The MEANS of SALVATION...

No, you are no longer under it legally. Paul explains this.

Rom 7:1 Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth?
2 For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband.
3 So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man.
4 Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.

Paul says here that a married woman is bound by the law to her husband. But if the husband dies she is no longer bound by it and free to marry another man.

This is what it means to be dead to sin. We are not bound by it. It would be as if you personified sin and it was your husband. He died and you are no longer bound to him. It is not that you can't sin, but sin can no longer reign over you and bring the judgement of condemnation upon you.

Tell me, if a man is driving drunk and speeding and runs head on into another car killing himself and the people in the other car, do we prosecute the dead drunk driver? Of course not. The dead are not under the law.

This is what it means to be dead to sin. You are no longer bound and dominated by it, you are free from it as a woman is free to marry again if her husband dies.

 

Spiritually dead people can still respond in the flesh. A Physically dead person cant respond in the flesh.

 

Your right the gospel is a work of God, but there is a further work that must be done. God doesnt just leave His work in the hands of mankind hoping they will do what He wants.

No, in my world God will say "well done good and faithful servant" and I will say that "all the glory goes to you Lord". Don't forget that we are still responsible to trust the Lord, and He doesn't do it for us.

 

That is wrong. The scriptures show that the dead can respond to Jesus's voice. Look at the story of the young girl Jesus raised.

Luke 8:49 While he yet spake, there cometh one from the ruler of the synagogue's house, saying to him, Thy daughter is dead; trouble not the Master.
50 But when Jesus heard it, he answered him, saying, Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole.
51 And when he came into the house, he suffered no man to go in, save Peter, and James, and John, and the father and the mother of the maiden.
52 And all wept, and bewailed her: but he said, Weep not; she is not dead, but sleepeth.
53 And they laughed him to scorn, knowing that she was dead.
54 And he put them all out, and took her by the hand, and called, saying, Maid, arise.
55 And her spirit came again, and she arose straightway: and he commanded to give her meat.
56 And her parents were astonished: but he charged them that they should tell no man what was done.

Notice when Jesus called to the girl, it says "her spirit came again". It is showing action on the part of her spirit.

What you fail to understand is that death means separation. Her spirit had left her body. The scriptures say this.

James 2:26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

When you die, your spirit does not cease to exist or even cease to function. It simply leaves the body. But the dead can hear, see, feel emotions and pain. When Jesus calls, a dead person can hear and respond.

The dead rich man in hell clearly had the ability to see, hear, understand, speak, reason and other abilities. Abraham did not have the ability to raise the rich man to life, but the rich man clearly heard Abraham and held a conversation with him.

Luke 16:23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.
25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.
26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.
27 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house:

Calvinism teaches that the spiritually dead are like a lifeless corpse. This is utterly false and the scriptures show so. They can see, speak, hear, think and all other functions.

 

Yes Skandelon, that is an excellent question. Why would the Lord say "Well done, thou good and faithful servant"?? Does he realize he is stealing from God's glory and sovereignty?

2 Kings 10:30 And the LORD said unto Jehu, Because thou hast done well in executing that which is right in mine eyes, and hast done unto the house of Ahab according to all that was in mine heart, thy children of the fourth generation shall sit on the throne of Israel.

Not only did God credit Jehu and said he did well, he even rewarded him!

Matt 25:21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

 

Let me quote Wayne Grudem's way of putting it

"We totally lack spiritual good before God"

"It's not just that some parts of us are sinful and others pure. Rather, every part of our being is affected by sin- our intellects, our emotions and desires, our hearts (the center of our desires and decision-making process), our goals and motives, and even our physical bodies. He lists a few scriptures Rom. 7:18, Titus 1:15, Jer. 17:9, Eph. 4:18

 

There you go. Whenever you question a Calvinist, they will always run to their commentaries written by other Calvinists. It's as if they can't think independently on their own. [offensive remark deleted]

Can't you provide scriptures of your own and explain how they support your position?

 

The natural man acts just like a dog and always returns to his own vomit. It doesn't mean they don't have a soul as JW's say.

 

What a foolish thing to do.... how dare me seek some advice from a brother

 

Ok fair enough, you can go on your way and think of you as receiving praise for good works and I will go ahead and continue to praise God fully for my good works... hehe :wavey: