Here are brief answers to the doctrinal errors, which were stated recently by a person in response to specific questions I asked of him. These answers are provided here, for you. I did not enter into an argument with the person who made them.
In this post, I will preface each answer he gave with the actual question I asked, then give his response, then I will answer his stated errors such as...
DLG question...
(for my questions).
RESPONDENT...
(for the other person's answers to my questions).
DLG answer to error...
(my answers)
My answers to his errors are brief. I actually wrote and rewrote and reworked this article, trying to be clear, yet concise.
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RESPONDENT...
Let me briefly answer your questions to my beliefs of the Gospel of the Grace of God (Acts 20:264).
#1 QUESTION TO RESPONDENT
DLG question...
Do you believe that Jesus died for all men or do you believe in sovereign election?
RESPONDENT...
1. I believe that that Jesus Christ died ONLY for the Elect; otherwise, if He died for all men, EVERYBODY would be saved in that His being Effectual for the salvation of sinners, would mean that everybody would be saved.
DLG answer to the error...
God is not willing for anyone to be lost.
2 Peter 3:9
9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
God would have all men to be saved.
1 Timothy 2:4
4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
Christ died for the whole world.
John 3:16
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Christ died to make satisfaction for the whole world.
1 John 2:2
2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
Jesus is the Savior of all men, especially those who believe.
1 Timothy 4:10
10 For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.
Jesus' free gift for all of lost humanity.
Romans 5:18
18 Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.
The provision and offer of salvation is made for the whole world. The actual atonement of the sinner is dependent on the sinner's acceptance of the gift, by faith.
Ephesians 2:8
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
IT IS A FALSE NARRATIVE TO SAY THAT WHOEVER JESUS DIED FOR MUST, BY DIVINE NECESSITY BE SAVED. THIS VIEW OF CHRIST'S DEATH IS A MAN MADE INTERPRETATION OF THE ATONEMENT.
#2 QUESTION TO RESPONDENT
DLG...
Do you believe that a person who has been saved can go back into sin and fall away from grace finally or do you believe in Once Saved Always Saved (eternal security or perseverance of the saints)?
RESPONDENT...
2. I believe that everyone of God's Elect have been saved "in the Lord with an everlasting salvation" which is a guarantee, not because the Elect are able to keep their salvation, nut are "are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time."
DLG answer to the error...
The promise of salvation is made to those who believe. To believe in the Biblical sense is to follow, is to walk in the light. The salvation of God is eternal and everlasting life, but it is not imposed on anyone and it is not promised to anyone other than those who remain faithful.
It is possible to believe for a while and then FALL AWAY.
Luke 8:13
13 They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.
The test of discipleship is CONTINUING IN HIS WORD.
John 8:31
31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
The END result of salvation in this life is EVERLASTING LIFE.
Romans 6:22-23
22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.
23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
We are saved by the gospel which we received and in which we presently stand and are saved, IF WE HOLD FAST TO WHAT WE HAVE LEARD LEST WE HAVE BELIEVED IN VAIN.
1 Corinthians 15:1-2
1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
We, as reconciled believers, WILL BE PRESENTED HOLY AND UNBLAMABLE AND UNREPROVEABLE, IF WE CONTINUE IN THE FAITH AND WE ARE NOT MOVED AWAY FROM THE HOPE OF THE GOSPEL.
Colossians 1:21-23
21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled
22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:
23 If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;
It is possible to LOSE FAITH and MAKE SHIPWRECK.
1 Timothy 1:19
19 Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck:
If we neglect our great salvataion and if we let our light slip, WE WILL NOT ESCAPE GOD'S JUDGMENT.
Hebrews 2:1-3
1 Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.
2 For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward;
3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;
We, as believers, are His house IF WE HOLD FAST FIRM UNTO THE END.
Hebrews 3:6
6 But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.
Christians need to TAKE HEED, LEST AN EVIL HEART OF UNBELIEF, IN DEPARTING FROM THE LIVING GOD.
Hebrews 3:12-13
12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.
13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
14 For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;
Believers are MADE PARTAKERS OF CHRIST IF WE HOLD OUR CONFIDENCE STEADFAST UNTO THE END.
Hebrews 3:14
14 For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;
Believers need to remain faithful and focused in their service to God, LEST WE FALL AWAY, LIKE THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL.
Hebrews 4:11
11 Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.
Believers need to SHOW THE SAME DILIGENCE TO THE FULL ASSURANCE OF HOPE UNTO THE END, and we must follow through with faith and patience IN ORDER TO INHERIT THE PROMISES OF GOD.
Hebrews 6:11-12
11 And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:
12 That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
Believers must HOLD FAST WITHOUT WAVERING, and we must PROVOKE ONE ANOTHER TO LOVE AND GOOD WORKS, along with other spiritual disciplines of life, SO THAT WE WILL NOT SIN WILFULLY AND BE LEFT WITHOUT A SACRIFICE FOR SINS, RESULTING IN ETERNAL JUDGMENT.
