Posted on 07/22/2007 7:40:38 PM PDT by xzins
Go back to Scripture Mark, and learn the truth. It was good enough for Calvin and Luther and Wycliffe and millions of other reformers, and it’s good enough for me.
8~)
I think that you miss my point.
I don’t want anyone to be killed. It is the relativist that says that there is relatively no difference.
I was actually objecting to the cavalier attitude towards the approximations. I do not consider myself a relativist; if I exhibit signs of it, please correct me.
The tradition of men?
Come on, Dr. E. I thought that you were a Bible-only type. Appealing to tradition? Tsk tsk. You may wish to reconsider your position.
While you’re at it, you may wish to read up on the Church Fathers. I’d take them over tyrannical Calvin, the pompous Luther, and the nasty Wycliffe.
I suspect that it’s not spiritual health, but deceit.
The devil is the father of lies; a great lie is that each individual is able to privately interpret Scripture. We have a gushing river of private interpretation here. Where the Catholic Church is not, there satan is.
:>)
So far so good. :)
Works in Christ are selfless works and in order to do this we must die to ourself so that Christ can use our human nature.... In other words “let go” of ourselves COMPLETELY so that Christ can guide us.
I'd agree with your IOW, but am not sure what you mean by "human nature". The human nature we are born with is dead in sin, so while God still uses it for His purposes, I don't think it is in the way you mean. We would say that once God has transformed our nature into something completely new, only THEN is it fit to be used by God for what we would normally call "good".
This takes a clear “FREE WILL” decision on our part to drop our selfish nature and say “yes” regardless of any suffering that we may have to endure, because God knows us better than we know ourselves and Although we might not understand it at the time we embrace and love God’s will because of our Love for Him.
Yes, that is what we experience. I suppose you and I might disagree on the mechanism behind those decisions. :)
The Scriptures are full of examples that we must die to self.
Yes, those are great scriptures, thanks for posting. The "dead-alive" theme runs throughout. Once we were dead IN our sins, and now were are dead TO sins (Rom. 6:11), i.e. we are alive in Christ.
From Calvin's Commentary on 2 Peter 1...
"Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation." -- 2 Peter 1:20
"Here Peter begins to shew how our minds are to be prepared, if we really wish to make progress in scriptural knowledge. There may at the same time be two interpretations given, if you read á¼Ï€Î·Î»á½»ÏƒÎµÏ‰Ï‚ as some do, which means occurrence, impulse; or, as I have rendered it, interpretation, á¼Ï€Î¹Î»á½»ÏƒÎµÏ‰Ï‚. But almost all give this meaning, that we ought not to rush on headlong and rashly when we read Scripture, confiding in our own understanding. They think that a confirmation of this follows, because the Spirit, who spoke by the prophets, is the only true interpreter of himself. This explanation contains a true, godly, and useful doctrine, that then only are the prophecies read profitably, when we renounce the mind and feelings of the flesh, and submit to the teaching of the Spirit; but that it is an impious profanation of it when we arrogantly rely on our own acumen, deeming that sufficient to enable us to understand it, though the mysteries contain things hidden to our flesh, and sublime treasures of life far surpassing our capacities. And this is what we have said, that the light which shines in it, comes to the humble alone. But the Papists are doubly foolish, when they conclude from this passage, that no interpretation of a private man ought to be deemed authoritative. For they pervert what Peter says, that they may claim for their own councils the chief right of interpreting Scripture; but in this they act indeed childishly; for Peter calls interpretation private, not that of every individual, in order to prohibit each one to interpret; but he shews that whatever men bring of their own is profane. Were, then, the whole world unanimous, and were the minds of all men united together, still what would proceed from them, would be private or their own; for the word is here set in opposition to divine revelation; so that the faithful, inwardly illuminated by the Holy Spirit, acknowledge nothing but what God says in his word. However, another sense seems to me more simple, that Peter says that Scripture came not from man, or through the suggestions of man. For thou wilt never come well prepared to read it, except thou bringest reverence, obedience, and docility; but a just reverence then only exists when we are convinced that God speaks to us, and not mortal men. Then Peter especially bids us to believe the prophecies as the indubitable oracles of God, because they have not emanated from men's own private suggestions..."Knowing this first...
No "private interpretation," but understanding of the Gospel by the illumination of the Holy Spirit...
"For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." -- 2 Corinthians 4:6
lol. Sticks and stones...
Calvin, Luther and Wycliffe neither concocted traditions of men nor espoused any other Gospel than Christ risen.
Unlike the RCC which is riddled with fables and lies that most anyone can see by a simple reading of Scripture.
"Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father" -- 1 Thessalonians 1:3
I like that one :>
My son-in-law is a lawyer.
Amen to your whole post. God does not want His children to worry about what HE is going to do. He tells us plainly, and wants us to take rest in that. I'm all in. :)
No really. They will tell you that they are certain they are going to heaven no matter what they do. It's actually a very transparent deception—providing a "warranty" on salavtion. So many fall for Satan's scam.
Notice, Mark, that this fleeting generalization automatically includes the LDS, the JW, and all sorts of cults that claim faith in Christ.
I think it must be really comforting for many a former Nazi family member to know that, no matter what they did during WWII, their loved ones are in heaven.
You have to understand that Reformed theology is a legal creation. It is based on rationalizations if not on naked rationalism, and not on love. In their mind, no matter how bad their client might be, they can always get him off the hook.
They take Matthew (12:37) as gospel
So, no matter what you do, you can be saved if you say the magic formula.
And here I thought they believed one is justifed by faith alone.
Mark, I have asked them a dozen times if not more what's the point of prayer? Prayer is empty repetion that changes nothing in predeterministic paradigm.
In that paradigm, sin is an oxymoron, because it is God's will that we sin, and prayer is ritualistic repetition with no avail.
But no one can desire it unless God gives it! Reformed theology is circular logic, Dr. E. In fact, it's no logic at all.
Actually, Calvin and Luther both concocted new beliefs, fables, heresies, and apostate doctrines. And it is an accurate description of those individuals. Sticks and stones have nothing to do with it.
I’m not aware of any that Wycliffe composed, but that is awareness only, not proof.
I can’t claim to be the originator.
But, in deference to your obvious august self, I won’t start in on some lawyer jokes. Not a one. No way. Nada. Well...
Warning Signs that you Might Need a Different Lawyer
Your lawyer tells you that his last good case was of Budweiser.
When the prosecutors see your lawyer, they high-five each other.
Your lawyer picks the jury by playing “duck-duck-goose.”
Your lawyer tells you that he has never told a lie.
A prison guard is shaving your head.
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