The whole of the NT explains how salvation is obtained

[Zachary]

[SIZE=9.5pt]Scripture explains how man attains salvation, and it also [/SIZE]
[SIZE=9.5pt]reconciles all of the supposed contradictions concerning salvation …[/SIZE]

[SIZE=9.5pt]First, all humans are born with an inherited sin nature (a “fallen” nature),[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9.5pt]e.g. Jesus actually told His disciples that they were “evil”.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9.5pt]The normal human being is incapable of believing the gospel (good news) [/SIZE]
[SIZE=9.5pt]of Jesus Christ because the Truth of it is hidden from him … man is:[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9.5pt]spiritually blind and deaf, spiritually dead, a slave to sin, forced to obey evil,[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9.5pt]a captive to the law of sin and death, unable to be saved through good works, [/SIZE]
[SIZE=9.5pt]deceived and blinded by Satan, a captive of Satan unto death, etc.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9.5pt]The gospel of Jesus Christ is “foolishness” to all those perishing (going to hell). [/SIZE]
[SIZE=9.5pt]They do not choose this, but are just incapable of believing the foolish gospel.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=9.5pt]God’s grace (unmerited favor) toward the mass of fallen humanity is 3-fold:[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9.5pt]• that ANY human could ever be received into heaven by a most Holy God[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9.5pt]• that SOME humans are given the ability to believe the saving gospel[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9.5pt]• that sincere repentance can usually result in the forgiveness of sins[/SIZE]

[SIZE=9.5pt]God must give a seed of faith to man to enable him to believe the foolish gospel.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9.5pt]This is not a one-time event, but the Greek tense indicates a continuing belief.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9.5pt]That only some are chosen is consistent with God’s preference, for example:[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9.5pt]“I dwell in the high and holy place with him who has a contrite and humble spirit”.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9.5pt]The question is: How-when-why did certain people obtain this type of spirit?[/SIZE]

[SIZE=9.5pt](*A*) Along with truly believing the saving Truth of the gospel with his heart, [/SIZE]
[SIZE=9.5pt]man receives the Holy Spirit within, and is born-again with a new nature.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9.5pt]After receiving this free gift (a revelation of the Truth), the believer will begin[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9.5pt]to be taught deeper spiritual Truths by the precious Holy Spirit who dwells within.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9.5pt]Man is no longer a slave to sin; he no longer has to sin; he can choose not to sin.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9.5pt]He can present himself as a slave of obedience unto righteousness for holiness,[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9.5pt]or he can choose to present himself as a slave of sin unto eternal death. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9.5pt]One critical spiritual Truth is that [/SIZE][SIZE=9.5pt]disobedience to God is actually proof of unbelief.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9.5pt]In the OT, the Israelites did not enter God’s rest because of disobedience (unbelief).[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9.5pt]God left them scattered all over the desert floor; and this was a warning for everyone![/SIZE]
[SIZE=9.5pt]Born-again believers have much less of an excuse for failure … see (*A*) above.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9.5pt]So, here Scripture gives another negative response to the question of [/SIZE]
[SIZE=9.5pt]whether or not easy-believism and easy-grace are enough for salvation.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=9.5pt]The main reason for God giving man free will is to test his love, faithfulness, [/SIZE]
[SIZE=9.5pt]obedience, etc. to God his Creator. Yes, Jesus became the author of eternal [/SIZE]
[SIZE=9.5pt]salvation to all who obey Him … and this obedience does not refer to believing [/SIZE]
[SIZE=9.5pt]in Him and His gospel after having received the precious free gift of saving faith.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9.5pt]No, Jesus said that if you love Him (for His sacrifice, etc.), you will obey Him.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9.5pt]The practicing of righteousness is proof that one stands righteous before God. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9.5pt]After receiving the saving Truth, the believer can always make the disastrous [/SIZE]
[SIZE=9.5pt]free-will choice of not continuing on with his faith. Many Scripture passages [/SIZE]
[SIZE=9.5pt]warn that enduring in the faith until death is absolutely necessary for salvation.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9.5pt]You must not fall away from the faith when the terrible persecution of Christians[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9.5pt]comes upon you, and you must not take the mark of the beast of the antichrist.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=9.5pt]It’s all about unbelief … and the NT describes exactly what unbelief is. [/SIZE]
[SIZE=9.5pt]An evil [/SIZE][SIZE=9.5pt]heart of unbelief is displayed by one who departs from the faith, and [/SIZE]
[SIZE=9.5pt]this is [/SIZE][SIZE=9.5pt]often connected to one having been hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9.5pt]After receiving the saving Truth, the believer can always make the free-will choice[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9.5pt]to be disobedient and return to their old lifestyle of habitual unrepentant sinning.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9.5pt]Several lists of sins, which many people (including believers) commit habitually, [/SIZE]
[SIZE=9.5pt]apply to absolutely everyone with regard to being disqualified from entering [/SIZE]
[SIZE=9.5pt]the kingdom of God/heaven (which is somewhat analogous to heaven itself).[/SIZE]

[SIZE=9.5pt]If you wish to see Scriptures for any of the points above, please just ask.[/SIZE]

 

[Angelina]

Why not just post scriptures along with your points?

 

[OzSpen]

I think that it is an extreme statement to have a title, 'The whole of the NT explains how salvation is obtained'.

The facts are that there are many aspects of the NT that do not relate directly to salvation. We have teaching on bibliology, christology, eschatology, sanctification, history, etc. These do not explain how salvation is obtained.

 

[StanJ]

I agree Oz, and I'm pretty sure the Gospel of John was written for the purposes of who our saviour is, John 20:31

 

[Zachary]

Why not just post scriptures along with your points?

Wouldn't that make the OP incredibly long?

