"sola fidei is not of grace; it is of work.

This true statement repudiates his own "sola fidei."Luther's "sola fidei is not of grace; it is of work.

On this point - "If grace depends on our cooperation then it is no longer grace" - I do agree with Martin Luther.

But how does Luther's notorious sola fidei - "justification by faith alone" (i.e. upon believing, a man is justified by God) - stand in light of his own statement?

Is grace still grace when it requires the cooperation of preachers to aid the Spirit of God in His work of regeneration?

(take note: gospel regenerationists.)

Is grace still grace when it requires the cooperation of sinners to hear, understand, and believe the gospel?

(take note: sola fideists.)

Is grace still grace when it requires the cooperation of a life of faith and holiness for one to enter heaven?

Have you understood salvation by grace alone?

Many haven't even though they babble the sound all the time.

Do you why?

They are unable and/or unwilling to distinguish the MONERGISTIC eternal salvation that is freely bestowed upon those dead in trespasses and sins, and the SYNERGISTIC temporal salvation through the obedience of God's children to His will. (If you don't know the difference between the two, please inquire.)

Failing to rightly divide the two, even the most revered reformed theologians are muddled. Luther is one example.

Put simply by way of illustration - it is the difference between the life given to you (being conceived and born of your parents), and the life you have to make for yourself as a child of your parents. In the former, you were brought into BEING; in the latter, you labour to make a life for yourself in obedience to your parents.

Romans 11:6 KJV

And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.

Romans 3:24 KJV

"Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus."

John 6 KJ V

28 ¶Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?

29 ¶Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.

Believing in the gospel is a work God requires of His children.

Justification by faith (man's act of believing) is justification by works. It repudiates "justified freely by His grace."

P/s

To preempt sincere people foaming foolish accusations, let me assure you that the preaching ministry is necessary for the WELL-BEING of God's children; believing the gospel of Jesus Christ is necessary for the WELL-BEING of God's children; a life of faith and holiness is necessary for the WELL-BEING and usefulness of God children in this present age.

John 3:16 in KJV is "seriously mistranslated", asserted a scholar

A little exchange took place when I post a commentary on John 3:16.

https://things-new-and-old.blogspot.com/2011/12/for-god-so-loved-world.html

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Liang
Just do a translation from the original Greek you will find John 3:16 seriously mistranslated.

sing

Good idea. Can you help us with that? Thanks.

May the Lord bless you with an edifying time of worship and fellowship today.

Liang

Just take Young's literal translation... John 3:16 Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

16 for God did so love the world, that His Son -- the only begotten -- He gave, that every one who is believing in him may not perish, but may have life age-during. There is no whoever or whosoever and 'believe is in the continuous tense" and "eternal life" is the "age" inferred from the book of Daniel...

sing

Thanks for giving us Young's literal translation. How does this translation differ from, and better than the one by the KJ translators?

How is the KJV seriously mistranslated?

And based on Young's translation, what is your understanding of John 3:16?

Liang

It is more accurate than KJV because the tenses and words are translated as it is in the original Greek. The offer of salvation to "whoever" is not found in John 3:16

sing

Tell us in what way it is more accurate, and the KJV seriously mistranslated? I want to learn. Thank you.

Liang

Firstly, as I have stated before, the KJV "Everlasting Life" is not found in the original verse. "believeth" should be "believing" (wrong tense)

sing

Please give the verse in Greek from which Young did his translation.

Liang

Οὕτως γὰρ ἠγάπησεν ὁ θεὸς τὸν κόσμον, ὥστε τὸν υἱὸν τὸν μονογενῆ ἔδωκεν, ἵνα πᾶς ὁ πιστεύων εἰς αὐτὸν μὴ ἀπόληται ἀλλ᾽ ἔχῃ ζωὴν αἰώνιον.

sing

Young's translation of John 3:16

"for God did so love the world, that His Son -- the only begotten -- He gave, that every one who is believing in him may not perish, but may have life age-during."

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May I ask a few questions?

1. What is life age-during? I know it sounds literal, what is it to " have life age-during."

2. "every one who is believing" is the same as “every believing one”, is the same as “whosoever believeth” of the kjt.

- My little knowledge of Greek tells me that it is a PARTICIPLE, a verbal noun, a noun made from a verb.

