NO ONE ever find eternal life by their activities.

 

I watched this fire-and-brimstone audio-visual sermon and found that the presupposition of the preacher is so different from that of Apostle Paul. Listen to it and draw your own conclusion.
-------------

It seems so obvious that the preacher thinks he can frighten his hearers whom he considers as hell-bound dead sinners to decide for Christ and get salvation What a terrible delusion about one's ministry!!

I am saddened by such widespread delusion. I notice that Apostle Paul's ministry was guided by an entirely different set of presuppositions.

Martin raves with the hope of persuading those dead in sins to turn from their sins and choose life. Apostle Paul says the preaching of the gospel to such people is perceived by them as complete foolishness! Apostle Paul sees his ministry as reaching out to God's children (the elect ALREADY regenerated), informing and reasoning with them, and persuading to believe the truth as it is in Jesus Christ!

When Apostle Paul wrote to the Romans, those to whom he urgently and earnestly desire to preach the gospel (because they have NOT heard or known the gospel), he addressed them as "saints and beloved of God." Yes, they are saints and beloved of God ALREADY, and were in need of hearing the gospel from Apostle Paul.

And he patiently reasoned and demonstrated and persuade them of the gospel truth... none of that hellfire brimstone stuff!

TWO entirely different set of presuppositions and understanding of the gospel ministry.

The preacher, Albert N Martin declares,
"The truth is that the way is truly narrow and few people will find eternal life. (Matthew 7:21, Luke 13:24)"

Eternal life is a free gift to those who are dead in trespasses and sins, who by nature were rebels and in enmity against God. 

NO ONE ever find eternal life by their activities. 
Those WITHOUT eternal life are dead in trespasses and sins.
Such have no ability to find eternal life. 
"Except a man be born again, he CANNOT..." John 3:3,6

The abundance of life in the life here and now is found by our daily taking the strait gate and walking the narrow way. That's discipleship, a fruit and product of the eternal life that was given by God's free grace.

The ministry of John the Baptist was described like this: "for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways; to give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins, through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us, to give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace."

To give knowledge of salvation unto His people: the Lord's people, saved by Him, are there first. John the Baptist was sent to instruct His saved people the truth concerning their salvation by the free grace of God. His ministry wasn't to turn the hell bound people to heaven!

To give light to them (His people) that sit in darkness: His people saved by His free grace are still in the darkness of ignorance concerning the truth of their salvation by God's free grace. John's ministry is to instruct and educate and inform them, to give enlighten them with the truth of the gospel, to dispel their ignorance concerning the truth of the gospel of free and sovereign grace.

To guide our feet into the way of peace: to guide His people into the way of peace, to know that they have been reconciled to God by the righteousness of Christ freely APPLIED to them at their effectual calling out of their state of sin and death to that of grace and salvation.

There isn't the slightest hint of John the Baptist trying to scare people out of their state of death and hell!

He was send to minister to the LORD'S people - those whom He has made His own, His redeemed.

Demonizing the Civil Government Ordained by God

The first time I grapple with the wickedness
of a nation demonizing another nation.

Initially posted here: https://www.facebook.com/sing.f.lau/posts/pfbid0kVEHDqc86mMff8HiK2myrUw8Qcks9pYLz4ZRdUpShh34khxwXck7ACshE9djtZ3kl

June 18, 2020

Romans 13
1 ¶Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.
3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:
4 For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.
============
Comments

Reggie Lee
All powers are ordained of God for a purpose, wether they are a dictator or a president.

Dan Samons
Romans 13 must be reconciled with Acts 5:29. Romans does not teach unqualified submission to authority, neither does Acts validate every act of civil disobedience.

Sing F Lau
Dan Samons There is nothing to reconcile because there is no contradiction.
That is, both truths apply equally to whatever forms of government we are subjected to by God's divine providence.

For example, is the government in US more ordained of God than that in North Korea? I didn't ask which is preferable or more agreeable.

Dan Samons
They MUST be reconciled, because taken at face value, they are a contradiction. That process of reconciliation is right division, which regards context and prevents contradiction.

Bottom line - obedience to civil government is not a universal scriptural mandate.

