Originally posted by godrulz
If one does not live supremely for God, they live supremely for Self. This is the state of the unregenerate.
That is correct, they are not saved. The unregenerate cannot live for God, and the regenerate cannot live for self. Both are impossible.
"I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and delivered Himself up for me."
Salvation is the end of self, and the life of Christ.
Any verse that talks about walking in darkness, flesh, sin, etc. supports the idea of selfish rebellion when one does not know Christ
Exactly! It is
impossible for a child of God to walk in darkness, in the flesh, or in sin.
There seems to be a throne in our heart where we can receive or reject Him.
And once God takes the throne, He does not leave it, even if asked.
The Gospel of John contrasts light/darkness, belief/unbelief, life/death, etc. These dualisms shows that Christ is the Great Divider. We are either for Him or against Him.
No argument there.
Acts 26:18
"...to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, in order that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me."
Eph 5:8
"...for you were formerly darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of light"
1 Thes 5:4-5
"But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day should overtake you like a thief; for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness;"
Col 1:13-14
"For He delivered us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins."
1 Peter 2:9
"But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;"
2 Cor 6:14
"Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness?"
If faith and love are not works, then to begin our relationship with Christ by faith and love, and to continue in that relationship by faith and love, is not a work that we do.
"As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him"
The Spirit works in and through us, but not coercively and totally independent of our will, intellect, emotions (personal, moral, spiritual image of God).
You need to expound on this statement. What exactly do you think the Spirit's role is in us that is independent of us?
It is possible to fully trust Christ's finished work and become born again.
That is a strange statement. How can one not be born again who has trusted in Christ's finished work? The one's who may not be born again are those who claim that Christ's work was finished but then proceed to finish it for Him.
Discipleship, growth, maturity involve the Spirit's work and our obedience (do a word study on uses of obedience in the NT).
:chuckle: That's funny... you telling me to do a word study :crackup:
What are the repercussions (according to you), if someone does not obey in the flesh the "work" of the Spirit? Define your view of maturity, growth, discipleship.
The Bible talks about abiding, persevering, continuing in the faith.
Yes it does...
"By this we know that we abide in Him and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit."
Calvinists would say we perservere no matter what and that grace is irresistible.
I don't give a rip what Calvinists, Arminians, Molinists, Open Theists, Dispensationalists, etc; etc, say! I only care what God says.
"For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus."
Oh? I think it is.
I recognize the Spirit's saving and keeping power, but this does not mean that praying, obeying, loving, trusting (active vs passive), etc. should lead one to conclude that it is works or man salvation/sanctification.
But you have made it as such. You have made the post acceptance of the gospel for salvation conditional. You have made the the responsibility of man to remain faithful and maintain his salvation. That is works, no matter how you try to dress it up otherwise.
It is not something done to us.
That, my dear godrulz, is why you have a false belief about the gospel.
"For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them."
"...for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure."