When we start with a False Premise (whether by Intention or not) we are Forced to Justify that False Premise and we do so�over and over�jumping through hoops and twisting and turning and spinning�oh my!
If we Believe and therefore say and Teach that Repentance is a Fruit of The Tree of Faith, because from Believing and having Faith comes the Need to Repent (to turn away from sin and back towards God)�then Logic deems that Faith comes First,
If Faith comes First then Repentance is an
��Act of Faith��a �Work of Faith��an �Action of Faith�.
You see my Brothers and Sisters�Faith DEMANDS ACTION! The Holy Spirit cannot lay Dormant! If it is Truly in you�then it must MOVE in you. True Faith�a Faith that is ALIVE�is an Active Faith; there is no such thing as a Passive Faith (only a dead faith).
No True Christian Believes that it is only through our works that we are Saved. It is One of the very Premises of Christianity that we are Saved by (First) Believing in God�s Sanctifying Grace (which is) � given Freely and without merit (having been �earned� by The Blood of Christ).
God�s Plan of Salvation is Exquisitely Simple, yet Vastly Mysterious and Intricate. We are Saved by Faith (less we Boast), yet God will Reward us �by our Works�. The two�
��Faith and Works�
Are Inseparable!
My Brothers and Sister�I have not used �Clever Speech� or �Twisted Logic� to Deceive you or a �Mountain of Words� to Confuse you. What I write is Plain for all to read. It is a TRUTH that I know Each and Everyone One of you have Pondered and asked yourself
�Can this be True?�
You know in your Hearts that it is TRUE. Yet, Circumstances Dictate that you Deny it�that is actually Fine (sort of)�for it is up to God to Judge your Intentions (not me).
I await your Rebuttal� (or Agreement)�either way -- it makes for Good Dialogue.
...you could Believe that Faith only comes once you have Repented of your Sins -- then Works are not necessary -- nothing is needed...only Repentance.
Say...there is an IDEA!
God FORCES you to Repent (God can do Anything)...thereby making you Eligible (Elected) for Faith which Saves you!
Hey...God Froces you to Become one of His ELECTED and thereby Saved and since you did nothing to Merit this...then there is Nothing you can do to Lose it!
Wow...did I just start a New Religion (based on Scripture...of course).
I better Scramble and find some Scripture that I can use to back me up.
Now...what can I call this new Religion...? (based on Scripture...of course)
1. Mankind is utterly fallen, and does NOT have the ability to come to faith and repentance.
2. GOD decided whom He would save before the world was made.
3. Jesus specifically died for the elect, the people God chose.
4. God's grace is irresistible, because He makes His people to be born again, and this causes them to want to repent and trust in Jesus and persevere to the end.
5. God CAUSES His chosen people to persevere to the end, through several diverse means. (end post)
Man! I really thought I had started a "New Religion"! That would have been Cool! Having all those poor people following me "Blindly" in "Faith".
Oh...well...let me see...I know --
Jesus Impregnated Mary Madeleine and their children...
As if one could swat away The Reformation with by reciting a child's proverb.....
Point one was that Fallen mankind is utterly unable to repent and have Faith in Jesus.
Now, I can provide a list of Scriptures that show this, and the list is a long one. But since you are Roman Catholic, I will post something that SHOULD be important to you:
"If anyone makes the assistance of grace depend on the humility or obedience of man and does not agree that it is a gift of grace itself that we are obedient and humble, he contradicts the Apostle who says, "What have you that you did not receive?" (1 Cor. 4:7), and, "But by the grace of God I am what I am" (1 Cor. 15:10). If anyone affirms that we can form any right opinion or make any right choice which relates to the salvation of eternal life, or that we can be saved by assent to the preaching of the gospel through our natural powers without the effectual work of the Holy Spirit, who makes all whom He calls gladly and willingly assent to and believe in the truth, he is led astray from the plain teaching of Scripture by exalting the natural ability of man, and does not understand the voice of God who says in the Gospel, "For apart from me you can do nothing" (John 15:5), and the word of the Apostle, "Not that we are competent of ourselves to claim anything as coming from us; our competence is from God" (2 Cor. 3:5).
Adapted from The Council of Orange (529 AD)
The Reformers would not even listen to you concerning your interpretation of Scripture unless you could show from church history, that what you are saying was believed by the church in the past.
There are over 400 Protestant denominations who will fight over every jot in their statement of faith. What doctrines you believe is very important but more important is following all the commands of Jesus and the NT with the hope of countless eternal rewards for faithful and loving service.
Jesus commands us to make disciples of all nations teaching them to obey **EVERYTHING** I commanded in Matthew 28:18-20.
Their will be 2 comings of Jesus on the Last Day. The first will be *FOR* His saints and the second will be with his saints just after the marriage Feast of the Lamb as per Revelation 19:8-20 and Revelation 17:14: :They will make war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will overcome them because He is Lord of lords and King of kings--and with Him will be His **CALLED*, **CHOSEN** and **FAITHFUL** followers.
God only calls and chooses those He knows will be *FAITHFUL**who are born of God.
God Has Promised "You will Find Me When You Seek Me With All Your Heart." {Jeremiah 29:13}and "We Will Make Our Home With You!"