Dan Samons
IMO, the most clarifying question on the issue is “was the authority of those who commanded the apostles to stop preaching in Christ’s name ordained of God?” If not, then God does not ordain ALL authorities. If so, then, in some instances, obedience to God involves disobedience to civil authorities. The latter is consistent with the word of God.

Or so it seems to me.

Sing F Lau
No, the issue is not about obedience or disobedience to civil government; the issue is whether one form of civil government is more ordained of God than the other. That's what this thread is about.

Saulo Saulo
One principle in hermeneutics is, "the unity of the scripture". Every student of the word must approach the scripture as United. In the event that one thinks that one scripture contradicts another scripture, that only indicates that understanding of the both is fallen short.

Dan Samons
Saulo Saulo - the application of the "unity of scripture" principle against seemingly contradictory statements is called right division. It is absolutely essential to a proper understanding of the bible, because there are many statements in the word of… See more

Dan Samons
SFL: No, the issue is not about obedience or disobedience to civil government;
DS: Your post asks - "Is it a sin to bad mouth or SUBVERT it?" with respect to civil government. That is most certainly about obedience or disobedience to civil government.

SFL: the issue is whether one form of civil government is more ordained of God than the other.
DS: I doubt that we disagree on that matter (if at all). All authorities are ordained of God in that he has either actively placed them in their current position of authority or has longsuffered (permitted) it to be so. What I'm pointing out is that the ordinance of God is not the sole ruling factor involved in a decision regarding civil compliance to the government's commands. To draw that out more explicitly:

Q: Were the council and the high-priest who straitly commanded Peter and the apostles to not teach in this name ordained of God?
A: Yes. "The powers that be are ordained of God." (Romans 13:1)

Q: Were Peter and the apostles sinning against God when they disobeyed that authoritative command?
A: No. "We ought to obey God rather than men." (Acts 5:29) This statement establishes that some acts of civil disobedience are REQUIRED in order to be in obedience to God, irrespective of the fact that all authorities are ordained of God.

SFL: That's what this thread is about.
DS: Brother, in all candor, your post raises the question, "Is it a sin to bad mouth or SUBVERT [government]?" In so doing, it seems unavoidable that this thread is also about the issue of obedience or disobedience.

Dan Samons
With respect to the matter of "whether one form of civil government is more ordained of God than the other" - I am certain we both agree that both are ordained of God by either active causation or permission. That said, one form of government may be more opposed to the word of God than another. And the degree to which this difference affects the commands they press upon their citizens relates directly to the matter of whether or not Christians should obey their government. Do you agree?

Sing F Lau
Is it wicked of the Christians of one country, say USA, bad-mouthing and subverting the government of another country, say North Korea?

Dan Samons
SFL: Is it wicked of the Christians of one country, say USA, bad-mouthing and subverting the government of another country???
DS: That question cuts a wide berth. I don't believe it can be answered in a single, categorical sense, either Yes or No. That said, to the extent that John the Baptist called out the wickedness of Herod or Amos the wickedness of other nations, it is entirely within the realm of possibility that Christians in one country may be doing right to "bad mouth" (speak ill of) the wickedness that exists in other countries. This by no-means forms a blanket justification of all speech that takes the form of "bad mouthing."

DS: Moreover, the issue of "subverting" raises a host of other questions, that I will let alone for now, but only call out to further underscore the represented by the breadth of the question.

Benjamin Winslett
Honestly, Americans are so idolatrous when it comes to politics, there's a lot of wickedness in our perspective and behavior concerning politics.

Sing F Lau
Dan Samons Calling out the personal wickedness of a man, and what a prophet of God (Amos) was doing so are quite different from a nation with a different form of government bad-mouthing and subverting the government of another nation... I would think... unless you equate a leader of a country as a prophet of God.

Dan Samons
Benjamin C Winslett - That is certainly true.

Dan Samons
SFL: Calling out the personal wickedness of a man, and what a prophet of God (Amos) was doing so are quite different from a nation with a different form of government bad-mouthing and subverting the government of another nation... I would think...
DS: Different in some respects, but certainly not all.

