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Continued: Does Faith Merit Salvation?

Discussion in 'Calvinism & Arminianism Debate' started by Skandelon, Jan 15, 2014.

  1. Skandelon

    Skandelon <b>Moderator</b>

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    The other thread was closed for whatever reason, so I didn't have opportunity to reply to this response from Luke and others:

    First my original Quote:
    Well, that depends on how you define RESPOND. If it is seen as a genuine, reaction, or reply of one agent in RESPONSE to the action or words of another agent, then I do not believe your deterministic system leaves room for this concept of a 'response.' (now, I admit, guys like Biblicist are less deterministic than you are, so I may address him a bit differently on this point).

    This is a perfect analogy of puppetry or robotics in your system and the very reason I reject your concept of response. If you think we are mere reactionary (pendulum like) creatures that God punishes for our innate reactions then so be it. But that makes about as much since as someone pulling the pendulum back and then when it swings the other way, taking the pendulum in your hands and yelling at at saying, "Why do you swing the other way! I told you not to do that!" and then slamming it to the ground and kicking it into a fire. It is just non-sense from my perspective. I know it makes since to you, but I'm telling you how I see that view.

    Because I do consider that a moral 'response.' If anything it is a innate reflex or instinctive reaction...not a rational moral response.

    Question begging...you're assuming determinism's premise is true when that is the very point up for debate.
     
  2. Skandelon

    Skandelon <b>Moderator</b>

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    This is just strange... P4T said, "Correct, and as we can see on BB the anti-cals and arminians believe man must enable God to save them, but when we speak of God enabling man to believe they hiss and spit at such a thought."

    1. It is one thing to claim God enables us to respond. (i.e. "How can they believe in one whom they have not heard?"

    2. It is another thing to say that God changes our nature so that we will respond in accordance with His predetermined will. (i.e. "How can they believe unless they are first regenerated and given a nature that will certainly desire to believe?")

    3. It is yet another thing to say God responds on our behalf. (i.e. "How can they respond unless God does it for them")​

    Clearly understanding and rationally discussing those distinctions is significant for our debate to maintain any semblance of meaning.
     
  3. The Biblicist

    The Biblicist Well-Known Member
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    It seems to me that you must explain away the language in Philippians 2:13

    "For it is God which worketh in us both TO WILL and TO DO of His Good pleasure."

    Does not this language attribute WILLINGESS to do God's pleasure to God rather than to man?

    It that language was applied to the lost man would not your system require you to explain it away?
     
  4. Skandelon

    Skandelon <b>Moderator</b>

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    Again, this is simply of case of reading one's view INTO a text, as it never suggests that God's working in this instance is effectual. We both agree that God works to help us follow him. He provokes men with envy (Rm 11:14), which is an example of God working in lost men to help them will and do his good pleasure. None of us deny that God's provokes, persuades, influences, woos, invites, commands, warns the will of man....those are all 'works of God,' but you are merely reading an effectual nature into that 'working.'

    So, the last time you sinned, I guess God didn't work in you enough? Isn't that ultimately your contention from before?
     
  5. kyredneck

    kyredneck Well-Known Member
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    He posted a pertinant passage and you make light of it.

    Maybe you've never experienced the 'fear and trembling' part of it.

    I'm in a situation right now with 'fear and trembling', I know I better do the right thing.

    But go ahead, make light of it to satisify your vain reasonings against His Sovereign Grace.
     
    #5 kyredneck, Jan 15, 2014
    Last edited by a moderator: Jan 15, 2014
  6. Skandelon

    Skandelon <b>Moderator</b>

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    Make light of it? What are you talking about? If I was 'making light of it,' I might make a joke or ignore it altogether. Instead I wrote out a very coherent reasonable explanation of our interpretation regarding this passage. I then follow that explanation with a honest question in reference to an earlier discussion regarding 'the last time he sinned.'

    Sometime I think people read tones into the typed the word that simply are not there.
     
  7. BobRyan

    BobRyan Well-Known Member

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    Agreed "we BEG you on behalf of Christ BE reconciled to God" 2Cor 5 is the sort of of appeal that goes to the core of the Arminian model.

    It is an "appeal" to choice that makes room for not only the "whosoever will" of Rev 22 but also the "if anyone hears my voice AND OPENS the door I will come in" Rev 3 and of course it provides the construct for a logical non-arbitrary, reasonable and just "lament of God" in the case of the lost.

    in Christ,

    Bob
     
  8. OldRegular

    OldRegular Well-Known Member

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    I would say that since faith is a gift of God it does not merit Salvation!
     
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