Not really. I examine my walk with Christ daily, and find that although I have my own shortcomings and stumblings daily, I see some progress, Christ's work is gradually changing me. I don't see my stumblings as separating myself from Christ. We don't have to be perfect in this world. Purgatory is available, a wonderful mercy, in that small stumblings will not keep me from Christ, even if I were to die unexpectedly. As long as I have not mortally sinned, I plod on, "knowing" that today, I am in Christ. The only thing that can separate us from God is a mortal sin. We persevere in confidence, in hope in the Lord. It is a different perspective because it keeps us humbly persevering in Christ.
I know we disagree on the "fear and trembling" verse, but I think you don't believe it means that we are supposed to go through our lives shivering in fear, right?
Correct. I think Paul is directing this at people who believe their work here is done. Paul gives various examples of people who had that attitude in the OT - and look what happened to them. We will be glorified with the Lord IF we suffer with the Lord. (Romans 8:17). Thus, we continue to give of ourselves in service to others. We continue to walk in love.
Don't you mean foster children? :)
We are adopted children of the Lord... "ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father." Romans 8:15. Jesus is the only natural Son of the Father, but through the waters of Baptism, we, too, can cry Abba, Father...
We are always children of the Father, even those who are baptised and subsequently fall away. Consider the Prodigal Son parable. When if famine DIDN'T strike the land? Would the son have returned? Probably not. My point is that sons and daughters sometimes separate THEMSELVES from their parents, they disinherit themselves.
Regards
Not really. ... As long as I have not mortally sinned, I plod on, "knowing" that today, I am in Christ.
Thanks for your full answer. This reminds me of a question I had about confession earlier, but I think I forgot to ask. :) Is there a standardized protocol for when to go to confession? I mean, is it done on an "as needed" basis, or is it better to go regularly, say, once a week or once a month?
We are always children of the Father, even those who are baptised and subsequently fall away. Consider the Prodigal Son parable. When if famine DIDN'T strike the land? Would the son have returned? Probably not. My point is that sons and daughters sometimes separate THEMSELVES from their parents, they disinherit themselves.
To refresh your memory, only because I am so far behind, this came from your statement "To us, Baptism is for the remission of all sins. It makes us children of God." I then responded by asking if you meant foster children. My point was to say that under your system, God's children can fall away and cease being His children, or as you clarify, "disinherit themselves". I disagree concerning the elect.
Let's use your example of the Prodigal Son. And, let's say you are right and that if the famine didn't come the son would never have returned. Would that have meant that the son disinherited himself? I would say that's impossible because the son already received his rightful inheritance before he even left. The father sealed his faith in the child from the beginning. (Of course, the analogy breaks down a little because the father did not have the independent power to bring the son back, but God certainly does, and I believe He uses it on His elect.) It was impossible for the son to disinherit himself, just as it is impossible for the elect to do the same. No one can snatch us out of His hands.