- How is Young’s translation more accurate, and how is kjt seriously mistranslated?

Take a look here...

https://www.blueletterbible.org/kjv/jhn/3/16/t_conc_1000016

See for yourself from where the word whosoever is from, and click on the icon "parse" for believeth. You may learn a thing or two.

Liang

1. Zoe Aionion is "life age-during" or more accurately life (Zoe) pertaining to the age (Aionion).

2. πᾶς or PAS is normally translated as "All" in many passages. There is no such word "Whosoever" in greek. I feel that PAS is inconsistently translated in John 3:16
[how should PAS be translated then? sing]

sing

May I ask, what is life pertaining to the age? What is the age spoken of?

What is the virtue of literalness when it begs so many questions? Honest questions.

Liang

The ambiguity is there, unfortunately.

Get a translation from an independent source like a Greek scholar who is not a Christian

Actually, the blue letter bible translated the KJV to Greek and not vice versa.

sing

In context, pas, all, every one who is believing, whosoever believeth is exactly the same meaning.

But HAVE and MAY HAVE are world of difference.
My choice is clear. I'll gladly leave you to yours.

sing

Liang @ Actually the blue letter bible translated the KJV to Greek and not vice versa.

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KJV is translated from TR. Here TR text for you.

John 3:16 — Οὕτως γὰρ ἠγάπησεν ὁ θεὸς τὸν κόσμον ὥστε τὸν υἱὸν αὐτοῦ τὸν μονογενῆ ἔδωκεν ἵνα πᾶς ὁ πιστεύων εἰς αὐτὸν μὴ ἀπόληται ἀλλ᾽ ἔχῃ ζωὴν αἰώνιον

Liang

πᾶς ὁ πιστεύων.....

Your blue letter bible made πᾶς ὁ πιστεύων to πᾶς πιστεύω to force "Whosoever Believeth" to be correct!


[sing: how does the absence of the definite article force "whosoever believeth" to be correct? You come across as a lad who loves throwing forth charges. And the charges are quite pathetic!
πᾶς ὁ πιστεύων - all the believing ones;
πᾶς πιστεύω - all believing ones. You imagine πιστεύων is a verb and in the present continuous tense. But πιστεύων is a participle, a verbal noun, like "all eating ones have life," the eating ones possess life, they eat because they have life. 

sing

The blue letter bible shows the reverse interlinear. There is no forcing of anything. That's your imagination. The Greek TR text is given above the interlinear table.

Your reasoning is illogical and indicates that you have lost your plot.

sing

Liang, you concluded from Young's translation that "The offer of salvation to "whoever" is not found in John 3:16."

---------------

But these words in YLT:

"every one who is believing... MAY have life age-during" DECLARES otherwise.

There is an unbridgeable gulf between:

- "every one who is believing... MAY have life age-during" and

- "every one who is believing .. HAVE life age-during."

You may need to make up your mind which one you want to believe.

sing

The ambiguity is there, unfortunately.

Get a translation from an independent source like a Greek scholar who is not a Christian

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I will rather rely in the godly theologian-linguists who gave me the KJV.

You are free to consult the dead.

Liang

Sing, What happens if the Christian scholars are dishonest? We left Rome for a reason

sing

Just expose their dishonesty, or just trust your own honest self!

A more relevant question is, What's wrong when Bible students prefer to rely on translators who are incapable of discerning spiritual things?

You have a good day.

I will leave the matter here.

God is no respecter of persons

Of a truth I perceive that
God is no respecter of persons!
We are equally saved by His grace alone. 

Even Apostle Peter needed to discover the wonderful truth of grace, that a Gentile dog is as accepted by God as a purebred highly privileged Jew like him, on the same basis. 

Acts 10:34-35: "Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him."

a. When Peter was inspired to utter those momentous words, what glorious truths had dawned upon him?

- In what sense is God no respecter of persons?

b. On what basis does God accept a man?

- On the basis of his hearing and believing the gospel?

- Or on the basis of his fear of God and the works of righteousness?

- Or on the basis completely outside of the man?

- How did Cornelius become accepted with God?

c. What explains the fear of God and works of righteousness in a man who have not even heard the gospel?

d. Those that fear God and work righteousness found in every nation who are nonetheless accepted (past tense) by God - have they heard the gospel?

