Your reply is nonsensical. I wasn't "projecting" at all.

The phrase you used, 'get out more', is not <your> invention. <You> don't get to define what it means. It is a colloquialism that means 'incorporate more leisure activities with other people into your life'.

Einstein also worked very hard. Being sociable in no way refutes that. Don't you know that he came up with special relativity while he was working as a patent clerk? Yes, he literally multi-tasked during his day job, to come up with one of the most revolutionary theories of modern physics.

Probably the only place he couldn't make sparks fly. :)>

Very funny!

<BP: I was surprised that you had an issue with this concept because this is the concept that Paul goes to great lengths to make perfectly clear.>

I disagree, obviously.

<BP: First, I thought your use of the word <except> was strange and I couldn't tell if the inclusion of this word was intentional or not, so I addressed it here:

Yes. Not <except> by faith, but <through faith>. >

1. Yes or no. Must a person believe to be saved?
2. Yes or no. Is believing something a person does?
If the answer to both is yes, as I affirm, I conclude a person must <do something> to be saved.

<BP: Paul tells us,

<For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God. Ephesians 2:8

This addresses your question, the <central point> of it.>

See my yes/no questions.

<<Ohio>, since the context of our discussion on this page is one of salvation by grace alone versus salvation by grace plus other things (works, Catholic position), I felt it would be helpful to include a verse from Paul that includes a reference to works, to support the statement I made that you questioned.

<Paul tells us in Romans 4:5,

<But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.>>

So that should make it clear. >

No, for that is not the only New Testament verse on the matter. As one example of many, "To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life." Romans 2:7 NIV

Paul says God will give eternal life to those who <do something>.

<BP: Imagine if it was the year 52 A.D. and you asked Paul,

<OCF: It's by grace alone, except by faith. Really, now?>

And Paul answered you personally,

Paul: <Ohio, for by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.>

Then took a breath and said this,

<But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness>

The question is, why did Paul have to explain this in the first place?>

Because of the Judaizers who were demanding people keep the law of Moses to be saved. I'd say over 95% of the time the New Testament speaks of "works", it's referencing "works of the Mosaic Law". <Those> works aren't necessary to be saved. That doesn't mean that we don't have to do <anything> to be saved. As one Scriptural example, we must <believe> to be saved.

<BP: Because it was a completely different gospel than the gospel taught by Jesus, which was the gospel of the Kingdom, a gospel for the Jews, in accordance with the <Law>, which was a work-based program, not a grace-based program.>

I 100% disagree, but that's an entirely different discussion.

<BP: Jews expected to have to do things to atone for their sins because that's what they had been doing for 1500 years. They expected to make sin offerings, baptize, do all kinds of sacraments and rituals and so forth.>

Now you're a between the ears expert? I sort of agree with you on this, but you're throwing out the baby with the bath water. Just because some Judaizers went too far with demanding works to be saved doesn't mean we don't have to do anything to be saved.

<BP: That should settle that.>

1. Yes or no. Must a person believe to be saved? 2. Yes or no. Is believing something a person does? If the answer to both is yes, as I affirm, I conclude a person must <do something> to be saved.>

I agree, but I think the point was "having faith" is not a work.

https://store.ancientfaith.com/orth...

The meaning of the word "work" is paramount. In the meantime, John 6:29

Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”>

Now, let's look at the conversation that follows:

<So they said to Him, “What then are You doing as a sign, so that we may see, and believe You? What work are You performing?>

This tells us who is responsible for that work - God.

Jesus agrees. After they continue on with <31 Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written: ‘He gave them bread out of heaven to eat.’”>

<Optimal Play>, you seem to be upset at the moment so I think we should pick it up again when you’ve had time to cool off, otherwise the discussion will be pointless and unprofitable.

Carry on as you were, Elite Posters, and I’ll see you all when I get back. Glad there are serious, substantive and insightful discussions going on in the Free Speech Zone. People can come here and read truly <valuable> information, which is rare both on this site and the internet as a whole.

We might be in single-digit days before your forum closes.

I closed my forum. Will reopen it when yours closes. We can continue the discussions over at my place, for those that want to.

I hope he isn't too butt hurt. After all, he is a fellow Christian. I DO wish him a Merry Christmas, even though all his arguments were sliced and diced by my rebuttals.

Here are some examples:

Big Pawn chessforum (kibitz #5301)

Big Pawn chessforum (kibitz #5303)

Big Pawn chessforum (kibitz #5307)

Big Pawn chessforum (kibitz #5308)

Big Pawn chessforum (kibitz #5309)

And finally this:
Big Pawn chessforum (kibitz #5311)

Now I will repeat myself, because I linked to this earlier. But it bears repeating:

<thegoodanarchist: <OhioChessFan: ... But if you don't care to respond point by point to me, as I have done for you, I will move on.>

Do you not see that is exactly what I am doing?>

<OCF> wanted to come up with an excuse for running away from my arguments. So he pretended I wasn't rebutting him point by point. But, in fact, that is PRECISELY what I did!

thegoodanarchist: <OhioChessFan: <<tga: I agree, but I think the point was "having faith" is not a work.>>

The meaning of the word "work" is paramount. In the meantime, John 6:29

Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”>

Now, let's look at the conversation that follows:

<So they said to Him, “What then are You doing as a sign, so that we may see, and believe You? What work are You performing?>

This tells us who is responsible for that work - God.

Jesus agrees. After they continue on with <31 Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written: ‘He gave them bread out of heaven to eat.’”>

Jesus replies <“Truly, truly, I say to you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread out of heaven, but it is My Father who gives you the true bread out of heaven. 33 For the bread of God is [j]that which comes down out of heaven and gives life to the world.” >

Hey <wtpy>! Looks like your idea IS possible! [Although it is STILL not normative for the over-achieving crowd.]

I saw a rare example on youtube:

I closed my forum. Will reopen it when yours closes. We can continue the discussions over at my place, for those that want to.>

I will be at offensivetruth.com.

Everyone has already registered so we can discuss there as well.

<Tga> good response to <OCF>

<Now, let's look at the conversation that follows:

<So they said to Him, “What then are You doing as a sign, so that we may see, and believe You? What work are You performing?>

This tells us who is responsible for that work - God.>

I have so much to say about all this, but I can't get my head into it with so much work on my plate.

I think you answered him point by point so he can use that as an excuse to disengage. Just my thoughts on that.

When my current projects are complete, I can't wait to pick up where I left off with <Optimal Play>, because I have so much to unpack in that debate.

The Free Speech Zone is the only forum on this website with valuable content, but do keep Graham's Hierarchy of Disagreement in mind when posting so that the level of discourse continually remains high.

OK, anything to save face, <Ohio>.>

Vaccine is fair