Faith

[Guest stegokitty]

Grace to you,

Brother ray I don't think I understand your question. Could you expound on it?

Peace,

Dave

Faith, What would change your faith? Is your faith so weak that one movie or novel would change what you believe? Was your faith changed because of the following movies "The Passion for Christ"; "Narnia; The Lion the witch and the wardrobe"; The Davinci code? Mere Chistianity; Dr. Seus?

I have heard that some peoples faith has changed either for the better or the worse because of reading these books and has changed their faith over night?

Has anything else ever broken you to change you faith?

I think if one book or movie has the power to change your faith over night than I don't think one had a strong faith to begin with in whatever you believe?

does that help Dave?

If you would also include change for the better then I'd say YES! My faith has been changed via a book (or more). But the change wasn't just by the book, but by the truth being revealed in the book, and the witness of the Holy Spirit.

Reading Loraine Boettner's The Reformed Doctrine of Predestination began my own internal Reformation. I read the book with the intention of learning the Doctrine of my Theological opponent so that I could knock it down. I read it prayerfully, I read it objectively, and I read it antagonistically, with eyes wide open. My notes were in every margin of every page, top, bottom, right, left, circles and arrows, underlines, etc. Writing in my arguments, my "brilliant" arguments against the Truth of God's predestinating love towards sinners. Being honest enough to agree where I agreed, with a hearty amen! And to fight with all my might and my (mis)understanding of Scripture. By three quarters of the way through the book, I knew I was cornered, and didn't have a leg to stand on. I was oh so happy to be wrong, because now I could be right, without even a shadow of a doubt. It was like being born again ... again!

It was good enough the several years before when I came to understand the spiritual bankruptcy of the typical "You can lose your salvation" type of theology, which was life-changing enough, but to come to understand THIS was the icing on the cake. And of course, I'm not talking about the repugnant easy believism that is rampant in the broadly evangelical churches these days either.

It is the Doctrines of Grace, which are most commonly referred to as "Calvinism" that changed MY faith and gave me CHRIST'S faithfulness instead.

God saves sinners. He doesn't help sinners to save themselves.

[redeemed098]

Grace to you,

Ray,

That helps quite a bit. My Faith is not my own. It is not my work but the work of God. No one or thing can steal me away from His hand. In Repentance and Rest lay my Salvation.

It is incumbent upon God not me. I already know the Truth. His name is Jesus.

Gods Spirit brought the Word which brought me hearing. Hearing the Word brought Faith. I am not saying I can't fall. I certainly can. That is why we must abide in Christ and His Word. Allowing the Lord to renew our minds.

If something is leading me away from the Lord? It would be best to run it through with the Sword of the Lord.

Peace,

Dave

Great Post......

Although in all honesty, there are times when I forget where I PUT my sword......Spiritually, that is...!

I'm a work in progress. I am very thankful that my faith is not my own..I would indeed be in trouble if that were the case...

It is impossible to live the life of a Christian withOUT Christ. That is why to BE a Christian is to be "In Christ." Christ in ME, the hope of glory.

Regards,

Ben.

[pointer]

No one or thing can steal me away from His hand.

But you have always the choice to leave it. That is what ray is enquiring about.

You may indeed have the choice to leave your faith ... whatever your faith may be. But one who actually is redeemed of Christ cannot escape, or "wriggle free" of Christ's faith. One who is redeemed doesn't want to. He is incapable of wanting to. God is faithful and will always complete the work he begins. If he has chosen from the foundation of the world those for whom Christ would die, and if he sent the Son on their behalf, and if the Son has done all that is necessary for them, and if God has promised so, then mone can be snatched from the hand of the Father or the Son, and that includes the self. Anyone who "leaves the faith" was never a part of it. Not my words, but the words of God through the Apostle John.

Let us suppose that all of that is true. Of what use is it? Who on the earth knows whose faith is real, and whose is not? Which individual can say that he or she will not abandon faith? Who can say with certainty that his or her faith is genuine?

[LadyRaven]

No one or thing can steal me away from His hand.

