speratus said: What Satan can not counterfeit is the promise of the gospel. We know our sins are forgiven, not on account of a virtuous faith or agape love, but because God has promised the forgiveness of sins to them that believe.
This is "hogwash"!! <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/scold.gif" alt="" /> The ONLY way that such a statement could be true is if someone presumed that their alleged faith is genuine. This is circular reasoning (illogical) at its best. It fails to answer the question, "How can I know that I belong to Christ and have received forgiveness of sins?" As flunky1 pointed out, as I have also in numerous replies in this thread, the demons believe and tremble but are enemies of God. Do you reject the verity of the book of James? Do you reject that true faith is manifested outwardly with works which are observable by men? Do you stand opposed to the inspired write of Hebrews
I have patiently maintained the needful difference between outward proof based on works and divine assurance which is obtained through the means of grace. Although works always follow faith, to deny assurance without works is to deny justification by faith alone. Do you agree with Luther?
Quote
Let Your Sins be StrongIf you are a preacher of mercy, do not preach an imaginary but the true mercy. If the mercy is true, you must therefore bear the true, not an imaginary sin. God does not save those who are only imaginary sinners. Be a sinner, and let your sins be strong, but let your trust in Christ be stronger, and rejoice in Christ who is the victor over sin, death, and the world. . . It suffices that through God's glory we have recognized the Lamb who takes away the sin of the world. No sin can separate us from Him, even if we were to kill or commit adultery thousands of times each day. Do you think such an exalted Lamb paid merely a small price with a meager sacrifice for our sins?