SFL: unless you equate a leader of a country as a prophet of God.
DS: I do not equate a leader of a country with a prophet of God. But I do believe it is possible for leaders or citizens of one country to denounce the principles or precepts of another country while being consistent with the word of God. If you run a government (ordained by God) that murders Christians, then your government is evil and men are at liberty resist those murderous actions. Do you agree?

Dan Samons
SFL: Is there one right kind of civil government?
DS: Given that we live in a fallen world, every government is tainted by sin. As a result, to unequivocally affirm any kind of civil government as the "right kind" in an absolute sense would be short sighted. I've often stated that the best kind of government is a benevolent Jewish autocracy, provided those terms are biblically defined.

The Faith of Christ ≠ ≠ ≠ Your Faith in Christ

Justification involves the imputation
of Christ's righteousness to an elect
in the state of condemnation and death;
he is justified FREELY by the grace of God.
In his state of condemnation and death,
he is INCAPABLE of believing/faith.

#thefaithofChrist

The righteousness which is through the faith of Christ.

Phi 3: 9 ¶ And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that [righteousness] which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith.

Isa 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

Rom 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one.

The righteousness necessary for the justification of an unjustified man, in his native state of sin and condemnation, before God is either:

- by his own righteousness through his obedience to the law, or

- by Christ's righteousness through His faithfulness in obeying the same law.

Righteousness, the obedience to the law, is a prerequisite for the justification of life. Sin, the transgression of the law, is the cause of the condemnation of death.

Ro 5:18 "Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation [of death]; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life."

The plain truth stated by Paul is:

The sin of Adam brought the condemnation of death.

EVEN SO...

The righteousness of Christ secured justification of life.

Very many smooth preachers teach you this LIE:

Your faith in Christ >>> justification of life.

The righteousness which is through the faithfulness of Christ in obeying the law is of God's provision for His people.

And this righteousness, provided FREELY by God for His people, can be experienced by faith alone in Jesus Christ. 

Rom 3:24
Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.

Note closely two important matters:
1. Justified FREELY by God's grace; not by faith, man's act of believing. 
- The latter is the POPULAR fable 

2. Justified FREELY (the MANNER of justification) THROUGH the redemption that is in Christ Jesus (the BASIS of justification) 


May our gracious Lord grant you understanding. 
Amen.

The Righteousness Needed for Your Justification

"... but that [righteousness] which is through the faith of Christ."
It is "through the faith of Christ",
It is NOT through your faith IN Christ.
Your fickle faith plays NO role in your justification by God.
Only the righteousness of Christ through His FAITHFULNESS
in rendering perfect and complete laws of God does. 

Phi 3: 9 ¶ And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that [righteousness] which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

Righteousness needed for man's justification before God is either:

- by his own righteousness through his obedience of the law, or

- by Christ's righteousness through His faithfulness in obeying the same law.

Righteousness, the obedience to the law, is a prerequisite for the justification of life.

Sin, the transgression of the law, is the cause of the condemnation of death.

Ro 5:18 "Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation [of death]; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life."

The plain truth stated by Paul is:

Sin of Adam >>> condemnation of death.

Righteousness of Christ >>> justification of life.

Very many smooth preachers teach you this LIE:

Your faith in Christ >>> justification of life.

The righteousness which is through the faithfulness of Christ in obeying the law is of God's provision for His people. And this righteousness applied FREELY by God to His people can be experienced by faith alone in Jesus Christ. 

Regeneration, and Conversion - 1689.20.4

 Regeneration, and Conversion - 1689.20.4

"Although the gospel be the only outward means of revealing Christ and saving grace, and is, as such, abundantly sufficient thereunto; yet that men who are dead in trespasses may be born again, quickened or regenerated, there is moreover necessary an effectual insuperable work of the Holy Spirit upon the whole soul, for the producing in them a new spiritual life;(8) without which no other means will effect their conversion unto God.(9)

(8) Ps 110:3; 1Co 2:14; Eph 1:19-20. (9) Jn 6:44; 2Co. 4:4,6.

These truths are distilled out of the Holy Scriptures by the ancient Old School Baptists in their statement of faith:

1. The specific function of the gospel is to reveal Christ and saving grace.
- It plays no role in the regeneration of a man; it only reveals the regeneration that has already taken place in the man.

