Author	Thread: Why we must rely TOTALLY on God's Mercy......
Admin	Why we must rely TOTALLY on God's Mercy...... Posted : 27 Nov, 2011 06:29 PM The view one takes concerning Salvation will be determined, to a large extent, by the view one takes concerning sin and its effects on human nature. When Calvinists speak of man as being totally depraved, they mean that man's nature is corrupt, perverse, and sinful throughout. It does not mean that man is as totally wicked as he can be. "total" is used to indicate that the WHOLE of man's being has been affected by sin. A. As a result of Adams transgression, men are born in sin and by nature are spiritually dead: therefore, if they are to become God's children and enter His kingdom, they must be born anew of the Spirit. 1. When Adam was placed in the garden of Eden, he was warned not to eat the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil on the threat of immediate SPIRITUAL death. Genesis 2:16,17: and the Lord commanded the man, saying, "You may freely eat of every tree on the garden; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day you eat of it you shall die." 2. Adam disobeyed and ate of the forbidden fruit (Gen. 3:1-7); consequently, he brought spiritual death upon himself and upon the whole human race. Romans 5:12; Therefore as sin came into the world through one man [Adam, see vs. 14] and DEATH through sin, and so death spread to all men because all men sinned. EPHESIANS 2:1-3 and you he MADE ALIVE, when you were DEAD through trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience. Among these we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, following the desires of body and mind, and so we were BY NATURE children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. Colossians 2:13; And you who were DEAD in trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, GOD MADE ALIVE together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses. 3. David confessed that he, as well as all other men, was born in sin. Psalm 51:5; Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me. Psalm 58:3; The wicked go astray from the womb, the err from their birth, speaking lies. 4. Because men are born in sin and are by nature spiritually dead, Jesus taught that men must be born anew if they are to enter God's kingdom. John 3:5-7; Jesus answered, "Truly, Truly, I say unto you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot ENTER the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is Spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, 'YOU MUST BE BORN ANEW'" compare John 1:12,13 B. As a result of the fall, men are blind and deaf to spiritual truth. Their minds are darkened by sin; their hearts are corrupt and evil. Gen. 6:5; The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that EVERY IMAGINATION OF THE THOUGHTS OF HIS HEART WAS ONLY EVIL CONTINUALLY. Gen. 8:21...The imagination of man's heart is EVIL from his youth.. Ecclesiastes 9:3...The HEARTS of men are FULL OF EVIL, and madness is in their hearts while they live... Jeremiah 17:9; The HEART IS DECEITFUL ABOVE ALL THINGS, and DESPERATELY CORRUPT; who can understand it? Mark 7:21-23; "For from within, OUT OF THE HEART OF MAN, come evil thoughts, fornication, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, licentiousness, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a man." John 3:19; And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and MEN LOVED DARKNESS, rather than light because their deeds were evil. Romans 8:7,8; For the MIND that is set on the flesh is hostile to God; IT does not submit to God's law, indeed it CANNOT; and those who are in the flesh CANNOT PLEASE GOD. 1 Corinthians 2:14: The unspiritual man does not receive the gifts of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and, HE IS NOT ABLE TO UNDERSTAND THEM because they are spiritually discerned. Ephesians 4:17-19: Now this I affirm and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds; they are DARKENED IN THEIR UNDERSTANDING, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, DUE TO THEIR HARDNESS OF HEART; they have become callous and have given themselves up to licentiousness, greedy to practice every kind of uncleanness. Ephesians 5:8 For once you were DARKNESS, but now you are light in the Lord... Titus 1:15: To the pure all things are pure, but to the corrupt and unbelieving nothing is pure; THEIR VERY MINDS AND CONSCIENCES ARE CORRUPTED. C. Before sinners are born into God's kingdom through the regenerating power of the Spirit, they are children of the Devil and under his control; they are slaves to sin. John 8:44 You are of YOUR FATHER THE DEVIL, and YOUR WILL is to do your father's desires. Ephesians 2:1,2; And you he made alive, when you were dead through the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, FOLLOWING THE PRINCE OF THE POWER OF THE AIR, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience. 