Posted on 02/10/2004 10:46:05 AM PST by ksen
What does your life teach you? I know I am not to lie, but telling the truth is often difficult, I hedge, I skirt, I excuse. So clearly I understand that I must love my personal enemies, but I do not, I despise them, seek revenge, hope for their comeuppance.
It might be quite easy to live an entire Christian life ignorant of the arguments for and against limited atonement and still be hear those words "well done" from the Judge...but should I neglect the plain demands Christ makes upon me (demands so simple we understand them all from the beginning of our new-birth and so difficult we spend our lives working on compliance) then His response will be quite different..
I'm trying to grasp your point and your criticism of Calvin, particularly since I know of nothing in Calvinism that teaches not to be "kind, sacrifice for others, be faithful...to love God, to love our neighbor."
Nor do I, although from what little history I've read I would not look to Calvin as a model for kindness. My point is simply that it is going to take every breath I have, all the energy my body will ever produce to love my neighbor as I love myself each moment of each day.....and the temptation is to find refuge in a easier path.
Indeed, Markofhumanfeet raised John 1:4 earlier. What a beautiful chapter it is and how appropriate to this conversation (post 721 includes the entire chapter.)
And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son [to be] the Saviour of the world. Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.
And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.
AG admitted your interpretation is correct, xzins. AG, you have made a logical and historical error. There is a significant difference between the logos, a concept rooted in Greek philosophy and grapha (Scripture). A quick check with a Greek NT, a lexicon, a concordance or a reliable commentary could verify this. "The Logos" is what the Greeks referred to as the unknown but ultimate creator/source God. John is simply saying Jesus is that logos.
Your claim that "the spirit" revealed error to you is suspect in that it is illogical (why would the true Spirit testify against itself?), unbibical, unlikely and unnecessary in that you could find all sorts of alleged errors on skeptic sites.
The more you write, AG, the less orthodox you appear to be. I'm not sure where you get some of this stuff but it isn't from the Southern Baptists. Sorry if that sounds harsh. I would much rather have this discussion in private but, since the assertions are already public, it is too late.
Think about it. What is the Imago Dei? The Imago Dei and nephesh are exclusive. Therefore you need no leaning in the Spirit to rule it out. Your mind can do it for you.
The Holy Spirit does not and will not testify against Himself (the Holy Spirit is not an "it"); however, He will lead you into all truth. Keep in mind that there is a way that seems right to man, but the end is death. Seems to me very wise to rely on the Holy Spirit.
The parable is taught to us in the Eastern Orthodox church with a completely different meaning. It has nothing to do with a neighbor. Christ is the Samaritan and we are the wounded lying in the ditch. Christ is willing to pay any cost in order to make us well again. Of course this is in line with the EO vision of sin, which is that it makes us ill and separates us from God. And we know that Christ did pay the cost for us to be made well.
Exactly.
If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall [your] heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him? – Luke 11:13
But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, [even] to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me. These things have I spoken unto you, being [yet] present with you. But the Comforter, [which is] the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
Study the Word of God foremost, and share with others the Creator of the Universe.
I was speaking in regard to materials we choose to study, not what the most important thing we can do with our life. AG, thank's again for your admonition of which I agree wholeheartedly.
Note to self: We must edify the Body of Christ with our speech.
[There is] one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who [is] above all, and through all, and in you all.
But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.) And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
That we [henceforth] be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, [and] cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, [even] Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.
But ye have not so learned Christ; If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place to the devil. Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with [his] hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.
And further reflection leads to this: How do you know which Spirit is leading you without first being grounded in the Word? And frankly, Satan is an expert at counterfeiting Feelings (therefore the Campus Crusade for Christ illustration of a train is relevant and a timely warning. Faith is the engine, fact is the coal car and feeling is the caboose. The engine and coal car are vital and the caboose is not so vital). Emotion is not a method of detecting truth (remember Clinton tweaked our emotions as a nation quite adeptly).
Yes, and Satan is an expert at quoting scripture to rationalise away other scripture (see Matthew 4:5-6). Note: i am not accusing Alamo-Girl of this. The post is merely an exortation to steadfastness and dilligence in handling the Word of God properly.
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