2. Regeneration by the direct work of the Spirit of God is clearly distinguished from conversion through the outward means of the gospel ministry.

3. Regeneration is BOTH independent and before the gospel as the outward means of revealing Christ and saving grace.

4. Regeneration - the insuperable work of the Holy Spirit - is absolutely necessary before conversion through the gospel is even made possible.

5. Regeneration - producing in the dead in trespasses new spiritual life - is the direct and insuperable work of the Holy Spirit; no instrumentality is involved.

6. Regeneration BESTOWS/APPLIES Christ and saving grace to a man dead in trespasses and sins; conversion REVEALS/MANIFESTS Christ and grace that have been bestowed.

7. Regeneration produces spiritual life in men dead in trespasses and sins; Conversion reveals the spiritual life that has been produced by the prior divine work of regeneration.

You may draw out more from the above statement.

What is your statement of beliefs on the same subject?

You don't like theirs? Give us yours.

Too many who claim to be children of those who made the above statement have rejected the truth expressed and summarised therein.

Such are illegitimate (KJ translators use "bastards"), for example, the new school reformed Baptists. They subscribe to the 1689 CoF, but repudiate the truths so plainly summarised in the single paragraph above. They are gospel regenerationists - i.e. the preaching of the gospel is the necessary means in the regeneration of those dead in trespasses and sins. 

Ephraim feedeth on, and followeth after the east wind

Fables are like "east wind"
- hot, dry, withering, blistering wind from the desert!

The LORD's words of rebuke to His people:

Hosea 12 KJT
1 ¶ Ephraim feedeth on wind, and followeth after the east wind: he daily increaseth lies and desolation; and they do make a covenant with the Assyrians, and oil is carried into Egypt.
2 The LORD hath also a controversy with Judah, and will punish Jacob according to his ways; according to his doings will he recompense him.

God's people feeding on wind, and following after the east wind - hot, dry, withering, blistering wind blowing from the desert!

What an indictment!

What foolishness and stupidity!

And this is what God's children are capable of.

In fact, they are bent on backsliding!
Ho 11:7 "And my people are bent to backsliding from me: though they called them to the most High, none at all would exalt him."

What about this present generation?

The LORD's words of warning to His people:
3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

Fables are like "east wind" - hot, dry, withering, blistering wind from the desert! And yet so many follow such fables.

When the people of the world do that, it is to be expected! But the LORD was addressing Ephraim and Judah!

The context is NOT the WORLD.... it is the evil going on within the CHURCH!!! 

A child is born into a family

Only in tragic circumstances
is a child not born into a family! 

 The new birth, by the free and sovereign and immediate act of the Spirit of God, quickens a man from his native state of spiritual deadness; he is brought into a state of grace and salvation in Jesus Christ.

Hearing and believing the gospel of Jesus Christ, and confessing Him as Lord and Saviour in water baptism, makes the child of God a Christian.

A child of God that is baptised is added to the membership of an NT church that he may be nourished and edified, i.e. to be taught to observe all things whatsoever Christ has commanded His Apostles.

Churchless Christian is a monstrosity foreign to and unknown in the Holy Scriptures.

The Apostolic practice set the precedent once and for all.

"Then they that gladly received his word were baptised: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers." Acts 2.

The Lord Jesus Christ, the sole Head of His church, must have good reasons why He commanded those who confessed His name to be members of His church. When you have become invisible, then speak of your invisible church, 😉.

Only in tragic circumstances is a child not born into a family! 

How well do you hear/read the word of God?

Never hear the truth...
Is it because the truth is never preached?

Or is it because they have no ears to hear?

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.

2Timothy 3
1 ¶This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2 For men shall be...
7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

Verse 7 is one of the long list of signs of the perilous times.

It's tragic and heartbreaking to have believers in that evil condition - ever learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. Reading their Bible for decades has not enabled them to come to the knowledge of the truth.

Imagine having children who are ever feeding but never able to grow and develop; what grief and sorrow to the parents!

Heb 5:12 KJVT
For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.

1 Cor 3:1 KJT
And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.

See the opposite scenario here:

1 The 1:8 KJT— For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing.

We have these commands, calling for all diligence:

2Peter 1 KJT
5 ¶And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.

