This seems to be the most critical point for the doctrines of grace for if someone starts to believe this all the other points will follow. So I’m curious what your guys best argument for this is? Or what led you to start believing this?
For me, I would say Romans 8:8. Those in the flesh cannot please God. Since faith pleases God, those in the flesh cannot have faith and must be born again before they can. Is that sound? The reason I ask is because my Arminian friend says faith is not pleasing to God (otherwise it would be earning his salvation) There seems to be three arguments for faith being pleasing to God. 1) Hebrews 11:6. 2) Faith being a command. 3) The nature of faith (it in essence being in a state of virtues that are pleasing to him I.e. humility, trust, etc). I looked at the 1) and I don’t believe that passage teaches that faith is pleasing to God. So what scripture passages best teach 2) or 3)?
It’s kind of a two fold question, but I thought that since they are so related I’d put it in one.
For me, I would say Romans 8:8. Those in the flesh cannot please God. Since faith pleases God, those in the flesh cannot have faith and must be born again before they can. Is that sound? The reason I ask is because my Arminian friend says faith is not pleasing to God (otherwise it would be earning his salvation) There seems to be three arguments for faith being pleasing to God. 1) Hebrews 11:6. 2) Faith being a command. 3) The nature of faith (it in essence being in a state of virtues that are pleasing to him I.e. humility, trust, etc). I looked at the 1) and I don’t believe that passage teaches that faith is pleasing to God. So what scripture passages best teach 2) or 3)?
It’s kind of a two fold question, but I thought that since they are so related I’d put it in one.