Saving faith versus historical faith
Many theologians and their followers entertain the popular idea that saving faith is a faith that saves. Therefore, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, an effect and product of salvation has been perverted into an instrumental cause/means of salvation. Thus, they deceive their followers.
The bare facts of Holy Scriptures are that believing and repenting are the activities of those whom God HAS ALREADY SAVED - i.e. effectually called out of their native state of sin and death to that state of grace and salvation in Christ Jesus.
Saving faith is the faith that is exercised by a SAVED man; saving faith is an effect, a product, a fruit of the salvation already freely bestowed upon a man dead in trespasses and sins. It is salvation already bestowed that enables a man to believe the truth of his salvation by God's free grace while he was still dead in trespasses and sins.
Saving faith is contrasted against historical faith which acknowledges some historical facts about Jesus BUT does not receive nor rest in Him for salvation. The devils have that faith - they confess that Jesus is Christ the Son of the living God. They even tremble! Natural men confess to some historical facts of Jesus.
Saving faith, on the other hand, receives and rests in Christ for righteousness and salvation. Saving faith can be weak, and it can be strong, or anywhere in between, and saving faith is called forth out of God's children by the hearing of the truth of their salvation.
God's children - effectually called to grace and salvation by God's free and sovereign activities - who have NO opportunity, or NO ability to hear the gospel of their salvation, would have nothing to believe on. They would manifest no saving faith, even though the grace of faith is equally worked in every child of God by the indwelling Spirit of God.
Believing the truth of his salvation in Jesus Christ by God's free grace does save a child of God from lies and errors and falsehood, and brings him comfort and peace, assurance and joy, fellowship with God, etc.
The faith of Christ ALONE - i.e. Christ's faithfulness in discharging all the conditions and demands of God for the eternal redemption of all those given to Christ - saved them from their deserved eternal damnation in the lake of fire.
Re 20:15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
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p/s 1JMA's idea of saving faith is that it is a faith that saves. So an effect of salvation has been perverted into an instrumental cause of salvation. That's the whole problem.
The bare facts of Holy Scriptures is that believing is the activities of that whom God HAS ALREADY SAVED.
Saving faith is a faith exercised by a SAVED man, saving faith is an effect, a product, a fruit of the salvation already bestowed upon a man death in trespasses and sins.
Saving is contrast to historical faith, acknowledging historical facts about Jesus BUT does not receive and rest in him for salvation. The devils have that faith - they confessed that Jesus is Christ the Son of the living God. Natural men confess to the historical facts of Jesus.
Saving faith, on the other hand, receives and rests in Christ for righteousness and salvation. Saving faith can be weak, can be strong, and anywhere in between... and saving faith comes by the hearing of the truth of their salvation.
God's children - effectually called to grace and salvation by God's free and sovereign activities - who have NO opportunity, or NO ability to hear the gospel of their salvation, would have nothing to believe on.
p/s 2
JMA - ""Let me just say simply, that when you present the gospel, all of this Lordship discussion aside, a presentation of the gospel is simply this: you are calling on someone to TURN FROM THEIR SIN and FOLLOW JESUS CHRIST. That’s it! Turn from your sin and follow Jesus Christ!....That is all we are asking: TURN FROM YOUR SIN AND FOLLOW JESUS CHRIST....What you talk to an adult about is the same thing you tell a child: you need to turn from your sin and follow Jesus Christ""
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But except a man be born again - already effectually called out of his native state of sin and death to that state of grace and salvation in Jesus Christ - he is as dead as stone in his ability to perform spiritual activities like repenting and believing, though he is very alive and vigorous in his rebellion and enmity against God.
"Except a man be born again, he CANNOT... " see the truth concerning the kingdom of God... he CANNOT enter (repent and believe) the kingdom of God.
Only a born again man, a dead man bestowed with eternal life, is capable of such activities that JMA demands.
Life must precede the activities of that life. When men cannot agree on this basic premise, then intelligent communication becomes impossible.
p/s 3
A JMA's devoted disciple, Brett Null, asked:"Is the death of Christ a work that potentially saves willing sinners or is it a work that actually provides salvation for unwilling sinners who by God's sovereign grace will be made willing?"
Brett, I assume you ask question because you want to know an answer.
The death of Christ ACTUALLY secured the salvation of all that was given to Him by the Father.
The salvation that was actually accomplished and secured by the finished work of Jesus Christ is freely and sovereignly applied to each of God's elect (and given to Christ to redeem), at God's own appointed and approved time through the effectual call, when God calls a man dead in his native state of sin and death to that state of grace and salvation in Christ Jesus.
Salvation was PURPOSED for the elect in eternity.
Salvation was ACCOMPLISHED at the cross for the elect.
Salvation is APPLIED to each elect (when he is still dead in trespasses and sins) at God's appointed time.
Salvation is EXPERIENCED at conversion.
Salvation is CONSUMMATED at resurrection to glory.
I hope this help. But I don't believe you are looking for answers.
You are too smart to learn anything!
Apostle Paul warns of the perilous times...
3:1 ¶ This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come... 7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