2Pet 3:18 KJT
"But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.”

O gracious Lord, have mercy; wake up the slumbering people and revive us all. Amen. 

--------

Danny Lee
Those people are not truly Born Again Christians.

Sing F Lau
Danny Lee, in my understanding, a man is either born again or he is still dead in trespasses and sins. Term such as "not truly born again" suggests that there is such a thing as being born again but not truly born again, implying a terrible failure on the part of the Holy Spirit in His divine and sovereign activity in regeneration.

The Scriptures teach us that there are born-again elect who are stunted at the childhood stage and not growing.

Also, it is obvious that Apostle Paul was dealing with God's children; why would the inspired Apostle Paul find fault with those dead in trespasses and sins for their ever learning the word of God but never come to the knowledge of the truth? It is like faulting a dead child for not eating and growing.

Danny Lee
Sing, you are correct. 
This is a language thing
A person is either spiritually alive ( born again ) or spiritually dead.
I will endeavour to be more precise in the future. Thank you

Dr Khaw
Knowing everything but not doing anything is worse.

Sing F Lau
Luke 12:47 KJV — "And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes."

I probably deserve many stripes even though I have been taught and know a few things, but fail in many things.

Sir, what is your view on free will?

https://www.facebook.com/sing.f.lau/posts/pfbid0qfKxRRM5bAfDz6t61gYH9qr9QxcFjEdbMUzmCb4vSjLbiM5gme85ypW2BqbnVkGRl

##freewill

Leongsy
Sir, what is your view on free will?

Sing
Take a look here:
https://things-new-and-old.blogspot.com/2019/01/luthers-confusion-on-mans-freewill.html

Leongsy
So you are saying that man has free will but it's tainted with sin. Whereas Luther said men have no free will because  we are all under God's control?

Sing
Man has free will; he sins freely, by free choice, without any coercion or any forces from without; the exercise of his free will is determined by his nature, fallen and sinful.

For example, a fish has free will, it can swim anywhere it freely chooses BUT its fishy nature will not enable it to choose to swim outside of water.

Even so, the free will of a natural man is subjected to his fallen sinful nature - in enmity against God.

So many are SO STUPID ( i.e. too lacking in common sense). They vehemently deny man's free will because they rightly believe that a natural man cannot freely choose God.

To say that a natural man DOES NOT choose God - which is a truth is NOT the same as saying that man has no free will.

To say that a natural man has free will BUT he is ALSO incapable of choosing God are not contradictory; both are scriptural.

Man freely sins, man is freely in enmity against God. It's his fallen nature; it's NOT God's control over them. If it is God's  control over them, then they have excuse indeed. But man is justly WITHOUT EXCUSE.

IF man has no free will, he CANNOT be justly charged as without excuse. Man's free will is essential to the moral government of God over His creatures.

To say that you are not able to eat stones is not the same as saying that you have no ability to eat. 😂

Time to tell people to stop regurgitating nonsense without engaging their brains!

Leongsy
How is your view of free will different from the Arminians' free will then?

Sing
Good question.
The  Arminians say natural man has freewill, THAT IS, natural man can choose God to be saved.

The Calvinists say that man has no free will, THAT IS, man is incapable of choosing God.

They are BOTH WRONG.

The Bible says man has free will, but his free will is held in bondage to his fallen, sinful nature; therefore, he is wholly incapable of choosing any spiritual good to be saved. He freely chooses to remain in sin.

Arminians' freewill affirms natural man's willingness and ability to choose to be saved.

The Bible's freewill affirms BOTH the natural man's freewill AND  his absolute inability to choose to be saved.

John 3:3 KJT — Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

John 3:5 KJT— Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

The declaration, "except a man be born again, he cannot..." is absolute, without exceptions; it declares the absolute necessity of the new birth; spiritual life through a divine act of regeneration precedes any ability for spiritual activities.

Without real free will, God's moral government over the moral creature made in His image collapses.

