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Thanks for your reply. I am reasonably aware of the Holy Spirit and how He works; it is the Reformed theology that I have trouble understanding.

Now, under Reformed doctrine:

1. How does God bless you through prayer?

2. This thread contains numerous posts from Reformed who claim that they ARE elect and they know it. If God doesn’t tell them, how do they know?

3. The unsaved are always going to be unsaved. What’s the point of giving them the Gospel?

4. This thread contains numbeous posts from Reformed who claim that all of their sins past and future are already forgiven. If they are forgiven, then they are forgiven. Why would you pray for forgiveness, when, upon notification of being the elect, you are forgiven at that point in the past?

5. I thought that salvation is a one-shot deal. What does it mean that the Holy Spirit continues to work in your sanctification?

6. What defines a believer? Can a non elect be a believer?

If you could answer these through Reformed theology, I’d be grateful. We have had the teachings of Jesus, then the Apostles and the Church for 2000 years, and the Bible for 1700 years. It’s the Johnny-come-latelies with variably generated theologies that I have a little trouble understanding.

To: Athena1 Thanks for your reply. I am reasonably aware of the Holy Spirit and how He works; it is the Reformed theology that I have trouble understanding. Now, under Reformed doctrine: 1. How does God bless you through prayer? God blesses believers through prayer in several ways. Prayer calms the believer and allows the holy spirit to direct our hearts to be thankful, to make our petitions, and to honor God. Communion with God through prayer blesses us as it reminds us who our creator is, which is not just a comfort to a believer, but a confirmation of belonging to Him. It blesses us because in our prayer we are being obedient. 2. This thread contains numerous posts from Reformed who claim that they ARE elect and they know it. If God doesn’t tell them, how do they know? God does tell us; through his word and by his spirit. 3. The unsaved are always going to be unsaved. What’s the point of giving them the Gospel? Because no one knows who the unsaved are. God uses His human agents to seek them out by the preaching of the word. 4. This thread contains numbeous posts from Reformed who claim that all of their sins past and future are already forgiven. If they are forgiven, then they are forgiven. Why would you pray for forgiveness, when, upon notification of being the elect, you are forgiven at that point in the past? I answered this in the last reply I think? We are saved from our sins, but not saved from sinning this side of heaven. So that in our sanctification we must still humble ourselves and repent of sin. God requires a humble and contrite heart. This happens when we acknowledge our sin. 5. I thought that salvation is a one-shot deal. What does it mean that the Holy Spirit continues to work in your sanctification? I am going to assume that you ask this question in good faith? Certainly biblical concepts of sanctification are not unknown to you? Are you familiar with Romans 8 and 9? God makes it very clear that the pilgrimage through this life is one of suffering and challenge? That we must be made more and more like Christ? But that we should not worry for we are His and what he starts he will complete? 6. What defines a believer? Can a non elect be a believer? How can someone non elect be a believer? They can be a potential believer. Hence the need to proclaim the gospel... If you could answer these through Reformed theology, I’d be grateful. We have had the teachings of Jesus, then the Apostles and the Church for 2000 years, and the Bible for 1700 years. It’s the Johnny-come-latelies with variably generated theologies that I have a little trouble understanding. I have read several posts to you that I thought very thoughtful and they were full of scripture. I am not certain if you are being serious here or are slipping in some kind of insult. Reformed theology is not new, nor is it 'come lately'. The RCC corrupted early church teachings and sadly continues to do so. Reformed theology came about not due to wanting something new, but in wanting something as pure as possible this side of heaven.