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Is there some reason why you don't answer my questions?"For in him we live, and move, and have our being" is from Acts 17:28
"In his hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind." Job 12:10
"And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together." Colossians 1:17
"He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high," Hebrews 1:3
Yes, you have to be connected to the vine first before you can bear fruit, right? We don't have faith and repent before being connected to the vine, we become connected to the vine after repenting and putting our faith in Christ.Bearing fruit involves being a branch connected to the vine.
This is what I am trying to ascertain. Ffaith without works is dead, but do you believe that you can resurrect a dead faith by doing works? Or do you believe that works is a result of the renewing of the Holy Spirit.
This is real sad you know, because you quote "Titus 3:5 and you think because you quote this verse it council out what Paul says 1 Timothy 6:17-19 that I quoted. I quoted that verse to show you that Paul talks about two different types of works in his writing, then I told you that the works Paul is talking about in Ephesians 2:8 is talking about the works of the animal Sacrificial law. Your response let me know that you don't understand what's going on and what Paul is talking about, if you can't understand the different types of works Paul talks about in his writing.I completely disagree. Let's take a closer look at what Paul was saying there.
Ephesians 2:8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
What you are talking about in terms of loving the Lord and loving your neighbor are related to the good works God prepares for us to do AFTER we are saved. We are not saved by those kind of works nor the works of the law. Paul may have had both types of works in mind there, but, regardless, we are NOT saved by good works. We are saved by grace through faith and NOT by good works. The good works come after we are saved and the Holy Spirit gives us spiritual gifts that we can use to do good works.
If we are saved by good works, then we could boast of saving ourselves. Jesus did all the work needed for salvation! What we need to do is believe that and submit ourselves to Him so that He can then work through us.
Like you, for example.
I just showed you the real meaning of Ephesians 2:8-9, so now you have a chance to not be like those that Peter was talking about.
Here is more scripture to back up what I'm saying about Ephesians 2:8-10.
Titus 3:5 But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.
You are trying to say that we are saved by the righteous things we have done, but Titus said we are not saved by the righteous things we have done. We are not saved by good works that we do, we are saved by grace through faith. The works happen after we are saved and they reflect our faith.
No, he isn't. The Titus 3:5 verse supports that because it says we are not saved by works of righteousness. The good works come AFTER we are saved, according to Ephesians 2:8-10.This is real sad you know, because you quote "Titus 3:5 and you think because you quote this verse it council out what Paul says 1 Timothy 6:17-19 that I quoted. I quoted that verse to show you that Paul talks about two different types of works in his writing, then I told you that the works Paul is talking about in Ephesians 2:8 is talking about the works of the animal Sacrificial law.
I perfectly understand the difference. Do you not know which type of works Titus 3:5 is talking about or what types of works God prepares for us to do after we are saved?Your response let me know that you don't understand what's going on and what Paul is talking about, if you can't understand the different types of works Paul talks about in his writing.
You don't do the good works to earn salvation. You didn't address what I said about Ephesians 2:8-10. When do the good works that Paul mentioned occur? Before or after someone becomes saved?Let's go back and see the different works even in the book of Titus 3: 4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, 5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
This is a big understanding one must have, because this goes back to Genesis, Adam and Eve. For time sake you need to understand how grace works now, and that's by "repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." (Acts 2:38). “Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.” Romans 6:3-4,
People we must realize, that it is the keeping of God’s holy laws that separates the righteous from the unrighteous and the Saints from the Sinners. (Titus: 3:8) This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men. You must learn (by the word of God) what God expects of you and maintain his expectations to the end, if you expect to be saved. Jesus says in (Matt. 5:16) Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. You are supposed to glorify your Father in heaven, and let your light shine before men. And how do you do that? By having good works.
Not at all, I’m just reading exactly what it says. It’s a personal letter from one believer to another. It isn’t addressed to anyone else nor is it referring to anyone else. In this chapter Paul is explaining to Timothy the importance of perseverance, which is the same exact message Jesus was giving to His disciples when He made this statement in Matthew 10:32-33 that Paul is quoting.You're reading more into that verse than is actually there.
It is a "generic we", not a reference to "Paul and Timothy". Paul never ever indicated that he thought of himself as one who's faith in Christ was susceptible to failing.Not at all, I’m just reading exactly what it says. It’s a personal letter from one believer to another. It isn’t addressed to anyone else nor is it referring to anyone else. In this chapter Paul is explaining to Timothy the importance of perseverance, which is the same exact message Jesus was giving to His disciples when He made this statement in Matthew 10:32-33 that Paul is quoting.
Ok, now I see where you are coming from and I heartily agree. We cannot do good to be saved and we can not merit God's approval by doing good works but if God has saved us we will do good works and demonstrate our faith by actions.Let's go into (Ezek. 33:30-32) Also, thou son of man, the children of thy people still are talking against thee by the walls and in the doors of the houses, and speak one to another, every one to his brother saying, Come, I pray you, and hear what is the word that cometh forth from the Lord. (v.31) And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they shew much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness. (v. 32) And, lo, thou art unto them as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument: for they hear thy words, but they do them not.
