Interesting. New Advent says this: ...........
Mark: So what we have is that God caused the flood to happen in response to man’s wickedness. God also condemned Sodom and Gomorrah in response to their wickedness. God caused the multiplication of languages at the Tower of Babel in response to their wickedness.
Thanks. While I don't see God as being a reactionary Being, I am glad to see that the Church recognizes that these events did in fact happen.
FK: ***And, none of us knows who the whole group of the elect are, but we CAN know about our individual selves. ***
Can or do? How is that knowledge experienced?
It has to be "CAN", or else I couldn't consider you guys as Christians since you say you have no assurance. I don't want to go there. :) Assurance is experienced by acceptance of the totality of God's promises in the scriptures, as the text reads.
FK: *** It is certain that not all who profess to being Bible-believing Christians are of the elect. ***
This does not jive. How can you believe in God if you are not hijacked by the Reformed Holy Spirit? Does the Reformed Holy Spirit then give the grace to believe in God to some that are then condemned to hell? Am I misunderstanding or is Reformed belief a tad inconsistent?
If Reformed theology is anything, it is consistent. :) The Reformed Holy Spirit, as you say, gives faith (salvational grace) ONLY to the elect, and then they profess it. However, this does not encompass the entire pool of those who profess. Some who are false believers also profess. One day they will say "Lord, Lord". Anyone can say "I believe", but only the elect can say so in truth. There are false believers among all of our churches.
FK: ***The elect are predestined to be saved (remember the different uses of the word “saved” within time?) which IS AS GOOD AS BEING saved.***
Whee. What does this really mean?
I'm not sure what you are asking. On one level it means that God's promises are better than gold. On another level it means that the Reformed can be said to be "saved" at different points in time. It can be said that we are saved at the foundation of the world. It can also be said that we are saved when Jesus died on the cross. Further, it can be said to apply when we believe. Finally, it can be said to happen when we actually enter Heaven. All are legitimate uses of the word "save" and God promises that all will happen for the elect.
***While I don’t see God as being a reactionary Being, I am glad to see that the Church recognizes that these events did in fact happen.***
If God didn’t do this in reaction to what we humans did, then what prompted it?
***It has to be “CAN”, or else I couldn’t consider you guys as Christians since you say you have no assurance. I don’t want to go there. :) Assurance is experienced by acceptance of the totality of God’s promises in the scriptures, as the text reads.***
Since not even St. Paul was assured, how is it that you guys are?
***On one level it means that God’s promises are better than gold. On another level it means that the Reformed can be said to be “saved” at different points in time. It can be said that we are saved at the foundation of the world. It can also be said that we are saved when Jesus died on the cross. Further, it can be said to apply when we believe. Finally, it can be said to happen when we actually enter Heaven. All are legitimate uses of the word “save” and God promises that all will happen for the elect.***
Wow. And none of this relates to anything of your doing or not doing. Nothing of what you do or not do relates to anything. You are saved and no sin matters. This is fantastic.