Professor,
"For without the shedding of Blood it is impossible to please God." The Resurrection was necessary so that DEATH and SIN did not any longer hold power over us.
God supplies the GRACE. JESUS Christ's Finished work at Calvary, HIS BLOOD atonement for all of our sins, because scripture says that without the shedding of blood there IS NO remission of sin", thus Christ became the SUBSTITUTE for US and made a way for US to be acceptable to GOD the FATHER thru that blood atonement for all our sins.. "ONCE FOR ALL" should be the cry of the redeemed.. The sufficiency and efficacy of the OFFERING, the ONLY ACCEPTABLE and SUFFICIENT offering that would appease GOD'S just penalty of SIN, was taken care of with the blood Christ spilled on our behalf, and because HE had victory over death and the grave , so also now do all those who belong to HIM by grace through faith.
SAVING FAITH is different Professor. It is by the Holy Spirit that sinful man is given enough grace to see his condition in light of a perfect, holy, just Savior who loved us and gave himself for us according to the Scriptures. It is FAITH that leads unto salvation.. Which is UNNATURAL for man's normal sinful state. It must be by the Holy Spirit that our eyes and hearts are opened that we may see ourselves as God does, and leads us unto REPENTANCE and then salvation...
Yes, the natural man with a natural worldly view (spirit) will not desire nor be drawn unto repentence and confession and salvation.. And they happen in that order.
It is the Spirit which draws men and convicts us of sin.
Until the "natural man" (Apostle Paul) is BORN again of The Spirit, He cannot see nor enter into the Kingdom of God. HIS eternal SPIRIT MUST be converted from its present sin condition to a CLEAN and Blood washed cleansed condition in order to please God. And be acceptable in HIS sight..
WITHOUT the DEATH, Burial, and Resurrection of Christ, whereby Christ PAID our sin debt by HIS substitutionary death in our place, but it was necessary for the HOLY, DIVINE blood of Christ to be shed and offered upon the ALTAR in Heaven in front of God's throne, for the atonement of our sins. " ONCE FOR ALL."
DEAD MEN cannot do spiritual things UNLESS they repent of their sins and are forgiven and cleansed by the blood of the Lamb. NOW they appear to God's eyes in Robes of white, without sin because Christ already paid for their sins. He does not need to pay for them twice.
Interesting discussion.. BTW
I got my training at Dallas Theological and Cincinnati Bible College as well.
Try to keep in mind it is not "men" themselves and by themselves that have an innate ability to draw close to a Holy God. What communion does unrighteousness have with righteousness?
Salvation is a supernatural experience of a sinner being forgiven and cleansed of his sin and transformed into a child of the King by Grace through faith of God and the sinners faith and trust in HIM alone.. The Spirit's duty among others is to draw men unto Christ..
Appreciate the discussion Professor. I hope I have made my positions clearer. Our faith :
As for appearing in God's sight as Righteous, never perfect, is a result of Jesus taking our imperfections and cleansing us in his blood He shed, and clothing us in HIS Righteousness so the Father sees us clothed in the Righteousness of Christ even though we sinned.
When a person is a child of God, they still sin. They are not perfect.. What does that do?
It breaks fellowship with God until that sin is dealt with.. It must be repented of, confessed, and forgiveness sought for from the one offended, God the Father..
If we repent he is just and faithful to forgive us our sins. Once that repentence has taken place with a contrite heart, God restores our fellowship with HIM and hears our prayers again..
SO its important to confess and seek forgiveness and cleansing quickly if we are convicted in our spirit that we have sinned against HIM. SIN has consequences....
O.K. That's it for today..
I truly have enjoyed your thought on this professor.
micro....