- What is the explanation that there are men like Cornelius in every nation who fear God (simple present tense) and work righteousness (simple present tense) BUT who haven't had the gospel brought to them?

Weaklings resort to kicking down doors

Are you serious? Weaklings resort to kicking down doors!

Is he serious? Kicking down doors are for weaklings!

Mr. Washer is not representing Jesus Christ rightly. In the context of what Mr Washer is saying, Jesus Christ - who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth - said to the lukewarm church in Laodicea, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me."

Jesus Christ wants to come in but he doesn't threaten to kick down the door, does He? Instead, He appeals to them to open the door to let Him in.

The truth is, Christ needs no kicking down of doors to save the spiritually dead sinners in enmity and rebellion against Him. Didn't you read the life-giving voice of the Prince of life, "Lazarus, Come forth." Kicking down doors are for weaklings, not befitting the Lord of glory. Even walls are no barriers to Him; 

It is easy enough to confuse and confound monergistic redemption with synergistic fellowship; the former is unilateral saving activities by divine grace, necessary because of the spiritual deadness and absolute impotence of those needing to be saved; the latter requires the willing participation of those already redeemed by grace alone.

A biblical distinction is the essence of sound theology.

Preterition damns none; free offer to the dead deceives many

Do you ever charge the dead of wilfully refusing

your generous offer of a bag of French fries?
You can probably charge some living Americans on that.

Preterition and free offer

1. Preterition, being bypassed by God in His sovereign and gracious work of election, damns no man. The righteous LORD God wronged no one in electing many to eternal salvation while bypassing the rest to their just desert.

What damns a man is his own sin.

Romans 6:23

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

2. Free Offer

The "means of grace" are irrelevant to those dead in trespasses and sins, no matter how earnestly and sincerely offered to them. The idea is a fable. Offering food to the dead is a heartless insult and taunting and mockery of the dead; the superstitious and misguided preachers do that. The LORD God does no such evil.

Food is for the living. "Feed... feed... feed My lambs, My sheep, My sheep" saith the Lord, John 21. Feeding has to do with the living; feeding is not to bring to life those that are dead. Feed the living with what? With the means He himself as appointed for His lambs and sheep.

The "means of grace" are ordained for the nourishment and discipleship of God's children. It is God's children who are culpable of wilfully refuse the means divinely appointed for their spiritual good and usefulness. Such become fruitless; the faith of such is fruitless.

2Pe 1:8

For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Failing to give all diligence to add those things mentioned in verses 5-7, one shall become barren and unfruitful.

Mat 13:23 

But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

Anything less leads to fruitlessness.  He "who hath ears to hear, let him hear."
Who have ears to hear spiritual things; who is capable of hearing the things of the Spirit of God? Children of God. 

The parable of the ground (Mt 13) is addressed to God's children among the Jews 0 being a parable of the kingdom of God, warning them to hear in the manner that will bear fruit. 

Decisions are needed to become a Christian

A biblical distinction is the essence of sound doctrine.

Rightly dividing the word of truth is essential if the gospel truth is to be stated clearly.

[I saw the meme here: https://www.facebook.com/ReformedChristianVoiceRadio/photos/a.714646351992461/889113734545721/?type=3&theater

It has been liked and loved 193 times, and shared 113 times when I screenshot it; if anyone has noticed the plain error, he has chosen to keep quiet.]

The statement that "a man does not become a Christian by making a decision" is wrong; it is plainly and simply wrong. To say otherwise betrays ignorance or wooliness.

Important, and sometimes costly, decisions are required for a man to become a Christian. He must decide to turn from the lies and falsehood, traditions and superstitions, and to believe the gospel of Jesus Christ that is proclaimed to him; he must decide to obey the divine command to be baptised; he must decide, with all diligence to add to his faith these... (1Pet 1:5-8). Otherwise, his profession of Christ loses all credibility.

What is true is this, "A man does not become a child of God by making a decision." To equate this statement with this "A man does not become a Christian by making a decision" betrays the wooliness and shallowness that prevails in Christendom.

