ArchivedOnce saved always saved? :: Reply to KolazReply to Kolaz 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 is speaking about unrighteous non-believers, not believers. Notice that in verse 11, Paul tells his believing audience that they used to be that way, but are no longer. In addition, believers are imputed with the righteousness of God (Philippians 3:9). Therefore, no true believer has an unrighteous standing before God. No, faith is the means by which one is saved, not the act by which one is saved. Specifically, God credits our faith as righteousness through his grace alone. This is called imputation, which is the process of being credited with righteousness that did not come from one's self. The concept of imputation can be found in Genesis 15:6, Romans 4:1-5, 23-24, and James 2:23. Genesis 15:6 [NIV] Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness. Genesis 15:6 [NASB] Then he believed in the LORD; and He reckoned it to him as righteousness. Genesis 15:6 [KJV] And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness. The Hebrew term for "believed" is 'aman (Strong's #539), which is used in the Hiphil word stem and means "to stand firm, to trust, to be certain, to believe in." Also, the Hebrew term for "credited" [NIV], "reckoned" [NASB], and "counted" [KJV] is Chashab (Strong's 2803), which is used in the Qal word stem and means "to charge, impute, reckon." Further, the Hebrew term for "righteousness" is Ts@daqah (Strong's #6666), which in this case means "righteous act." God credited (or charged, imputed) Abraham's faith (or trust in God) as righteousness (or a righteous act). And Paul duplicates what is expressed in Genesis 15:6 in Romans 4:1-5, 23-24. Romans 4 1What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather, discovered in this matter? 2 If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about--but not before God. 3 What does the Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness." 4 Now when a man works, his wages are not credited to him as a gift, but as an obligation. 5 However, to the man who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness. 23 The words "it was credited to him" were written not for him alone, 24 but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness--for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. *See also James 2:23. The Greek word for "justifies" is Dikaioo (Strong's #1344), which means "to declare, pronounce, one to be just, righteous, or such as he ought to be." And the Greek word for "wicked" is Asebes (Strong's #765), which means "destitute of reverential awe towards God, condemning God, impious." Also, the Greek word for "believe" is Pisteuo (Strong's #4100), which means "have confidence (of the thing believed)." In addition, the Greek word for "credit" is Logizomai (Strong's #3049), which means "a thing is reckoned as or to be something, i.e. as availing for or equivalent to something, as having the like force and weight." The key points here are (1) "God justifies (declares or pronounces just or righteous) the wicked (those who do not revere God)" (2) "the faith (confidence) of the man who does not work is credited (reckoned to be equivalent to) as righteousness." Thus, not only does Paul duplicate the Hebrew meaning of Genesis 15:6, but he also emphasizes it by bluntly saying God justifies those who are not righteous, or the wicked. In conjunction with Romans 4:1-5, Paul says that he does not have a righteousness of his own in Phillipians 3:9. Philippians 3 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ--the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. Faith, in and of itself, does not make us righteous. Imputation means that one is credited with righteousness that did not come from themself. Further, imputation is purely a decision of God that is based on his grace alone. And both Paul and James cite Genesis 15:6 (in Romans 4:3 and James 2:23 respectively) to show that they both support imputation. |
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