Blessed [are] they that keep his testimonies, [and that] seek him with the whole heart. They also do no iniquity: they walk in his ways. Psalms 119:2-3
With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. Ps 119:10
There is none righteous, no, not one. There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. Romans 3:10-11
It should be painfully obvious that your theology contradicts the Scriptures found in many Psalms, such as Psalm 119.
May patience be with you. However, you still haven't shown me any contradictions. Whoever the Psalmist was, it's a safe bet that he was already a man of faith. I'm sure he was talking about other men of faith because who could follow in His ways without faith? Paul, of course, was not talking about such men at all. Verse 9 is clear that he is saying that Jews and Gentiles are alike in sin. That must mean before salvation, because after salvation we are no longer slaves to sin, as Paul clearly lays out. Therefore, there is no contradiction, Paul and the Psalmist are talking about different people.
Men DO seek out God. But according to you, NO MEN seek God - since you take the literal and universal definition of "all".
Of course some men seek God. They are the ones who have been blessed with the grace to do so. Paul wasn't talking about them. He was talking about those who are still under the sin nature. That must be so because it is clear that Paul himself believed that he sought after God, right? That is clear to me. However, there is no such obvious explanation for Romans 3:23. In fact, if you wanted to narrow it down, you could look at verse 24, and conclude that Paul was only talking about all SAVED people, since he references their justification. That is even worse for Mary!
[On Ez 18:24:] Keep dreaming. I suppose since you have "x" amount of faith, (as ALL Protestants claim) you can declare yourself saved.
My version of that verse is a little different from yours. Instead of "trespass", mine says "unfaithfulness". Obviously a truly righteous man cannot be in nature unfaithful, therefore, the man must be self-righteous, or, this man was never saved to begin with.
Why would the Spirit intercede if all is done? How is His intercession the execution of God's promises?
Some promises are executed and completed immediately, other promises cannot be completed until a certain amount of time has passed. This is the latter. Jesus promised that He would send His elect the Spirit to look out for us always. Therefore, if one believes in God's promises, then it is safe to believe that the Spirit will not cut and run sometime during the life of the elect, after salvation.
FK: "All of God's elect will ask for forgiveness via God's grace."
Yes, but your theology's fatal assumption is "only the elect ask for God's forgiveness". Thus, those who recite the Sinner's Prayer are of the elect. It doesn't follow that asking once for forgiveness makes one of the elect. Hasn't Scripture told us that people DO fall away?
You are adding something to my theology that I never said. I said that all of the elect will ask for forgiveness via God's grace. All others who ask for forgiveness will do so without God's grace and it won't "count". As I have said before, just saying the sinner's prayer DOES NOT transform one into a member of the elect. The elect were predestined. All of the elect will say some equivalent of the sinner's prayer (i.e. come to Christ).
So now you are saying that the Apostles, by their own power, raised the dead??
No, I'm saying that God raised the dead, and the Apostles were witnesses.
Brother, are you familiar with the Lord's Prayer? ...AS WE FORGIVE THOSE WHO TRESPASS AGAINST US...
Sin is not only against God, but it is a disruption of our relationship with other people. If I were to murder someone's wife, doesn't that somehow effect my relationship with that woman's family???
I don't think you are understanding my point at all. Of course the Lord's prayer says that if someone harms us, we are to forgive them. And if you murdered someone's wife, you would have also harmed that person's family. However, I, who did not know the woman or her family, could NOT forgive YOU because I have no standing, or authority to do so. That's the difference. You didn't harm me, so how can I forgive you. It is the same with priests. Yes, you claim authority for them, and I disagree. But, there is no way you can argue independent standing.
You believe that love is something that is forced upon someone else. I suppose rape is a good example of love in your eyes. "Sure, the woman felt good afterwards, you know it was for her own good".
Well, that's mighty sweet of you there, Joe. Thank you.
Really? I thought Paul was directly quoting the Psalms! The Bibles that I have looked at ALL refer to the appropriate Psalm verses that he quoted. Seems interesting that what Paul says at the very end of Romans 2 is then contradicted by saying ALL men sin!!! WHY does Paul talk about a Law written on the hearts of Gentiles - who are OBEYING IT!!! Whew...I don't know what else to tell you.
Therefore, there is no contradiction, Paul and the Psalmist are talking about different people.
Right. That is why Paul DIRECTLY quotes them. Romans 3 is Paul's LONGEST series of quotes directly from the OT, but you would have Paul mean them to be unrelated to their context??? What hoops Protestants must jump through to maintain "all men are evil"...
Of course some men seek God. They are the ones who have been blessed with the grace to do so.
But aren't they men? Are not men who have been blessed with grace to follow God STILL considered men????
In fact, if you wanted to narrow it down, you could look at verse 24, and conclude that Paul was only talking about all SAVED people, since he references their justification. That is even worse for Mary!
OF COURSE Paul is talking about "saved" righteous people! But you said ALL MEN are evil!!! Paul is not talking about all men and their particular nature, but evil, wicked men who refuse to turn to God. Some men DO NOT refuse to turn to God. Some are pagans who have the Law of God written on their hearts, for God's sake!!! They are spiritually circumcised, and are Jews by faith!
My version of that verse is a little different from yours. Instead of "trespass", mine says "unfaithfulness".
My version was the KJV. I am betting yours is the NIV, which is not a literal translation, but a dynamic one. Be wary of dynamic translations, because the editor's interpretations are part of the Scriptures. You are no longer reading God's Word, but someone else's interpretation of what God is saying...
Obviously a truly righteous man cannot be in nature unfaithful, therefore, the man must be self-righteous, or, this man was never saved to begin with.
I don't see that in the Scriptures. You are reading your theology into it.
Some promises are executed and completed immediately, other promises cannot be completed until a certain amount of time has passed. This is the latter. Jesus promised that He would send His elect the Spirit to look out for us
But that would be inconsistent to your theology. According to you, you are already saved. So what would the Spirit need to intercede for you for? You have made it clear that YOU think you can do nothing to lose your salvation!
I said that all of the elect will ask for forgiveness via God's grace. All others who ask for forgiveness will do so without God's grace and it won't "count".
LOL!!! Read that carefully. Those who ask for forgiveness of God WITHOUT God's grace????????? Does not the Bible and our conversations make it clear that men DO NOT SEEK OUT GOD WHO ARE EVIL OR WICKED??? ANYONE who seeks out God through repentance is drawn by God!!!! Men cannot come to God and repent without God. Now, you are telling me that men can repent to God by themselves? Make up your mind... This is a ridiculous theology. Come on.
All of the elect will say some equivalent of the sinner's prayer
Yes, but it doesn't follow that all who say the sinner's prayer will be ultimately saved for heaven. So how do you make the determination that you...Oh, forget it...
No, I'm saying that God raised the dead, and the Apostles were witnesses.
Funny, Scriptures mention Peter and Paul fulfilled a special role - more than just witnesses - during those actions. Seems that God's Power worked THROUGH those Apostles. They were more than just witnesses! Other people "witnessed" the miracle as well. Scripture gives Peter and Paul more credit than you.
It is the same with priests. Yes, you claim authority for them, and I disagree. But, there is no way you can argue independent standing.
I don't make any such claims. I am merely relating what the Pillar and Foundation of the Truth says - along with the Word of God. It says that Christ has given the Apostles the power to forgive or retain sins. Pretty clear. Priests have authority to forgive sins - AND they do so not only by the power of God, but as representatives of the community - which sin is against.
Well, that's mighty sweet of you there, Joe. Thank you. {regarding you equating rape to love}
Sorry, a bit over the top. But isn't that what forcing love upon someone else is?
Regards