[Dr. Eckleburg]

this is why a Protestant pastor cannot absolve sin. Priesthood is an undelible mark that subordinates the actions of a priest to the will of God.

For a Protestant, this "priesthood" is one of the most grievous errors of the Roman Catholic church.

No man stands between the Good Shepherd and His sheep.

"Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, all evil speakings,

As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.

To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious,

Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.

Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,

And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;

Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy...

Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls." -- 1 Peter 2:1-10;24-25

One Shepherd. One salvation.

"All Christians are priests, and all priests are Christians. Worthy of anathema is any assertion that a priest is anything else than a Christian." -- Martin Luther

[jo kus]

No man stands between the Good Shepherd and His sheep.

We don't see priests as standing between us and God, but making God and His graces visible to us through the sacramental actions that we partake in. Christ acts through these men so that we HEAR that our sins are forgiven. Do Calvinists baptize themselves? Do Calvinists read the Scriptures, a book written by men? I would say that my separated brothers also access God through men, as well.

Regards

[annalex]

No man stands between the Good Shepherd and His sheep

This quoting without understanding is a mark of a true Calvinist.

ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood

(1 Peter 2, quoted in full in your post)

Question: if we are all royal priesthood, who are the sheep? Since when "royal" describes a crowd?

One Shepherd. One salvation

Salvation is one, but St. Peter was charged to shepherd the sheep. Need scripture for that?

[AlbionGirl]

"No man stands between the Good Shepherd and His sheep."

Absolutely, Dr. E, not to mention onerous dogma. That is not only how I see it, it is very much how I experienced it, suppressed it, experienced it, suppressed it, experienced it, etc, again, and again, and again.

This argument is as old as the end of the 1st Century (at least I'm pretty sure it is), and it will not die, because it cannot die.

As I make my way out of the maze I have been trying to steer my way through, it is God's voice that comforts and guides me. St. Paul's instruction is a fine adjunct too.

St. Paul left his gentiles in the Loving Arms of Our Christ he preached Crucified, Who would no more narrow the gate, than take back His words, that even 'those who were not against Him, were for Him.'

By the way, good Dr., you're in fine form.