jesus
Chris
Believer
New member
Doug Brents
Well-known member
Certainly salvation is grace (a gift) from God, received through faith (man's belief and actions in response to that belief). Thus, it is in man's power to accept or reject the gift of God (grace).
Doug Brents
Well-known member
Jonah could have still refused to do as God instructed. God would have found another way to get Ninevah to repent (just as Esther said before she went to the King without being summoned), but Jonah would have died (physically and spiritually) running away from God.
Believer
New member
woulda coulda shoulda
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