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This forum is open discussion between atheists and all theists to defend and debate their views on religion or non-religion. Please respect that this is a Christian-owned forum and refrain from gratuitous blasphemy. VERY wide leeway is given in range of expression and allowable behavior as compared to other areas of the forum, and moderation is not overly involved unless necessary. Please keep this in mind. Atheists who wish to interact with theists in a way that does not seek to undermine theistic faith may participate in the World Religions Department. Non-debate question and answers and mild and less confrontational discussions can take place in General Theistics.
Forum Rules: Here
This forum is open discussion between atheists and all theists to defend and debate their views on religion or non-religion. Please respect that this is a Christian-owned forum and refrain from gratuitous blasphemy. VERY wide leeway is given in range of expression and allowable behavior as compared to other areas of the forum, and moderation is not overly involved unless necessary. Please keep this in mind. Atheists who wish to interact with theists in a way that does not seek to undermine theistic faith may participate in the World Religions Department. Non-debate question and answers and mild and less confrontational discussions can take place in General Theistics.
Forum Rules: Here
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An Argument for the True Faith
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Originally posted by JohnMartin View PostFaith is always organically united to hope and love in justification. Faith is a habit whereby a man believes what God has said. Hope is a habit whereby a man desires the good promised by God, as known by faith. And love is a habit which desires God above all creatures as the ultimate end of man. Hope and love naturally follow from faith. Hence faith alone theology is always false.
Even St Paul defined faith in terms of hope in Heb 11:1 - Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
". . . if 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 11:6. ". . . But to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. . . ." -- Romans 4:4-5. Again, this is a promise before works. Faith alone in God's grace alone is understood by those who are truely justified without works is to precede the God ordained works which are to follow.
Also faith without love is worthless, indicating faith must be united to love to give life. 1 Cor 13:2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.
Evidently the biblical position is faith is never alone, but is united to hope and love. Faith alone theology is merely the invention of a renegade monk who couldn't keep his vows, so he reduced justification down to faith alone.
Do you not understand, ". . . the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord?" -- Romans 6:23. That no amount of works will make the payment of death. God had His Christ do that on our behalf, ". . . For He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him." -- 2 Corinthians 5:21.
To try to merit God's gift with works is like a sorcerer trying to buy it with money (Acts 8:20).. . . the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; . . . -- Romans 1:16 KJV
. . . that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: . . . -- 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 KJV
Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: . . . -- 1 John 5:1 KJV
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