When God saved me, it was not as you say. Here's my testimony.
Calvinism is a Cult
- Thread starter CoreIssue
- Start date
-
Welcome to Christian Forums, a Christian Forum that recognizes that all Christians are a work in progress.
You will need to register to be able to join in fellowship with Christians all over the world.
We hope to see you as a part of our community soon and God Bless!
You neglected to say you did not repent for salvation nor had any free will part in it.
I wanted nothing more than to repent after tasting God's goodness. How could I not? As though I would need to make a self-righteous choice not to reject the best thing that ever happened to me?
There is nothing self-righteous about accepting an offer from God that he makes in grace and love.
That is all about God, not us.
But, you were saved (Born again) or you would not have believed it true. Or wanted to comply the best you could.
Faith is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. You must have the Holy Spirit before you can believe.
This does not agree with you.
Of course faith increases the longer we are with Christ.
Some even have greater faith as a gift of the Holy Spirit. It is one of the listed gifts.
Nowhere in the Bible does it say you have to have the Holy Spirit for you to believe.
Romans 10:17
17 Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.
How can the fruit exist without the tree?
Preacher4Truth
Well-Known Member
I don't typically respond to the unchurched know it alls, but I will to you one time only. Be assured that you will stand before Christ to give an account to him as to your unchurched position and condemning attitude.
He will judge according to truth on that day, and all your disdain for his bride while pointing your finger as you do will culminate in a not very good situation for you to put it lightly. Not that you'd repent but it is necessary to warn others.
Your above is one of the most unchristian and callow comments I've witnessed. Totally unnecessary and goes to show where your spiritual status really is. But, I expect nothing less from a person who knows more than all others in church, yet doesn't belong to a church, local or "otherwise."
I have no use for purposefully unchurched folks who point their fingers. I count these in the same manner as does 1 John 2:19.
Preacher4Truth
Well-Known Member
The link provided by @justbyfaith is nothing but a boat load of unsubstantiated accusations. Just like the ones in this thread calling us a cult.
Here is the web page link: WHY CALVINISM IS A CULT
Here is the web page link: WHY CALVINISM IS A CULT
So I reviewed you testimony and here is what you said (in part):
God convicted me of sins I didn't even know existed. I began praying, sobbing and asking his forgiveness....I also asked Jesus into my heart.
And that is exactly obedience to the Gospel. The first sentence indicates repentance toward God, and the second sentence indicates faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. And that is what I have been saying all along, simply echoing Paul.
And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house,
Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, [1] repentance toward God, and [2] faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. (Acts 20:20,21)
Now in order for you to receive Jesus into your heart, you must have been exposed to the Gospel somewhere along the way -- either reading the Bible or hearing the Gospel. Otherwise how would you know that one must receive Him by faith? And we all had to come to Christ by this route.
But I believed (was saved according to Jesus) before any response took place.
Preacher4Truth
Well-Known Member
Exactly, your response was evidence of already being converted, not the cause. They on the other hand think they caused their conversion by ______________. (fill in the blank)
Of course this is contrary to Scripture; 1 Peter 1:3.
That which is usually "not dead yet" is the flesh and the ways of the flesh in a man. One who has only the flesh and the ways of the flesh will have nothing at all remaining when his flesh returns to the dust. On the other hand one who has Life [the Life which Jesus is] should be working on killing the ways of the flesh in himself so that when his flesh returns to the dust, only the Life which Jesus is remains.I have never yet met a 'really' ..."Dead to self" Christian, of and breed, shape, colour or creed.
Not dead yet.
Who or what is an Overcomer as per Rev chapters 2 and 3? Is an overcomer not a killer of the ways of the flesh in himself?
Romans 10:17
17 Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.
Helen
Well-Known Member
- Oct 22, 2011
- 15,476
- 21,157
- 113
- Faith
- Christian
- Country
- Canada
John
I don't see it quite like that ....This puts me right back into the thread about 'entering into rest.'
How much do "we" do, and how much do we do by staying in the Spirit and abiding there?
I presume when Jesus is speaking in Rev 3 about the overcomer being a "pillar in the temple and shall go no more out..." Is that not referring to our "in and outness" of walking and abiding in Him... ?
To me, the 'work' of the death to self/flesh is always in the denial of the self and the choosing of Christ. Not in denying my flesh of another lump of ice-cream , but of denying of the me, and focussing on Him who went before.
I think that some people get caught up in the trap of 'putting to death the deeds of the flesh' ...I don't think that self denial can do it..that has been done by monks , Buddhists , hermits etc
No, having an outhouse, no running water and eating only beans doesn't change the inside..we can't , He can.
The denying of who I think I am, and the strong belief in who He is..the moment by moment choice. ....to me is running the race, and fighting of the good fight of faith. It is work. ( the work James speaks of = faith without work/labour is dead.
We enter His rest, His victory, His life...we have nothing ...
We have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand. Romans 5:2.
I always assumed that the Holy Spirit comes in as the result of the grace of the Lord.
In your scenario, grace comes then the Holy Spirit, then faith.
How then do we have access by faith into the grace wherein we stand? Faith came after grace and the Holy Spirit; in your scenario.
However, in the biblical model, faith is the catalyst for receiving grace and then the Holy Spirit.
Also, in Galatians 3:14, we receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. However in your model, the Holy Spirit comes first and then faith.
Do you see the contradiction?
According to Romans 10:10, your believing was unto righteousness; not salvation.
Confession is made unto salvation.
Similar threads
