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All (24) Mike Winger (24)

Mike Winger idea 2018-03-14

James 2:14 — 'Can that faith save him?' — the hypothetical about someone who says he has faith but lacks works

Beginning verse-by-verse analysis of James 2:14

James 2:14 dead faith James 2:14 saving faith

Mike Winger idea 2018-03-14

Greek article 'that' (hē) in James 2:14 — 13 of 16 translations include it, pointing to 'that particular faith' as the referent

Textual note on James 2:14 — 'can that faith save him'

James 2:14 textual criticism translation practice James 2:14

Mike Winger idea 2018-03-14

Greek 'ophelos' — 'what good is it' means what benefit or advantage; James is asking about the salvific utility of dead faith

Word study on James 2:14's opening phrase

James 2:14 dead faith James 2:14 saving faith

Mike Winger idea 2018-03-14

James 2:18b — 'I will show you my faith by my works' — works demonstrate faith, faith is still the issue

Completing the analysis of James 2:18

James 2:18 demonstration of faith saving faith James 2:18

Mike Winger idea 2018-03-14

James 2:19 — 'Even demons believe and shudder' — intellectual assent alone is not saving faith

Verse-by-verse analysis of James 2:19

James 2:19 dead faith saving faith James 2:19

Mike Winger idea 2018-03-14

Application: real faith will eventually bear fruit/works, even if years later (as with Abraham)

Practical application of the Abraham timeline

Genesis 15 Genesis 22 Abraham Genesis 15 Genesis 22

Mike Winger idea 2018-03-14

Summary of theological points: James does not contradict sola fide; it combats dead faith / easy believism

Theological summary after the verse-by-verse study

James 2 James 2 sola fide dead faith

Mike Winger idea 2018-03-14

Saving faith is not mere intellectual belief — it is living faith that results in works

Defining saving faith vs. intellectual assent

dead faith saving faith living faith

Mike Winger idea 2018-03-14

Q&A: can someone have saving faith yet commit murder? — Mike argues sin is not binary; Jesus elevated even hatred and lust to the level of murder and adultery

Viewer question about faith, repentance, and serious sin

Matthew 5 repentance sanctification salvation and sin

Mike Winger idea 2018-03-14

Degrees of sin — some sins are worse than others; the Law has different consequences; Jesus said some will suffer greater judgment

Within the Q&A on murder and saving faith

Matthew degrees of sin Mosaic Law judgment

Mike Winger idea 2018-03-14

Q&A: Does faith necessarily produce works, or are works only the way the world sees faith? James 2 is about justification in the eyes of men, not God

Viewer question about the relationship between faith and works

James 2 James 2 demonstration of faith works as evidence of faith

Mike Winger idea 2018-03-14

Q&A: Romans 4:16 — is it about saving faith? Is Abraham a prototype for saving faith?

Viewer asks Mike's view on Romans 4:16

Romans 4:16 justification by faith Abraham saving faith

Mike Winger idea 2018-03-14

Abraham as the paradigmatic prototype of saving faith in Romans 4 and Galatians — changes how you read both books

Elaboration on Abraham's role as prototype

Romans 4 Galatians justification by faith Abraham Romans 4

Mike Winger idea 2018-03-14

Q&A: 1 Corinthians 13:2 — 'if I have all faith but no love I am nothing' — is this faith + love = salvation?

Viewer question about 1 Corinthians 13 and whether it implies faith plus love for salvation

1 Corinthians 13:2 Paul saving faith 1 Corinthians 13:2

Mike Winger idea 2018-03-14

Distinction between saving faith and faith for miracles — 1 Corinthians 13 is about the latter

Type distinction within the concept of faith

1 Corinthians 13 saving faith love charismatic gifts

Mike Winger idea 2018-03-28

'Easy believism' — intellectual assent alone does not save; genuine faith produces transformation and works

Q&A — response to JD Wolfe's question about 'easy believism'

salvation Holy Spirit easy believism

Mike Winger idea 2018-04-25

Q&A: Is belief in Jesus' death and resurrection sufficient for salvation?

Viewer Adrian asks a basic soteriological question.

James 2 salvation James 2 dead faith

Mike Winger idea 2018-08-16

Sye's ultimate evidential claim: everything proves God's existence because you cannot make sense of evidence itself without God — he is 'the ultimate evidentialist'

Sye's reframing of himself as a supreme evidentialist

Galatians 3:8 John the Baptist presuppositional apologetics evidence as God-dependent Galatians 3:8

Mike Winger idea 2019-02-20

Q&A: Why is Samson in the Hebrews Hall of Faith? Was Samson saved?

