Refuting effectually caused faith

[brightfame52]

I am not talking about your testimony or mine; those being the story of our lives prior to Christ, how we came to know him, and what has happened since we believed.

We are talking about hermeneutics, interpreting scripture, understanding its message to us and the rest of the world regarding salvation and eternity and how we are to live as witnesses of Christ in this world.

Soteriology is the theological study of salvation, it is not our “testimony” per se, but our belief of what scripture teaches about how we are saved.


Doug

Im talking the word of God.

 

[TibiasDad]

It says it to me, thats what matters, my testimony isnt yours Thank God

PS. I have no doubt about your faith in Christ; I just want to be clear about that. We are brothers in Christ, and while I disagree with your understanding of soteriology, I think we are family!

Doug

 

[TibiasDad]

Im talking the word of God.

So am I!

Doug

 

[brightfame52]

In order to savingly believe in Christ we must be first delivered from the power of darkness, which power we are all under in a unregenerate condition, in which man cannot believe the Gospel 2 Cor 4:3-4

3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:

4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

However if one is elect, and Jesus has redeemed them, they are or shall be delivered from the power of satans darkness Col 1

12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:

13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:

14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

There is no believing in and Gospel obeying without having been delivered from the power of darkness and being translated into the Kingdom of Jesus,

All Gods doing !

 

[brightfame52]

Also the word deliver in Col 1:13 is the greek word rhuomai:

1. to rush or draw (for oneself), i.e. rescue

1. to draw to one's self, to rescue, to deliver
2. the deliverer

So this compliments Jn 6:44;12:32


No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.

So both the Drawing of the Father and Son is the deliverance, the rescuing of their objects of drawing from the power of darkness , from the power of unbelief.

 

[brightfame52]

One of the reasons why Christ fulfilled His Covenant engagements in coming into the world to die for Gods elect, is so they will become rich, like rich in Faith and other Spiritual Blessings of the Covenant. 2 Cor 8:9

For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.
James writes of the New Covenant People James 2
5 Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?

Some translate this with "to be" Hath not God chosen the poor to be rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom,

John Gill writes:

rich in faith; not that they were so, or were considered as such, when chosen, and so were chosen because of their faith; for then also they were, or were considered as heirs of the kingdom, which would be monstrously absurd; and yet there is as much reason, from the text, for the one, as for the other; but the sense is, that they were chosen "to be rich in faith"; and so the Syriac version supplies in the next clause, "that they might be heirs"; which if it had been placed before this clause also, would have been right; election to grace is signified in the one, and election to glory in the other: men are chosen, not because they do believe, or shall believe, but that they might believe; and which faith they have in consequence of election; and which when they have, they are rich: faith is a rich precious grace itself; it is a part of the riches of grace, and is more worth than thousands of gold and silver; and it is the means of receiving and enjoying much riches, as Christ the pearl of great price himself, and all spiritual blessings along with him; such as the rich robe of his righteousness, full pardon of sin, which is according to the riches of his grace, and adoption, which makes men heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ, and even the eternal inheritance itself, both the promise of it, and a right unto it; all which are said to be received by faith; and therefore believers, how poor soever they may be, to this world's goods, are truly rich men:

and heirs of the kingdom;

This also shows James believed in Election !