Without real free will, man cannot be justly declared to be without excuse; with his free will, he acts freely without external coercion; thus, he is justly without excuse. 
Comments

Tyler
Amen brother. I find it interesting that the apostle Paul directly addresses the error of thinking that man's sin is somehow needed to glorify and commend God's righteousness while in the same chapter speaking of man's total depravity. Both errors of Absolutism and Arminianism addressed in the same passage.

Romans 3:5-8 But if our unrighteousness commend the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous who taketh vengeance? (I speak as a man) [6] God forbid: for then how shall God judge the world? [7] For if the truth of God hath more abounded through my lie unto his glory; why yet am I also judged as a sinner? [8] And not rather, (as we be slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say,) Let us do evil, that good may come? whose damnation is just.

How are you born? John 1:12-13

"But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." John 1:12-13. 

Many read these words and conclude that their believing in Christ is a condition of their being born of God. They believe the fable that those not born of God, still in their native state of sin and death, are capable of believing IN ORDER to be born of God. 

There is obviously a clear distinction between the new birth by the will of God and the blessing of given to the power to become God's children, conditioned upon believing.

The problem arises when the two are equated as one and the same thing.

The logic is so simple: those who had been born of God were enabled to believe... and in believing, they were given the right and authority to claim God as their Father!

Verse 12 describes the experiential effect of believing in Christ - given the power (right and authority) to claim themselves as children of God.

Verse 13 describes the basis and ground of that act of believing in Christ - WERE born of God.

One must be made son first by spiritual birth from above before he can ever begin to believe in Jesus Christ. In believing, he certifies and justifies himself as someone possessing eternal life... evidence of having been born by God... thus enjoying the right and authority to claim himself a child of God.

Of course, VERY MANY believe and insist that a person is born by God when he believes. This would amount to 'born of the will of flesh'!

Yes, both the gospel regeneration and decisional regeneration are by the will and the flesh of man. They are both lies.

An illustration:
Little Wong is Big Wang's son, but he would not believe that Wing, Big Wang's eldest son, is his elder brother. In such a case, how could Little Wong have the right and authority to claim himself a son of Big Wang?

A biblical distinction is the essence of sound theology

Are you justified before God
by the faith of Christ, or 
by your faith in Christ?
They are vastly different. 

They are distinct; confounding them will mess up your understanding big time! So, do yourself a favour, get them right.

Let us consider the first passage, Rom 3:28.

"Therefore, we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law."

What is the passage saying in its context - what faith, whose faith?

Rom 3
20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;
22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

Let's lay down some basic and self-evident truths:

1. Sin is the transgression of the law.
- Sins bring condemnation of death, Rom 5:12.
- Righteousness brings justification of life, Rom 5:18.

2. Justification is the reversal of condemnation.
- Justification in God's sight requires righteousness.
- This righteousness is either by a man's own obedience to the whole law OR by Christ's obedience to the whole law.
- No man can obtain the needed righteousness through his own obedience to the law, for "by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight."

3. God provided this righteousness that is needed for the justification of His elect people in His sight.
- This righteousness of God's own provision is by the faithfulness of Christ's obedience to the whole law.
- Righteousness is needed in the justification of a man in his native state of condemnation. Sins bring condemnation of death, Rom 5:12. Righteousness brings justification of life, Rom 5:18.
- This righteousness is provided by God ALONE through the faithfulness of Christ ALONE in keeping the whole law perfectly.
- That is the exact meaning of: "EVEN the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ." v22a.

4 The righteousness of God's provision for the justification of a condemned man is NOT NOT NOT by his faith in Jesus Christ.

Faith in Jesus Christ is NOT the righteousness that is needed for the justification of a condemned man before God. ALSO, a man in his unjustified, condemned state is incapable of faith; justification by faith is an impossibility.

It is Christ's faithfulness in rendering perfect obedience to the law that is needed, and this righteousness is by God's own provision, i.e. by the faith of Christ.

Therefore, 'the faith of Christ' and 'your faith in Christ' are very different. One is the good news of God providing righteousness by Christ's faithfulness in rendering perfect obedience to the whole law for your justification by His free grace; your act of believing in Christ is an effect and evidence of your justification by the free grace of God. 

Two different gospels. No mere semantics!

Man's faith is NOT in the equation of his justification in the sight of God - "Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus."

A man's faith MANIFESTS that God has FREELY justified him - "Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference."

