"Those things which seem contingent, are yet ruled by the certain providence of God...Nothing is contingent, for everything that takes place flows from the eternal and immutable counsel of God" -- John Calvin, Jer. V:428
Even the errors of Rome (and its strange and "elitist" fantasy that the Sermon on the Mount was addressed only to the apostles and not to all believers) even those errors are ordained by God for His glory.
"For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you." -- 1 Corinthians 11:19
All who have Trinitarian faith in Jesus Christ are most probably among the elect, Mark. That's because Trinitarian faith in Jesus Christ is a gift of grace from God to His children to bring them to Him and make them like Him who "is before all things, and by Him all things consist."
***Even the errors of Rome (and its strange and “elitist” fantasy that the Sermon on the Mount was addressed only to the apostles and not to all believers) even those errors are ordained by God for His glory.***
Hardly elitist. Words directed to certain individuals are hardly elite. I do it and so does everyone else. The role of the Apostles, as the forerunners of the current Bishops, was set apart and different from the laity.
***All who have Trinitarian faith in Jesus Christ are most probably among the elect, Mark. ***
We cannot say ‘probably’, Dr. E. We can only say what we know in the light of Scripture and the Church. Does Ted Haggard have Trinitarian faith in Jesus Christ? Is he of the elect? I certainly don’t know. But it is Scripturally clear that faith alone is not enough.
***That’s because Trinitarian faith in Jesus Christ is a gift of grace from God to His children to bring them to Him and make them like Him who “is before all things, and by Him all things consist.”***
No question about faith coming from Grace. We simply disagree about the number of the elect, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, the role of the Church, the role of the Sacraments (and their number) and few other trivial things.