Look at all of the things you know. That certainty must be a comfort to you.
There may not have been any other possibility than Christ slain for our sins, yet it didn’t stop Him from asking, did it?
I see that your definition of humanism is the same as Secular Humanism. Got it. I think I covered that in my post.
You say that other outcomes aren’t possible, but you don’t back it up with much, and yes I’m a Trinitarian. Jesus also said, “My Father’s house has many rooms.” I have NO IDEA what that means, but it suggests more than a few interpretations.
This brings us back to the original point, I think. You absolutely know. Good for you. Beyond the salvation of Christ, I’m still unsure, and worse, you’ve done exactly nothing but spew scripture out of context to buttress such headstrong conviction of all these things that are ‘true’.
The point is, that beyond the salvation of Christ, people would come to find Him in their own way, and would create churches and denominations within their own cultural context, but with the Truth of Christ’s Salvation of Man at the center.
I’m not convinced. In fact, from what I’ve studied about demonic possession, I’m most certainly convinced that there is so much more to this struggle than I am permitted at this point to understand. I find a certain security in that, because there seems to be an infinity to the struggle in every dimension: time, spacial, spiritual, astronomical.
Modern spirituality would have you believe that we struggle against our nature to find Christ. While that might be, I also believe Lucifer actively works against us finding Christ. Lucifer actively working to subvert the will of God makes sense to me.
I also, however, believe that Christ has an active role in my daily life too.
Now, if you want me to tell you how precisely either Lucifer or God intervenes actively in my life, I’d have to tell you, “I don’t know.”
Which goes to the rather simplistic answer you supplied from my Catechism days on “Why humans?” “Why did God make them?”
“To glorify God.”
Check. I remember that too. Doesn’t answer the question though does it? It leaves some further room to speculate:
“Glorify how?”
“Glorify how long?”
“How does this glory fit into my eternal schedule, since all I’ve known is living on a timeline, and we are made in God’s image?”
“Since God has no beginning and no end, from what ‘beginning’ was God referring to when Christ said, “He was a murder from the beginning” - “What/who was murdered exactly?”
In my opinion, you make the VERY SAME MISTAKE that scientists, dogmatic about evolution as an explanation for the origin and development of humanity as a species, simply declare Darwin’s theory as FACT. They can’t explain where man began, but they are POSITIVE it isn’t some divine spark.
I believe so strongly that Christ died for my sins, that I’m prepared FOR ME to call it fact.
My calling it a fact doesn’t make the case for somebody else who doesn’t believe it. Part of what causes me to believe as strongly as I do is the immense scrutiny that the Bible, archaeology, triangulating bits of historical record from the Romans preserved over centuries, and other sources have withstood for 1000’s of years.
You reduce the selfless act of Christ’s Crucifixion to something just this side of a lottery: Some are saved, and some are damned. The saved know who they are, and the damned do not, and probably will not. Even the saved aren’t safe, because in the opinion of other people who are saved, you probably aren’t saved.
One thing I realized in living my life and studying in the Christian Faith is that the Lord’s Prayer is very specific:
“Thy will be done
On Earth, as it is in Heaven.”
I’ve come to realize that His will is not a lead-pipe cinch down here. Lucifer offered Christ all the kingdoms of the earth - because it was in his power to make that offer.
Bottom Line: Satan rules earth. I don’t get that, but I’m ABSOLUTELY CONVINCED of it. Being convinced of something, and KNOWING something are two very different things.
Sir, in a word, you don’t know either, but I can see you are absolutely convinced of your beliefs. My opinion of the doctrine of Election - it cheapens the gift of Salvation. It nullifies every act of martyrdom, every mercy shown to enemies, every act of contrition, every mother’s answered prayer that her son or daughter find Christ.
None of it matters, because the fix was in from the beginning, and all the praying in Christ’s name can’t change it - in your world.
Peter renounced Christ, as Christ predicted he would. Judas betrays Christ to the Roman’s for silver, just as Christ predicted he would.
I’ve seen your interpretation of Scripture, and it leaves room for honest questions.
Well you an know that Christ defeated satan at the cross and satan has no hold on God's people, and you can know this as the bible tells you so. Greater is He that is within you than he that is without.
“My Father’s house has many rooms.” I have NO IDEA what that means, but it suggests more than a few interpretations.
There is only one interpretation: you will abide forever in God's Presence. And they aren't "rooms", they are mansions, you will abide like royalty.
Of course that's another MONSTER SIZE problem, how/why Lucifer and his minions would be doing anything, when a man's fate is sealed and they haave no say or free will to choose. You'd think Lucifer and his crew would sit back and relax, knowing that those men who are not elected are going to hell, and no effect is required to help them get there.
lol. My "spewing Scripture" is worse than your lack of understanding?
I don't think so.
Now, if you want me to tell you how precisely either Lucifer or God intervenes actively in my life, I’d have to tell you, “I don’t know.”
Goodness, you don't? You don't know how God intervenes in your life? You really need to read the Bible more often.
" But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear" -- 1 Peter 3:15
The reason for the hope that is in me is that God has graced me with faith in His Son and has given me a new heart with which to understand that His sacrifice has paid for my sins in full.
And that merciful knowledge which has been made known to me by the Holy Spirit through the word of God colors every moment of my life for the better.
You reduce the selfless act of Christ’s Crucifixion to something just this side of a lottery
A lottery implies chance. There is no "chance" in life. There is only God and His perfect will, one way or another. Do we understand this fully? Nope. But that inability on our part to understand completely should not negate the very attributes that make up the Triune God.
Bottom Line: Satan rules earth. I don’t get that, but I’m ABSOLUTELY CONVINCED of it.
Well, you may think Satan rules your life, but thankfully, he sure doesn't rule my life. Christ is King today on earth as well as in heaven.
I’ve seen your interpretation of Scripture, and it leaves room for honest questions.
Then go back to Scripture and find those answers. Whatever answers exist on earth are found within the pages of God's word.