"All have sinned... and fell under the condemnation of death. Such has no possibility of believing UNTIL justification of life by the faith of Christ has been applied, freely by God's grace.

"All them that believe" - all the believing ones DO SO because the righteousness of God's own provision, by the faith of Christ, has been freely applied to them personally.

It is that elementary... but the wise and prudent in their own eyes are blinded to it.

It is treacherous and scandalous - the mildest adjectives I can think of - to replace the "faith OF Christ" with "man's faith in Christ" as the ground of justification in that Rom 3 passage!

Apostle Paul solemnly pronounced such teachers be accursed!

Yes, let such be accursed! Amen

And remember, believing in Christ is a deed of the law, believing in Christ is obedience to the law/commandment of God; it is a work required by God.

John 6 KJT
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.

"Believe on Christ Jesus whom God has sent" is a work God requires of His children. The Judaistic Jews insisted on the work of obeying Mosaic laws.

1John 3 - KJT
23 And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.

Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ is obedience to God's commandment; obedience to God's commandment is work. 

"The just shall live by faith" - a description or a prescription?

Is the statement
a description of the just, or
a prescription for justification?

https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=10224204264909804&set=a.10204411521703594

I posted the question on one FB page.
Not one single comment after one whole week.
Is the question obscene?
Is it theologically offensive or ecclesiastically incorrect?

I posted the same on another page, "Scripture Alone” page, but it was not approved by the Administrator. Similarly, on the "Reformed Christian..."

What could be the reasons?
======

Some comments

Ben FmBugante
For me, it is a description.

James Bonner
In my humble thinking, the statement is a description of the just.
Read Hebrews 11. 

Darrel Chambers
The just are already just (justified). This describes how they shall live ( not just exist). "Live" describes quality of life. The Thayer definition of the Greek word translated, "shall live" is:

Thayer Definition: to live, breathe, be among the living (not lifeless, not dead)
- to enjoy real life
- to have true life and worthy of the name
- active, blessed, endless in the kingdom of God
- to live, i.e. pass life, in the manner of the living and acting of mortals or character
- living water, having vital power in itself and exerting the same upon the soul
- metaphorically to be in full vigour
- to be fresh, strong, efficient
- as adjective active, powerful, efficacious.

Steve Woods
A declaration. If you have been given faith in the new birth you will live accordingly, walk with your Friend.

Marty-Sandy Smith
The reasons for the silence may be that supporters of the more popular interpretation may find the challenge uncomfortable. After all, it does say, "The just shall live by faith" and not "The just shall obtain life by faith".

Tommy Dennis Taylor
I will take the former. Haven’t seen the post until this morning.

Ann Atwood Fraley
I don’t know enough about the other page. Maybe you have everyone thinking.

Henry Rougeou
If an individual is just, they will be walking by faith

Steve McGhee
It is a DESCRIPTION

Joe Holder
Brother Sing, I don’t spend as much time on FB as in the past. A thought to consider. In the Habakkuk verse you reference, God is speaking. The Septuagint translation of the Old Testament uses a personal pronoun, “…my faith.”

I believe the verse is indeed indicative. It also identifies the “Rule of life,” the basis for a right choice of the guideline for godly living, “The faith way.” Not the “Law way.”

Patrica Winkleman
I agree, Bro. Joe Holder.

Joe Holder
Marty, one more dominant and errant view of the verse, “The unjust shall become just by faith.”

The Septuagint translation of the Old Testament reads (And God was speaking in the verse), “The just shall live by my faith.”

Patrica Winkleman
Description

Rommel Fesalbon Fababeir
https://primitivebaptist.net/Devotionals/morning-thoughts-by-elder-philip-conley-romans-1-17.htm

The interpretation of Scriptures.

This meme has stirred a thought on an important subject, the interpretation of Scriptures.

For example, a babe in Christ will easily see only three numbers 6, 0, and 4; others see four numbers; some perceive 5, and a few can see 6, 8, 9, 4, 2 and 1; all beautifully jived and harmoniously connected.

Let's illustrate this with John 3:16:

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life,"

He will at least hear the sound of the following:
- God SO LOVED...