2 Timothy 2:25,26; God may perhaps grant that they will repent and come to know the truth, and they may escape from THE SNARE OF THE DEVIL, after being CAPTURED BY HIM TO DO HIS WILL. 1 John 3:10; By this it may be seen who are the children of God, and who are the CHILDREN OF THE DEVIL: whoever does not do right is not of God, nor he who does not love his brother. 1John 5:19; We know that we are of God, and the whole world is IN THE POWER OF THE EVIL ONE. John 8:34; Jesus answered them, "Truly , Truly, I say to you, every one who commits sin is a SLAVE TO SIN". Romans 6:20; When you were SLAVES OF SIN, you were free in regard to righteousness. Titus 3:3; For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, SLAVES to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by men and hating one another. D. The reign of sin is universal; all men are under it's power; consequently, none is righteous---not even one! 2 Chronicles 6:36; ....for there is NO MAN who does not sin... Job 15:14-16; What is a man, that he can be clean? Or he that is born of a woman, that he can be righteous? Behold, God puts no trust in his holy ones, and the heavens are not clean in his sight; how much less one who is abominable and corrupt, A MAN WHO DRINKS INIQUITY LIKE WATER! PSALM 130:3; If Thou, O Lord, shouldst mark iniquities, Lord, WHO COULD STAND? Psalm 143:2; Enter not into judgment with thy servant; for NO MAN LIVING is righteous before Thee. Proverbs 20:9; Who can say, "I have made my heart clean; I am pure from my sin?" Ecclesiastes 7:20: Surely there is NOT A RIGHTEOUS MAN ON EARTH who does good and never sins. Ecclesiastes 7:29; Behold, this alone I found, that God made man upright, but they have sought out many devices. Isaiah 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way... Isaiah 64:6; We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away. Romans 3:9-12; What then? are we Jews any better off? No, not at all; for I have already charged that ALL MEN, both Jews and Greeks, ARE UNDER THE POWER OF SIN, as it is written; "NONE is righteous, no, not one; no one understands, no one seeks for God. All have turned aside, together they have gone wrong; NO ONE DOES GOOD,NOT EVEN ONE." James 3:2,8; For we all make many mistakes, and if any one makes no mistakes in what he says he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body also...but no human being can tame the tongue-- a restless evil, full of deadly poison. I John 1:8,10; If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us..If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. E. Men left in their dead state are unable of themselves to repent, to believe the gospel, or to come to Christ. They have no power within themselves to change their natures or to prepare themselves for salvation. JOB 14:4; Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? There is not one. Jeremiah 13:23; Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard his spots? Then also you can do good who are accustomed to do evil. Matthew 7:16-18 YOU will know them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorns, or figs from thistles? So, every sound tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears evil fruit. A sound tree cannot bear evil fruit, NOR CAN A BAD TREE BEAR GOOD FRUIT. Matthew 12:33 "Either make the tree good, and its fruit good; or make the tree bad, and its fruit bad; for the tree is known by its fruit." John 6:44; NO ONE CAN COME TO ME UNLESS the Father who sent me DRAWS HIM; and I will raise him up on the last day. John 6:56; And he said, "This is why I told you that NO ONE CAN COME TO ME UNLESS IT IS GRANTED HIM BY THE FATHER." Romans 11:35,36; "Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?" For from him and through him and to him ARE ALL THINGS. to him be glory forever. AMEN. 1 Corinthians 2:14; The UNSPIRITUAL MAN does not receive the gifts of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and HE IS NOT ABLE TO UNDERSTAND THEM because they are spiritually discerned. 1 Corinthians 4:7; For who sees anything different in you? What have you that you did not receive? If then you received it, WHY DO YOU BOAST AS IF IT WERE NOT A GIFT? 2 Corinthians 3:5; Not that we are SUFFICIENT OF OURSELVES to claim anything as coming from us; our sufficiency is FROM GOD. From these Scriptures we see that we are unable of ourselves to do anything toward gaining salvation. We must rely totally on God's mercy and love. Sincerely, James Post Reply
