***And Mark, I am just thrilled you continue to show such interest in the WCF which, IMO, is second only to the Bible and then Calvin’s Institutes as the finest reiteration of God’s will and word ever written.***
And you are most welcome to your opinions. That free will thing, you know.
And you know my opinion of Calvin and his doctrines; of the government of England (and Scotland as well) and their doctrines.
***The WCF doesn’t save anyone. Christ alone saves the fallen sinner.***
The WCF doesn’t say that. It says that Christ alone saves the fallen sinners that He has predestined before Creation to be saved.
Mark, if you'd just read your Bible more often you'd find that truth on many pages...
According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved." -- Ephesians 1:3-6"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
I know the RCC tells its members they either sink or swim by their own good works, but that's not what the Bible teaches us. We are saved by Christ's work on the cross alone, and those who have been covered by that work were ordained by God from before the foundation of the world for His glory, not because of their own clever decision to behave themselves. Remember, Mark, God "declared the end from the beginning" (Isaiah 46:10.)
"So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy." -- Romans 9:16
"Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee" -- Psalm 65:4"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
This is what the Bible is telling you, Mark. If your church isn't giving you the Good News of God's eternal love based on His mercy alone and not on your good efforts, then your church has some explaining to do.
Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." -- Ephesians 2:4-10"But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
Get the picture? All good works we do were "ordained" by God "that we should walk in them."
Boast if you need to. As for me, I'll boast in the Lord who did it ALL for me.