A man, a regenerated man - yes, ONLY a man born of God; yes, only a child of God no less, is capable of discerning and believing the things of the Spirit (1Cor 2:14, John 3:3) - must make the momentous decision to believe the gospel of Jesus Christ and submit to believer's baptism to earn the right to bear the name of Jesus Christ, i.e. in order to become a Christian.

Cornelius was a child of God long before the gospel was brought to him by Peter; he didn't make any decision to become a child of God. His decision to believe after hearing the gospel of Jesus Christ and submitting to water baptism made him a Christian.

Regeneration and Conversion are two distinct matters.

https://things-new-and-old.blogspot.com/2017/04/rightly-dividing-regeneration-and.html

Repentance saves and Repentance doesn't save - they are not contradictory

Repentance saves; but how does it save, and saves from what?
"...except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish."
If ye repent, ye shall not perish; ye shall be saved.
But saved from what?

"Repentance does save" and "Repentance does not save" are BOTH biblical statements when rightly divided; they are not contradictory. But both the Calvinists and their first cousins Arminians are equally confused.

There is a Facebook page by the name of 'Arthur Pink Quotes'. I saw the quote (the screenshot above) - post dated November 8 at 4:49 AM

When I saw the quote in my news feed, it was already shared 61 times, Liked and Loved and have Awed 98 others, but has zero comments.

So I left the first comment and a brother responded. Then I left another. I anticipated that the administrator wouldn't be happy with my comments, so I screenshot the quote and copied the few comments. They are found below.

Just now I discovered the comments have been deleted.

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Sing F Lau (first comment)

Some clarification will help.

Repentance DOES SAVE; it saves DIFFERENTLY from the way God saves us in Christ.

Christ saved us from the eternal consequences of our sins, He saved us from the lake of fire, that is eternal salvation.

Only those whom Christ has SAVED with eternal salvation is capable of repentance; the indwelling Holy Spirit works the graces of repentance and faith, thus enabling the saved ones to repent and believe.

Repentance does save; it saves a child of God (only a child of God is able to repent and believe the gospel of Jesus Christ) from lies and falsehood, brings him into the truth of God and his salvation by Jesus Christ. This is temporal salvation, dealing with our well-being on earth.

Stephen W

Sing F Lau, Yes very true, I've just recently learned the difference between eternal and temporal salvation. it's a wonderful doctrine that brings clarity to the scriptures and removes the otherwise seeming contradictions. Unfortunately, I think Mr Pink is referring to eternal salvation. aloha.

Sing F Lau (in response to Stephen)

Without a biblical distinction between:

a. the salvation that God had purposed, Christ had secured and the Holy Spirit has applied to each elect while dead in trespasses and sins - bringing him into the state of grace and salvation, and

b. the salvation that a SAVED man (by God's free and sovereign grace) must work out for himself with fear and trembling, through repentance, faith and works...

there will always be confusion and inconsistencies and contradictions, and sometimes outright lies and falsehoods.

Acts 2:40 KJV — And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.

Stephen W

Right again and well said, brother. It sure is a difficult thing to help people see.

Sing F Lau

Interestingly, the passage referenced to the quote is Luke 13:5.

A Jason Sides quoted the same passage in a different place but with the same intent as Pink, and I left this comment for him

I love it when you appeal to Scriptures...That passage reads like this.

13:1 ¶ There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.

2 And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things?

3 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

4 Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem?

5 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

Did you note the word LIKEWISE... LIKEWISE... LIKEWISE. How did the Galileans perish? They perish by suffering a BLOODY and CRUEL death. That's the destruction spoken of. It has nothing about gaining eternal life or getting into heaven. And it is pretty plain that only that who are ALREADY BEEN GIVEN eternal life that is able to believe.

But almost everyone believes that this passage speaks about eternal salvation or eternal destruction! All blind leading the blind!

Luke 13:1-5 speaks of perishing in calamities, not about perishing eternally in the lake of fire. People perished in disasters. The Jews were warned that they would LIKEWISE perish if they repent not. Christ was warning them that they would LIKEWISE - LIKEWISE - LIKEWISE perish under the hands of the Romans in the coming destruction of Jerusalem. If they do believe, then they would take heed of Christ's warning about the impending destruction coming upon Jerusalem in 70AD, and save themselves.

Oh Jason, read and study the Scriptures, and learn to rightly divide the word of truth!
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