Posted on 11/25/2001 12:58:48 PM PST by CCWoody
What you are now doing is attempting to pit scripture against scripture and thus make God a liar. You have made absolutely no attempt to show how both of these verses agree with each other. Furthermore, you are engaging in the most unChristian of behavior. I will now show you how both of these verses are perfectly compatible.
Jesus said For I say unto you that none of those men who were bidden shall taste of my supper directly to the Pharisees while eating with them. Jesus also said For I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance directly to the Pharisees while eating with them.
There is no conflict with these verses. Jesus called sinners to repentance. And that is very different than actually having a sinner repent. As the all knowing Mighty God, Jesus knows who will repent and who will not repent. It is this distinction that means Jesus can also say that none of those men called shall actually taste His supper. He can say with absolute accuracy that someone called to repent will freely choose not to repent. There is no conflict with these verses.
Furthermore, it is Jesus who says to the self-righteous Pharisees that he did not come to call the righteous, but the sinners. And this is also very consistent with the rest of the scriptures.
The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, `God, I thank Thee that I am not as other men are: extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
And the publican, standing afar off, would not so much as lift up his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, `God, be merciful to me a sinner!'
I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other; for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased, and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted."
It is obvious that Jesus is not attempting to close sinners out. The entire NT is about His going out into the sea of sinners, casting his net and reeling them in, like a good Piscator. Wm Bach
Not exactly. Jesus taught his disciples to cast nets and reel them in, but Jesus being the all knowing Mighty God knew exactly who were his sheep and who were not his sheep.
If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham…. If God were your Father, ye would love Me, for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of Myself, but He sent Me. Why do ye not understand My speech? Even because ye cannot hear My Word! Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do.
But ye believe not, because ye are not of My sheep, as I said unto you.
Jesus was very deliberate in exactly who he went to find. Jesus even allowed an entire village economy to be destroyed just to express to a single man how important he was to Him:
And they came to Jesus, and saw him that had been possessed by the devil and had the legion, sitting and clothed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. And those who saw it told the people what had befallen him that was possessed by the devil, and also concerning the swine [about 2000]. And they began to pray Him to depart from their borders.
And when He had gotten into the boat, he that had been possessed with the devil prayed Him that he might be with Him. But Jesus suffered him not, and said unto him, "Go home to thy friends, and tell them what great things the Lord hath done for thee, and how He hath had compassion on thee."
Why the hell would God bother incarnating himself in a world of sin at all, when He could have just sat up there, taken your advice, and kept his door closed forever? Your "no sinners allowed" version of Christianity is bizarre, especially if you consider that no man is without sin. In fact, the Church might as well just close up shop, since there's no point in it's existence, by Woody's rules of xenophobia.
No you didn't, Satan. You're cutting and pasting through a glass darkly. I'll just keep you behind me, rather than reconsider. Wm Bach
It is not my advice to keep the doors closed. You are attempting to twist words, make circular arguments, and employ ad hominem attacks. Again, I'll say that your words are clearly unChristain. My arguments are very scriptural.
The Word of God:Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ hath both the Father and the Son. If there come any unto you and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him Godspeed; for he that biddeth him Godspeed is a partaker of his evil deeds.
Gnosticism is a dreadful error. Specifically these people are among the ones who do not abide in the Doctrine of Christ. I have no clue what a Coptic is. A Calvinist is one who believes in the whole Bible; who has a 2000 year history of the same Biblical beliefs. A non-cessationist is one who believes that the gifts of the Holy Spirit are still being exercised today.
Half wrong, total nonsense. The Bible clearly shows how a saint of God can test those who he meets to know if they are in the faith or not. It also matters not whether someone is a "true" muslim. Unless they repent both will perish.
How can you live it if you do not know it?
Well, I'm not so sure about the label "non-cessationist".. that would simply imply to me that you did NOT cease to believe He is a Living God. I would wager to say most Christians I know (with exception of a few I've seen on FR) feel the same way.
I agree Gnosticism is not the right way to go... not for me. Coptic, is very Orthodox. The first Orthodox I believe.
Thank you for answering my questions.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.