Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article

To: the808bass
...and we, through no goodness of our own, but through a simple obedience to the drawing of the Holy Spirit...

If I had tried to write a better example of the Arminian contradiction, I couldn't top this one.

"Through no goodness of our own," by definition, cannot include the positive attribute of "simple obedience."

"Obedience" is "goodness," regardless of how much you hope to feign humility.

But you're right about one thing. Salvation is through no goodness of our own, no matter what the definition of "is" is.

3,850 posted on 04/13/2004 12:21:18 AM PDT by Dr. Eckleburg (There are very few shades of gray.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3842 | View Replies ]


To: Dr. Eckleburg
"Through no goodness of our own," by definition, cannot include the positive attribute of "simple obedience."

Perhaps I should elaborate. It is a good thing that a person should choose to obey God. The verse I posted earlier from Romans 2 shows that even the pagans of that day showed the law of God by doing it even though they didn't have knowledge of the Law in the same way the Jews did, who were given the Law. However, that goodness is not what saves. Indeed, it is part of the "filthy rags." The small sliver of goodness which we see in humanity from time to time is not sufficient to make him or her righteous in the sight of God. Which is kinda the point of Romans, yes? So, the simple obedience to the Holy Spirit is good, but it's not because of an innate goodness of humanity nor does it mean that we deserve anything or that God owes us anything, your protestations to the contrary notwithstanding.

4,148 posted on 04/13/2004 8:07:49 PM PDT by the808bass
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3850 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson