Posted on 07/22/2007 7:40:38 PM PDT by xzins
“Your traditions of men are convoluted and non-Biblical.”
Really, and what traditions would that be?
The tradition that men are not free and are yet accountable and therefore will suffer the punishment for their actions.
Calvinism.
Cavorting Calvinists can come to convoluted conclusions while cramming their craniums with cunning contexts.
Or so they say.
“What is that account?”
2Cr 5:9-11, “Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things [done] in [his] body, according to that he hath done, whether [it be] good or bad. Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men;”
Ah, but if we are predetermined to hell, then again, why bother? And if we are predetermined to heaven, then again, why bother?
What is the account that we are called to? What is the terror? If it is predetermined heaven or hell only, then what is the point?
LOL! I am with you!
If one is adding the word “only” to the Bible, why not throw “Calvin” in there too?
Calvin was a bully and a thug.
I wonder how many of the fine folks here defending him could stand his presence, and how many of them would pass his temporal judgement.
The Protestant is left to believe what scripture says, that the Holy Spirit dwells within them and will guide them to truth.
ps
1 Esdras is not the same as the book of Ezra.
Different divisions of ancient scrolls. Ps 151 is actually found in Dead Sea Scrolls in Hebrew. I am not sure why it was rejected by Christ-hating rabis of Jamnia.
Since that seems to be so important, and the man seems so human and flawed, I begin to understand their crankiness.
You evidently know little of Martin Luther.. He didn't start a denomination others after he died did.. He always wanted to be restored to the RCC.. He wasn't too smart.. just honest.. and genuine.. Thank God.. We can forgive him for wanting to follow other extreme error of the RCC(and EO) that he missed..
Tell me are both of these people able to make free, moral decisions, especially to choose either the “narrow way” or the “broad way”; the crack baby who grows up in an abusive, neglectful house with a revolving door of “johns” and can’t read or write and must steal and connive just to live or the bright child who grows up in a loving, caring, comfortable, stable, middle class family who gets a good education?
Christ called us to preach the Gospel to all men and nations. None of us knows the names of the elect, but we have His promise that all His flock will follow Him and that none will be lost. And how do Christ's sheep know His voice? By the preaching of the Gospel.
what is the point of such a doctrine?
The doctrine of election is clearly outlined in Scripture. When you see God, you can ask Him what His point was in electing some and reprobating others. Scripture tells us we're not to ask that question of God now because it is for God alone to know. At the same time, we are told to acknowledge God's election and be grateful for it.
The problem you're having with election is endemic to humankind. Why is anyone condemned and why is anyone acquitted when we are all sinners? We might as well ask God why He created life at all.
Life is not "fair," according to our standards. Rich men have a difficult time getting to heaven, and the meek will inherit the earth. What does that say about human initiative?
The world conspires to silence the doctrine of election because it forces men to relinquish all power over salvation and justice to God alone. To deny election is to listen to the voices of this world which tell us we can be just like God, knowing good from evil.
But the real comfort the doctrine of election provides is in knowing that God breathed your name, Mark, in the same breath He spoke Christ's resurrection from the cross from before the foundation of the world. Christ won a very personal salvation for each of His flock.
Here's a sermon by Calvin on Ephesians 1. Spend some time this weekend reading it and see if it speaks to you...
Of course not. It's all BS. A non-existent list of names is by definition unknowable.
[Link to] JOHN CALVIN'S SERMON ON EPHESIANS 1:3-4
Oh goodie, more non-biblical traditions of men.
Bullys and thuggs?.. Have you read Foxes Book of Martyrs?..
The "holy catholic church" is not the church of Rome and the bishop of Rome is not the head of God's church on earth. That title belongs to Christ alone.
He was a proud and insufferable man.
I know the spin that he never intended to form a religion. Tough. The historical record says otherwise.
Have you read the Protocols of the Elders of Zion?
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