Message from @Derde
Discord ID: 481123850210246656
You can ask this just as well from Afrikaaners....
"as an african-american how do I encourage other african-american Christians to consider reformed theology and other deeper things of God instead of being caught up in the emotionalism of Pentecostalism and word faith theology"
https://youtu.be/4dEYNYzolss
As 'n Afrikaaner hoe bemoedig ek ander Christene ens. :
Haai boet, sit daai braaitang neer en luister bietjie: is jy seker as jy sommer vandag dood omval jy gaan hemel toe? Nie? Nee man, jy moet weet! Bybel toe: Dit het ek geskrywe aan julle wat glo in die Naam van die Seun van God, sodat julle kan weet dat julle die ewige lewe het en kan glo in die Naam van die Seun van God.
So I read the article, and he says, there's a claim that "gospel preaching that calls unbelievers to repentance and submission to Christ’s lordship is itself a form of legalism." Indeed it is a form of legalism. Mr MacArthur's "gospel" is a call to do be sad and do dead works: not repentance from dead works and faith toward God. It's all about you, and it's not much about Christ and his work. MacArthur's not your old-style calvinist that looks for philosophical answers beyond what the Bible provides. He's a new sort that goes all the way to the idea that salvation is by faith, but faith is really works.
@Derde We shouldn't be basing our salvation on anything beyond what the Bible teaches. That's not Calvinism but humanism or rationalism. The Law is till binding on believers as a rule for life. The Westminster Confession is clear on that and one can't get anymore Calvinist than that.
A true believer submits to Christ as his Saviour AND Lord
The Spirit brings the believer into submission to the law of God
Legalism is relying on one's own works for salvation. Striving to live according God's law is not legalism
One is justified by faith. Faith is a gift of God, given to the sinner when he is regenerated.
If you submit to Christ as Lord, then you are submitting to his law. If that is salvation, then that's salvation by works of the law. If you're not submitting to his law, then what exactly are you submitting to?
Being saved is the gift of God.
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
John 4:10 Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.
@Malcolm the Seceder I see I should make a mention 😃
@Derde We must distinguish between justification and sanctification. We are justified by faith alone, and that faith is a gift of God. When we are converted we are regenerated and have the righteousness of Christ imputed to our soul. This new principle has the effect of sanctifying the believer.
James tells us that faith without works is dead and that we show our faith by our works. James 2
Matthew 7:16-20
So a true believer is not depending upon his good works as the basis of his salvation. But true faith will produce good works in the life of the believer
Sanctification is not by works, but by the blood of Christ.
Hebrews 10:14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.
1 Corinthians 1:30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:
It's not a special word: it just means "made holy".
Yes. Made holy. What does that mean? It means living in accordance with the standard of holiness which is the law of God. I didn't say we are sanctified by our works. Our works are the fruit of our sanctification
It means that even where you fail to live in accordance with the holiness that you have in Christ, you are still holy:
1 Peter 1:4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,
The law is the law. It's a thing. The gospel is not the law:
John 1:17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.
The law is no longer to us a covenant of works because Adam fell and we are no longer able to keep it perfectly. But it does bind us a moral law.
Nobody but Christ has kept the law perfectly.
Exactly
But you say sanctification is keeping the law
But not perfectly. But if you'll read what the Westminster Confession says the believe is made progressively holy but never perfectly
A believer who sins is still saved because he is accepted for Christ's sake, not his own
Then you're guilty of all.
James 2:10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.
But being accepted in Christ means that the believer will be forgiveb
Forgiven
Will be forgiven?
Future tense?
John 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
Well we're talking about hypothetical sins so yes I'm talking in the future tense
I'm in present tense:
Galatians 3:26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
To be more precise when a sinner is converted all his sins are washed away past present and future but he still needs to ask forgiveness for any sins he goes on to commit