View Profile History	Why we must rely TOTALLY on God's Mercy...... Posted : 27 Nov, 2011 06:53 PM James this is of reformation theology, in denail of the word of God, faith is no different today, than from the beginning and the bible is full of man pleasing the father with their faith. Post Reply
View Profile History	Why we must rely TOTALLY on God's Mercy...... Posted : 27 Nov, 2011 06:59 PM James replies: Yes, PhillipJohn, but only AFTER God has made them come alive spiritually. John 6:56; And he said, "This is why I told you that NO ONE CAN COME TO ME UNLESS IT IS GRANTED HIM BY THE FATHER." In Christ, James Post Reply
View Profile History	Why we must rely TOTALLY on God's Mercy...... Posted : 27 Nov, 2011 07:00 PM No sir that is not scriptual not at all, faith is the same in any condition. Post Reply
View Profile History	Why we must rely TOTALLY on God's Mercy...... Posted : 27 Nov, 2011 07:38 PM SirJames Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. So, without Faith it is impossible to please God. This is also scripture. KJV Post Reply
View Profile History	Why we must rely TOTALLY on God's Mercy...... Posted : 27 Nov, 2011 08:23 PM Okay then, please answer my questions: 1. WHY did Jesus say this? 2. Why when Jesus repeated it, did the Disciples get discouraged? John 6:56; And he said, "This is why I told you that NO ONE CAN COME TO ME UNLESS IT IS GRANTED HIM BY THE FATHER." In Christ, James Post Reply
View Profile History	Why we must rely TOTALLY on God's Mercy...... Posted : 27 Nov, 2011 08:28 PM James, all you ever post is the doctrine and theology you have learned under the Calvinist reformed teachings... do you know anything whatsoever about what God says in His word personally about God's grace and mercy, and slavation and faith on your own personal expereince and spiritual level of your salvation?? Can you explain the gospel of grace through faith unto salvation according to what Paul preached about in the book of Galatians? Don't know if your teachers have told you or not, but for your edification, Galatians is know as the magna charta (foundation) of the gospel of grace accoridng to God's grace and salvation by faith thorugh Paul. So are you able to discuss what Scripture says, or do you only discuss what someone has written based of their interpretation of what Calvin MIGHT have said, since so much is being used in Calvin's name and he knows nothing about much of the stuff that is being used in his name... after all he died a thousand years ago, and he really did not have that many published or private writings before his death. Nevrtheless what does Paul etahc us about God's grace and mercy, since he experienced it first hand and wrote about it? Post Reply
View Profile History	Why we must rely TOTALLY on God's Mercy...... Posted : 27 Nov, 2011 08:32 PM John 6:56 in my Bible says this John 6:56 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in them. Post Reply
View Profile History	Why we must rely TOTALLY on God's Mercy...... Posted : 28 Nov, 2011 06:29 AM ET said: James, all you ever post is the doctrine and theology you have learned under the Calvinist reformed teachings... do you know anything whatsoever about what God says in His word personally about God's grace and mercy, and slavation and faith on your own personal expereince and spiritual level of your salvation?? James replies: Wow! What I posted was 95% Scripture, and you say all I ever post is "Doctrine and theology". I think what you don't like is that I also post a LOT of Scripture that is IGNORED in Modern American churches. I don't mind being guilty of that. And now you are questioning my salvation because of it? If you wish I can give my testimony. I can assure you I am born again. God certainly changed me from a totally spiritually dead man on my way to Hell (my choice) and the Holy Spirit made me come alive, and so because of that, I suddenly WANTED to repent and trust in Jesus. I have been a Christian for 25 years now. ET said: Can you explain the gospel of grace through faith unto salvation according to what Paul preached about in the book of Galatians? James replies: Yes, of course, but Paul was mainly dealing with the Judaizers, and I have never said that a person must