Is faith a wholly voluntary act?

[popsthebuilder]

Okay, good, then you do think it is good to believe that God IS and that he rewards people who seek him?

GOD IS....what? Could you go int some sort of detail as to what you mean here?

But yes, I do agree that we should have Faith in the Word of GOD, and that GOD does reward those who sincerely seek GOD or the direction there of in all their doings. What I deny is that seeking out a reward or negation of consequence is utterly synonymous with seeking to do, or follow the Will of GOD.

Its kinda like being sorry for something, only after one realizes the consequences. True sorrow is of shame of one's acts, and as such, not due solely to the consequences or repercussions of said actions.

Could you please attempt to explain what you meant by GOD IS?

Peace

Sent from my Alcatel_6055U using Tapatalk

 

[Lamb]

Hebrews 11:6 part of the verse says He rewards those who earnestly seek Him. But the first part of that verse states And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who approaches Him must believe that He exists. So we see in that verse that we believe because of faith and other verses have shown that God is the one who gives faith and is our author and perfecter of faith.

Now the beginning of Hebrews 12 flows right into talking about Jesus and the cross. It's always about the Savior isn't it, so that we may have eternal life

 

[MoreCoffee]

GOD IS....what? Could you go int some sort of detail as to what you mean here?

But yes, I do agree that we should have Faith in the Word of GOD, and that GOD does reward those who sincerely seek GOD or the direction there of in all their doings. What I deny is that seeking out a reward or negation of consequence is utterly synonymous with seeking to do, or follow the Will of GOD.

Its kinda like being sorry for something, only after one realizes the consequences. True sorrow is of shame of one's acts, and as such, not due solely to the consequences or repercussions of said actions.

Could you please attempt to explain what you meant by GOD IS?

Peace

Sent from my Alcatel_6055U using Tapatalk

God IS. The statement is complete in itself. God is the foundation of being. The cause of being. The creator. The uncreated creator. Unlike creation. Eternal. Self existent. Unchanging.

 

[Josiah]

Wrong thread. Sorry

 

[popsthebuilder]

God IS. The statement is complete in itself. God is the foundation of being. The cause of being. The creator. The uncreated creator. Unlike creation. Eternal. Self existent. Unchanging.

Thanks for clarifying what you meant.

But are we in agreement based on our last posts, or did we just stop?

Peace

 

[MoreCoffee]

Thanks for clarifying what you meant.

But are we in agreement based on our last posts, or did we just stop?

Peace

I gave the explanation/definition for which you asked.

 

[Rens]

I do what is right and I seek God because I not only believe that God IS but also because I believe that God rewards those who seek him. I do in fact have faith because of those two things. I think it is both scriptural and rational to say so. And no I do not agree that if one does what is right with a view to the reward that God gives to those who have faith that such faith somehow makes what is good into something wicked.

It's still good, Paul was happy that the gospel got preached, even though they did it because of the money.
But 1 Cor 13

And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.

 

[MoreCoffee]

Some have claimed that faith is a gift and given two or three passages that appear to support that idea so now ... is faith wholly voluntary or is it imposed and if it is not imposed does that mean it is voluntary?

 

[popsthebuilder]

Initial faith is a gift.

To continue and abide by that faith is voluntary.

Peace

 

[Lamb]

Initial faith is a gift.

To continue and abide by that faith is voluntary.

Peace

With the help of the Holy Spirit since He guides us into our daily living as believers.

 

[MoreCoffee]

What of a man like Mark, our good and helpful friend, is he prevented from having faith simply because God didn't give it to him?

 

[psalms 91]

Doesnt the bible say that every man is given a measure of faith? Doesnt also say that no one is excused even if they havebnt heard the Word because even nature proclaims God

 

[Josiah]

Some have claimed that faith is a gift and given two or three passages that appear to support that idea so now ... is faith wholly voluntary or is it imposed and if it is not imposed does that mean it is voluntary?

Nice question. Doesn't mean Scripture clearly answers it. Too bad the RCC has abandoned all sense of mystery and just appointed it itself as the revealer of all things God forgot to disclose.


IMO, faith is a gift of God - and I base that on what God in Scripture clearly states. How that "cranks out", HOW specifically that happens - Scripture does not say. It might be wise for us to not say.




.

 

[Lamb]

What of a man like Mark, our good and helpful friend, is he prevented from having faith simply because God didn't give it to him?

Mark said he was a believer when he was young. He rejected faith in his teen years according to one of his posts here on CH. Don't blame God.

 

[MoreCoffee]

Mark said he was a believer when he was young. He rejected faith in his teen years according to one of his posts here on CH. Don't blame God.

It's possible that no gift was given, right?

 

[Lamb]

It's possible that no gift was given, right?

I don't follow you. Do you think Mark's confession of faith was false?

 

[MarkFL]

I initially believed because I trusted those around me that what they said was true. However, once I reached a certain age, I began to look at things more critically, and I realized that for me, faith alone is not a good enough reason to accept extraordinary claims.

 

[MoreCoffee]

I initially believed because I trusted those around me that what they said was true. However, once I reached a certain age, I began to look at things more critically, and I realized that for me, faith alone is not a good enough reason to accept extraordinary claims.

Thanks for the clarification

 

[MoreCoffee]

I don't follow you. Do you think Mark's confession of faith was false?

Perhaps a mis-perception?

 

[Josiah]

God is the only one who knows whether Mark does or does not have faith in Christ as Savior.... although we mere ignorant mortals are wise to simply take each other at our word (realizing only God knows for sure). If one SAYS they do not have that (assuming they are being truthful and honest - and that is the "de fault" position we should take, lol) - than I think other mortal people should proceed accordingly.

Now, I have not a clue how that indicates that faith is or is not a gift (as it seems we all earlier agreed that it is - MoreCoffee even quoted his denomination on that).



.