Can you build the case for 'saving faith' from scripture?
Where Does Faith Come From?
Discussion in 'Calvinism & Arminianism Debate' started by Reformed1689, Jun 29, 2019.
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[Rom 10:13-17 NASB] 13 for "WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED." 14 How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? 15 How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, "HOW BEAUTIFUL ARE THE FEET OF THOSE WHO BRING GOOD NEWS OF GOOD THINGS!" 16 However, they did not all heed the good news; for Isaiah says, "LORD, WHO HAS BELIEVED OUR REPORT?" 17 So faith [comes] from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.
Here Paul likens faith to believing a news report. However, this passage (Rom 10) affirms the choice is a major component of faith. The justification for faith precedes the description of how faith comes through preaching and hearing.
[Rom 10:5-11 NASB] 5 For Moses writes that the man who practices the righteousness which is based on law shall live by that righteousness. 6 But the righteousness based on faith speaks as follows: "DO NOT SAY IN YOUR HEART, 'WHO WILL ASCEND INTO HEAVEN?' (that is, to bring Christ down), 7 or 'WHO WILL DESCEND INTO THE ABYSS?' (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead)." 8 But what does it say? "THE WORD IS NEAR YOU, IN YOUR MOUTH AND IN YOUR HEART"--that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, 9 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus [as] Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; 10 for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, "WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED."
Of course all of the capitalized sections in both of these passages are quotes from the Old Testament. Specifically, it is quoting from Deuteronomy 30 which is all about choice. Paul says this portion of scripture is talking about the righteousness that comes by faith! Additionally, we see in the context of Deuteronomy 30 that it talks about cirucumcision of the heart which is NT salvation:
[Deu 30:1, 6, 11-15, 19 NASB] 1 "So it shall be when all of these things have come upon you, the blessing and the curse which I have set before you, and you call [them] to mind in all nations where the LORD your God has banished you, ... 6 "Moreover the LORD your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants, to love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, so that you may live. ... 11 "For this commandment which I command you today is not too difficult for you, nor is it out of reach. 12 "It is not in heaven, that you should say, 'Who will go up to heaven for us to get it for us and make us hear it, that we may observe it?' 13 "Nor is it beyond the sea, that you should say, 'Who will cross the sea for us to get it for us and make us hear it, that we may observe it?' 14 "But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may observe it. 15 "See, I have set before you today life and prosperity, and death and adversity; ... 19 "I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants, -
God predestined the chosen people - the elect. Choosing to believe doesn't' make you elect... it makes you part of the chosen or elect group. We become elect because of God's promise to Abraham to make all of his descendants inherit the promise. Our faith doesn't qualify us as elect... our faith qualifies us for human adoption... and our kinship with Abraham makes us elect because of God's promise to Abraham, and because God keeps his promises.
This is why Calvinism and Arminianism are both a sham... both are absolutely clueless as to how salvation actually works. Total depravity is irrelevant because our choice doesn't directly qualify us for salvation or righteousness... it qualifies us for human adoption and then we inherit righteousness based on kinship with Abraham and based on God's promise to Abraham that his descendants would inherit the everlasting covenant.
Our choice doesn't influence God. He chose the group "the descendants of Abraham" not each member of that group individually. He gave open enrollment into the group and lets us human beings decide which man we want to claim as our father through our decision to believe. Human adoption doesn't require regeneration or indwelling. Faith isn't a mystical or magical power that renews the person. It is mere belief in the gospel, no more different from believing a news report (though with much better results). -
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SovereignGrace Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
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Revmitchell Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
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Having faith is not salvation. Having Faith in the correct place allows us to be true to God and receive Salvation... Many have faith even in God but are lost.
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Reformed1689 Well-Known Member
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Reformed1689 Well-Known Member
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Revmitchell Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
And thanks for proving my point -
Reformed1689 Well-Known Member
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Revmitchell Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
Yes it did and yes it was an accusation written in the form of a question to avoid being gigged for accusing someone. And once again you are engage in the logical fallacy of "tu quoque". -
Reformed1689 Well-Known Member
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Iconoclast Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
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Iconoclast Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
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MB -
MB -
Reformed1689 Well-Known Member
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