Q&A question about Samson's presence in Hebrews 11.

Hebrews 11:32 Samson salvation saving faith

Mike Winger idea 2020-09-11

Romans 10:9 — confessing Jesus as Lord and believing in the heart involves personal yielding and trust, not merely intellectual assent

Response to Ryan Hasty asking how to know if one believes in the heart versus merely thinking the evidence points toward Christianity being true.

Romans 10:9 confession Romans 10:9 lordship

Mike Winger idea 2020-09-28

Faith for miracles is different from saving faith — it's initiated by God (a spiritual gift), not fabricated by the believer. Jesus had a responsive ministry to the Father, not initiatory. You respond to what the Spirit reveals.

Theological framework: miracle-faith as God-initiated response, not self-generated belief

1 Corinthians 12:8-11 John 5:19 1 John 5:14 1 Corinthians 12:8-11 John 5:19 1 John 5:14

Mike Winger idea 2021-06-25

About Saving Faith in the OT: Romans 4 tells us that Abraham was saved because of his faith. He believed in God. How can we say that just because he was saved that way, everyone else in the OT was saved that way? Also, if they were saved that way, why did they have to sacrifice lambs? And if people were always saved by just believing in God, why was it necessary for Christ to come?

Q&A question: About Saving Faith in the OT

Romans 4 Abraham Romans 4

Mike Winger idea 2022-07-29

Can I Trust that my Faith is Sincere?: I sincerely believe Jesus is my Savior, but if my sincerity can’t be trusted (just like the rich young ruler’s), how can I truly 100% know that I actually do have a saving faith in Jesus Christ?

Q&A question: Can I Trust that my Faith is Sincere?

Jesus Christ Jesus

Mike Winger idea 2023-10-17

Am I Saved if I Have An Addiction?: How do I know If I actually have a saving faith, especially considering that I’m addicted to pornography, and am having a hard time asking for someone to help me stop. Thanks.

Q&A question: Am I Saved if I Have An Addiction?

pornography addiction

James 2:14 — 'Can that faith save him?' — the hypothetical about someone who says he has faith but lacks works

Greek article 'that' (hē) in James 2:14 — 13 of 16 translations include it, pointing to 'that particular faith' as the referent

Greek 'ophelos' — 'what good is it' means what benefit or advantage; James is asking about the salvific utility of dead faith

James 2:18b — 'I will show you my faith by my works' — works demonstrate faith, faith is still the issue

James 2:19 — 'Even demons believe and shudder' — intellectual assent alone is not saving faith

Application: real faith will eventually bear fruit/works, even if years later (as with Abraham)

Summary of theological points: James does not contradict sola fide; it combats dead faith / easy believism

Saving faith is not mere intellectual belief — it is living faith that results in works

Q&A: can someone have saving faith yet commit murder? — Mike argues sin is not binary; Jesus elevated even hatred and lust to the level of murder and adultery

Degrees of sin — some sins are worse than others; the Law has different consequences; Jesus said some will suffer greater judgment

Q&A: Does faith necessarily produce works, or are works only the way the world sees faith? James 2 is about justification in the eyes of men, not God

Q&A: Romans 4:16 — is it about saving faith? Is Abraham a prototype for saving faith?

Abraham as the paradigmatic prototype of saving faith in Romans 4 and Galatians — changes how you read both books

Q&A: 1 Corinthians 13:2 — 'if I have all faith but no love I am nothing' — is this faith + love = salvation?

Distinction between saving faith and faith for miracles — 1 Corinthians 13 is about the latter

'Easy believism' — intellectual assent alone does not save; genuine faith produces transformation and works

Q&A: Is belief in Jesus' death and resurrection sufficient for salvation?

Sye's ultimate evidential claim: everything proves God's existence because you cannot make sense of evidence itself without God — he is 'the ultimate evidentialist'

Q&A: Why is Samson in the Hebrews Hall of Faith? Was Samson saved?

Romans 10:9 — confessing Jesus as Lord and believing in the heart involves personal yielding and trust, not merely intellectual assent

Faith for miracles is different from saving faith — it's initiated by God (a spiritual gift), not fabricated by the believer. Jesus had a responsive ministry to the Father, not initiatory. You respond to what the Spirit reveals.

Can I Trust that my Faith is Sincere?: I sincerely believe Jesus is my Savior, but if my sincerity can’t be trusted (just like the rich young ruler’s), how can I truly 100% know that I actually do have a saving faith in Jesus Christ?

Am I Saved if I Have An Addiction?: How do I know If I actually have a saving faith, especially considering that I’m addicted to pornography, and am having a hard time asking for someone to help me stop. Thanks.

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