@armylngst
It's not saying partial or full, and if you say you are calvinist, you might as well say you are of Paul or Apollos. I don't like named theologies because they are constricting. I see myself as calvinistic, where my beliefs are not contradictory to, but in line with calvinist beliefs. (As in TULIP.)
Greetings armylmgst,
I myself try to avoid naming folks Calvinist, or Armenian, since there's good people on both sides and reprobates on both sides, so there, the main reason I avoid placing labels on God's children ~ I may on rare occasions used them, but very seldom.
That being said, I'm a true
hyper Calvinist, or
high, whichever a person desires to use; again, makes little difference to me. I do not follow the
tulip since I am not true Calvinist, beside True Calvinism takes in a very wide scope of people, many of which are of the reformed community of believers, which teaches infant baptism, which we reject as heresy, and covenant theology, etc. You said:
Salvation is all of God. I am saying that faith is not directly the gift of God, that is salvation, but faith is not a work of us, its a reaction. That reaction comes as a result and directly connect to in that case, to what God has done. We do not create faith in ourselves.
The truth is this: Salvation is indeed all of God, since man by the fall is at
enmity against God, having
"lost" God's image of righteousness, knowledge, understanding, and the power to do spiritual acts pleasing unto the God who created us. Man, became
in bondage to sin and his new master,
the devil himself! God's almighty power alone can deliver a sinner from his spiritual death and condemnation he is living in.....yes, it takes
the same power that resurrected Jesus from the dead, to raise a sinner form being dead in trespasses and sin, to life in Jesus Christ. Read Ephesians 1:19-2:1.
John 8:44
“Ye are of
your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do.
He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.”
Note carefully: The devil was a murderer from the beginning of time on this earth ~ he was actually a
murderer of Adam and Eve, and of
all their posterity, by tempting them to sin, which brought death and
ruin upon them; and who quickly after that instigated Cain to slay his brother; and has had, more or less, a concern in all murders committed since; and has been in all ages, and still is, a murderer of the souls of men; and therefore is rightly called Abaddon, and Apollyon, which signify the destroyer:
Salvation is all of God. I am saying that faith is not directly the gift of God, that is salvation, but faith is not a work of us, its a reaction. That reaction comes as a result and directly connect to in that case, to what God has done. We do not create faith in ourselves.
The truth is this: brother, faith is given to God's children (Philippians 1:29) in this sense: Jesus Christ, God's Righteous Servant
secured eternal life for each and every child of God, and in due time that life is imparted to them by the Spirit of the Living God; and from
"that point forward" they have the power, authority to have faith t
hrough the NEW MAN that is created in us by the power of Almighty God. Example would be helpful to prove my point.
Luke 19:1-10~And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich. And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature. And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house. And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully. And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner. And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold. And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost."
So much truth within these ten verses of scriptures! Jesus without question went by many houses before he ever came to Zacchaeus' house, but, the time had come that he
MUST go there and the reason given is this:
forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham, not a natural son, but a Son of God's promises secured by His holy oath!
Salvation and all spiritual blessings included in the salvation of God are freely given to us through Jesus' life acting as our surety before God's law! Praise be unto God and to Lamb of God, both now and forever more.