 

[Zachary]

... I'm pretty sure the Gospel of John was written for the purposes of who our saviour is, John 20:31

How do you plan to come up with another necessary lifetime in which to study Scripture?

 

[StanJ]

How do you plan to come up with another necessary lifetime in which to study Scripture?

How do you plan on addressing my post without sarcasm? In fact, I'll bet you can't.

 

[Zachary]

Does anyone disagree with any of the points in the OP?

 

[StanJ]

All humans have the ability to confess Christ as saviour, not just some. John 3 says WHOEVER, and 2 Peter 3 says God wants ALL to be saved.

Just two of many erroneous assertions made in the OP.

 

[heretoeternity]

Matthew 19.17 "to enter into life keep the Commandments"

 

[KingJ]

Does anyone disagree with any of the points in the OP?

Agree with all you said. Good OP.

 

[KingJ]

All humans have the ability to confess Christ as saviour, not just some. John 3 says WHOEVER, and 2 Peter 3 says God wants ALL to be saved.

Just two of many erroneous assertions made in the OP.

I made that assumption too. But he did not say that. He said ''[SIZE=9.5pt]SOME humans are given the ability to believe the saving gospel'' [/SIZE]after[SIZE=9.5pt] ''[/SIZE][SIZE=9.5pt]ANY human could ever be received into heaven by a most Holy God'[/SIZE][SIZE=9.5pt]'.[/SIZE]

Not all believe Jesus is Lord. All can if they wanted to.

 

[Zachary]

All humans have the ability to confess Christ as saviour, not just some.
John 3 says WHOEVER, and 2 Peter 3 says God wants ALL to be saved.

Yes, of course, WHOEVER God has enabled can (and probably will) believe in the gospel of Jesus Christ.
(Why would anyone reject this mind-boggling spiritual revelation? ... I guess it's possible.)
There are just too many NT verses (20 or so) ...
which teach that man is completely unable to believe the wonderful gospel of foolishness.
God would love that all men could "qualify" to be chosen/called by Him for salvation, but ...

 

[StanJ]

I made that assumption too. But he did not say that. He said ''SOME humans are given the ability to believe the saving gospel'' after ''ANY human could ever be received into heaven by a most Holy God''.
Not all believe Jesus is Lord. All can if they wanted to.

Which was exactly my point, unless one only accepts limited atonement? Jesus would not have commanded to ask, seek knock if we could not do so.

 

[StanJ]

Yes, of course, WHOEVER God has enabled can (and probably will) believe in the gospel of Jesus Christ.
(Why would anyone reject this mind-boggling spiritual revelation? ... I guess it's possible.)
There are just too many NT verses (20 or so) ...
which teach that man is completely unable to believe the wonderful gospel of foolishness.
God would love that all men could "qualify" to be chosen/called by Him for salvation, but ...

No, you're adding to scripture. There is no word in the Greek or English that conveys 'enabled'. It states; For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.
Whoever also means anyone, as the Greek πᾶς (pas) connotes.

 

[Zachary]

Which was exactly my point, unless one only accepts limited atonement?
Jesus would not have commanded to ask, seek knock if we could not do so.

Just what might lead you to be so sure that this passage refers to a method of coming to salvation?
'Cause, it does not.
Der are many spiritual blessings out der to be obtained ... not only salvation!

E.G. "the promise" and "the gift" do not refer to receiving the Holy Spirit INSIDE,
butski they refer to the baptism with the Holy Spirit where He comes UPON.
Jesus Himself does this to a person as a special anointing for some ministry.

Your church organization does not teach these things because
it is a very false version of what all churches should be,
which is a copy of the original NT churches.

The way out of this mess is to ask God if it is His will that you leave.
If the answer is YES, then start a home church ...
where you will be totally FREE to pursue spiritual Truth
and how He desires to use you for His glory.

 

[Zachary]

No, you're adding to scripture. There is no word in the Greek or English that conveys 'enabled'.

Perhaps der is no word ... butski der are many NT verses that do!
R.C. Sproul, for example, says:
"The clear biblical teaching of regeneration is that it is the work of God and the work of God alone."

Not his opinion, but the clear teaching of Scripture.
I'd be happy to send you a Bible ... then you can read for yourself.

 

[StanJ]

I made that assumption too. But he did not say that. He said ''SOME humans are given the ability to believe the saving gospel'' after ''ANY human could ever be received into heaven by a most Holy God''.

Not all believe Jesus is Lord. All can if they wanted to.

I suggest you read my post again, slowly.

 

[StanJ]

Just what might lead you to be so sure that this passage refers to a method of coming to salvation?
'Cause, it does not.
Der are many spiritual blessings out der to be obtained ... not only salvation!

E.G. "the promise" and "the gift" do not refer to receiving the Holy Spirit INSIDE,
butski they refer to the baptism with the Holy Spirit where He comes UPON.
Jesus Himself does this to a person as a special anointing for some ministry.

Your church organization does not teach these things because
it is a very false version of what all churches should be,
which is a copy of the original NT churches.

The way out of this mess is to ask God if it is His will that you leave.
If the answer is YES, then start a home church ...
where you will be totally FREE to pursue spiritual Truth
and how He desires to use you for His glory.

What passage? I dealt specifically with what you said, so please do likewise and not try to hide in deflection and more rabbit trails.

 

[StanJ]

Perhaps der is no word ... butski der are many NT verses that do!
R.C. Sproul, for example, says:
"The clear biblical teaching of regeneration is that it is the work of God and the work of God alone."

Not his opinion, but the clear teaching of Scripture.
I'd be happy to send you a Bible ... then you can read for yourself.

And again you deflect from a clear issue. No wonder you don't understand the bible. All you do is run around creating more rabbit trails instead of dealing with direct responses by the same.