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To: RnMomof7
How would it affect your life IF the Calvinists were correct? How would things "be different" for either of us in the way we live our lives and faith out if the other was correct?

You needed to read the whole post. I answered this question as follows:
Both "systems" are man made creations which attempt to put God in a box. Both belief systems are wholly unnecessary to anyone's salvation as it matters not one whit "why" we come to Jesus, what matters is "whether" we come to Jesus.

No matter which belief system is true (I happen to believe that neither of them contain any fullness of "truth") it matters not a whit to our salvation. As I said above, too much emphasis is placed on "how" we become saved and not enough emphasis is placed on "whether" we become saved. That is what the entire message of Chuck Smith is all about. And yet it seems you think that because he refuses to take a side on which system holds the keys to the "how" that somehow he is preaching a compromised Gospel. Hogwash! The gospel message is not dependent upon whether we are Arminian or Calvinist or somewhere in between. The Good News is that Christ died for YOU! And if you have ears to hear that simple message, then you have the responsibility and the ability to respond. That is the Gospel. It is not watered down because someone happens to believe in "free will." It is not emphasised merely because someone believes that you don't have a "free will." It is the plain and simple gospel. Don't complicate it by attaching it to some theological system. The system is merely a shadow. If that.

102 posted on 04/18/2002 12:35:39 PM PDT by P-Marlowe
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To: P-Marlowe
The reason I asked that PM was I think in "practice" no one's lives change..only our perception changes.

You and I will both continue to talk of Christ and salvation with the unsaved..both of us will pray for the souls of family and friends .

I know for me one of the reasons that I had a hard time with the reform positon was I wanted to believe that I could "talk " my dad and other family into accepting Christ.The thought that the decision may have already been made was a scary thought you know?? ( in fact it made me angry)

I was at a Christian flag football banquet last fall. The main speaker gave a testamony of his "failures" ....He had not been able to to get his brother to repent, his mother had died before he told her about Christ. The man was so burdened by his "failures."My heart went out to him..how awful to carry that burden, how awful to think you have let God down.

The truth is people we both love and care about and want saved will not be...we have been told to pray for them tell them the gospel..even press it on them....But should they not "come" whether it be their "free will choice" (allowing the words as used here by Arminians) or if they were not part of the remnant that God has selcted ,the end results are the same. We both grieve .

So in a day to day living life out the difference there is none. .........One day months ago as I pondered this question of doctrine I started to cry I told God that if he had predestined me to be His...I was so unworthy of that calling and all I could do was say Thank You Lord...It was shortly after that I came to accept it as a spiritual mystery, that is good and fair and loving..because God is good and fair and loving...

So you and I can agree there are mysteries of God we do not understand..that we look through a glass darkly.

105 posted on 04/18/2002 1:01:27 PM PDT by RnMomof7
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