Posted on 07/22/2007 7:40:38 PM PDT by xzins
FWIW, I think you can toss Gnosticism in with them too. The Gnostic's believed there was an "elite" group that possessed the "secret truths" to salvation that only they could really understand. That sounds like the magisterium and Pope.
What if there was a bunch of them?
lambchops
Is it the point of God’s creation for us to experience mercy and grace? Or is it to worship Him?
But the angels are here to help man. Man is the pinnacle of His Creation; we will judge the angels.
Do you really think that we’re here for an argument? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y05EmK66Gsk
Yes, we probably are supposed wonder what is the point of life. That's a logical question for men to ask.
And some of us think the point is to glorify ourselves and our good works which become our ticket to an eternal reward.
And some of us know the point of life is to glorify God.
A. Man's chief and highest end is to glorify God, and fully to enjoy him forever.
Romans 11:36. For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen. 1 Corinthians 10:31. Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. Psalm 73:24-28. Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee. My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever. For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee. But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works. John 17:21-23. That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.Q. 1. What is the chief and highest end of man?
Under a Reformed parable, the son would be destined to come back home. Which is why the Father would have been looking for him from a long way off.
If Christ says He will lose none of His sheep, how can one of His sheep be lost?
Do you doubt Christ's words and His ability to hold on to what is His?
That's a much better way to put it, very close to what I've been postulating; however, I don't think it's pure Calvin.
The difference is between would not and could not. As I read your reply above, Sodom could but wouldn't repent, God foreknew this. As I read Calvinism, those that didn't repent, couldn't repent. There's a difference.
Thanks for your reply.
AMEN!
What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops." -- Matthew 10:26-27"Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known.
They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.
LOL. That's 20th century Hallmark and Jonathan Seagull. "If you love it, set it free." LOLOL. Where do you find that sentiment in Scripture?
If you love something, you protect it until death.
ROFLOL!
I love my children more than my life, so I guess I'll let them go play in the street. Hey, their already 3 & 4 and the street is only an interstate highway. ;-0
Incorrect. Protestants believe in "Sola Scriptura." All of Scripture is "God-breathed" -- the New Testament, Old Testament, the Gospels, Acts, the Letters, Peter, Paul, Jude, James, Hebrews -- all of it.
So your sarcasm isn't any kind of example.
“If you love something, you protect it until death.”
That’s why the Holy Spirit protects and preserves His Word for in it only are the words of life and freedom.
Jhn 8:31-36, “Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, [then] are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. They answered him, We be Abraham’s seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free? Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: [but] the Son abideth ever. If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.”
God "declared the end from the beginning," so that end was fixed by His own purpose in creating.
"And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed." -- Acts 13:48 "For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth" -- Romans 9:11
Yes, it's difficult to wrap our minds around this truth, but it's truth nonetheless. Election is founded on God's good pleasure alone, and not on any prudent effort, choice, decision or work of men.
The love we feel for God is a reflection of the love God first feels for Jesus Christ. It's all of Him; and thus it's all of grace; only of grace.
Yes, and He saw that it was good, so anyone who cannot understand this needs to eep on trying
"I know that ye are Abraham's seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you." -- John 8:37
keep (cat on keyboard)
I don’t know about that. I’ve seen some severe grumbling about James here. And Paul is mentioned in defense of Reformed theology more than the Gospels.
Not meant to be sarcasm. Just my own fallible observations and conclusions.
Yes, it's difficult to wrap our minds around this truth
If you're referring to Calvinism, yes. Especially when our experience is evidence against it in every waking moment.
Do you frogmarch your adult children through life?
Or, as your children grow and mature, do you gradually let them go? Do you treat your adult children as you did when they were newborn?
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