Hebrews 10:23-29
23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)
24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.
28 He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:
29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?
Christians MUST NOT THROW AWAY THEIR CONFIDENCE, WHICH RECEIVES REWARD, and we need to DO THE WILL OF GOD IN ORDER TO RECEIVE THE PROMISE OF GOD.
Hebrews 10:35-36
35 Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.
36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.
Christians must LIVE BY FAITH, and they MUST NOT DRAW BACK TO PERDITION, but we must REMAIN STRONG FOR THE FINAL SAVING OF THE SOUL.
Hebrews 10:37-39
37 For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.
38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.
39 But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.
We must live a life of faithfulness OR FAIL OF THE GRACE OF GOD, allowing a ROOT OF BITTERNESS TO SPRING UP AND DEFILE US, lest we find ourselves, as Esau, SEEKING GOD'S BLESSING BUT BEING REFUSED BY GOD.
Hebrews 12:14-17
14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:
15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;
16 Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.
17 For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.
It is possible for believers to ESCAPE THE POLLUTIONS OF THE WORLD THROUGH THE KNOWLEDGE OF CHRIST AND BE ENTANGLED IN THEM AGAIN AND OVERCOME, WHICH IS WORSE THAN TO NEVER HAVE KNOWN CHRIST, AND THEN TURNED AWAY FROM THE HOLY COMMANDMENT.
2 Peter 2:20-21
20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.
21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.
It is possible for believers to be LED AWAY WITH THE ERROR OF THE WICKED AND FALL FROM OUR STEADFASTNESS.
2 Peter 3:17
17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.
#3 QUESTION TO RESPONDENT
DLG...
Do you believe that a saved person will live without sinning or do you believe that a saved person is going to sin?
RESPONDENT...
3. I believe that every one of God's Elect still has "sin that dwells in (them); and that this is true of every one that has been saved in Christ Jesus. The apostle John makes this very clear in his first epistle where he writes: "My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins..." (1 John 2:1-2ff.).
DLG answer to the error...
The Biblical position is that we were all born with...
HUMAN NATURE (the nature to be human), which includes
The Body or our "other awareness" (seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting, feeling),
The Soul or our "self awareness" (reason, emotion, desire, conscience, will),
The Spirit or our "God awareness (which is out of communication with God because we are dead in our sins and trespasses).
SINFUL NATURE (the nature to sin), which is a corrupted attitude, inclination, brought into the human family by Adam's sin.
The sinful nature is known by several different names or titles in the Bible, including...
The Old Man (Ro. 6:6)
The Body of This Death (Ro. 7:24)
The Law of Sin (Ro. 7:25)
The Law of Sin and Death (Ro. 8:2)
The Carnal Mind (Ro.8:7)
The Flesh (Ro. 8:8) This refers to the attitude or inclination toward self satisfaction and should not to be confused with the physical flesh.
The Evil Heart of Unbelief (He. 3:12)
The Root of Bitterness (He. 12:15)
The Double Mind (Ja. 1:8).
THE HUMAN NATURE AND THE DIVINE NATURE ARE NOT ONE AND THE SAME. This is a mistake that is made by many who believe in (what I call) sinning religion.
It is not human nature that is sinful, since God made human nature, and Adam had human nature before he sinned, and also Jesus was human, with a human nature, also, when we are in heaven, we will still be human (thus have human nature), but of course we will not have sin or sinful nature.
When we are Regenerated (at the time of our Justification, Conversion, Salvation), we become partakers of Divine Nature, which is the nature to be like God (not to be confused with the actual nature of God or the potential for becoming God).
Justification does not remove the Sinful Nature, and therefore a battle between the Old Man (Sinful Nature) and the New Man begins. Sinful Nature battles with the Divine Nature, seeking to influence our Human Nature.
Though we are enabled to live in obedience to God at the time of our Salvation, we are not delivered from the evil propensities of the Sinful Nature (which is what we read about in Romans chapter seven).
However, God provided for us to be set free from the tyranny and pollution of inward, indwelling Sin (the Sinful Nature). God not only saves us and cleanses us from our sins (at time of our salvation), He will then purify our hearts by faith, when we trust in the fulness of the Holy Spirit, which makes us holy, even as God is holy and righteous, even as God is righteous and pure, even as Christ is pure.
Respondent is wrong in saying that God does not deliver us from indwelling sin. He is wrong in saying that 1 John 2:1-2 confirms the idea that God does not cleanse us completely.
Here is what 1 Jn 2:1-6 actually says.
John 2:1-6
1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.
6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.
First notice, it does not even address the problem of the Sinful Nature.