But you have always the choice to leave it. That is what ray is enquiring about.

You may indeed have the choice to leave your faith ... whatever your faith may be. But one who actually is redeemed of Christ cannot escape, or "wriggle free" of Christ's faith. One who is redeemed doesn't want to. He is incapable of wanting to. God is faithful and will always complete the work he begins. If he has chosen from the foundation of the world those for whom Christ would die, and if he sent the Son on their behalf, and if the Son has done all that is necessary for them, and if God has promised so, then mone can be snatched from the hand of the Father or the Son, and that includes the self. Anyone who "leaves the faith" was never a part of it. Not my words, but the words of God through the Apostle John.

Let us suppose that all of that is true. Of what use is it? Who on the earth knows whose faith is real, and whose is not? Which individual can say that he or she will not abandon faith? Who can say with certainty that his or her faith is genuine?

Let's suppose it's not. Of what use is it? Who on earth knows whose faith is rea and whose is not? etc...

Those who are saved will endure and end the end that is the only way you will know about anyone else and in the end that is how you will know that your faith was true. This is why we're supposed to examine ourselves to see if we be in the faith in the first place. The only reason any faith lasts is because of the faithfulness of God.

[pointer]

No one or thing can steal me away from His hand.

But you have always the choice to leave it. That is what ray is enquiring about.

You may indeed have the choice to leave your faith ... whatever your faith may be. But one who actually is redeemed of Christ cannot escape, or "wriggle free" of Christ's faith. One who is redeemed doesn't want to. He is incapable of wanting to. God is faithful and will always complete the work he begins. If he has chosen from the foundation of the world those for whom Christ would die, and if he sent the Son on their behalf, and if the Son has done all that is necessary for them, and if God has promised so, then mone can be snatched from the hand of the Father or the Son, and that includes the self. Anyone who "leaves the faith" was never a part of it. Not my words, but the words of God through the Apostle John.

Let us suppose that all of that is true. Of what use is it? Who on the earth knows whose faith is real, and whose is not? Which individual can say that he or she will not abandon faith? Who can say with certainty that his or her faith is genuine?

Let's suppose it's not. Of what use is it? Who on earth knows whose faith is rea and whose is not? etc...

Precisely- in practice one arrives at exactly the same answer as one gets if faith can be lost. So the question is, why the insistence that faith cannot be lost?

[LadyRaven]

Precisely- in practice one arrives at exactly the same answer as one gets if faith can be lost. So the question is, why the insistence that faith cannot be lost?

you hold to doctrine bcause it's true not because of the practical implications of it.

[pointer]

Precisely- in practice one arrives at exactly the same answer as one gets if faith can be lost. So the question is, why the insistence that faith cannot be lost?

you hold to doctrine bcause it's true not because of the practical implications of it.

So the long and bitter controversy over this doctrine has been of no practical importance?

[LadyRaven]

Precisely- in practice one arrives at exactly the same answer as one gets if faith can be lost. So the question is, why the insistence that faith cannot be lost?

you hold to doctrine bcause it's true not because of the practical implications of it.

So the long and bitter controversy over this doctrine has been of no practical importance?

I don't know if it is of practical importance or not, my point is that practical importance does not matter, correct doctrine does.

[pointer]

Precisely- in practice one arrives at exactly the same answer as one gets if faith can be lost. So the question is, why the insistence that faith cannot be lost?

you hold to doctrine bcause it's true not because of the practical implications of it.

So the long and bitter controversy over this doctrine has been of no practical importance?

I don't know if it is of practical importance or not

We have already seen that there cannot be any practical difference. The question stands.

[LadyRaven]

Precisely- in practice one arrives at exactly the same answer as one gets if faith can be lost. So the question is, why the insistence that faith cannot be lost?

you hold to doctrine bcause it's true not because of the practical implications of it.

So the long and bitter controversy over this doctrine has been of no practical importance?

I don't know if it is of practical importance or not

We have already seen that there cannot be any practical difference. The question stands.

It's the wrong question. The question is what is the truth?