Things New and Old

Ancient truths revealed in the Scriptures are often forgotten, disbelieved or distorted, and therefore lost in the passage of time. Such ancient truths when rediscovered and relearned are 'new' additions to the treasury of ancient truths.

Christ showed many new things to the disciples, things prophesied by the prophets of old but hijacked and perverted by the elders and their traditions, but which Christ reclaimed and returned to His people.

Many things taught by the Apostles of Christ have been perverted or substituted over the centuries. Such fundamental doctrines like salvation by grace and justification have been hijacked and perverted and repudiated by sincere Christians. These doctrines need to be reclaimed and restored to God's people.

There are things both new and old here. "Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things" 2Ti 2:7.

Thursday, April 10, 2025

Morality and Spirituality Confounded

Man made in the image of God is capable of morality;
Only those in Christ Jesus are capable of spirituality.

 #Morality_vs_Spirituality

"All that is done apart from faith, or in unbelief, is false; it is hypocrisy and sin, no matter how good a show it makes." ~~ Martin Luther.

Someone posted this quote; I don't know its context but it provoked a thought.

Is Luther saying that non-believers CAN'T possibly do anything honest and true?

If a man abstains from stealing because of natural morality, isn't he doing something honest and NOT SINFUL - even though he does so not because of faith?

Is Luther saying that the morality of non-believers is always false, hypocritical and sinful?

A MORAL choice not to steal can only be based on the absolute morality that it is wrong, evil and injurious to take and deprive what lawfully belongs to others.

Of course, there may be choices based on other reasons, other than morality! In this case, it is no longer a moral choice but a choice based on other motives.

I do believe that there are non-believers who do have this morality. But Luther's words seem to deny it... instead, he charged this morality as FALSE, SINFUL and HYPOCRITICAL.

Perhaps, the statement has believers in mind. That would make lots of sense.

Is it possible that morality is confounded with spirituality?

Any thought?
---------------

Dhong
I think the author of the quote has in mind Christians, for they are the only people who can exercise faith in God. The book of Hebrews speaks of the necessity of faith in order to please God while the book of James declares that anything done without faith is sin.

Rayburn
True

Doug
The unregenerate are spiritually dead and can really only produce works coming from that nature, which are dead works.

Sin
Doug, Are the unregenerate capable of morality?

Doug
Sing, I don't believe so. Isn't morality a term that the world uses for a comparison based on it's ideas of what morality is? (it's view of good versus it's view of evil)

Sing
So, you believe that natural man are incapable of morality?

Doug
I believe so. Everything and everyone should be seen in the light of God's holiness. One, just one sin in the garden, brought a curse upon the human race. Even Jesus said there is only One that is good. I just can't see natural man producing anything good. But the redeemed,standing solely in and upon the righteousness of Christ can.

Sing 
Thanks, I hear you well.

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