*Second notice that the entire passage says just the opposite of Respondent and Reformed Theology and Calvinism (sinning religion).
Thirdly (as a side note) also notice that verse three actually says that Jesus is the propitiation, satisfaction, sacrifice FOR THE WHOLE WORLD.
Let's look at my *Second point.
Verse 3
If we know Christ (as our Savior) WE KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS.
Verse 4
If a person claims to be a Christian, and does not keep God's commandments, HE IS A LIAR AND THE TRUTH IS NOT IN HIM.
Verse 5
Whoever keeps God's word, obeys God's word, IN HIM IS THE LOVE OF GOD PERFECTED...
and
THIS IS HOW WE KNOW THAT WE ARE IN CHRIST.
Verse 6
The person who claims to be a Christian OUGHT TO LIVE IN THE SAME WAY AS JESUS.
#4 QUESTION TO RESPONDENT
DLG...
Do you believe that a saved person can be delivered from the sinful nature in this life, through the purifying work of the Holy Spirit, or do you believe that the Christian will have a double mind, be carnal, will struggle with the sinful nature throughout this lifetime?
RESPONDENT...
4. I believe that a saved person will not be free from their sinful nature until glorification when they Christ "shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body." In the meantime, we will continue to sin as long as we have this "body of death."
DLG answer to the error...
I have already addressed some of this in #3 (DLG answer) above.
Respondent is wrong in saying that God does not deliver Christians from their sinful nature until glorification. The Bible clearly says...
He was named Jesus, FOR HE SAVES HIS PEOPLE FROM THEIR "SINS" (Mt. 1:21)
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness,
FOR THEY SHALL BE FILLED (Mt. 5:6)
Blessed are the PURE IN HEART (Mt. 5:8).
Jesus is the Lamb of God, WHO TAKES AWAY THE "SIN" OF THE WORLD (Jn. 1:29)
Our hearts are PURIFIED BY FAITH (Ac. 15:9)
Christians are to CLEANSE OURSELVES FROM ALL FILTHINESS OF THE FLESH AND SPIRIT, PERFECTING HOLINESS (1 Co. 7:1)
If we draw close to God, we will, CLEANSE OUR HANDS AND PURIFY OUR HEARTS. (Ja. 4:8)
We PURIFY OUR SOULS BY OBEYING THE TRUTH (1 Pe. 1:22)
The Bible talks about us being
PURE, EVEN AS HE IS PURE,
RIGHTEOUS, EVEN AS HE IS RIGHTEOUS,
HOLY, EVEN AS HE IS HOLY,
CONFORMED TO THE IMAGE OF JESUS.
The Bible talks about us being
DEAD TO SIN,
CLEANSED FROM ALL SIN,
DELIVERED FROM SIN,
AS HE IS, SO ARE WE,
OBEYING, KEEPING GOD'S COMMANDMENTS,
CRUCIFIED TO THE WORLD AND THE WORLD TO US and we have CRUCIFIED THE FLESH WITH IT AFFECTIONS AND LUSTS.
AND THE LIST GOES ON, AND ON, AND ON.
Respondent is wrong in equating our physical body with the body of death. It that was the case, then Jesus also had sin.
RESPONDENT SAID.
We must continue in sin.
PAUL SAID,
Romans 6:1-2
1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
Romans 6:6-7
6 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.
7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.
Romans 6:11-14
11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.
13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
Romans 6:15-18
15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.
16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.
18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.
Romans 6:20-22
20 For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.
21 What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.
22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.
JOHN SAID,
1 John 1:5-7
5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
1 John 1:9
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
PAUL SAID,
Romans 6:1-2
1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
Romans 6:6-7
6 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.
7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.
Romans 6:11-14
11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.
13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
Romans 6:15-18
15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.
16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.
18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.
Romans 6:20-22
20 For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.
21 What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.
22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.
JOHN SAID,
1 John 1:5-7
5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
1 John 1:9
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1 John 2:3-6
3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.
6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.
1 John 2:15-17
15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
1 John 2:29
29 If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.
1 John 3:3-10
3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.
5 And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.
6 Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.
7 Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.
8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
10 In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.
1 John 3:24
24 And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.
1 John 4:4-6
4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
5 They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.
6 We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.
1 John 5:2-5
2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.
3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?
1 John 5:18-19
18 We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.
19 And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.
#5 RESPONDENT CONTINUED
DLG...
I am guessing that this 5th answer is related to my previous question, since I only asked 4 questions.
RESPONDENT
5. I believe that a saved person can by God's Grace and the purifying work of the Holy Spirit "flee from sin" and be holy in His life, even though continuing to struggle with sin. Depending on the "growing in grace and knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" determines how holy they will be by walking as our Savior walked! Amen.
DLG answer to the error...