Paul said in (Gal. 3:11) But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH. This didn’t start in the New Testament, Paul was only quoting scripture, and the just has always lived by their faith. (Habakkuk 2:4) Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith. The just shall live by his belief (faith), and how do you show the Lord that you believe in him? By your obedience to his word.
We can't exists without him. That is the point. The question you ask based on the false premise that we have an existence apart from God. Nothing exists without God. In that sense we could not even sin without God for we would not exists.Is there some reason why you don't answer my questions?
I asked "Is He saying we can literally do nothing without Him?" and I guess your answer is yes? So, we can't even sin without Him, either? How far do you take this? The context in John 15 is that we can't bear fruit without Him, not that we literally can't do anything at all without Him.
You believe that we self-graft? That is just not possible. We repent because we have been grafted into the vine. But beware because we can be pruned off the vine also.Yes, you have to be connected to the vine first before you can bear fruit, right? We don't have faith and repent before being connected to the vine, we become connected to the vine after repenting and putting our faith in Christ.
He is. Just as God said, "I am." We can fool ourselves into thinking that our viewpoint is the Holy Spirits viewpoint.What does that mean? The Holy Spirit helps us see the context of scripture.
Whoa, wait a minute. Who said that they were "natural men?" Since this is an unsupported premise we can't move forward with the rest of your argument. They are babes, new born, but not natural. You can't be born again and still be natural.The point is that those spiritually immature "babes in Christ" that Paul refers to in 1 Corinthians 3 are carnal and have the same kind of understanding as the natural man.
They are not getting their understanding through the Holy Spirit so they are said to still be sipping spiritual milk and are not ready for solid spiritual food. They don't understand the deeper things of God that Paul talks about in 1 Corinthians 2 which is the same as the solid spiritual food that he talks about in 1 Corinthians 3.
Yet, those babes in Christ do understand the gospel. You are trying to say that the natural man who doesn't get understanding from the Holy Spirit can't understand the gospel. But, those babes in Christ were also not getting their understanding from the Holy Spirit and that's why Paul said they were carnal and not spiritual. Despite that, they could understand the gospel. So can the natural man. It's the deeper things, the solid spiritual food, that both the natural man and carnal babes in Christ are not able to grasp.
Jesus does not say, "Apart from me you can't bear fruit." While that may be true it does not make the other untrue. Romans 9:16 make this very clear.Jesus is not talking about repentance in John 15, He’s talking about bearing fruit. He doesn’t say a single word about repentance in the entire chapter. And why would He? He’s talking to His 11 faithful apostles who have been following Him for 3 years. John 15 takes place in the upper room after Judas had left the group to go and betray Jesus. Why would Jesus mention repentance to men who were already believers? The point of the message was to tell them not to turn away once He’s gone.
2 "He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes[a] so that it will be even more fruitful." How does this show fruit bearing branches unconnected to the vine????But verse 2 shows that not all branches that are attached to Christ will bear fruit. Some don’t and are cut off by The Father.
No one can accept or understand the Gospel without a level of spiritual discernment. Spiritual discernment is how we know we are sinners in the first place.Not a single person has spiritual wisdom before they believe the gospel. Everyone has to accept the gospel before they can receive spiritual discernment.
I'm glad you see a little but I think you still may be missing something. The bible says, we must not only be a hearer of the word, but a doer of the word also (James 1:21-22).Ok, now I see where you are coming from and I heartily agree. We cannot do good to be saved and we can not merit God's approval by doing good works but if God has saved us we will do good works and demonstrate our faith by actions.
When we are empowered by the Holy Spirit to truly see ourselves, especially in the light of Christ, we will repent. One does not repent to be saved they repent because they are being saved. God does not save is in sin, He saves us from sin. No fallen man can understand spiritual truth enough to repent and be saved unless he or she is enlightened by the light that came into this world, but sadly, many will see the light and still choose to reject it because they love darkness more than light. But God gives everyone the gift of repenting even though some will spurn it.
Did you even read the text?Whoa, wait a minute. Who said that they were "natural men?" Since this is an unsupported premise we can't move forward with the rest of your argument. They are babes, new born, but not natural. You can't be born again and still be natural.
Nowhere in 1 Corinthians 2:9-16 did Paul indicate that knowing we are sinners requires spiritual discernment of the deeper things of God. In that passage he specifically referenced the deeper things of God needing to be spiritually discerned. That equates with the meat or solid food that he references in 1 Corinthians 3:2 in contrast to the milk of God's word that even "babes in Christ" can understand, which includes knowing that they are sinners.No one can accept or understand the Gospel without a level of spiritual discernment. Spiritual discernment is how we know we are sinners in the first place.
John 15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.Jesus does not say, "Apart from me you can't bear fruit."
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