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What Is the Greatest of All Protestant “Heresies”?
Ligonier ^ | 10/3/18 | Sinclair Ferguson

Posted on 10/03/2018 7:21:05 AM PDT by SoFloFreeper

Let us begin with a church history exam question. Cardinal Robert Bellarmine (1542–1621) was a figure not to be taken lightly. He was Pope Clement VIII’s personal theologian and one of the most able figures in the Counter-Reformation movement within sixteenth-century Roman Catholicism. On one occasion, he wrote: “The greatest of all Protestant heresies is _______ .”

...How would you answer? What is the greatest of all Protestant heresies?

...What he wrote was: “The greatest of all Protestant heresies is assurance.”

A moment’s reflection explains why. If justification is not by faith alone, in Christ alone, by grace alone — if faith needs to be completed by works; if Christ’s work is somehow repeated; if grace is not free and sovereign, then something always needs to be done, to be “added” for final justification to be ours. That is exactly the problem. If final justification is dependent on something we have to complete it is not possible to enjoy assurance of salvation. For then, theologically, final justification is contingent and uncertain, and it is impossible for anyone (apart from special revelation, Rome conceded) to be sure of salvation. But if Christ has done everything, if justification is by grace, without contributory works; it is received by faith’s empty hands — then assurance, even “full assurance” is possible for every believer.

(Excerpt) Read more at ligonier.org ...


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KEYWORDS: bible; christianity; jesus; theology
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To: MayflowerMadam

Mayflower Madam.....I pray for the Catholic Freepers....that they may, one day, see that CHRIST is ENOUGH.... and put their hope in the Savor ‘alone’.

Blessings to all believers and seekers of Christ.


61 posted on 10/03/2018 9:45:36 AM PDT by RevelationDavid (Jesus First, no matter the cost.)
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To: Petrosius

Have you found the scripture yet that is JESUS telling the mob what IS the will of the Father concerning being saved? It is there in John 6 and has nothing to do with the Eucharist.


62 posted on 10/03/2018 9:53:35 AM PDT by MHGinTN (A dispensational perspective is a powerful tool for discernment)
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To: Petrosius

Can you read the MIND OF GOD?... If so, answer for HIM!


63 posted on 10/03/2018 9:55:31 AM PDT by MHGinTN (A dispensational perspective is a powerful tool for discernment)
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To: metmom

That does not negate the security of the believer.


Every one claims they are believers but don`t agree with others about anything and only believes those scriptures that
supposedly proves their point.


64 posted on 10/03/2018 9:57:44 AM PDT by ravenwolf (Left lane drivers and tailgaters have the smallest brains in the world.)
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To: Wyrd bið ful aræd

You syllogized, “Everyone stumbles, so everyone’s faith stumbles. Thus nobody has assurance.” Logic is not you friend, eh? Absurd but sneaky false syllogism.


65 posted on 10/03/2018 9:59:56 AM PDT by MHGinTN (A dispensational perspective is a powerful tool for discernment)
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To: Bonemaker

HEAR HERE!


66 posted on 10/03/2018 10:01:17 AM PDT by MHGinTN (A dispensational perspective is a powerful tool for discernment)
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To: metmom

“True, but still God’s promises are true and dependable.”

Amen! This is so true!


67 posted on 10/03/2018 10:06:01 AM PDT by MeganC (There is nothing feminine about feminism.)
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To: MHGinTN
"If you stumble, it's because your faith stumbles. If you "glibly fly in the face of God," then you do not have the faith that saves."

I was addressing the above statement.

68 posted on 10/03/2018 10:23:17 AM PDT by Wyrd bið ful aræd ( Flag burners can go screw -- I'm mighty PROUD of that ragged old flag)
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To: wastoute

Of course all sin.

But come on, mass murderers?

It’s reLly a straw man argument.

Frankly, there is serious sinfulness both in scale and scope.

Really, yes, I need to pull out the Hitler reference. Does God really have grace to ignore all that behavior? Well, yes He does, but need He ignore it and let it slide because of grace?

I think one can only push God so far.


69 posted on 10/03/2018 10:44:33 AM PDT by the OlLine Rebel (Common sense is an uncommon virtue./Federal-run medical care is as good as state-run DMVs.)
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To: MayflowerMadam

You haven’t read the item at all, have you?


70 posted on 10/03/2018 10:48:53 AM PDT by the OlLine Rebel (Common sense is an uncommon virtue./Federal-run medical care is as good as state-run DMVs.)
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To: xzins

Excellent point.


71 posted on 10/03/2018 10:56:07 AM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: SoFloFreeper
Sola Gratia

Sola Fide

Sola Christus

Sola Scriptura

Sola Deo Gloria

Martin Luther

72 posted on 10/03/2018 11:02:47 AM PDT by sportutegrl (Being offended is a choice.)
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To: wastoute
Justification probably has nothing to do with works. In fact His word pretty much rules that out. (It is complete). Sanctification probably does include some works and a fruit or two.

That’s essentially correct.

Sanctification is becoming more and more Christ like as we walk out our salvation.

However, I would consider it more than some works.

73 posted on 10/03/2018 11:03:17 AM PDT by metmom ( ...fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith......)
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To: OddLane

Except a millstone.


74 posted on 10/03/2018 11:04:32 AM PDT by metmom ( ...fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith......)
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To: Wyrd bið ful aræd

Stumbling does not rob someone of their assurance because our right standing before God depends on HIM, not our works.


75 posted on 10/03/2018 11:06:10 AM PDT by metmom ( ...fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith......)
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To: metmom

I hope He doesn’t.


76 posted on 10/03/2018 11:08:00 AM PDT by wastoute (Government cannot redistribute wealth. Government can only redistribute poverty.a pelvic exam.)
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To: rollo tomasi

A saved person who has the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit is not going to be blaspheming Him.


77 posted on 10/03/2018 11:08:08 AM PDT by metmom ( ...fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith......)
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To: the OlLine Rebel

OTOH I would be very careful if I were to have the audacity to believe what I might think places any limit on His Grace. Personally I would think we all could rest easier knowing Hitler was in Heaven.


78 posted on 10/03/2018 11:09:38 AM PDT by wastoute (Government cannot redistribute wealth. Government can only redistribute poverty.a pelvic exam.)
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To: SoFloFreeper

"Robert Bellarmine" was my confirmation name.

I hereby formally repent of that.

Of course, I repented of Romanism about 33 years ago....

79 posted on 10/03/2018 11:17:41 AM PDT by fishtank (The denial of original sin is the root of liberalism.)
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To: Salvation; metmom; boatbums; aMorePerfectUnion; daniel1212

Heresies have been with us from the Church’s beginning. They even have been started by Church leaders, who were then corrected by councils and popes. Fortunately, we have Christ’s promise that heresies will never prevail against the Church, for he told Peter, “You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it” (Matt. 16:18). The Church is truly, in Paul’s words, “the pillar and foundation of the truth” (1 Tim. 3:15).

***

So what you’re telling me is that the Roman church decides what truth is, not Scripture and not God. And then you quote Scripture, which you have refused to accept as truth in order to support your claims.

Do I have that right?


80 posted on 10/03/2018 11:27:32 AM PDT by Luircin
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