John 14:23: Jesus says, �If anyone loves Me, he will obey My teaching, My Father will love him, and We will make Our home with him.�
Matthew 28:19,20: Jesus commands, �Go and make disciples of all nations... teaching them to *OBEY EVERYTHING I have commanded you!�
I John 2:3-5: �We know that we have come to know Him **IF** we obey His commands. The man who says, �I know Him,� but does not do what He commands is a liar, and the Truth is not him. But if anyone **OBEYS HIS WORD**, God's **LOVE** is truly made complete in Him!!�
So let us read God's Word daily {Acts 17:11} and then *DO WHAT IT SAYS*! {James 1:22,25}
Acts 17:11: �The Bereans were of noble character, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures *EVERY DAY*!�
James 1:22,25: �Do not merely listen to the Word. *DO WHAT IT SAYS*!... and he who continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but *DOING IT*�will be blessed in what he does.
2 Peter 1:3-11: �His Divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness. Through these He has given us His very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
For this reason, make every effort to add to your faith {a 100% Free Gift}; goodness, and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness, LOVE. For if you possess these qualities in **INCREASING MEASURE**, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins. Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, and you will receive a **RICH WELCOME** into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!!�
Matthew 16:27; Jesus says, �The Son of Man is going to come in **HIS FATHER'S GLORY WITH HIS ANGELS** {See Matt 24:30,31 & 2 Thess 1:6-10}, and *THEN* He will reward each person according to what he has done.�
Revelation 22:12: Jesus says, �Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with Me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done!� {When Jesus comes in His Father's glory with His angels}
2 Corinthians 5:10: For we must all appear before the Judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, {When Jesus comes in His Father's glory with His angels} whether good or bad.�
Ephesians 2:8-10: It is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this is NOT from yourselves, it is the GIFT of God--not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
So Salvation is the ***FREE GIFT*** of God's grace and good works with eternal rewards can only be performed by the saved.
Salvation is a 100% Free Gift and REWARDS are 100 % earned.
Matthew 5:14,16: Jesus says, �You are the LIGHT of the world...Let your LIGHT shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
I Corinthians 3:6-9: Paul says, �The Lord has assigned to each his task. I planted the seed. Apollos watered it, but God made it grow... The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor. For we are God's fellow workers!�
Daniel 12:3: �Those who impart wisdom will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever!!�
So let our lights *SHINE* with the many gifts God has given us and we can have a REVIVAL with the hope of countless eternal rewards for faithful and loving service.
I Corinthians 1:7: For �You do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be *REVEALED*!�
Peter 1:13: �Therefore, prepare your minds for ACTION, and set your hope {*FULLY*} on the grace to be given YOU when Jesus Christ is {*REVEALED*}!!:applause::angel::peace:
2 Timothy 3:16; & 2 Tim 4:3,4: � **ALL SCRIPTURE** is God breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.... For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.
Matthew 1:24,25: When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he had no union with her **UNTIL** she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.
Mark 6:1,3:Jesus left and went to His hometown...and began to teach...They asked, "Isn't this the carpenter? Isn't this Mary's son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren't His sisters here with us?"
Mark 3:31-34: Then Jesus' mother and BROTHERS arrived. Standing outside...A crowd was sitting around Him, and they told Him, "Your mother and BROTHERS are outside looking for you." "Who are My mother and my brothers?" Jesus asked. Then He looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, "Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does God's will is my brother and sister and mother!"
Matthew 6:6,9-11: Jesus says, �When you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your **Father**, who is unseen. Then your **Father**, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you ...This then is how you should pray: �Our Father in Heaven, hallowed be your name, your Kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.....�
Is there even one instance where a believer prayed to someone other than the **Father** in the OT or the NT?? Answer; ZERO!
What church had its evil leader decree that it is OK to pray to and worship Mary, a human being, who was a sinless VIRGIN??
I Timothy 3:1-5:If anyone sets his heart on being an Overseer or Bishop, he desires a noble task. Now the Overseer or Bishop must be the husband of but one wife.....He must manage his own family well..If anyone does no know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God's church? I Tim 3:12 and Titus 1:6: Deacons and Elders should also be the husband of but one wife.
I Corinthians 9:5: Paul said �Don't we have the right to take a believing wife along with us, as do the other Apostles and the Lord's brothers and Cephas {PETER} What church:devil: became famous for having thousands of their unmarried priests fondle and seduce hundreds of thousands of innocent and trusting children?? There were over 250 Roman Catholic priests and teachers found guilty of seducing children just in the German province of Munich alone. As a result over 200,000 disgusted Germans and about 76,000 Austrians left the Roman Catholic Church in 2010.
Matthew 23:9: Jesus says, �Do not call ANYONE on earth 'father,' for you have ONE {Spiritual} Father, and He is in Heaven!!� What Church:devil: calls all their priests spiritual �Fathers�?? And their Satanic leader �Holy Father�?? And their evil followers bow down and kiss his ring and worship him???
This Church:devil: actually claims that they do not worship Mary but what are all these "Hail Mary's" all about??? Actually this Church:devil: worships and prays to Mary far more than they worship Jesus and His Father combined even though God's Word commands us over 100 times to Worship and pray to GOD ALONE!!
Hebrews 9:15,26b-28: Christ is the mediator of a NEW COVENANT so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance--now that He has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant...But now He has APPEARED ONCE FOR ALL at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the SACRIFICE of Himself... so Christ was SACRIFICED ONCE to take away the sins of many people, and He will *APPEAR* a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for Him. Hebrews 10:10: �We have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus **ONCE FOR ALL**!!�
What Church:devil: believes that Jesus has to die every day except Good Friday to take away sins and that Satanic priests:devil: have the power to change wine into the blood of Jesus which they drink and wafers into the body of Jesus which they eat.
Romans 6:9,10: "We know that since Christ was raised from the dead, *HE CANNOT DIE AGAIN*; death no longer has mastery over Him. The death He died,* HE DIED FOR SIN **ONCE** FOR ALL*; but the life He lives He lives to God!"
