Our status as children of God is not lost when we sin. We are not considered righteous in God's eyes when we disinherit ourselves from the Kingdom of Heaven (I have already given you these verses a dozen times), but that doesn't mean that God will no longer forgive us:
"If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:8-9
For if we died with Him, We shall also live with Him. If we endure,[NOT, WHEN we endure!] We shall also reign with Him. If WE deny Him, He ALSO will deny us. If we are faithless, He remains faithful"; 2 Tim 2:11-13
This fits nicely with what Kosta says later - that God sends no one to hell. We send ourselves their by rejecting Him. But even if we sin, we know that we have an advocate who intercedes for us - as long as we turn to Him in contrition and ask for forgiveness.
You said God doesn't disown, therefore, it is only man's free will decisions that determine eternal destiny. This just isn't Biblical.
No one said "it is only man's free will decisions that determine eternal destiny". It is a cooperation of two wills. As long as ours agrees with God's Will for us, we will enter the Kingdom. If we reject God's Will for us, we will not. But God sends us graces to move our wills and desires to DO God's will (cf Phil 2:12-13)
That [The idea that "once saved" you can sin boldly, confident that — as God's elect — you cannot perish] does sound like quite a deception, which is why I'm glad that I don't know anyone here who believes in that in the way you present it
Sure you do. Once you have declared yourselves elect, nothing that you do can effect that. Thus, sin to your heart's content! Why not? Party it up! 'Cause God's gonna cover you anyways... Pick up that cross??? Take the narrow path? Crucify one's flesh of your passions? Who put those verses in the Bible??? That's just filler, huh? I guess Jesus had some extra time to kill with all of those teachings about obeying the Law and the Commandments and taking the narrow path - since you can say "Lord, Lord, I BELIEVE" on March 12, 1985, and be saved no matter what!!! WHOOPIE!
Nothing like self-delusion...
Regards
For if we died with Him, We shall also live with Him..."; 2 Tim 2:11-13
Jo, you think if they read more than mostly +Paul they might actually get the picture?
Paul's first statement says: "If we are believers, then we shall live with Him". His second says: "If we are believers, then we shall reign with Him". The third says: "If we are not believers, then He will deny us". This simple interpretation matches the simple interpretation of John 3:16, that those who believe shall have eternal life, and all the other assurance verses that have had to be re-written in order to conform with Tradition, since Tradition was first.
No one said "it is only man's free will decisions that determine eternal destiny". It is a cooperation of two wills.
That blurs the point. I know that Kosta also believes that God is involved, but he answered my real question in his 7589, when he said : "We know God's rule: no repentance, no forgiveness. Repentance must come from the heart, so yes it is in our hands. Very much so. We are free to cleave to God or to embrace satan." According to you, the ultimate determination of our destiny is in man's hands. At some point, someone has to make the final decision, and for you, that person is [a] man.
Once you have declared yourselves elect, nothing that you do can effect that. Thus, sin to your heart's content! Why not? Party it up! 'Cause God's gonna cover you anyways... Pick up that cross??? Take the narrow path? Crucify one's flesh of your passions? Who put those verses in the Bible???
LOL! OK, you go tell all your friends that you spent six months on a debate thread with real live Reformers, and this is your honest understanding of what they said about their beliefs. :)