- He gave His only begotten Son,

- believing, and

- everlasting life.

Some may be content with the sound of these things, BUT clueless how these are biblically related; in fact, they may be quite wrong with some of their understanding and are oblivious of their errors.

So many end up believing that a man without everlasting life is capable of believing to get eternal life. They see John 3:16 as a prescription on how to get everlasting life. But John 3:16 is a DESCRIPTION of "whosoever believeth" - i.e., every believing one HAS/POSSESSES everlasting life.

It's like saying, "whosoever breathes has life." But many take it as a prescription; what the dead must do to get life! 

This is so basic and elementary, but multitudes of Christ get it wrong. 

Hebrews 5 KJV —
12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.
13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.
14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

Those with exercised senses would see a lot more in John 3:16 and in their biblical context.

Think about the matter.

How do the sola fideists cope with these declarations?

 By whose faith? By your faith?
Or by the faith of Christ Jesus?

How do the sola fideists cope with these declarations?

How do the sola fideists ("justification by faith, i.e. their act of believing, alone") cope with these declarations of Scripture? Are they saying one and the same justification?

1. Justification by Christ: the BASIS of Justification
- Ro 5:9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. 

- Ga 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

- Ga 2:17 But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid. 

Justified by Christ's blood, justified by the faith of Jesus Christ, and justified by Christ... what justification is spoken of here? Are they the same justification by your faith?
- How does Christ's blood and Christ's faith(fulness) justify you?
- How does your faith justify you? 

Justification before God requires righteousness, and this righteousness is either by your own obedience to the law (i.e., deeds or works of the law) or by Christ's obedience to the law (i.e., His faith, or faithfulness in discharging the work of redemption). There is no justification by the works/deeds of the law!

Christ alone kept the law, completely and perfectly.
His righteousness alone meets the demands of God the Judge. 

And do you know that believing in Jesus Christ is a WORK?
Here it is, listen closely. Christ Himself said it.

John 6:28 KJT
28 Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? [i.e. the works appointed of God to be done by His children.]
29 ¶Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent. [i.e. this is the work God has appointed for you to work.]

Believing in Jesus Christ is a WORK required of God's children. 
Could this truth be expressed in simpler terms?
Not a few believe God requires this work from those dead in trespasses and sins.

2. Justification by God's Grace: the MANNER of justification
- Tit 3:7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
- Ro 3:24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:  [Note: justified freely by his grace, AND NOT THROUGH your faith in Christ Jesus; but through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.]

Justified by God's grace... yes, FREELY by His grace; this repudiate the notion that there is such a thing as a grace that is not free but earned or merited - i.e. through your faith. IF it is through your faith, then your justification is by works! John 6:28-29. 

3. Justification by your Faith: the Evidence of Justification
And even those passages that speak of justification by faith... whose and what is that faith? Is it man's act of believing? Is "faith" and "believing" the same thing?

i. Romans 3:28 Therefore, we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.
- ... justified by the faithfulness of Christ in His work of redemption.
- If it is by your faith, then it is by the deed of the law, your obedience to a command of God's law. 
- 1John 3:23 "And this is his commandment, that we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.

ii. Romans 4:2 "For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. 3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness."
- Abraham's faith (his act of believing) was counted to him for righteousness. This is completely different from Christ's righteousness accounted to Abraham for his justification by God. 
- In this passage, Apostle Paul marshalled Abraham to REPUDIATE the Judaisers' error that ceremonial laws must be observed to be accepted by God. Apostle Paul demonstrates that Abraham EXPERIENCED the blessedness of his justified state by faith, and NOT by performing any ceremonial laws like circumcision.  

iii. Romans 5:1 "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."

- Galatians 3:24 "Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith."

4. And there is justification by works as well as by faith.
i. James 2:21 "Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?"

BOTH faith (act of believing) and works of righteousness JUSTIFY EVIDENTIALLY. It is like breath and movement, both give evidence that the man is alive. 

ii. James 2:24 "Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only."
Works evidence a justified state by the free grace of God. Works and works of the law are entirely different things. Works justify evidentially.

Laws condemn, and no works of the law can justify a man.

Romans 3:20 "Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin."

May our Lord grant you understanding.