***What does the Bible have to do with Reformed Salvation?
It gives them something to do (preach to the reprobate as if that will save them!) until they get the limo ride to heaven. But those who don’t read the Bible and have no clue what is what in it, they get to go to heaven too...
It’s like all other activities in the Reformed waiting room. Whether it’s fornication (as Luther says), or whether it’s bible reading, or whether it’s praying or just plain being nasty, it makes no difference: they are all going to heaven, just because!
But, don’t forget, it’s not for their benefit; it’s for God’s glory. Somehow, their salvation will bring glory to God! (I am shaking my head)***
Exactly. If they are going to heaven no matter what, it matters not what they do or don’t do; nor does it matter why.
If (God forbid), Forest Keeper (e.g.) was of the selected elected elite and decided that he would spend the rest of his life murdering left handed Carmelite nuns simply because it occurred to him to do it, then he would go to the Reformed heaven regardless of his actions.
Preaching the Gospel to the unelected still appears to me to be taunting them with blessings that they can never attain; preaching the Gospel to the elected is a waste since they are saved to the Reformed heaven no matter what anyone does or does not do.
Going to heaven just because and I am going and you are not so nah nanny boo boo to you seems more like third grade girls taunting each other than serious theological foundations.
I’m still not sure how God gets glorified with creating and then predestining human barbeques. Is it the thrill of the spectacle that so attracts the Reformed God?
Reformed theology is about de-emphasizing sin and saying God created me this way and planned it all ,sin and everything for His glory.
What troubles me the most is the lack of humility in all of this. It's as if sin does not matter since Christ has already suffered for them.
No wonder their crosses are empty of Christ's body.
Catholic Theology emphasizes sin through confession and penance,our Crosses have the suffering Christ on them to remind us of the pain He endured for our sin,even the Immaculate Conception of the sinless Blessed Mother emphasizes the sin in our lives.
I agree. It would be a lot more honest if they simply told them "Look, some of you will be saved no matter what, and some of you will be damned, no matter what. God made that decision before you even existed, so quit bellyaching. Those of you who will be saved will "know" it but others won't. Amen." End of preaching. This sums up the entire Reformed theology.
If (God forbid), Forest Keeper (e.g.) was of the selected elected elite and decided that he would spend the rest of his life murdering left handed Carmelite nuns simply because it occurred to him to do it, then he would go to the Reformed heaven regardless of his actions.
Reformed heaven? Is that like a refomed home for delinquents? (/sar) Sorry, FK, couldn't resist. :) It's not personal, FK. We do love you and I know you'd never do anything to left-handed Carmelite nuns unless they were dirty liberal democrats. :)
We've explained that it's not the free pass you guys make it out to be, but nobody listens. POTS teaches that God will prevent His children from committing sin SUCH THAT it would cause the loss of salvation. It IS theoretically possible to lose salvation, but God promises it won't happen. THEREFORE, it is as good as impossible since God's promises are better than gold.
If (God forbid), Forest Keeper (e.g.) was of the selected elected elite and decided that he would spend the rest of his life murdering left handed Carmelite nuns simply because it occurred to him to do it, then he would go to the Reformed heaven regardless of his actions.
Nope. Either God would prevent it by changing my mind, or He would take me out before I took anyone else out, or I was never of the elect in the first place. Under these conditions I would have no reason to think I was going to Heaven.
Preaching the Gospel to the unelected still appears to me to be taunting them with blessings that they can never attain; preaching the Gospel to the elected is a waste since they are saved to the Reformed heaven no matter what anyone does or does not do.
No one can know who the elect and the unelect are, save God. Therefore, we treat everyone as presumptively elect and preach to everyone. That's what God tells us to do in the Great Commission. OTOH, the elect still have to believe and be saved within time. Therefore, preaching to them, whoever they are, is always worthwhile. Actions do matter.
I’m still not sure how God gets glorified with creating and then predestining human barbeques. Is it the thrill of the spectacle that so attracts the Reformed God?
God is glorified because they are used to fulfill His purpose, such as at the crucifixion. Perhaps some believe that the crucifixion was just a wild coincidence that happened to work out so that we could be saved. A random chance occurrence. I don't understand that thinking because it involves an unloving and extremely weak God, but in any event we say that God planned it all out well in advance, so He was glorified when it all came to fruition.