follow Jewish ceremonial laws in order to be saved. Justification is by faith alone. ET continues: Don't know if your teachers have told you or not, but for your edification, Galatians is know as the magna charta (foundation) of the gospel of grace accoridng to God's grace and salvation by faith thorugh Paul. James replies: I would disagree and say that Romans is where Paul's most extended teaching is on justification by faith. And just to be clear, my teachers are to found all throughout church history, and not just some Arminian preachers who are alive today. ET continues: So are you able to discuss what Scripture says, or do you only discuss what someone has written based of their interpretation of what Calvin MIGHT have said, since so much is being used in Calvin's name and he knows nothing about much of the stuff that is being used in his name... after all he died a thousand years ago, and he really did not have that many published or private writings before his death. James replies: 1. I don't think much of my private religious hunches UNLESS they agree with many of the early church fathers, and theologians throughout ALL of church history. 2. John Calvin has tons of surviving sermons, letters written to other theologians, and of course his institutes, which I think is the best Christian handbook ever written. 3. we are not discussing anything Calvin wrote. I just posted a short piece that was 95% scriptures all talking about the nature of fallen mankind. How is that an "interpretation of what Calvin said"? 4. Why haven't you answered my two questions about what Jesus said in John 6? ET continues: Nevrtheless what does Paul etahc us about God's grace and mercy, since he experienced it first hand and wrote about it? James replies: Well, in Ephesians 2:8,9 Paul says that faith itself is a gift from God so that no one will boast. And I have had two people on this group tell me that is not true, and so they THINK they have a reason to boast. Paul teaches that salvation is by faith alone through grace alone, and that means that no one person will EVER repent and trust in Jesus UNLESS God in His mercy, GRANTS them repentance and faith. Salvation it TOTALLY by grace, hence the title of this thread. In Christ, James Post Reply
View Profile History	Why we must rely TOTALLY on God's Mercy...... Posted : 28 Nov, 2011 07:08 AM View Profile History Why we must rely TOTALLY on God's Mercy...... Posted : 28 Nov, 2011 06:29 AM ET said: James, all you ever post is the doctrine and theology you have learned under the Calvinist reformed teachings... do you know anything whatsoever about what God says in His word personally about God's grace and mercy, and slavation and faith on your own personal expereince and spiritual level of your salvation?? James replies: Wow! What I posted was 95% Scripture, and you say all I ever post is "Doctrine and theology". I think what you don't like is that I also post a LOT of Scripture that is IGNORED in Modern American churches. I don't mind being guilty of that. And now you are questioning my salvation because of it? If you wish I can give my testimony. I can assure you I am born again. God certainly changed me from a totally spiritually dead man on my way to Hell (my choice) and the Holy Spirit made me come alive, and so because of that, I suddenly WANTED to repent and trust in Jesus. I have been a Christian for 25 years now. James if one was to go by your testimony and what the word of God teaches man on faith you are not saved, notice I did not say you are not, you did. now you have tyo explain how a christian then can walk in darness and say he is in fellowship with the lord. Post Reply
View Profile History	Why we must rely TOTALLY on God's Mercy...... Posted : 28 Nov, 2011 03:13 PM Sir James says: If you wish I can give my testimony. I can assure you I am born again. God certainly changed me from a totally spiritually dead man on my way to Hell (my choice) and the Holy Spirit made me come alive, and so because of that, I suddenly WANTED to repent and trust in Jesus.:excited: Scripture truth; Sinners are saved only by Faith in Jesus Christ. Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the mae of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shal recive the gfit of the Holy Ghost . Acts 2:38 kjv But God Himself provides the only way t o overcome that sin, "the righteousness of God, which is by Faith of Jesus Christ unot all and upon all them that Believe. Romans 2:22 Faith comes first. Holy Spirit comes to lead you After you are born again. Post Reply