Respondent is on solid ground concerning the possibility of fleeing from sin and being holy. But his legs wobble when it comes to standing firm for the fullness of salvation that cleansed us from all sin and with the fact that Christ has conquered the Old Man, the Double Mind, the Flesh. God has made it possible for us LOVE GOD WITH OUR WHOLE HEART, MIND SOUL AND STRENGTH, and our neighbor as ourselves, which is THE FULFILLING OF THE LAW (Mt. 22:37-40).
Respondent makes a really strange and inaccurate comment, when he said, "... determines how holy they will be walking as our Savior walked!"
Sorry, that does not even make any sense. There are not any degrees of holiness. To be 99% holy means we are not holy. To be 99% pure means we are not pure. If we walk as our Savior walked WE WILL DO NO SIN (1 Pe. 2:21-24).
#6 RESPONDENT CLOSED WITH THIS STATEMENT...
David, I pray that my answers to your questions will help you to see what I believe; and that all of what I have said is ALL due to the Free Grace given to us in Christ Jesus from the God of ALL Grace. Amen.
DLG answer...
Respondent used the term "FREE GRACE" in the context, which it has come to be associated with, for nearly 100 years. Regardless of the original usage of the term, "Free Grace" it has been redefined and packaged as an explanation that salvation is free from anything and everything. In other words, God bestows His grace according to His own choices, with no human participation at all, including repentance. I would use the term differently, but it is deeply ingrained in theological circles to be very closely aligned with Reformed Theology.
Wesleyan and Arminian doctrine recognizes that God's grace is the sovereign gift of God and the gift of salvation is freely given. We have done nothing to deserve salvation and we can do nothing to earn salvation. In this sense we consider salvation to be FREE GRACE.
But, like so many other words and phrases and terms, usage seems to be the standard of defining those terms. Therefore, when we talk to people about the things of God, we must always remember that they may not be thinking the same thoughts that we are thinking. We must define our terms.
I hope this article has been helpful in understanding the beliefs of "Respondent."
3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.
6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.
1 John 2:15-17
15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
1 John 2:29
29 If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.
1 John 3:3-10
3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.
5 And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.
6 Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.
7 Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.
8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
10 In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.
1 John 3:24
24 And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.
1 John 4:4-6
4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
5 They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.
6 We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.
1 John 5:2-5
2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.
3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?
1 John 5:18-19
18 We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.
19 And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.
#5 RESPONDENT CONTINUED
DLG...
I am guessing that this 5th answer is related to my previous question, since I only asked 4 questions.
RESPONDENT
5. I believe that a saved person can by God's Grace and the purifying work of the Holy Spirit "flee from sin" and be holy in His life, even though continuing to struggle with sin. Depending on the "growing in grace and knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" determines how holy they will be by walking as our Savior walked! Amen.
DLG answer to the error...
Respondent is on solid ground concerning the possibility of fleeing from sin and being holy. But his legs wobble when it comes to standing firm for the fullness of salvation that cleansed us from all sin and with the fact that Christ has conquered the Old Man, the Double Mind, the Flesh. God has made it possible for us LOVE GOD WITH OUR WHOLE HEART, MIND SOUL AND STRENGTH, and our neighbor as ourselves, which is THE FULFILLING OF THE LAW (Mt. 22:37-40).
Respondent makes a really strange and inaccurate comment, when he said, "... determines how holy they will be walking as our Savior walked!"
Sorry, that does not even make any sense. There are not any degrees of holiness. To be 99% holy means we are not holy. To be 99% pure means we are not pure. If we walk as our Savior walked WE WILL DO NO SIN (1 Pe. 2:21-24).
#6 RESPONDENT CLOSED WITH THIS STATEMENT...
David, I pray that my answers to your questions will help you to see what I believe; and that all of what I have said is ALL due to the Free Grace given to us in Christ Jesus from the God of ALL Grace. Amen.
DLG answer...
Respondent used the term "FREE GRACE" in the context, which it has come to be associated with, for nearly 100 years. Regardless of the original usage of the term, "Free Grace" it has been redefined and packaged as an explanation that salvation is free from anything and everything. In other words, God bestows His grace according to His own choices, with no human participation at all, including repentance. I would use the term differently, but it is deeply ingrained in theological circles to be very closely aligned with Reformed Theology.
Wesleyan and Arminian doctrine recognizes that God's grace is the sovereign gift of God and the gift of salvation is freely given. We have done nothing to deserve salvation and we can do nothing to earn salvation. In this sense we consider salvation to be FREE GRACE.
But, like so many other words and phrases and terms, usage seems to be the standard of defining those terms. Therefore, when we talk to people about the things of God, we must always remember that they may not be thinking the same thoughts that we are thinking. We must define our terms.
I hope this article has been helpful in understanding the beliefs of "Respondent."
