Why do so many stumble over imputed righteousness?
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Read them in light of what I am saying; and seek to understand whether they say what I am saying or not.
If you are honest, you will see that they do say what I am saying.
A person can read a verse a thousand times; and the thousand and first time the Holy Spirit will illuminate the passage to them.
That's how the Holy Spirit works.
FHII
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Many stumble over imputed righteousness because they want to believe in their works. They want to believe that they are living a life worthy of salvation. They lean on grace for their short comings (because it is convienet) but prop up their lifestyle and choices as proof of their worth. They fall for the line James, the half brother of Jesus feeds them. That they can show their faith by their works.
"Imputed righteousness" is heavily talked about in Romans 4. That chapter clearly shows that we are not under the law. That we are to have faith. WE... NOT JESUS! Jesus had faith and we get energy from that, but we must have faith, too.
"Imputed righteousness" is heavily talked about in Romans 4. That chapter clearly shows that we are not under the law. That we are to have faith. WE... NOT JESUS! Jesus had faith and we get energy from that, but we must have faith, too.
1Co 6:11, And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
Here, clearly, the order of things is first being washed, then sanctified, and then justified.
2Th 2:13, But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:
Here, we have salvation "through" sanctification of the Spirit; which indicates that sanctification is the means by which we obtain salvation; therefore sanctification comes first.
1Pe 1:2, Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.
Here we are made elect, again, "through" sanctification of the Spirit; and this is unto obedience and after this comes being sprinkled with the blood of Jesus Christ; compare this:
Rom 5:9, Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
I cant see where you understand any of those verses, and you are not teachable with me. Nevertheless, Justification before God and Gods Law is prior to any sanctification or faith/repentance. A person Christ died for is Justified before God before faith, for the simple fact that Christ has died for them, thats it.
FHII
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We have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand (Romans 5:1-2).
Therefore a person cannot be in grace apart from having faith.
And therefore faith comes before grace in every equation.
Rom 5:1-2 is Truth, nevertheless Justification comes way before sanctification and faith. Faith is a fruit of Sanctification of the Spirit, but the Spirit only sanctifies the Justified !
Rom 5:2 doesnt say "a person cannot be in grace apart from having faith." You stated that without any support.
It does teach that.
Faith as a fruit of the Spirit cannot be the same faith as the faith by which we obtain access into grace.
If that were the case, then we would have to be in grace before we came to faith; yet the word of the Lord teaches us that we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand; therefore we have grace as the result of faith; and therefore faith comes first in the equation.
No it doesnt say that. Yes Faith is a fruit of the Spirit, thats why a person must be born again before they have Faith, Yet they are Justified before they are born again. The sinners being born that Christ died for, are born under Grace since Christ has put away their sins before God centuries ago. So by that fact alone they under Grace and Justified before God. Then in Gods Time they are born again, given the Gift of Faith, then they believe in Christ, and have access to the Throne of Grace.
How can that be since we are justified by faith (Romans 5:1)?
If a person is born again before they have faith and they are justified before they are born again, then they are justified before they have faith.
However, scripture teaches that we are not justified before we have faith; we are justified by faith!
So, faith comes before justification.
Now I can see that from the perspective of eternity (not time), a person is chosen by God and that is the reason why they are saved. So, in that sense, grace comes before faith.
However, we are saved by grace through faith; and in that sense faith comes before grace; because faith is the catalyst for a person entering into grace.
Therefore I conclude that God predestinates a man according to His foreknowledge of whether he will come to faith in Jesus Christ during his lifetime; which is his free will decision in the moments that he is drawn to Christ.
Predestination according to foreknowledge is indeed spoken of in such verses as Romans 8:29-30 and 1 Peter 1:2.
FHII
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I am not basing what I said based on his Epistle, although it does show his mindset. I am basing it on Acts 21, with a focus on verse 20 and the surrounding verses. It clearly shows the 1. These were Christian Jews, 2. They were still zealous to keep the Law, 3. It was contrary to what Paul taught, and 4. They were indeed at odds about it.
Second, it appears that James' ministry was to Jewish Christians in Jerusalem. Paul's ministry was to gentiles around the World (he only made it as far as Rome, but wanted to expand to Spain and beyond).
Third, I believe the Epistle of James is inspired simply because I trust God. For whatever reason, he wanted it included. I actually like the epistleand there is much to learn from it.
heartwash
Because prior to Justification by Faith they were Justified the Blood of Christ and the Grace of God freely Rom 3:24
24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
Rom 5:9
9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
In fact Justification by Faith is merely receiving and resting in Justification by the Blood and Grace of God.
Because prior to Justification by Faith they were Justified the Blood of Christ and the Grace of God freely Rom 3:24
24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
Rom 5:9
9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
In fact Justification by Faith is merely receiving and resting in Justification by the Blood and Grace of God.
heartwash
Exactly ! Christ shed His Blood for me before I had Faith.
No it doesnt, it teaches the very opposite
Absolutely wrong, Faith sees spiritually Justification, Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen, Justification isn't physically seen, its received by Faith which is a fruit of the Spirit.
Yes in that sense the Elect are Justified from eternity since Grace was given them in Christ Jesus before the world began 2 Tim 1:9
9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,
Thats error, men believe/have Faith because of Grace Acts 18:27
27 And when he was disposed to pass into Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him: who, when he was come, helped them much which had believed through grace
Thats error and works merit salvation
Yes but it has nothing to do with mans freewill. Man is spiritually dead until Gods quicken him by the new birth. Only the new creature believes in Christ.
Exactly ! Christ shed His Blood for me before I had Faith.
No it doesnt, it teaches the very opposite
Absolutely wrong, Faith sees spiritually Justification, Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen, Justification isn't physically seen, its received by Faith which is a fruit of the Spirit.
Yes in that sense the Elect are Justified from eternity since Grace was given them in Christ Jesus before the world began 2 Tim 1:9
9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,
Thats error, men believe/have Faith because of Grace Acts 18:27
27 And when he was disposed to pass into Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him: who, when he was come, helped them much which had believed through grace
Thats error and works merit salvation
Yes but it has nothing to do with mans freewill. Man is spiritually dead until Gods quicken him by the new birth. Only the new creature believes in Christ.
