Addressing the OP, not reading all the post, I'm sure it have been answered.
but the topic is misleading, because God save SINNERS,
who believe. you gave the answer in your opeaning statement.
14 And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. 15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.
so what's the different between the "sinner" unsaved, and the "Believer" that is saved?. answer....... "WORKS".
there is no works that a sinner can do in order to be saved. so as Paul, "but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief". what was his "WORKS?" ... answer, who was
before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious. so what he did, was in "UNBELIFE". Just as everyone who is not of God, Jews and Gentiles alike. principle, for the wok of God is to BELIEVE, scripture, John 6:28 "Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?"
John 6:29 "Jesus answered and said unto them,
This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent."
this is the basic Principle of God,
Faith without "WORKS" is dead, and Mark 16:16 "He that
believeth and is baptized
shall be saved; but he that
believeth not shall be damned."
and our Faith, Romans 12:3 "For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly,
according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith."
the measure? yes, we all .... "Sinners" ..... have the same amount. but how is our "FAITH" activated as sinners, before we come to christ? answer,
Romans 10:17 "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." his word of the gospel bring it to memory, scripture, Romans 10:19 "But I say,
Did not Israel know? First Moses saith, I will provoke you to jealousy by them that are no people, and by a foolish nation I will anger you."Romans 10:20 "But Esaias is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me."Romans 10:21 "But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people."
yes, Israel KNEW, just as Paul, but was in unbelief. this is why the Gospel is so important, Romans 10:12 "For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him." Romans 10:13
"For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." (remember John 6:28 above), Romans 10:14 "How then shall they call on him in
whom they have not believed? and how shall they
believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?" BINGO.
a sinner cannot work, (Believe), to be save, a sinner work, (believe), because he is SAVED.
so as said, the topic is misleading. God save sinner .... "TO BELIEVE".
PICJAG
101G The "Spiritual Saboteur"
