"hard To Believe", the book

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H. Richard

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From the book “hard to believe” by John MacArthur.

Man-made and demon-designed systems of religion are based on the assumption that we don't really need a Savior, or aren't fully dependent on Him, because we have the capacity to develop our own righteousness. Just let God give us a little religious environment to aid our natural goodness, dispense a little power to us, or infuse a little strength into us. Give us a few rules, a few religious routines and rituals, and we'll crank up salvation on our own. The lie of human achievement comes under myriad different titles, but it's all the same system, because it's spawned out of the same source: Satan himself. He packages it in different boxes, but it's all the same product. On the other hand, the truth of divine accomplishment is Christianity. And it stands alone.

Tragically, most of humanity is religiously speeding down the wide highway of human achievement, convinced it's headed toward some fabulous heavenly destiny because of its own basic goodness, noble works, and religious deeds. By contrast, Jesus said the only true way to heaven is the narrow pathway of trusting Him alone as Lord and Savior.

The Jews taught that they could make it on their own. That's why it was so shocking when the apostle Paul said, "Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight" (Rom. 3:20). He also said that the law came in order to stop our mouths from any claim to righteousness and to render the whole world guilty before God. The Law came to show us our sinfulness, but when self-righteous, ego-centered man saw that he was sinful by the Law, he didn't want to face his sinfulness. Fallen people set their sinfulness aside and are constantly inventing new systems that accommodate their short comings, then affirming that they are okay before their gods, based on their own personal criteria or religious beliefs and behaviors.

end

My comment: their are those on this forum, and other forums, that say a Christian is given the power to not sin in the flesh. They refuse to see that they are still sinful in the flesh and that only faith in Jesus' work on the cross will save them. These people do not like me because I teach salvation is obtained only through Jesus' work on the cross will save them. They refuse the righteousness that God cloths them and prefer to cling to their own self righteousness.

Now here will come the gadflies to irritate me.
 

Enoch111

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My comment: their are those on this forum, and other forums, that say a Christian is given the power to not sin in the flesh.
Perhaps that is simply a confusion of terms. "The flesh" can mean (a) the human body and (b) the indwelling sin nature inherited from Adam.

Since the sin nature is dedicated to sin, God gives His children a new nature, which is dedicated to righteousness. And since the Holy Spirit dwells within this nature (the quickened spirit) the spirit will not sin but obey God by the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit.

But both natures are within the human body (called the flesh). This is no new discovery since Paul had already discussed this in great detail. So perhaps you have created a straw man since nobody would be foolish enough to say that the sin nature wants to be righteous.
 

Ernest T. Bass

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From the book “hard to believe” by John MacArthur.

Man-made and demon-designed systems of religion are based on the assumption that we don't really need a Savior, or aren't fully dependent on Him, because we have the capacity to develop our own righteousness. Just let God give us a little religious environment to aid our natural goodness, dispense a little power to us, or infuse a little strength into us. Give us a few rules, a few religious routines and rituals, and we'll crank up salvation on our own. The lie of human achievement comes under myriad different titles, but it's all the same system, because it's spawned out of the same source: Satan himself. He packages it in different boxes, but it's all the same product. On the other hand, the truth of divine accomplishment is Christianity. And it stands alone.

Tragically, most of humanity is religiously speeding down the wide highway of human achievement, convinced it's headed toward some fabulous heavenly destiny because of its own basic goodness, noble works, and religious deeds. By contrast, Jesus said the only true way to heaven is the narrow pathway of trusting Him alone as Lord and Savior.

The Jews taught that they could make it on their own. That's why it was so shocking when the apostle Paul said, "Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight" (Rom. 3:20). He also said that the law came in order to stop our mouths from any claim to righteousness and to render the whole world guilty before God. The Law came to show us our sinfulness, but when self-righteous, ego-centered man saw that he was sinful by the Law, he didn't want to face his sinfulness. Fallen people set their sinfulness aside and are constantly inventing new systems that accommodate their short comings, then affirming that they are okay before their gods, based on their own personal criteria or religious beliefs and behaviors.

end

My comment: their are those on this forum, and other forums, that say a Christian is given the power to not sin in the flesh. They refuse to see that they are still sinful in the flesh and that only faith in Jesus' work on the cross will save them. These people do not like me because I teach salvation is obtained only through Jesus' work on the cross will save them. They refuse the righteousness that God cloths them and prefer to cling to their own self righteousness.

Now here will come the gadflies to irritate me.
Would Mr. MacArthur (or yourself) claim that Noah's work in building the ark was Noah's 'own righteousness', that Noah "cranked up" the salvation of his house all on his own?
 

Episkopos

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dispense a little power to us, or infuse a little strength into us

Talk about man-made deception. A little power to us? A little strength into us?

This is a direct mockery of God's grace that is sufficient for us to do ALL that God requires of us.

So this very doctrine is there to mock God.

Did God not empower us by His Spirit to overcome as Jesus overcame?

Your teaching says...a resounding NO!

This is not about what men can do on their own...in their own power and strength. This is the grace of God we talking about...the power of the perfected walk in the humanity of Jesus...modeled for us. It is called the New Man. We put on the new man as we enter into Christ.

So then this is to actually put faith in the finished work of Jesus...that of walking in His resurrection grace.
My comment: their are those on this forum, and other forums, that say a Christian is given the power to not sin in the flesh.

That is what the bible indeed testifies of...victory over sin by entering into the finished work of Jesus. But that power is only available to us when we abide in Christ.

There is no other walk above sin than that of abiding in Christ...without Him and His grace we are like any other man...we can do nothing.

A teaching that speaks of a gospel that is powerless against sin is a false gospel.

Of course a man-made gospel has no power...since God is not part of the equation. Once God is involved ALL things are possible.

A man-made gospel just wants to use Jesus as a glorified animal sacrifice but that has no power over sin.

The power of God remains IN Christ. it is not given automatically to a Christian...one must go to the real living God to get it. So this requires real faith.
 
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amadeus

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"And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible." Mark 10:27

"To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:" Col 1:27
 

Episkopos

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"And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible." Mark 10:27

"To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:" Col 1:27


It looks like it's the book itself (from the OP) that's hard to believe. :rolleyes:
 
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